Council 1 October 2007
From Nigov
MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in the City Hall on Monday, 1st October, 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 High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Adamson, Attwood, Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Convery, Crozier, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Hartley, Humphrey, Jones, Kyle, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McCausland, McCoubrey, McGimpsey, McKenzie, McMillen, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Newton, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Patterson, Rodway, 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 Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly); and Councillors Hendron, Lavery, McClenaghan and Smyth.
Minutes
Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers), Seconded by the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick) and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 3rd September be taken as read and signed as correct.
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.
Moved by Councillor D. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McMillen,
That the Council agrees to submit one name only to the Northern Ireland Office and that Councillor McCoubrey be nominated for the appointment of High Sheriff for the City of Belfast for the year 2008.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Newton, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the Council agrees that the question of the nomination of Members suitable for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff of the City for the year 2008 be deferred until its next monthly meeting.
On a vote by show of hands fourteen Members voted for the amendment and seven against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Strategic Policy and Resources Committee
Moved by Councillor D. Dodds, Seconded by Councillor Maskey and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st September be approved and adopted.
Belfast District Policing Partnership
Appointment of Political Members
The Council agreed to approve the appointment of the undernoted Members to the Belfast District Policing Partnership and its four Sub-Groups with effect from 1st October, 2007:
Belfast District Policing Partnership
Sinn Fein Party - Councillor M. Browne (Chairman) Councillor Cunningham Councillor Hartley Democratic Unionist Party - Councillor Crozier Councillor Stalford Councillor McKenzie Ulster Unionist Party - Councillor D. Browne Councillor McCoubrey Social, Democratic & Labour Party - Councillor McCarthy Alliance Party - Councillor Ekin
North Belfast Sub-Group
Sinn Fein Party - Councillor Lavery Councillor C. Maskey Democratic Unionist Party - Councillor Crozier Ulster Unionist Party - Councillor D. Browne (Chairman) Social, Democratic & Labour Party - Councillor Convery Alliance Party - Councillor Jones
South Belfast Sub-Group
Sinn Fein Party - Councillor Austin Councillor McClenaghan Democratic Unionist Party - Councillor Patterson Councillor Stalford Ulster Unionist Party - Councillor Stoker Social, Democratic & Labour Party - Councillor McCarthy (Chairman)
East Belfast Sub-Group
Sinn Fein Party - Councillor O'Neill Democratic Unionist Party - Councillor McKenzie (Chairman) Councillor W. Browne Ulster Unionist Party - Councillor Rodgers Social, Democratic & Labour Party - Councillor O'Reilly Alliance Party - Councillor Long
West Belfast Sub-Group
Sinn Fein Party - Councillor Hartley (Chairman) Councillor Cush Democratic Unionist Party - Councillor Humphrey Ulster Unionist Party - Councillor McCoubrey Social, Democratic & Labour Party - Councillor Attwood Progressive Unionist Party - Councillor Smyth
Parks and Leisure Committee
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor Adamson,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th September be approved and adopted.
Amendment
Free Out-of-Hours Pool Usage
Moved by Councillor Crozier, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the decision of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th September under the heading "Free Out-of-Hours Pool Usage" be rejected and accordingly that the Out-of-Hours Use Scheme be not extended to any other sports until the review of the current Scheme has been completed.
On a vote by show of hands sixteen Members voted for the amendment and twenty-two against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Amendment
Belfast Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium
Moved by Councillor P. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,
That the minute of the meeting of 13th September under the heading "Belfast Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium" be referred back to the Committee for further consideration.
A division on the matter was demanded. A vote having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it twelve Members, viz., Councillors Austin, M. Browne, Cunningham, Cush, Hartley, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore and O'Neill; and against it thirty Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers); the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Adamson, Attwood, D. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Convery, Crozier, N, Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Humphrey, Jones, Kyle, Long, Maginness, McCarthy, McCausland, McGimpsey, McKenzie, McMillen, Mullaghan, Newton, O'Reilly, Patterson, Rodway, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson.
The amendment was declared lost.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Grove Leisure Centre - Swim Ulster Facility Management Business Case
At the request of Councillor D. Browne and with the consent of the Council, the Chairman (Councillor Stoker) agreed that the minute of the meeting of 13th September under the heading "Grove Leisure Centre - Swim Ulster Facility Management Business Case" be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Amendment
Development of Play Area at Navara Place
At the request of Councillor Convery, the Council agreed that the minute of the meeting of 13th September under the heading "Development of Play Area at Navara Place" be amended to provide that an environmental assessment be undertaken at the Serpentine Road Site.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Parks and Leisure Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th September be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to:
(i) the omission of the minute under the heading "Grove Leisure Centre - Swim Ulster Facility Management Business Case" which, at the request of Councillor D. Browne, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and
(ii) the amendment of the minute under the heading "Development of Play Area at Navara Place" to provide that an environmental assessment be undertaken at the Serpentine Road Site.
Parks and Leisure Committee - Loans
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne and
Resolved - That applications be made to the Department of the Environment for sanctioning to the raising of a loan of £330,000 to meet the costs associated with the improvement works at the Belfast Zoological Gardens; and to the raising of a loan of £216,800 to meet the costs associated with improvement works to the retaining wall at the Belfast Castle.
Development Committee
Moved by Councillor M. Browne, Seconded by Councillor C. Maskey and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 12th and 18th September be approved and adopted.
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Moved by Councillor Mullaghan, Seconded by Councillor O'Neill and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 5th September be approved and adopted.
Licensing Committee
Moved by the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick), Seconded by Councillor O'Neill and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 19th September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated it powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.
Town Planning Committee
Moved by Councillor C. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor McCarthy,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 29th August and 6th and 20th September, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated it powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.
Amendment
Planning Application: Reconsidered Items - Ravenhill Rugby Grounds
Moved by Councillor Empey, Seconded by Councillor Campbell,
That the decision of the Town Planning Committee of 20th September under the heading "Planning Application: Reconsidered Items - Ravenhill Rugby Grounds", to adopt the recommendation of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application, be amended to provide that the Divisional Planning Manager be requested to consider applying conditions to the opening and closing hours of the new hospitality facilities to take account of the potential resulting additional traffic movements which could cause noise nuisance and disturbance to local residents.
On a vote by show of hands eighteen Members voted for the amendment and seventeen against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Amendment
Planning Applications - 42 Cavehill Road
Moved by Councillor Mullaghan, Seconded by Councillor Maginness and
Resolved - That the decision of the Town Planning Committee of 20th September under the heading "Planning Applications - 42 Cavehill Road" be rejected and accordingly that the recommendation of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application relating to the demolition of a two-storey dwelling and the construction of six new build apartments be opposed on the grounds that the development would, if permitted:
- be out-of-character with the local area;
- be of inappropriate form, scale, design and mass;
- result in increased traffic congestion; and
- result in a loss of privacy due to overlooking.
Adoption of Minutes
Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 29th August and 6th and 20th September were approved and adopted.
Notice of Motion
Council Approach to Anti-Social Behaviour
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Rodway proposed:
"This Council recognises that anti-social behaviour is one of the biggest problems facing the citizens of Belfast. Figures produced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland indicate that 22,952 reports of incidents of such behaviour were recorded in the year 2006-2007.
The Council accepts that, in order to effect a reduction in these figures, a concerted and strategic effort must be made to focus on and apply all available resources to educating younger people and changing their attitudes so that they can have greater opportunities to involve themselves in activities which will impact positively on the City and earn respect from others. Whilst taking account of the rights and expectations of young people, we must also give serious consideration to the rights of others to live in peace and safety.
Accordingly, the Council requests that a strategy be drawn up to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour and to ensure that the resources available in the various Departments of the Council and partner organisations are employed in an effective and cohesive manner to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour in the City."
The proposal was seconded by Councillor W. Browne.
Prior to the Notice of Motion being considered, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers) reminded the Council that Standing Order 11(e) specified that, if the subject matter of any Motion of which Notice had 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 Health and Environmental Services Committee without debate.
Chairman
