Derry City and Strabane District Council Open Minutes of The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Derry City and Strabane District Council Open Minutes of the Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council held remotely on Thursday 17 December 2020 at 4.00pm. Present:- Councillor Tierney (Mayor)(In the Chair); Aldermen Bresland, Devenney, Guy, Hussey, Kerrigan, McClintock, McCready, Ramsey and Warke; Councillors J Barr, R Barr, J Boyle, M Boyle, Burke, Carr, Cooper, Cusack, Dobbins, Donnelly, Doyle, Duffy, Durkan, Edwards, Farrell, Ferguson, Fleming, Gallagher, Harkin, Jackson, Kelly, Logue, McCann, McGuire, McHugh, McKeever, McKinney, Mellon, Mooney and Reilly. In Attendance:- Chief Executive (Mr J Kelpie), Director of Health and Community (Mrs K McFarland), Director of Environment and Regeneration (Mrs K Phillips), Director of Business and Culture (Mr Stephen Gillespie), Director of Legacy (Mrs O McGillion), Lead Legal Services Officer (Mr P Kingston), Lead Democratic Services and Improvement Officer (Ms E Cavanagh) Democratic Services Officer (Mrs S Maxwell) and Committee Services Assistant (Mrs T Johnstone). _________________ C442/20 Notice and Summons of Meeting The Mayor read the Notice and Summons for the Meeting. C443/20 Member Attendance and Apologies The Mayor completed the roll call. No apologies were recorded. C444/20 Statement on Remote Meetings The Chief Executive read the Statement for Remote Meetings. C445/20 Declaration of Members Interests Councillors Reilly and Cooper declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 20 – Continuation of ERNACT and EEIG Post Brexit. The following Members declared an interest in Minute Item C457/20 – Additional NI Executive Funding for Food Support. Alderman Devenney - Sperrin Local Growth Partnership, Alderman Guy - Waterside Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Alderman Hussey - RAPID and Derg Local Growth Partnership, McClintock - Waterside Renewal Partnership, Alderman Ramsey - Waterside Renewal Partnership. 1 Councillor J Barr - Member of Sperrin Local Growth Partnership, Councillor R Barr - Sperrin Local Growth Partnership, Councillor J Boyle - Triax, Councillor M Boyle – Sperrin Local Growth Partnership, Councillor Burke – Triax, Councillor Carr – Outer West Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Councillor Cusack – Outer West Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Councillor Doyle – Ballyarnett Local Growth Partnership, Councillor Duffy – Greater Shantallow Area Partnership, Councillor Durkan – Outer West Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Councillor Edwards – Derg Local Growth Partnership, Councillor Farrell – Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Councillor Ferguson, Councillor Fleming, Councillor Jackson – Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership, Councillor Logue – Triax, Councillor McGuire – RAPID, Councillor McHugh, Councillor McKinney – Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership, Councillor Mellon – Ballyarnett Local Growth Partnership, Councillor Mooney – Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership, Councillor Reilly and Councillor Tierney – RAPID. Aldermen Ramsey, Hussey, McClintock, Guy, Devenney and Warke and Councillors Duffy, Doyle, Ferguson, Donnelly, Edwards, McCann, Farrell, Tierney and Carr; declared an interest in agenda item 19b – Adoption of the Confidential Minutes of the Monthly Planning Committee held on Wednesday 2 December 2020. Open for Decision. Chairperson’s Business C446/20 Staff Recognition Event The Mayor noted the upcoming virtual staff recognition event on Friday 18 December 2020. He encouraged Members to attend the event, if possible, to express appreciation of the efforts by staff throughout the organisation every year. However, this year had been particularly challenging for the staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. C447/20 Protocol for Remote Meetings Alderman Hussey thanked the Mayor for permitting him to seek clarification on the protocol regarding Standing Order 19.9. He noted that as Council meetings took place in a virtual setting, Standing Order 19.9 stated that, ‘a Member may raise a point of order and shall be entitled to be heard immediately.’ He noted that in a normal meeting, Members could vocally request a point of order during a meeting. Therefore, he sought clarification regarding the protocol in relation to 2 virtual meetings. He advised that the reason for raising the matter was due to him requesting a point of order on two occasions at the last Council meeting, however the Mayor had not noticed his requests in the chat box and they were therefore, not addressed promptly. In response, the Mayor advised that Members indicate requests to speak through the chat box. He extended his apologies to Alderman Hussey if he had not noted his requests at the last meeting. C448/20 Campaign on Period Poverty Councillor Duffy advised that her Party had presented a paper regarding period poverty for discussion at a meeting of the Executive that was currently taking place. She stated that she wished to acknowledge Council’s recognition on leading the way regarding period poverty. She commended Officers on the work undertaken by them to promote the campaign and looked forward to the initiative being introduced to all schools throughout the Council area. C449/20 Confirmation of the Open Minutes of the Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council held on Thursday 26 November 2020 The Minutes of the Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council held on 26 November 2020 (C373/20-C418/20) were submitted. Alderman Devenney Moved, Alderman Bresland Seconded and the Council. Resolved that the above Minutes be adopted, as a true record of the Meeting. Matters Arising C450/20 Irish League Championship Football Clubs (C381/20) In response to a query raised by Alderman Hussey, the Mayor advised that the matter had been referred to the Health and Community Committee. C451/20 Royal Mail (C385/20) Alderman Hussey stated he wished to raise an issue as a matter of urgency regarding Castlederg sorting office under Standing Order 16.2. He reported that post boxes in Castlederg were overflowing with mail 3 that had not been collected, delays in the delivery of mail throughout the area and general concern at the lack of service by Royal Mail. He stated that he was aware that various Committees had requested Members to meet with members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and management at Royal Mail. However, he felt that this was a matter of urgency. He stated that, in his opinion, there was a reluctance from staff, particularly at the Castlederg sorting office to meet with local Elected Representatives. Alderman Hussey Proposed, Seconded by Councillor R Barr That (within 48 hours), Council seeks a meeting with the management at Castlederg sorting office and if possible, a representative of the Communications Workers Union. Councillor Edwards concurred with the sentiments expressed by Alderman Hussey, particularly in regard to the lack of engagement by staff at Royal Mail in Castlederg. The Mayor advised that he had recently met with representatives from CWU. Unfortunately, none of the issues raised by Alderman Hussey had been raised at that meeting. He stated that a number of concerns had been raised and that thankfully all of the staff who had tested positive for Covid-19 or close contact had now returned to work. He noted that Royal Mail had reported in the Derry sorting office, that they were currently managing the workload and were confident that this would continue. He stated that staff had raised concerns regarding the cleaning regime at their workplace and both he and Officers who attended the meeting had agreed that, on behalf of Council, he would write to Royal Mail to highlight workers’ concerns. He stated that if he had been aware of issues at Castlederg, he would have raised them at that meeting. Councillor R Barr stated that this situation had existed and continued since May of this year in the Strabane area as well as Castlederg, despite the numerous representations made by local Councillors to Royal Mail. He felt that the attitude of management at the organisation was one of arrogance and contempt with a total disregard towards the concerns highlighted by Elected Representatives. He extended his full support to the proposal by Alderman Hussey. The Mayor advised that during discussions at Committee and at Council, that Officers had indeed, written to Royal Mail on numerous 4 occasions and had taken action on all the requests by Members in that regard. Alderman Hussey Proposed, Seconded by Councillor R Barr That (within 48 hours), Council seeks a meeting with the management at Castlederg sorting office and if possible, a representative of the Communications Workers Union. Members were then asked to vote on the proposal, the result of which was unanimous and the Council Resolved That (within 48 hours), Council seeks a meeting with the management at Castlederg sorting office and if possible, a representative of the Communications Workers Union. C452/20 Call-in of Council Item (C406/20) Alderman Hussey advised that he wished to make a point of order under Standing Order 21.2 (6), that ‘Within one working day of receipt of an admissible call-in submitted under section 41(1) (b) of the 2014 Act, the clerk shall seek the opinion of a practicing solicitor or barrister in accordance with section 41(2) of the 2014 Act’. He noted that the call-in was submitted on 11 November 2020, on two counts; 1 under section 41(1) (a) of the 2014 Act and one under section 41(1) (b) of the 2014 Act. Therefore, he asked if an opinion from a practicing solicitor or barrister was sought on the 12 November 2020. He asked if such opinion was sought, could