MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of Proceedings of a Meeting of Magherafelt District Council held in the Council Chamber, 50 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt on Tuesday, 13 April 2010. The meeting commenced at 7.40 pm. Presiding: J J McPeake Other Members Present: P J Bateson J Campbell T J Catherwood J Crawford Mrs E A Forde P E Groogan O T Hughes J F Kerr Miss K A Lagan Rev Dr R T Wm McCrea MP, MLA (joined the meeting at 8.20 p.m.) Mrs K A McEldowney P McLean I P Milne Miss B Scullion G C Shiels Officers Present: J A McLaughlin (Chief Executive) J J Tohill (Director of Finance and Administration) W J Glendinning (Director of Building Control) A Cassells (Director of Operations) M Young (Director of Environmental Health) Mrs Anne-Marie Campbell (Head of Policy/Implementation) A Boyle (Deputising for Chief Executive’s Secretary) Representatives from Other Bodies in Attendance UNISON: Sean Dorrity DoE Planning Service: Mr Melvin Bowman – Planning Officer 2 1 Minutes 1.1 Minutes of Meeting of the Council held on Tuesday, 9th March 2010 1.1.1 It was Proposed by Councillor O T Hughes Seconded by Councillor P McLean, and Resolved: that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 9th March 2010 (copy previously circulated to each Member) be taken as read and signed as correct. 2 Matters Arising Out of the Minutes 2.1 Submitted letter of thanks from Sandra Adams, former Planning Officer thanking Council for the flowers presented to her at the previous Council meeting. 2.2 Submitted letter of thanks from the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health for the donation received from the Council. 2.3 Submitted letter of thanks from Cancer Research NI (Maghera Branch) for the donation received from the Council. 2.4 Submitted letter of thanks from Cruse Bereavement Care for the donation received from the Council. 2.5 Submitted letter of thanks from Camphill Communities Trust (NI) for the donation received from the Council. 2.6 Submitted letter of thanks from the Special Olympics Ireland Ulster for the donation received from the Council. 2.7 Submitted letter of thanks from the Multiple Sclerosis Society for the donation received from the Council. 2.8 Submitted letter of thanks from the Lavey Senior Camogie Team and Management for the Civic Reception which the Council provided. 2.9 The Chief Executive informed Members that he had received a letter from Michael McGimpsey MLA – Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the recent Meeting that Councillors from Magherafelt and Cookstown had held regarding clarification of position of GP Out of Hours (OOHs) services in Moneymore. 3 2.10 In his letter Mr McGimpsey said that he appreciated the concern of Councillors and that there was currently an ongoing review of OOHs services with a view to establishing a regional OOHs service for NI. He further intimated that no decision had been made regarding the future provision of OOHs service in Moneymore and that he wished to assure Councillors that careful consideration to the proposals would be given in order to provide a safe, effective and efficient service. Noted 3 UNISON Presentation 3.1 The Chairman, Councillor J J McPeake welcomed Mr Sean Dorrity and asked him to proceed with the Presentation. 3.2 Mr Dorrity briefly outlined to Members how Local Government Staff pay was negotiated by the National Joint Council and explained that Public Sector Workers had been told that there would be a pay freeze in the current year. He further explained that, as inflation was presently recorded as 3.7%, this in essence meant that public sector workers were taking a 3.7% pay cut which Unison felt was unacceptable. He went on to outline what Unison were doing in relation to the situation and requested that the Council write to Councillor Spratt who represented Local Government in Northern Ireland on the National Joint Council to lobby and indicate their support for a 2% pay rise for public sector workers. 3.3 The Chairman, Councillor J J McPeake, thanked Mr Dorrity for his detailed presentation and, noting that Councillor Spratt had been nominated to represent the interests of district councils in Northern Ireland on the NJC, sought clarification of what Councillor Spratt’s position was in relation to Unison’s request. Mr Dorrity informed the Chairman that Councillor Spratt’s view was that there should be no increase. 3.4 Councillor Kerr also thanked Mr Dorrity for his presentation and enquired as to how many people he was talking about. Mr. Dorrity replied that he was referring to all school support staff, housing executive and council workers. 3.5 Councillor McLean said that, although he didn’t disagree with Mr Dorrity’s comments in relation to the impact of a pay freeze, one had to appreciate that the private sector was also facing massive problems and to reward a pay increase for the public sector could be seen to be sending out an inappropriate message. Affordability was also an issue. 4 3.6 Mr Dorrity explained that when the private sector was going good the public sector were still only getting 1 and 2% pay rises each year. He said public sector workers were not earning big money and that they were the back bone of the community. Mr Dorrity retired from the meeting at 8.00pm. 3.7 Members discussed the issues raised by Mr Dorrity and were generally sympathetic to the Group that Mr Dorrity represented. 3.8 The Chief Executive advised the Members that, given that the Council had recently implemented a significant increase in the district rate, local businesses would be unlikely to be receptive to Council being supportive of further pay increases for staff. He also pointed out that staff pay was only one element of the staff cost that Council faced. Collectively National Insurance costs and superannuation costs now represented a significant cost to the Council. 3.9 It was Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr, Seconded by Councillor P J Bateson That: the Council write to Councillor Spratt to confirm that it does not support the proposed pay freeze for public sector workers as it would, in effect, represent a 3.7% pay cut when inflation is considered. Councillor McLean stated that, given the present economic climate, any proposal other than to have a pay freeze would be unaffordable and he suggested that the Council should simply note Mr Dorrity’s comments. 3.9.1 On a vote being taken, 10 Members voted in favour of the Motion, 5 voted against, voting being by show of hands. The Chairman declared the Motion carried. 4 BUILDING CONTROL DEPARTMENT The Director of Building Control presented the Department’s report for the period 1 March 2010 to 26 March 2010 (copy previously circulated to each Member) 4.1 During this period thirty-two applications had been recommended for approval and one hundred and thirty-five applications required amending by Architects and Agents before granting approval. 4.2 During the period from 4 March 2010 to 30 March 2010 four applications had been recommended for rejection. 5 4.3 Applications for Notices and Regularisations During the period from 1 March 2010 to 26 March 2010 there was one Regularisation issued. During the period from 1 February 2010 to 28 February 2010 thirty-two applications have commenced on site and twenty-eight applications were found to be complete in accordance with Building Regulations. 4.4 Naming and numbering of Streets During the period from 1 February 2010 to 28 February 2010 twenty new Postal Numbers and Postcodes were issued for private dwellings. 4.5 Property Certificates There were thirteen Property Certificates issued for this period. 4.6 It was Proposed by Councillor P McLean, Seconded by Councillor J F Kerr, and Resolved: to adopt the report as submitted. 5. Licences and Registrations 5.1 Entertainments Licences: Submitted the following applications for an Entertainments Licence which were recommended for renewal: E.34 Fallagloon AOH Community Hall, 189 Glen Road, Maghera – Mr Sean Doherty E.48 Gracelands Bar & Steakhouse, 179 Shore Road, Ballyronan – Ms Sharon Smith E.13 Newbridge Youth Club, Blackpark Road, Newbridge – Mr Jim Murphy E.12 St Colm’s GAC Social Centre, 6 Corrick Road, Draperstown – St Colm’s GAC E. 47 St Oliver Plunketts GAC Pavillion, Mayogall Road, Clady, - Mr Paul Downey 5.1.1 It was 6 Proposed by Councillor J F Kerr Seconded by Councillor I P Milne, and Resolved: to approve the applications as submitted. 6 Planning Service 185/04/2010 6.1 New Planning Applications: H/2009/0428/O – Mr D Darragh Approval H/2009/0467/O – Mr S Henry c/o Architectural Services Approval H/2009/0518/F – R & E Rainey c/o McGurk Chartered Architects Approval H/2009/0640/O – Mr P Crozier, c/o Diamond Architecture Approval H/2009/0650/F – Mr Michael & Mrs Celine McLarnon Deferred for an Office Meeting on the request of Councillor Forde and Councillor Lagan. H/2009/0655/F – Mr T McTeague, c/o Diamond Architecture Approval H/2009/0681/F – Mr W Nesbitt, c/o Ward Design Approval H/2009/0700/F – Mr W Nesbitt, c/o Ward Design Approval H/2009/0712/F – Sperrin Switchgear Ltd Approval H/2009/0715/F – Mr A Bradley, c/o B McMullan Deferred for an Office Meeting on the request of Councillor Lagan. Councillor Lagan handed a letter of submission to the Planning Officer. H/2009/0720/F – Mr M & E McNamee, c/o Ward Design Deferred for an Office Meeting on the request of Councillor Groogan.