Council 1 February 2007
From Nigov
MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in the City Hall on Thursday, 1st February, 2007 at the hour of 6.00 o'clock p.m., pursuant to Notice.
Members present
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson); the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Adamson, Attwood, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Convery, Crozier, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Hanna, Hartley, Humphrey, Jones, Kelly, Kyle, Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McClenaghan, McGimpsey, McKenzie, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Newton, Ní Chuilín, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Rodgers, Rodway, Smyth, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson.
Reading of Scriptures
In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.
Summons
The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Hendron, McCoubrey and McMillen.
Expression of Sympathy
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) expressed his regret at the recent death of the father of Councillors A. and P. Maskey and, on behalf of the Council, extended to the Councillors and their family circle his condolences and deepest sympathy.
Minutes
Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy), Seconded by Councillor Hartley and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 3rd January and the Special Meeting of the Council of 12th January be taken as read and signed as correct.
Casual Vacancy - Pottinger District Electoral Area
In accordance with Notice on the Summons Paper, the Council considered the question of the filling of the casual vacancy in the Pottinger District Electoral Area consequent upon the death of the late Councillor Ervine.
The Chief Executive informed the Council that Section 11(4)(a) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 enabled the Council to choose a person to fill the vacancy, provided that such a person was qualified to be a Member of the Council and was not objected to by any Member of the Council present at the meeting. In the event of the vacancy not being filled by co-option, a Bye-Election would be required to fill the vacancy.
Councillor Smyth proposed the co-option of Dr. John Kyle to fill the casual vacancy in the Pottinger District Electoral Area.
The proposal was seconded by Councillor Empey.
As no objection was made to the proposal, the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) declared Dr. Kyle co-opted as a Councillor for the Pottinger District Electoral Area.
Councillor Kyle, having subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and the Declaration against Terrorism, was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Lord Mayor.
Councillor Kyle, upon admission to the Council Chamber, thanked the Members for his co-option and paid tribute to the contribution which the late Councillor Ervine had made to the work of the Council.
Appointment to Committees and Sub-Committees
The Chief Executive sought the Council's approval, consequent upon the death of Councillor Ervine, to appoint Councillor Kyle to the membership of the Community and Recreation Committee and the Finance, Administration and Information Systems and the Policy and Performance Review Sub-Committees.
In addition, he informed the Council that notification had been received from the Sinn Féin Party Grouping indicating that it wished Councillor Moore to replace Councillor P. Maskey on the membership of the Economic Development Sub-Committee.
The Council approved the foregoing amendments to the membership of Committees and Sub-Committees.
Membership of Outside Body
The Council was advised that the Sinn Féin Party Grouping had indicated that it wished to remove Councillor Hartley from the Membership of the Board of the Linenhall Library.
The Council approved the amendment to the Membership of the Board.
Policy and Resources Committee
Moved by Councillor A. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor Lavery,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Policy and Resources Committee of 4th, 10th, 16th and 19th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Request for Use of City Hall East Lawn
At the request of Councillor Kelly, the Chairman (Councillor A. Maskey), with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minute of the meeting of 19th January under the heading "Request for Use of City Hall East Lawn" be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Policy and Resources Committee of 4th, 10th, 16th and 19th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the omission of the minute of 19th January under the heading "Request for Use of City Hall East Lawn" which, at the request of Councillor Kelly, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Community and Recreation Committee
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor O'Neill,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Community and Recreation Committee of 16th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Requests for Matters to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
North Belfast Leisure Centre
Moved by Councillor Ní Chuilín, Seconded by Councillor Cunningham,
That the decision of the Community and Recreation Committee of 16th January under the heading "North Belfast Leisure Centre" be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.
On a vote by show of hands eighteen Members voted for the proposal and twenty-one against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Loughside Recreation Centre: Facility Provision and Cost
Councillor Crozier requested the Chairman of the Committee (Councillor Stoker) to take back for further consideration the minute of the meeting of 16th January under the heading "Loughside Recreation Centre: Facility Provision and Cost".
The Chairman declined the request.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Crozier, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the decision of the Community and Recreation Committee of 16th January under the heading "Loughside Recreation Centre: Facilities Provision and Cost" be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.
A division on the matter was immediately demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it nineteen Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson); the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Adamson, D. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Crozier, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Humphrey, Kyle, McKenzie, Newton, Rodgers, Rodway, Smyth, Stalford and Wilson; and against it twenty-eight Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Convery, Cunningham, Cush, Ekin, Empey, Hanna, Hartley, Jones, Kelly, Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McClenaghan, McGimpsey, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín, O'Neill, O'Reilly and Stoker.
The amendment was declared lost.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor O'Neill, Seconded by Councillor Ní Chuilín,
That the decision of the Community and Recreation Committee of 16th January under the heading "North Belfast Leisure Centre" be amended to provide that St. Kevin's Hall be included in the options for the location of the leisure centre.
After discussion, a division on the matter was demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it nineteen Members, viz., Councillors Adamson, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, Cunningham, Cush, Hartley, Lavery, A Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McClenaghan, McGimpsey, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Ní Chuilín, O'Neill, Rodgers and Stoker; and against it twenty-five Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy), the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson), the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Attwood, W. Browne, Campbell, Convery, Crozier, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Hanna, Humphrey, Jones, Kelly, Kyle, Long, Maginness, McKenzie, Mullaghan, Newton, O'Reilly, Rodway, Smyth, Stalford and Wilson.
The amendment was declared lost.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Community and Recreation Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed.
Development Committee
Moved by Councillor P. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 17th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Belfast City Council's Contribution to Broadway Junction Public Arts Sculpture
At the request of Councillor Stoker and with the consent of the Council, the Deputy Chairman (Councillor P. Maskey) agreed that the minute of the meeting of 17th January under the heading "Belfast City Council's Contribution to Broadway Junction Public Arts Sculpture" be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Development Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 17th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the omission of the minute under the heading "Belfast City Council's Contribution to Broadway Junction Public Arts Sculpture" which, at the request of Councillor Stoker, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Moved by Councillor O'Reilly, Seconded by Councillor Stalford and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 8th and 15th January be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Draft Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
Arising out of discussion of the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee, the Council agreed that a report in relation to the current state of enforcement of licensed premises be submitted to the Committee at the earliest opportunity.
Health and Environmental Services Committee - Bye-Law
Moved by Councillor O'Reilly, Seconded by Councillor Stalford and
Resolved - That the Council agrees to make the Bye-law contained in the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 15th January regarding the Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor in Designated Places.
Town Planning Committee
Moved by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson), Seconded by Councillor Stalford and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 14th(sic) and 18th January, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Notice of Motion
Future Financial Stability
In accordance with the Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Newton proposed:
"This Council recognises that it has a strategic role to play in encouraging and securing future investment in the City of Belfast.
The Council has a responsibility to the citizens of the City to both attract inward investment and manage the Council's resources and assets in order to maximise the potential of the City.
To this end the Council agrees to take appropriate measures to secure the future financial stability of the City and directs the Policy and Resources Committee to formulate an appropriate strategy - including the establishment of a City Investment Fund - to progress this matter."
The proposal was seconded by Councillor W. Browne.
Prior to the Notice of Motion being considered, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) reminded the Council that Standing Order 11(e) specified that, if the subject matter of any Motion of which Notice has been given comes within the province of any Committee it shall, upon being moved and seconded, stand referred without discussion to that Committee, or to such other Committee as the Council may determine, for consideration and report.
Accordingly, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor indicated that the matter would be referred to the Policy and Resources Committee without debate.
Chairman
