MM 23.06.2020 LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH CITY COUNCIL Minutes of the Remote Monthly Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 23 June, 2020 at 5:32 pm PRESENT IN The Right Worshipful the Mayor CHAMBER: Councillor N Trimble Deputy Mayor Councillor Jenny Palmer Aldermen O Gawith, A Grehan, S Martin, S P Porter and J Tinsley Councillors N Anderson, H Legge, C McCready, U Mackin, T Mitchell, John Palmer PRESENT IN REMOTE Aldermen J Baird, W J Dillon MBE, D Drysdale, LOCATION: A G Ewart MBE, A Grehan and M Henderson MBE Councillors R T Beckett, R Carlin, S Carson, D J Craig, S Eastwood, A P Ewing, J Gallen, A Givan, A Gowan, M Gregg, M Guy, D Honeyford, S Hughes, J Laverty BEM, S Lee, S Lowry, J McCarthy, G McCleave, A McIntyre, R McLernon, S Skillen and A Swan IN ATTENDANCE: Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Chief Executive Director of Environmental Services Director of Leisure and Community Wellbeing Director of Service Transformation Head of Communities Head of Human Resources & Organisation Development PCSP/Member Services Manager Member Services Officers IT Officer Mayor’s Chaplain Commencement of the Meeting Alderman S Martin and Councillor T Mitchell arrived to the meeting during this item of business (5.34 pm). Alderman S Martin and Councillor H Legge left the meeting during this item of business (5.36 pm). At the commencement of the meeting, The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor N Trimble, welcomed those present to the remote meeting of Council, which was being live streamed to enable members of the public to hear and see the proceedings. 317 MM 23.06.2020 Commencement of the Meeting (Contd) At this point, the PCSP/Member Services Manager read out the names of the Elected Members in attendance at the meeting. The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor N Trimble, requested that all mobile phones be put on silent for the duration of the meeting. He also stated that, whilst the meeting was being live streamed, unauthorised recording was not permitted, as per the Council’s Standing Orders. The Chief Executive outlined the evacuation procedures in the case of an emergency. Prayers During consideration of this item of business: - Councillor N Anderson arrived to the meeting (5.36 pm); - Alderman S Martin and Councillor H Legge returned to the meeting (5.38 pm); - Alderman A Grehan arrived to the meeting (5.38 pm). She then left the Council Chamber at 5.41 pm); - Alderman S Martin left, and returned to, the meeting (5.41 pm and 5.44 pm); and - Alderman D Drysdale joined the meeting (5.48 pm). The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor N Trimble, expressed condolences in respect of the following bereavements: Charlotte (Lottie) Fulton – mother of Ronnie Fulton, Environmental Services; and Billy Bell – former Mayor of Lisburn City Council (2003/04) Members were invited to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for former Mayor of Lisburn City Council, Mr Billy Bell. The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor N Trimble, welcomed to the meeting Rev Fiona Forbes, Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church, who began by thanking Councillor Trimble for having invited her to be Mayor’s Chaplain during his term in office. She stated that, not only would she be available for the Mayor and Mayoress during the forthcoming year, but for any Elected Member who needed her help in any way. Rev Forbes gave an address and said a prayer, during which she remembered the above bereaved families. Councillor Trimble thanked Rev Forbes for her attendance and she left the meeting (5.50 pm). 1. Business of The Right Worshipful the Mayor 1.2 Mayor’s Engagements The Council noted a number of engagements attended by The Right Worshipful the Mayor since the Annual Meeting of Council. 318 MM 23.06.2020 2. Apologies There were no apologies. 3. Declarations of Interest The following declarations of non-pecuniary interest were expressed at this point: Councillor S Hughes in respect of Item 7.1 Signing of Legal Documents, given that he had lobbied heavily for this legal agreement to happen and was a member of Derriaghy Cricket Club, which was a related entity to the party signing the legal document; and The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor N Trimble, in respect of item 13.3 Community Coordination Hub, given that Lisburn Foodbank was one of his chosen charities, although he was not involved in its organisational structure. During the meeting the following declaration of non-pecuniary interest was made: Councillor D J Craig in respect of Item 9.3, Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP Reconstitution, given that his wife had been reappointed as an independent member of the Partnership. 4. Council Minutes It was proposed by Alderman J Tinsley, seconded by Alderman S P Porter and agreed that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26 May, 2020 be confirmed and signed. It was proposed by Alderman J Tinsley, seconded by Alderman S P Porter and agreed that the minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 5 June, 2020 be confirmed and signed. 5. Matters Arising Annual Meeting – 5 June, 2020 Page 300, Item 5.3 – Election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen for 2020/2021 Alderman W J Dillon, who had been elected as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee for the incoming year, reported receipt of notification from the Department for Communities that the Council was to receive £545,000 for revitalisation of town centres. In the Lisburn and Castlereagh area, this could support Lisburn City Centre, Carryduff and Dundonald. A number of ways to allocate this money had been identified, particularly for the catering and hospitality sector, as many were keen to put tables and chairs outside their premises and it was hoped the Council could purchase tables, awnings, heaters, etc. This money required to be spent before the end of the current financial year. 319 MM 23.06.2020 6. Deputations There were no deputations. 7. Business Required by Statute (i) Signing of Legal Documents On a proposal by Alderman J Tinsley, seconded by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jenny Palmer, it was agreed that the following legal document be signed at the meeting: Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Michael Lamont, of 53 Redwood Dale, Dunmurry, BT17 9RL, Robert Bleakley of 8 Greenvale, Dunmurry, BT17 9RL, and Nigel Fell of 69 Pinewood Drive, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 6GH, as trustees of Derriaghy Cricket Club Football Club, Seycon Park, Hornbeam Road, Dunmurry, Lisburn, BT17 9DJ – lease of a soccer pitch at Seycon Park, Hornbeam Road, Seymour Hill, Dunmurry, Lisburn, BT17 9DJ. 8. Adoption of Minutes of Committees Planning Committee 2 March 2020 Planning Committee 2 June 2020 The minutes of the Planning Committee meetings of 2 March and 2 June, 2020 had been circulated for noting only as these minutes had been agreed at the subsequent meetings of the Planning Committee on 2 June and 17 June, 2020 respectively. It was proposed by Alderman O Gawith, seconded by Alderman D Drysdale and agreed that their contents be noted. 9. Report from Chief Executive It was agreed that the report and recommendations of the Chief Executive be adopted, subject to any decisions recorded below. Item for Decision 9.1 Covid-19 Update Members were provided with a Covid-19 update report outlining the background to this situation and a number of key considerations around finance, capital programme, committee meetings, delegated authority and recovery plan. Discussion ensued, during which the Chief Executive responded to a number of queries raised by Members. Councillor M Guy referred to the Council’s evaluation of the Covid-19 response and, having asked that, as soon as practicable after 30 June, Members be provided with a report covering a number of issues, the Chief Executive verbally responded to the points raised, some of 320 MM 23.06.2020 9.1 Covid-19 Update (Contd) which were addressed in his update report. Councillor Guy agreed to provide further comments to the Chief Executive after the meeting regarding her suggestions around future governance arrangements. The Chief Executive agreed to provide a further copy of the previously-circulated Emergency Plan to Members. It was proposed by Alderman S P Porter, seconded by Alderman S Martin and agreed that: (a) delegated authority granted in March 2020 remain in place, specifically to reinstate services which were suspended or scaled back as a result of the pandemic and where there was a requirement to act with a level of immediacy. Similar to previous years where most Committees sat in recess over the summer, if a decision was less urgent it would be brought to the next Council meeting for consideration. Any decisions made under delegated authority would continue to be placed on the decision log. More significant or strategic decisions over the summer which required a lead-in period would be considered by the relevant Committee or Council, in line with Standing Orders and a normal schedule of Committee meetings would recommence in September; and (b) the contents of the update report be noted, particularly the significant input required from the various Committees to guide and subsequently decide on future service alterations within the Council to ensure the Council remained viable in the longer term. 9.2 Delegated Authority to Governance and Audit Committee It was proposed by Councillor John Palmer, seconded by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jenny Palmer and agreed that delegated authority be granted to the Governance and Audit Committee, at its meeting to be held on 30 June, 2020, to note the Council’s Financial Statements 2019/20 and agree to submit these to the Northern Ireland Audit Office accordingly.