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 Alderman McCoubrey and Councillor Lavery.

Having been advised that Alderman McCoubrey was recovering at home following a stay in hospital, the Members agreed that a letter be sent to him conveying the Council’s wishes for a speedy recovery.

Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile),

Seconded by Councillor Hendron and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 3rd October be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Chief Executive informed the Council that, in accordance with Section 30 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, he had been advised by Councillor L. Patterson that her husband, Mr. Stewart Patterson, had been offered an appointment in the Cleansing Services Section within the Health and Environmental Services Department.

Noted.

            The Chief Executive reported that the High Sheriff (Ian Adamson) 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 2012.  The Chief Executive reminded the Council that, in previous years, it had decided to submit one name only to the Secretary of State and had 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.

            Alderman M. Campbell was proposed by Alderman Stalford and seconded by Alderman Rodgers.

            Accordingly, it was agreed that Alderman M. Campbell be nominated to the Northern Ireland Office for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff for the City of Belfast for the year 2012.

            The Council was advised that notification had been received from various Political Parties indicating that they wished to make the following changes:

Democratic Unionist Party

·        Councillor Kingston to replace Alderman M. Campbell on the Development Committee; and

·        Councillor A. Newton to replace Alderman Humphrey on the Board of the World Police and Fire Games

Sinn Féin

·        Councillor Cunningham to replace Councillor McVeigh on the Parks and Leisure Committee; and

·        Councillor Hargey to replace Councillor Ó Muilleoir on the South Belfast Partnership Board

Social Democratic and Labour Party

·        Councillor Keenan to replace Councillor Hanna on the Licensing Committee; and

·        Councillor Hanna to replace Councillor Keenan on the Town Planning Committee

            The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

Minutes of meetings of 7^th and 21^st October, 2011

Moved by Councillor Hargey,

Seconded by Councillor McCabe,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 7th and 21st October be approved and adopted.

Request for Matter to be taken

back for Further Consideration

            Former Grove Leisure Centre

            At the request of Alderman Browne, the Council agreed that the minute of the meeting of 21st October under the heading “Former Grove Leisure Centre” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Working Groups

            At the request of several Members, the Council agreed that a report be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in relation to the minutes of Working Groups and how proposals contained therein could be reflected in the minutes of Committees.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing omission and addition, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 7th and 21st October were approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 13^th October, 2011

Moved by Councillor Corr,

Seconded by Councillor Kelly,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th October be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Facilities Management Agreement –

Termination of Contract

Moved by Councillor Hendron,

Seconded by Councillor Robinson,

      That the minute under the heading “Facilities Management Agreement – Termination of Contract” be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees to proceed with the renewal of the Facilities Management Agreement at the Dixon Park Playing Fields, on the basis that the financial accounts of the club had now been received.

            On a vote by show of hands thirty-four Members voted for the amendment and none against and it was accordingly declared carried.

Midnight Soccer Programme

            At the request of Councillor Spence, the Council agreed that officers submit a report to the Parks and Leisure Committee on the possibility of the Shore Road area being included within the Midnight Soccer Programme.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th October were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the foregoing amendment and addition.

Minutes of meetings of 10^th and 25^th October, 2011

Moved by Alderman Stalford,

Seconded by Alderman M. Campbell,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 10th and 25th October be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Request for Matter to be taken

back for Further Consideration

            Capacity Building Grant 2011/2012 –

            Lower North Belfast Area

Moved by Alderman Smyth,

Seconded by Councillor Maskey,

      That the minute of the meeting of 25th October, under the heading “Capacity Building Grant 2011/2012 – Lower North Belfast Area” be taken back to the Development Committee for further consideration.

          A division on the amendment was demanded.  A poll having been taken on the amendment there voted for it eighteen Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile); Aldermen Rodgers and Smyth; and Councillors Austin, M. E. Campbell, Corr, Cunningham, Garrett, Groves, Hargey, Hartley, Kyle, Mac Giolla Mhín, Maskey, McCabe, McVeigh, Ó Muilleoir and O’Neill; and against it twenty-nine Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen M. Campbell, Ekin, Humphrey, R. Newton and Stalford; and Councillors Attwood, Convery, Curran, Haire, Hanna, Hendron, Hussey, Jones, Keenan, Kelly, Kingston, Mallon, McCarthy, McKee, McNamee, Mullan, A. Newton, L. Patterson, Reynolds, Robinson, Spence, Thompson and Webb.

            The amendment was accordingly declared lost.

Titanic Belfast – Social Clauses

            At the request of Councillor Hartley, the Council agreed that officers submit to a future meeting a report outlining proposed actions to be taken to address points 2.1 to 2.10 contained within the Committee report.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 10th and 25th October were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the foregoing addition.

Minutes of meeting of 5^th October, 2011

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

Seconded by Councillor O’Neill and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 5th October be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 19^th and 24^th October, 2011

Moved by Alderman Ekin,

Seconded by Councillor Hussey and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 19th and 24th October, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 6^th and 20^th October, 2011

Moved by Councillor L. Patterson,

Seconded by Alderman Rodgers and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 6th and 20th October, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Office of the Police Ombudsman

Public Judicial Enquiry – Pat Finucane

Office of the Police Ombudsman

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor O’Neill proposed:

      “The Council notes with concern the three recent damning reports which have highlighted the lowering of the operational independence of the Police Ombudsman’s Office and which have left the citizens of the City devoid of confidence in the Office.

      The Council calls for the immediate resignation of the Police Ombudsman, Mr. Al Hutchinson, in order that the process of restoring public confidence in the Office might commence.”

            The proposal was seconded by Councillor Garrett.

            A division on the Motion was demanded.  A poll having been taken on the Motion, there voted for it twenty-three Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Ó Donnghaile); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M.E. Campbell, Convery, Corr, Cunningham, Garrett, Groves, Hanna, Hargey, Hartley, Keenan, Kelly, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mallon, Maskey, McCabe, McCarthy, McVeigh, Mullan, Ó Muilleoir and O’Neill; and against it twenty-four Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen Browne, M. Campbell, Ekin, Humphrey, R. Newton, Rodgers and Stalford; and Councillors Curran, Haire, Hendron, Hussey, Jones, Kingston, Kyle, McKee, McNamee, A. Newton, L. Patterson,  Reynolds, Robinson, Spence, Thompson and Webb.

            The Motion was accordingly declared lost.

Public Judicial Inquiry – Pat Finucane

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, it was proposed by Councillor Hargey:

      “The Council recognises that numerous families in the City have suffered the loss of a loved one over the course of the conflict and that each family has a right to the truth. 

      The Council calls upon the British Government to honour its public commitment given following the Weston Park talks in 2001 to hold an independent judicial inquiry into the murder of the human rights lawyer, Mr. Pat Finucane.”

            The Motion was seconded by Councillor by M.E. Campbell.

Amendment

            Moved by Alderman Stalford,

            Seconded by Councillor Robinson,

      That the Motion in relation to the Public Judicial Inquiry – Pat Finucane standing in the name of Councillor Hargey and seconded by Councillor M.E. Campbell be amended to provide that this Council recognises that many families in the City have suffered the loss of a loved one during the course of the conflict; affirms that attacks upon those who are tasked with implementing the legal and judicial process, including police officers, lawyers, judges, court clerks or any other person are morally reprehensible and criminal behaviour; calls upon all parties to the conflict to participate fully in the process of truth recovery, including full co-operation with the Historical Enquiries Team, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other agencies.

            A division on the amendment was demanded.  A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it eighteen Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman R. Patterson); Aldermen Browne, M. Campbell, Humphrey, R. Newton, Rodgers and Stalford; and Councillors Haire, Hussey, Kingston, Kyle, McKee, A. Newton, L. Patterson, Reynolds, Robinson, Spence and Thompson; and against it twenty-nine Members,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.