Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported on behalf of Councillors Groogan, McDonough-Brown and Meenehan.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The information contained in the report associated with the following item was restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following item as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            Members were also reminded that the content of ‘restricted’ reports and any discussion which took place during closed session must be treated as ‘confidential information’ and that no such information should be disclosed to the public as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Code of Conduct.  

            The Director of Finance submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an overview of the budgetary pressures facing the Council in 2026/27; outlined the cash limit for the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for 2026/27, as recommended by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 6th February, 2026; and outlined the next steps in the rate setting process.

            The Director of Finance explained that the decision should not be subject to call-in on the basis that an inability to immediately implement the decision would result in a breach of statutory duty in striking the rate by the legislative deadline of 15th February, 2026.

The Committee:

i.       agreed the cash limit of £23,958,554 for the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for 2026/27 and the individual service estimates;

ii.      agreed that the decision should not be subject to call-in, on the basis that an inability to immediately implement the decision would result in a breach of statutory duty in striking the rate by the legislative deadline of 15th February, 2026; and

iii.     noted the next steps in the rate setting process.

            In accordance with Standing Order 14, the Committee agreed that, as the meeting had been held later than seven clear days before the meeting of the Council, the minutes of the meeting be submitted to the Council on 9th February, 2026, for ratification.