Development Committee 16 March 2006
From Nigov
Thursday,16th March, 2006
Contents |
SPECIAL MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor McCausland (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors M. Browne, Ekin, Hartley, A. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCarthy and Newton.
Also attended
Councillors Adamson, Austin, D. Browne, Jones, Lavery, Maginness, McCann, McCoubrey, Moore, Mullaghan, O'Neill, O’Reilly and Rodway.
In attendance
- Ms M.T. McGivern (Director of Development);
- Mr T. Husbands (Managing Director, Belfast Waterfront Hall); and
- Mr N. Malcolm (Committee Administrator).
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the High Sheriff (Councillor Humphrey) and Councillor Long.
Laganside Corporation De-designation
The Committee considered a report regarding the proposed de-designation of the Laganside Corporation and proposals in that regard made by the Department for Social Development. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendices referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Director of Development drew the Committee’s attention to various aspects of the report and answered questions which were put to her by the Members.
During discussion in the matter, several Members expressed the view that the Committee would need to take into consideration the future financial burden which would be placed on the City’s ratepayers should the Council agree to become responsible for all of the assets which were owned currently by the Laganside Corporation. Other Members suggested that, since many of the assets might become the responsibility of the Council as a result of the forthcoming Review of Public Administration, the Council should await the outcome of the Review. However, it was pointed out that, should the Council adopt such a course of action and given the lengthy period of time before the Council would become responsible for the assets, it was possible that they could fall into a state of disrepair, with the result that considerable expenditure would be incurred in refurbishing them. Other Members indicated that, given the potential costs of repairing some of the assets, such as the quay walls or the Lagan Weir, the Council should ensure that a sum considerably in excess of the £800,000, which was proposed currently, be made available by the Department for Social Development.
Following further discussion, it was
Moved by Councillor Hartley, Seconded by Councillor Ekin,
That the Committee agrees to adopt option 3 contained within the foregoing report viz., that the Committee agrees in principle to the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the Department for Social Development regarding the Council becoming responsible for the assets of the Laganside Corporation following its de designation in 2007.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Newton, Seconded by Councillor Rodway,
That the Committee agrees to defer consideration of whether the Council should become responsible for the assets of the Laganside Corporation upon its de-designation in 2007 to enable each of the Party Groupings represented on the Council to consider their positions regarding this significant matter and that it could be considered further at the meeting of the Principal Committee on 22nd March.
On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the amendment and five against and it was accordingly declared lost.
The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor Hartley and seconded by Councillor Ekin was thereupon put the meeting when five Members voted for the proposal and three against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Chairman
