A 94 Council

MONTHLY MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL

Held in Adelaide Exchange on Tuesday, 1st July, 2008 at the hour of 6.00 o’clock p.m., pursuant to Notice.

Members present: The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley) (Chairman); the High Sheriff (Councillor McKenzie); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Cobain, Convery, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, Ekin, Empey, Hendron, Humphrey, Jones, B. Kelly, N. Kelly, Kirkpatrick, Kyle, Lavery, Long, Maginness, McCarthy, McCausland, McClenaghan McCoubrey, McGimpsey, Mhic Giolla Mhin, Moore, Mullaghan, Newton, O'Neill, O'Reilly, Patterson, Rodgers, Smyth and Stalford.

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 D. Browne) and Councillors Adamson, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCann, McMillen, Rodway and Stoker.

Casual Vacancy - Balmoral District Electoral Area

In accordance with Notice on the Summons Paper, the Council considered the question of the filling of the casual vacancy in the Balmoral District Electoral Area consequent upon the resignation of Councillor Carmel Hanna.

The Chief Executive informed the Council that Section 11(4)(a) of the Electoral Law Act () 1962 enabled the Council to choose a person to fill the vacancy by co-option, provided that such a person was qualified to be a Member of the Council and was not objected to by any Member of the Council present at the meeting. In the event of the vacancy not being filled by co-option, a Bye-Election would be required to fill the vacancy. Meeting of Council, A Tuesday, 1st July, 2008 95

Councillor Convery proposed the co-option of Mr. Niall Kelly to fill the casual vacancy in the Balmoral District Electoral Area.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Maginness.

As there was no objection made to the proposal, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley) declared Mr. N. Kelly co-opted as a Councillor for the Balmoral District Electoral Area.

Councillor N. Kelly, having subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Lord Mayor.

Councillor Carmel Hanna

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and a representative from each of the Party Groupings on the Council then paid tribute to Councillor Hanna for the work she had undertaken on behalf of the Council and the citizens of Belfast during her eleven years as a Councillor.

Expressions of Sympathy

The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley) expressed his regret at the recent deaths of the father of Councillor McCann, the father of Councillor N. Dodds and the mother of Councillor Kyle and, on behalf of the Council, extended to the respective families his condolences and deepest sympathy.

Minutes

Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley), Seconded by Councillor Stalford and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Council of 2nd June and the Special Meeting of the Council of 26th June be taken as read and signed as correct.

Change of Membership on Committees

The Chief Executive advised the Council that notification had been received from the Sinn Féin Party Grouping indicating that it wished to make the following changes to the Membership on Committees:

• Councillor C. Maskey to replace Councillor Hartley on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee;

• Councillor Lavery to replace Councillor Hartley on the Development Committee; and

• Councillor C. Maskey to replace Councillor Hartley on the Licensing Committee. A Meeting of Council, 96 Tuesday, 1st July, 2008

In addition, correspondence had been received from the Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping stating that it wished Councillor N. Kelly to fill the vacancies left on the Health and Environmental Services and the Parks and Leisure Committees arising from the resignation of Councillor Hanna.

The Council approved the foregoing amendments to the membership of Committees.

Change of Deputy Chairmanships

It was reported that notification had been received from the Sinn Féin Party Grouping indicating that it wished:

(i) Councillor McCann to replace Councillor Hartley as Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee; and

(ii) Councillor O’Neill to replace Councillor McClenaghan as Deputy Chairman of the Town Planning Committee.

The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

Change of Membership on Outside Bodies

The Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping had indicated that it wished Councillor N. Kelly to fill the vacancy on the membership of the South Belfast Partnership Board consequent upon the resignation of Councillor Hanna. In addition, it had requested that the Council approve the replacement of Councillor Maginness with Councillor Convery on the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Correspondence had also been received from the Sinn Féin Party Grouping stating that it wished to make the following changes to the membership on Outside Bodies:

(i) Councillor Lavery to replace Councillor Hartley on the Board of the Belfast Habour Commissioners;

(ii) Councillor Austin to replace Councillor Hartley on the District Policing Partnership West Belfast Sub-Group;

(iii) Councillor Mhic Giolla Mhín to replace Councillor Austin on the District Policing Partnership South Belfast Sub-Group.

The Council approved the changes to the membership on Outside Bodies.

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

Moved by Councillor D. Dodds, Seconded by M. Browne,

That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 28th May, 6th, 13th and 20th June be approved and adopted. Meeting of Council, A Tuesday, 1st July, 2008 97

Amendment

Replacement of Lord Mayor’s Vehicle

Moved by Councillor Stalford, Seconded by Councillor Humphrey,

That the decision of 20th June under the heading “Replacement of Lord Mayor’s Vehicle” be amended to provide that the Lord Mayor’s vehicle be replaced on a five-year basis rather than three.

A division on the amendment was demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it seventeen Members, viz., Councillors Attwood, W. Browne, Campbell, Convery, D. Dodds, Humphrey, B. Kelly, N. Kelly, Kirkpatrick, Maginness, McCarthy, McCausland, Mullaghan, Newton, O’Reilly, Patterson and Stalford; and against it twenty Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley); and Councillors Austin, M. Browne, Cobain, Cunningham, Cush, Ekin, Empey, Hendron, Jones, Kyle, Lavery, Long, McClenaghan, McCoubrey, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, O’Neill, Rodgers and Smyth.

The amendment was accordingly declared lost.

Adoption of Minutes

The minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 20th May and 6th, 13th and 20th June were approved and adopted.

Parks and Leisure Committee

Moved by Councillor Ekin, Seconded by Councillor M. Browne and

Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 16th and 23rd June be approved and adopted.

Development Committee

Moved by Councillor M. Browne, Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,

That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 11th and 24th June be approved and adopted.

Amendments

Sunday Tourism Product

Moved by Councillor Newton, Seconded by Councillor McCausland,

That the decision of 24th June under the heading “Sunday Tourism Product” be amended to provide that expenditure of £46,250 in connection with the development of the Sunday Tourism Product within Belfast be not authorised until match funding from other sources had been secured. A Meeting of Council, 98 Tuesday, 1st July, 2008

On a vote by show of hands ten Members voted for the amendment and twenty-four against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Tourism Unit Update – Sister Cities International 2008 Annual Conference

Moved by Councillor B. Kelly, Seconded by Councillor Attwood,

That the decision of 11th June under the heading “Tourism Unit Update – Sister Cities International 2008 Annual Conference” be amended to provide that the party travelling to Kansas be authorised to travel economy class only.

A division on the amendment was demanded. A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it twenty-one Members, viz., the High Sheriff (Councillor McKenzie); and Councillors Attwood, Campbell, Convery, D. Dodds, Ekin, Hendron, Jones, B. Kelly, N. Kelly, Kirkpatrick, Kyle, Long, Maginness, McCarthy, Mullaghan, Newton, O’Reilly, Patterson, Smyth and Stalford; and against it none. Twelve Members, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Hartley); and Councillors Austin, M. Browne, Cobain, Cunningham, Cush, Lavery, McClenaghan, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Moore, O’Neill and Rodgers, did not vote.

The amendment was accordingly declared carried.

Revenue and Community Development Project Grants – Steadfast Association

The Council agreed that the decision of 11th June under the heading “Revenue and Community Development Project Grants – Steadfast Association” be amended to provide that the recommendation to refuse the application for grant-aid on the grounds that the organisation did not meet the criteria in so far as it was located outside the Belfast District Electoral Area Boundary, be accepted.

Review of the Council’s Play Service

The Council agreed that the decision of 11th June under the heading “Review of the Council’s Play Service”, in so far as it related to the establishment of a Consultative Group to examine the provision of play facilities, be amended to provide that each of the Party Groupings on the Council be allocated one seat only on the Group.

Adoption of Minutes

The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Development Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:

that the minutes of the meetings of the Development Committee of 11th and 24th June be approved and adopted, subject to:

(i) the amendment of the minute of 11th June under the heading “Tourism Unit Update – Sister Cities International 2008 Annual Conference” to provide that the party travelling to Kansas be authorised to travel economy class only; Meeting of Council, A Tuesday, 1st July, 2008 99

(ii) the amendment of the minute of 11th June under the heading “Revenue and Community Development Project Grants – Steadfast Association” to provide that the application for grant-aid submitted by the Steadfast Association be refused on the grounds that it did not meet the criteria in so far as it was an organisation located outside the Belfast District Electoral Area Boundary; and

(iii) the amendment of the minute of 11th June under the heading “Review of the Council’s Play Service” to provide that the Consultative Group be established with each Party Grouping represented on the Council having one seat only.

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 4th, 18th, and 25th June be approved and adopted.

Licensing Committee

Moved by Councillor Kirkpatrick, Seconded by Councillor Attwood and

Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 18th June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Town Planning Committee

Moved by Councillor Lavery, Seconded by Councillor Moore and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 5th and 19th June, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted and, as a result of agreement having been reached between the applicant and objectors, that the revised opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to grant approval for the application in relation to the erection of an additional two one-bedroom apartments at 699 and 707 Antrim Road, which had been referred to the Council by the Committee, be adopted also. A Meeting of Council, 100 Tuesday, 1st July, 2008

Notice of Motion

New Regional Hospital for Children and Women

In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Attwood proposed:

“ calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Northern Ireland Executive to make the completion of the new regional hospital for children and women, on the site of the Royal Group of Hospitals, a matter of top priority in the next comprehensive spending review.

The Council calls on the Minister of Health and the Executive to secure the resources now for clearing the site, which is an essential first step in progressing the new hospital for children and women.

The Council agrees to work in partnership with the Royal Maternity Hospital Liaison Group to lobby the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to secure the capital funds necessary to build the new regional hospital for children and women.”

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Attwood.

After discussion, the Motion was put to the Council and passed unanimously.

Lord Mayor Chairman