Council 3 April 2006
From Nigov
MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in the City Hall on Monday, 3rd April, 2006 at the hour of 6.00 o’clock p.m., pursuant to Notice.
Members present: The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne) (Chairman);
the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery);
the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and
Councillors Adamson, Attwood, Austin, D. Browne,
M. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Crozier, Cunningham,
Cush, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Ervine,
Hanna, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Kelly, Kirkpatrick,
Lavery, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey,
McCann, McCarthy, McCausland, McClenaghan,
McCoubrey, McGimpsey, McKenzie, Mhic Giolla Mhín,
Moore, Mullaghan, Newton, Ní Chuilín, O'Neill, O'Reilly,
Patterson, Rodgers, Smyth, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson.
Reading of Scriptures
In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Lord Mayor read a short passage from the Scriptures.
Summons
The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors McMillen and Rodway.
Minutes
Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne), Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery) and
Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st March be taken as read and signed as correct.
Expressions of Sympathy
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne) expressed his regret at the recent death of the Mother of the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey) and, on behalf of the Council, extended to the High Sheriff and his family circle his condolences and deepest sympathy.
The Council was advised also of the sudden death of Mr. Pat Rice, the Manager of the Falls Swim Centre. The Lord Mayor paid tribute to the contribution which Mr. Rice had made to the provision of leisure facilities within the City and to the manner in which he had undertaken his duties.
The Council agreed that a letter of condolence be forwarded to the family of Mr. Rice.
Change of Membership on Sub-Committee
The Chief Executive informed the Council that notification had been received from the Sinn Féin Party Grouping indicating that it wished Councillor Lavery to replace Councillor Cush on the membership of the Community and Recreation (Community and Leisure Services) Sub-Committee.
The Council approved the foregoing amendment to the membership of the Sub Committee.
Policy and Resources Committee
Moved by Councillor A. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor Hartley,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th February and 24th March be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Amendments
90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March under the heading “Corporate Strategic Issues – Civic Leadership – 90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising”, agreeing that the 90th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising be commemorated by the holding of a series of lectures, the staging of an exhibition and the erection in the City Hall of an appropriate stained-glass window, be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees that no commemoration be held.
After a lengthy discussion on the amendment, it was
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor Ervine,
That the question be now put.
On a vote by show of hands fifteen Members voted for the proposal that the question be now put and twenty-five against and it was accordingly declared lost.
After further discussion and a poll having been taken, there voted for the amendment twenty-six Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors Adamson, D. Browne, Campbell, Crozier, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Ervine, Hendron, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Long, McCausland, McCoubrey, McGimpsey, McKenzie, Newton, Patterson, Rodgers, Smyth, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson; and against it twenty-two Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Cunningham, Cush, Hanna, Hartley, Kelly, Lavery, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín, O’Neill and O’Reilly.
The amendment was accordingly declared carried.
Adullam Christian Ministries
Moved by Councillor Wilson, Seconded by Councillor Campbell and
Resolved – That the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March under the heading “Accommodation and Hospitality – Requests for the Use of Accommodation in the City Hall and the Provision of Civic Hospitality – Adullam Christian Ministries”, refusing the use of the City Hall for a media launch of Adullam Christian Ministries/wedding reception, be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees that the application be approved for the media launch only and not for the holding of a wedding reception, subject to the submission of a fresh application form which proves satisfactory to the Chief Executive and meets the criteria by which the Committee assesses applications for the use of the City Hall.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Celebrate Belfast – Belfast Big Wheel
At the request of Councillor D. Browne, the Chairman (Councillor A. Maskey), with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minute of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March under the heading “Celebrate Belfast – Belfast Big Wheel” 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 24th February and 24th March be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to:
- the rejection of a decision of 24th March under the heading “Corporate Strategic Issues – Civic Leadership – 90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising” and accordingly that the Council agrees that no commemoration be held;
- the rejection of the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March under the heading “Accommodation and Hospitality – Requests for the Use of Accommodation in the City Hall and the Provision of Civic Hospitality – Adullam Christian Ministries” and accordingly that the Council agrees that the application be approved for the media launch only and not for the holding of a wedding reception, subject to the submission of a fresh application form which proves satisfactory to the Chief Executive and meets the criteria by which the Committee assesses applications for the use of the City Hall; and
- the omission of the minute of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th March under the heading “Celebrate Belfast – Belfast Big Wheel” which, at the request of Councillor D. Browne, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Community and Recreation Committee
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor D. Browne,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Community and Recreation Committee of 21st March be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Amendments
Glen Community Parent and Youth Group
Moved by Councillor Wilson, Seconded by Councillor Patterson,
That the decision of the Community and Recreation Committee of 21st March under the heading “Glen Community Parent and Youth Group”, agreeing to provide financial assistance in the sum of £19,000 to the organisation in connection with the operation of its community complex, to be funded from the Department for Social Development slippage money, be amended to provide that funding be not provided to the Group in this fashion but rather that the Group submit an application for funding which will be assessed against the existing criteria used to determine all grant applications.
After discussion, a division on the matter was demanded. A poll having been taken there voted for the amendment eighteen Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors Adamson, Campbell, Crozier, N. Dodds, Ekin, Hendron, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Long, McCausland, McKenzie, Newton, Patterson, Rodgers, Stalford and Wilson; and against it twenty-one Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Cunningham, Hanna, Hartley, Kelly, Lavery, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín, O’Neill and O’Reilly. Two Members, viz., Councillors D. Browne and Stoker did not vote.
The amendment was accordingly declared lost.
Further Amendment
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the decision of the Community Recreation Committee of 21st March under the heading “Glen Community Parent and Youth Group”, agreeing to provide financial assistance in the sum of £19,000 to the organisation in connection with the operation of its community complex, to be funded from the Department for Social Development slippage money, be amended to provided that the £19,000 be divided equally between all the Groups which currently receive revenue funding.
A division on the matter was immediately demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment there voted for it fourteen Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors Adamson, Campbell, Crozier, N. Dodds, Kirkpatrick, McCausland, McKenzie, Newton, Patterson, Rodgers, Stalford and Wilson; and against it twenty Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Cunningham, Hanna, Hartley, Kelly, Lavery, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín and O’Neill. Six Members, viz., Councillors D. Browne, Ekin, Hendron, Jones, Long and Stoker did not vote.
The amendment was accordingly declared lost.
Re-Launch of the Apprenticeship Scheme
The Council resolved that the decision of the Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee of 14th March under the heading “Re-Launch of the Apprenticeship Scheme”, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 21st March, be amended to provide that the Council, in addition to providing details of the Apprenticeship Scheme to the Belfast Education and Library Board for circulation to all schools, also provide the information to recognised job scheme providers.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Community and Recreation Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Community and Recreation Committee of 21st March be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the amendment of the decision under the heading “Re-Launch of the Apprenticeship Scheme”, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 21st March, to provide that the Council, in addition to providing details of the Apprenticeship Scheme to the Belfast Education and Library Board for circulation to all schools, also provide the information to recognised job scheme providers.
Development Committee
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Stalford and
Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 16th and 22nd March be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Moved by Councillor Adamson, Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 6th March be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Long, Seconded by Councillor Jones and
Resolved – That the decision of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 6th March under the heading “Use of Plastic Bags”, agreeing to note the contents of a letter from North Down Borough Council in respect of the introduction of a plastic bag tax, be amended to provide that the Council agrees that a letter expressing its support for North Down Borough Council’s endeavours in respect of the introduction of a plastic bag tax as a means of reducing needless waste be forwarded to the Department of the Environment.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 6th March be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the amendment of the decision under the heading “Use of Plastic Bags” to provide that a letter expressing the Council’s support for North Down Borough Council’s endeavours in respect of the introduction of a plastic bag tax as a means of reducing needless waste be forwarded to the Department of the Environment.
Town Planning Committee
Moved by Councillor Patterson, Seconded by Councillor O’Neill and
Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 2nd, 15th, 16th and 23rd March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Notices of Motion
Immigration Proposals
The Council noted that Councillor O’Reilly had withdrawn the Notice of Motion under the heading “Immigration Proposals” standing in his name and that the Motion would be re-submitted to the next meeting of the Council.
Irish Unity
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Moore proposed:
“This Council welcomes the fact the Irish Unity is now the stated objective of all nationalist parties on the island of Ireland, including the present Irish government administration.
This Council therefore believes that An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, has a unique responsibility in giving practical expression to his administration’s and nationalist Ireland’s stated objective on the issue by immediately commissioning a Green Paper on Irish Unity: a paper focussing on the compelling logic of this outcome in political, social and economic terms as well as spelling out what pro-active strategy his government is going to undertake in pursuance of the stated objective of nationalist Ireland.
This Council calls on An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, to initiate an holistic consultation process amongst all sectors of society north and south to assist in the formulation of a Green Paper.
This Council further calls on An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, to give immediate effect to the Constitution’s recognition of the entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation by legislating for six county representation in Dáil Éireann, the right of Irish citizens resident in Belfast and the rest of the six counties to vote in national referenda on articles of the Constitution and the right to vote in Presidential elections.
This Council communicates the above requests in writing to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD.”
The proposal was seconded by Councillor McCann.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Maginness, Seconded by Councillor Attwood,
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Moore under the heading “Irish Unity” be amended to read as follows:
“This Council welcomes the fact that the Irish Unity is now the stated objective of all nationalist parties on the island of Ireland, including the present Irish Government administration.
This Council therefore believes that An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, has a unique responsibility in giving practical expression to his administration’s and nationalist Ireland’s stated objective on the issue by immediately convening the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and seeking a consensus among all parties that the Good Friday Agreement would continue in a United Ireland and through the Forum to initiate a consultation process amongst all sectors in society on a United Ireland and the project of national reconciliation.
This Council also calls for the convening of the North South Parliamentary Forum, as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement, which would bring together for the first time ever all the parties of all the people of all the island.
This Council further calls on An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, to give immediate effect to the Constitution’s recognition of the entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation by legislating for:
- Six county representation in Dáil Éireann
- The right of people in the six Counties to vote in national referenda on articles of the Constitution
- The right to vote in Presidential Elections
This Council communicates the above requests in writing to An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD.”
After discussion, the amendment was put to the meeting when a division on the matter was immediately demanded.
A poll having been taken, there voted for the amendment eight Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, D. Browne, Hanna, Kelly, Maginness, McCarthy and Mullaghan; and against it thirty-one Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors Adamson, Austin, M. Browne, Campbell, Crozier, Cunningham, Ekin, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Lavery, Long, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCausland, McClenaghan, McKenzie, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Newton, Ní Chuilín, O’Neill, Patterson, Rodgers, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson.
The amendment was accordingly declared lost.
The original Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Moore and seconded by Councillor McCann was then put to the meeting when a division on the matter was immediately demanded.
A poll having been taken, there voted for the Motion thirteen Members, viz., Councillors Austin, M. Browne, Cunningham, Hartley, Lavery, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Ní Chuilín and O’Neill; and against it twenty Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor W. Browne); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors Adamson, D. Browne, Campbell, Crozier, N. Dodds, Ekin, Hendron, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Long, McCausland, McKenzie, Newton, Patterson, Rodgers, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson. Seven Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, Hanna, Kelly, Maginness, McCarthy and Mullaghan did not vote.
The Notice of Motion was accordingly declared lost.
Prescription Charges
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor M. Browne proposed:
“This Council notes that all prescription charges are being abolished in Wales by 2007 and they have reduced in price since May, 2003. In the absence of the power sharing executive, Council calls on direct rule minister Shaun Woodward to introduce a similar approach aimed at phasing out Health Service prescription charges.
As a first step in a process leading to the abolition of all prescription charges, this Council calls for a full review of the medical conditions that are included in the present system of exemptions with a view to ensuring that all chronic conditions should be covered.
In order to properly represent the interests of Belfast citizens, the Council seeks a meeting with Shaun Woodward on this issue.”
The proposal was seconded by Councillor Ní Chuilín.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Wilson, Seconded by Councillor McKenzie,
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor M. Browne under the heading “Prescription Charges” be amended by the insertion at the beginning of the Motion of the words “That the Council notes the high number of people who regularly require prescriptions in Northern Ireland due to the effect of the terrorist campaign which has left thousands injured and traumatised.
The Council recognises the costs of this to individuals and to the Health Service as a whole.”
On a vote by show of hands eight Members voted for the amendment and nineteen against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Further Amendment
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor M. Browne under the heading “Prescription Charges” be amended by the insertion at the end of the Motion of the paragraph “This Council condemns the actions of the Sinn Féin Minister in the Devolved Administration in not implementing this measure”.
On a vote by show of hands nine Members voted for the amendment and fifteen against and it was accordingly declared lost.
The original Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor M. Browne and seconded by Councillor Ní Chuilín was thereupon put to the meeting and passed.
North-South Co-operation
In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Attwood proposed:
“That this Council believes that enhanced North-South co-operation and joint planning can create tremendous opportunities for everyone in Belfast and on the island, as workers, investors, consumers and tax payers and therefore calls for:
(i) action to create a shared economy, joined up infrastructure and co-ordinated public services;
(ii) joint planning to ensure that we get the best value from the planned 90-100 billion euro of spending on infrastructure North and South to take place over the next ten years;
(iii) further co-operation to address the range of cross-border challenges from roaming charges to waste, banking charges and from organised crime to child abuse; and
(iv) all parties to advance the North-South agenda to deliver a better quality of life for all in Belfast and on the island.”
The proposal was seconded by Councillor Maginness.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor A. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor Ní Chuilín,
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Attwood under the heading “North-South Co-operation” be amended by the addition of the words “and further calls upon the Irish Government to outline in a Green Paper the benefits of the recommendations contained within this proposal.”
On a vote by show of hands ten Members voted for the amendment and twenty one against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Further Amendment
Moved by Councillor Stalford, Seconded by the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey),
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Attwood under the heading “North-South Co-operation” be amended by the inclusion of the following paragraphs at the end of the Motion:
“Council further believes that all North-South co-operation can take place only with the consent of the Elected Representatives of the people of Northern Ireland, as expressed via the Northern Ireland Assembly, or in the absence of a devolved administration here, via the consent of Her Majesty’s Government and of the Sovereign Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminister.
Council believes it is the democratic right of the Elected Representatives of the people of Northern Ireland to expand or to contract all areas of North-South co-operation based upon a formulation of what those same representatives deem to be in the best interests of the people of this part of the United Kingdom.
Council welcomes the Scottish Parliament’s recent consultation exercise exploring areas of East-West co-operation and believes that Northern Ireland will be extremely well-served by expanding trading links with Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom through the revised structures of the Interreg programme, amongst other things.”
On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the amendment and nineteen against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Further Amendment
Moved by Councillor Long, Seconded by Councillor Ekin,
That the Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Attwood under the heading “North-South Co-operation” be amended by the addition of the following paragraphs:
“That this Council believes that enhanced co-operation, joint planning and co-ordinated action can create tremendous opportunities for everyone in Belfast and on these islands as workers, investors, consumers and tax-payers.
This Council therefore calls on all Parties to co-operate internally, within this Council and on the wider political front, and also with our neighbours, both on these islands, in Europe and further a field, to ensure that local and global challenges are met effectively.”
On a vote by show of hands fifteen Members voted for the amendment and nineteen against and it was accordingly declared lost.
The original Notice of Motion standing in the name of Councillor Attwood and seconded by Councillor Maginness was thereupon put to the meeting.
On a vote by show of hands nineteen Members voted for the Notice and eleven against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Lord Mayor Chairman
