Council 3 July 2006
From Nigov
MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Held in the City Hall on Monday, 3rd July, 2006 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 Humphrey); and Councillors Austin, D. Browne, M. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Convery, Crozier, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Ervine, Hanna, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Kelly, Kirkpatrick, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McCausland, McClenaghan, McCoubrey, McGimpsey, McKenzie, McMillen, 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 short passage from the Scriptures.
Summons
The Director of Corporate Services submitted the summons convening the meeting.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Attwood and Lavery.
Minutes
Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy), Seconded by Councillor Stalford and
Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Council of 1st June be taken as read and signed as correct.
Requests for Deputations
Application for the Variation of an Entertainments Licence where Objections had been Received
Mynt, 2-16 Dunbar Street
The Director of Corporate Services informed the Members that a request for permission to address the Council had been received from the objectors in respect of the above-mentioned application. He reported that the applicants were in attendance and wished also to address the Council.
The Council agreed to the deputations being received and Inspector I. Blayney and Constable L. Adams, representing the Police Service of Northern Ireland which was objecting to the application, were then admitted to the meeting.
Inspector Blayney advised the Council that the Police had objected to the variation of the Licence for reasons of community safety and public order. He outlined the problems which had been experienced with other premises which had been granted entertainment licences to operate until 6.00 a.m. He indicted that many of the assaults reported in the South Belfast District Command Unit area had taken place during nightlife hours and he expressed the view that to allow the establishment extended opening hours could result in an increase in such incidents.
The representatives of the Police Service of Northern Ireland then retired from the meeting.
Messrs. Bannon and McClenaghan, representing the Licensees, were then admitted to the meeting. Mr. Bannon indicated that the aim of the extended hours would be to provide entertainment which would attract more people, including tourists, into the area, which would help to regenerate that part of the City in which the Club was located. He reviewed the types of non-alcoholic drinks which were served after 1.00 a.m. and the action which the Club had taken, including the installation of closed circuit television, to ensure that the concerns which had been expressed by the Police would be mitigated.
The deputation thanked the Committee for receiving them and they retired from the meeting.
It was noted that consideration would be given to the representations which had been made when the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee were discussed later in the meeting.
Application for the Renewal of an Entertainments Licence where Objections had been Received
Café Zinc, 12 Stranmillis Road
The Director of Corporate Services reported that the objector and the applicant in respect of the application for the renewal of an Entertainments Licence in relation to Café Zinc, 12 Stranmillis Road, were in attendance to address the Council.
The Council agreed to receive the deputations.
Mr A. Parmour, the objector to the application, was then admitted to the meeting. Mr. Parmour informed the Council that he was a resident of the flat adjacent to Café Zinc. He stated that excessive noise nuisance emanating from the premises until at least 1.00 a.m. had caused him sleep deprivation, thus leading to ill health and a poor quality of life. In addition to the level of noise disturbance caused by the entertainment, disturbance was caused also by a loudspeaker attached to an adjoining party wall and by noise associated with the operation of the air-conditioning system and cooling units which, on occasions, were left on through the night.
Mr. Parmour thanked the Council for receiving him and he retired from the meeting.
Mr. M. Carville, representing the applicant, was admitted to the meeting and he outlined the steps which had been taken in order to address any concerns which had been raised by the objector in relation to noise nuisance. He explained that the level of noise within the premises was such that a noise limiting device had not been activated and that he was unable to respond to the question of noise within Mr. Parmour’s flat since no readings had been obtained in those premises. In addition, he had been made aware recently of the source of the problems with the air-conditioning units and stated that steps had been taken to rectify the matter by the repositioning of the units in question.
He thanked the Council for receiving him and retired from the meeting.
It was noted that consideration would be given to the representations which had been made when the minutes of the Health and Environmental Services Committee were discussed later in the meeting.
Policy and Resources Committee
Moved by Councillor A. Maskey, Seconded by Councillor Moore,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd June be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Amendment
St. Patrick’s Day Event 2007
Moved by Councillor McCann, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,
That the decision of the Policy and Resources Committee under the heading “St. Patrick’s Day Outdoor Event 2007” be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees to organise an outdoor event to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in March, 2007 and that a minimum budget of £110,000 be allocated for this purpose.
After a lengthy discussion on the amendment, it was
Moved by Councillor Maginness, Seconded by Councillor Ekin,
That the question be now put. On a vote by show of hands twenty‑three Members voted for the proposal that the question be now put and ten against and it was accordingly declared carried.
A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it twenty-four Members viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy); and Councillors Austin, M. Browne, Convery, Cunningham, Cush, Ekin, Hanna, Hartley, Hendron, Jones, Kelly, Long, Maginness, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín, O’Neill and O’Reilly; and against it twenty-three Members viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson); the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey); and Councillors D. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Crozier, D. Dodds, N. Dodds, Empey, Kirkpatrick, McCausland, McCoubrey, M. McGimpsey, McKenzie, McMillen, Newton, Rodgers, Rodway, Smyth, Stalford, Stoker and Wilson.
The amendment was accordingly declared carried.
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 23rd June be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to the rejection of the decision under the heading “St Patrick’s Day Outdoor Event 2007; the Council accordingly agreed to organise an outdoor event to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in March, 2007 and that a minimum budget of £110,000 be allocated for this purpose.
Community and Recreation Committee
Moved by Councillor Stoker, Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,
That the minutes of the proceeding of the Community and Recreation Committee of 20th and 26th June be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Cliftonville Playing Fields
The Chairman (Councillor Stoker), at the request of Councillor Ní Chuilín and with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minute of the Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee of 13th June under the heading “Cliftonville Playing Fields“ be taken back to the Sub-Committee for further consideration.
Amendment
Village Mini-Soccer Pitch
(The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson) and Councillor Stoker declared an interest in this item and left the meeting while it was under discussion.)
Moved by Councillor D. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McCann and
Resolved - That the decision of the Community and Recreation (Parks and Cemeteries Services) Sub-Committee of 13th June under the heading “Village Mini-Soccer Pitch”, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 20th June, agreeing, inter alia, to support the proposal to provide a maximum of 20% funding of the final costs for the development of a mini-soccer pitch at the Nubia Street Play Area, be amended to provide that funding up to a maximum of 30% of the final costs be provided.
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 20th and 26th June be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to:
(i) the omission of the minute of the Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee of 13th June under the heading “Cliftonville Playing Fields”, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 20th June which, at the request of Councillor Ní Chuilín, is taken back to the Sub-Committee for further consideration; and
(ii) the amendment of the decision of the Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee of 13th June under the heading “Village Mini-Soccer Pitch”, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 20th June, to provide, inter alia, that funding of a maximum of 30% of the final costs be provided for the development of a mini-soccer pitch at the Nubia Street Play Area.
Development Committee
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 21st June be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Request for Matter to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Celebrate Belfast – Progress Report
Councillor D. Browne requested the Chairman of the Committee (Councillor McCausland) to take back for further consideration that portion of the minute of the meeting of 21st June under the heading “Celebrate Belfast – Progress Report” in so far as it related to the participation of a party of ten in the City of Hefei’s International Cultural Festival. The Chairman declined the request.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor D. Browne, Seconded by Councillor Stoker,
That the decision of the Development Committee of 21st June under the heading “Celebrate Belfast – Progress Report”, agreeing to send a party of ten to participate in the City of Hefei’s International Cultural Festival, be referred back for further consideration.
On a vote by show of hands five Members voted for the amendment and twenty‑four against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Adoption of Minutes
The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the meeting of the Development Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed.
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Moved by Councillor O’Reilly, Seconded by Councillor Mullaghan,
That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 5th and 22nd June be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Requests for Matters to be Taken Back for Further Consideration
Application for the Variation of a Seven-Day Entertainments Licence where Objections had been Received
Mynt, 2-16 Dunbar Street
At the request of Councillor Kirkpatrick, the Chairman (Councillor O’Reilly), with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minute of 22nd June under the heading “Application for the Variation of a Seven-Day Entertainments Licence where Objections had been Received: Mynt, 2-16 Dunbar Street” be taken back for further consideration.
Alleygating – Consolidation and Extension of Pilot Scheme; and Tenders for Community Safety Youth Training Project
The Chairman (Councillor O’Reilly), at the request of Councillor Crozier and with the consent of the Council, agreed that the minutes of the meeting of 5th June under the headings “Alleygating – Consolidation and Extension of Pilot Scheme” and “Tenders for Community Safety Youth Training Project” be taken back for further consideration.
Review of the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991
In considering the minute of 5th June under the heading “Review of the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, the Council agreed that a report in relation to the Council’s policy in regard to the control of dangerous dogs be submitted to the Committee at the earliest opportunity.
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 5th and 22nd June be and they are hereby approved and adopted, subject to:
(i) the omission of the minute under the heading “Application for the Variation of a Seven-Day Entertainment Licence where Objections had been Received: Mynt, 2‑16 Dunbar Street” which, at the request of Councillor Kirkpatrick, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and
(ii) the omission of the minutes of 5th June under the headings “Alleygating – Consolidation and Extension of Pilot Schemes” and “Tenders for Community Safety Youth Training Project” which, at the request of Councillor Crozier, are taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
Town Planning Committee
Moved by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson), Seconded by Councillor H. Smyth and
Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 8th, 19th and 22nd June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be and they are hereby approved and adopted.
Expression of Sympathy
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor McCarthy) expressed his regret at the recent death of the father of Councillor Ekin and, on behalf of the Council, extended to Councillor Ekin and his family circle his condolences and deepest sympathy.
Lord Mayor
Chairman
