Council 1 November 2007
From Nigov
MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in Adelaide Exchange on Thursday, 1st November, 2007 at the hour of 6.00 o'clock p.m., pursuant to Notice.
Members present
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers) (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly); and Councillors Adamson, Attwood, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, W. Browne, Cobain, Convery, Crozier, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Hanna, Hartley, Humphrey, Jones, Kyle, Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McCausland, McClenaghan, McCoubrey, McKenzie, McMillen, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Newton, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Patterson, 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 the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick), and Councillors Campbell, Empey, Hendron and McGimpsey.
Minutes
Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers), Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly) and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 1st October be taken as read and signed as correct.
Councillor Campbell
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers) referred to the recent admission to hospital of Councillor Campbell and the Members agreed that a letter be sent to her conveying the Council's best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Office of High Sheriff
The Chief Executive reported that the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick) had received from the Northern Ireland Office a letter inviting him, in accordance with normal practice, to submit to the Secretary of State the names of three persons suitable for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff of the City for the year 2008. The Chief Executive reminded the Council that, in previous years, it had decided to submit one name only to the Secretary of State and he requested that the Council decide how it wished to proceed.
The Council agreed to submit one name only to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff and, accordingly, the Lord Mayor invited nominations from the Council.
Councillor McCoubrey was proposed by Councillor D. Browne and seconded by Councillor Smyth; while Councillor McKenzie was proposed by Councillor Newton and seconded by Councillor Stalford.
On a vote by show of hands nine Members voted for Councillor McCoubrey and fourteen for Councillor McKenzie.
Accordingly, it was agreed that Councillor Margaret McKenzie be nominated to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff for the City of Belfast for the year 2008.
Strategic Policy and Resources Committee
Moved by Councillor D. Dodds, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th October be approved and adopted.
Amendments
Draft Policy on Dual-Language Signage for Belfast City Council
Moved by Councillor P. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor Cunningham,
That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th October under the heading "Draft Policy on Dual-Language Signage for Belfast City Council" be amended to provide that the Council accepts that both options 1 and 3 are not mutually exclusive and accordingly agrees that both options be adopted and taken forward simultaneously.
During discussion on the amendment, it was
Moved by Councillor D. Browne, Seconded by Councillor Smyth,
That the question be now put.
On a vote by show of hands thirty-four Members voted for the proposal that the question be now put and none against and it was accordingly declared carried.
The Council proceeded to vote on the amendment. On a vote by show of hands twenty-two Members voted for the amendment and twenty-four against and it was accordingly declared lost.
City Investment Fund
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Humphrey,
That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th October under the heading "City Investment Fund" be amended to provide that the City Investment Fund be designated solely for the financing and undertaking of major projects which will leave a lasting legacy for the City and that the Cultural Legacy Fund concept be recognised as an important but separate and distinct element of future investment in the City and accordingly that alternative arrangements for the financing of the Cultural Legacy Fund be introduced.
During discussion in the matter, it was
Moved by Councillor D. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McCoubrey,
That Councillor Crozier be not further heard.
On a vote by show of hands six Members voted for the proposal and thirteen against and it was accordingly declared lost.
After further discussion, the Council proceeded to vote by division on the amendment.
A poll having been taken, there voted for the amendment twelve Members, viz., Councillors W. Browne, Crozier, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Humphrey, McCausland, McKenzie, Newton, Patterson, Rodway, Stalford and Wilson; and against it thirty-three Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly); and Councillors Adamson, Attwood, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, Convery, Cunningham, Cush, Ekin, Hanna, Hartley, Jones, Kyle, Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McClenaghan, McCoubrey, McMillen, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Smyth and Stoker.
The amendment was accordingly declared lost.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed.
Parks and Leisure Committee
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor Ekin and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 11th October be approved and adopted.
Development Committee
Moved by Councillor M. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McCarthy,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 15th October be approved and adopted.
Requests for Matters to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places
At the request of Councillor Stoker and with the consent of the Council, the Chairman (Councillor M. Browne) agreed that the minute under the heading "Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places" be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts
The Chairman (Councillor M. Browne), at the request of Councillor Hartley and with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minute under the heading "Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts" 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 15th October be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the following omissions:
(i) the minute under the heading "Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places" which, at the request of Councillor Stoker, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and
(ii) the minute under the heading "Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts" which, at the request of Councillor Hartley, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Connswater Community Greenway Project
Arising out of discussion in the previous minutes, the Council agreed that a letter be forwarded to the Team behind the Connswater Community Greenway Project congratulating it on making it through to the final of the Big Lottery Fund competition.
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Moved by Councillor Mullaghan, Seconded by Councillor Adamson and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 3rd October be approved and adopted.
Licensing Committee
Moved by Councillor Attwood, Seconded by Councillor O'Reilly and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 17th October, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.
Town Planning Committee
Moved by Councillor Lavery, Seconded by Councillor Rodway and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 4th and 18th October, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.
Lord Mayor Chairman
