Agenda and minutes

            In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors N. Dodds, Hendron and McMillen.

Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor,

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Lavery) and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 1st October be taken as read and signed as correct.

To decide on the person or persons whom the Council wishes to nominate to the Northern Ireland Office for the position of High Sheriff of Belfast for the ensuing year.

            The Chief Executive reported that the High Sheriff (Councillor McCoubrey) had received from the Northern Ireland Office a letter inviting him, in accordance with normal practice, to submit to the Secretary of State the names of three persons suitable for the appointment of High Sheriff of Belfast for the year 2010.  The Chief Executive reminded the Council that, in previous years, it had decided to submit one name only to the Secretary of State and requested that the Council decide how it wished to proceed.

            The Council agreed to submit one name only to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff and, accordingly, the Lord Mayor invited nominations from the Council.

            Councillor Stalford was proposed by Councillor Newton and seconded by Councillor Crozier; while Councillor Adamson was proposed by Councillor Stoker and seconded by Councillor Rodgers.

            On a vote by show of hands fifteen Members voted for Councillor Stalford and eleven for Councillor Adamson.

            Accordingly, it was agreed that Councillor Christopher Stalford be nominated to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff for the City of Belfast for the year 2010.

            It was reported that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party Grouping indicating that it wished to replace Councillor McCausland with Councillor Rodway on Membership of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.

            The Council approved the aforementioned change.

Minutes of meetings of 9^th and 23^rd October, 2009

Moved by Councillor Hartley,

Seconded by Councillor Convery,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 9th and 23rd October be approved and adopted.

Request for Matter to be

Taken Back for Further Consideration

            Major Projects – Titanic Signature Project

            The Chairman (Councillor Hartley), at the request of Councillor M. Browne, agreed that the minute under the heading “Major Projects – Titanic Signature Project” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.  However, the Council determined to vote on whether it would grant the necessary consent to the matter being taken back.

            On a vote by show of hands, fourteen Members voted for the matter to be taken back and thirty-three against.  The Council accordingly did not agree to the minute being taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Amendments

Plaques in the City Hall

Moved by Councillor Crozier,

Seconded by Councillor Humphrey and

      Resolved – That the decision of 23rd October under the heading “Plaques in the City Hall” be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees that the various plaques which had previously been located on the East Staircase of the City Hall be replaced on a temporary basis and that the Memorabilia Working Group give consideration to their location on a permanent basis.

London Cultural Olympiad – Live Sites Screen

Moved by Councillor Stoker,

Seconded by Councillor Rodgers,

      That the decision of 23rd October under the heading “London Cultural Olympiad – Live Sites Screen” be rejected and accordingly that the Council refuses to grant permission for the use of the City Hall grounds to locate the screen.

            A division on the amendment was demanded.  A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it ten Members, viz., the High Sheriff (Councillor McCoubrey); and Councillors Adamson, D. Browne, Cobain, Empey, Kirkpatrick, McGimpsey, Rodgers, Smyth and Stoker; and against it thirty-four Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Long); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Lavery); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Brownlee, Campbell, Convery, Crozier, Cunningham, Cush, D. Dodds, Ekin, Hartley, Humphrey, Jones, B. Kelly, N. Kelly, Kyle, Maginness, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, McCann, McCarthy, McClenaghan, McKenzie, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Mullaghan, Newton, O’Neill, Patterson, Rodway and Stalford.  Two Members, Councillor W. Browne, who expressed a conflict of interest in that he was on the Membership of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Councillor McCausland, did not vote.

            The amendment was accordingly declared lost.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 9th and 23rd October were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the rejection of the minute of the meeting of 23rd October under the heading “Plaques in the City Hall”; the Council accordingly agreed that the various plaques which had previously been located on the East Staircase of the City Hall be replaced on a temporary basis and that the Memorabilia Working Group give consideration to their location  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Minutes of meeting of 15^th October, 2009

Moved by Councillor Stoker,

Seconded by Councillor McCann,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 15th October be approved and adopted.

Amendments

Connswater Community Greenway –

Public Paths Creation Order

Moved by Councillor Jones,

Seconded by Councillor Ekin and

      Resolved – That the minute of the meeting under the heading “Connswater Community Greenway – Public Paths Creation Order” be amended to provide that further discussion be undertaken with the  residents of the Orby Drive area in connection with their concerns about the possible creation of an additional Public Path in the area.

Watch This Space Project

Moved by Councillor Mullaghan,

Seconded by Councillor Crozier and

      Resolved – That the minute under the heading “Watch This Space Project” be amended to provide that a further report be submitted to the Committee detailing the schools involved in the project and including options for the possible extension of the programme of monthly Saturday Clubs to other areas of the City.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments in relation to the “Connswater Community Greenway – Public Paths Creation Order” and the “Watch This Space Project”, the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 15th October were approved and adopted.

Resolved – That the Council agrees, in accordance with Section 12 of the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, to the following Public Paths Creation Orders:

1.   The BelfastCity Council Village Green Public Path Creation Order 2009

2.   The Belfast City Council Newtownards Road Public Path Creation Order 2009

3.   The Belfast City Council Mersey Street Public Path Creation Order 2009

4.   The Belfast City Council Loopland Court Public Path Creation Order 2009

5.   The Belfast City Council Knock Way Public Path Creation Order 2009

6.   The Belfast City Council Dunraven Avenue Public Path Creation Order 2009

7.   The Belfast City Council Connswater Link Public Path Creation Order 2009

8.   The Belfast City Council Avonorr Drive Public Path Creation Order 2009

9.   The Belfast City Council Abetta Parade Public Path Creation Order 2009

Minutes of meeting of 14^th October, 2009

Moved by Councillor Humphrey,

Seconded by Councillor Stalford and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 14th October be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 7^th October, 2009

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

Seconded by Councillor Kyle,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 7th October be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Northern Ireland

Building Control Annual Convention

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor N. Kelly and

      Resolved – That the decision under the heading “Northern Ireland Building Control Annual Convention” be amended to provide that authority be granted also for the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman (or their nominees) and an appropriate officer from the Waste Management Service to attend in London on 18th November the Green Awards 2009 and further that, since the current policy governing attendance of Members at conferences can in certain circumstances prove unduly restrictive, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee be requested to review that policy at an early date.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 7th October were approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 21^st October, 2009

Moved by Councillor O’Neill,

Seconded by Councillor Lavery and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 21st October, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 8^th and 22^nd October, 2009.

Moved by Councillor Campbell,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 8th and 22nd October, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Planning Applications: Reconsidered Items –

The Devenish Arms, 37 Finaghy Road North

Moved by Councillor A. Maskey,

Seconded by Councillor N. Kelly,

      That the decision of 8th October under the heading “Planning Applications: Reconsidered Items – The Devenish Arms, 37 Finaghy Road North” be rejected and accordingly that the recommendation of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the renovation of the gym premises and function rooms in order to provide a children’s play centre at the Devenish Arms be rejected on the grounds that the proposal would cause noise, nuisance and general disturbance to surrounding properties.

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 8th and 22nd October, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.