Agenda item

Moved by Councillor Brennan,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      “That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th and 30th April, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.”

NICVA Summit 2026

          At the request of Councillor Murray, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th April, 2026, under the heading “NICVA Summit 2026” be amended to provide that the Council contribute £20,000 of sponsorship to support the NICVA 2026 Summit event.

Notices of Motion - Quarterly Update

            At the request of Councillor Collins, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th April, 2026, under the heading “Notices of Motion – Quarterly Update” be amended to provide that the Notice of Motion ‘Save West Wellbeing Suicide Awareness’ (ID 331) remained open.

Notice of Motion –

Proposed City Ambassadors Scheme

            At the request of Councillor de Faoite, the Council agreed that the Notice of Motion ‘Proposed City Ambassadors Scheme’, proposed by Councillor Long and seconded by Councillor Nelson, which was considered by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 24th April, 2026, be amended to include the following paragraph:

“Proposals shall be brought back to the Committee in respect of addressing the gender imbalance amongst recipients of the Freedom of the City, including a process, in consultation with the women's sector, to identify four women who have made a lasting positive impact in Belfast, to be awarded the Freedom of the City as part of the International Women’s Day programme of events in March 2027.”

The motion, as amended, therefore read:

“This Council will introduce a City Ambassadors scheme which recognises those in the city who have made outstanding contributions in various sectors. These individuals will have a formal role in promoting Belfast.

This new scheme will be more inclusive and allow for more diverse recognition than the Freedom of the City scheme and allow us to better recognise the achievements of those in Belfast.

Proposals shall be brought back to the Committee in respect of addressing the gender imbalance amongst recipients of the Freedom of the City, including a process, in consultation with the women's sector, to identify four women who have made a lasting positive impact in Belfast, to be awarded the Freedom of the City as part of the International Women’s Day programme of events in March 2027.”

Bonfire Update

            At the request of Councillor Bunting, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 30th April, 2026, under the heading “Bonfire Update” in relation to the temporary fencing of bonfire sites, be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. 

Requests for Funding

            At the request of Councillor I. McLaughlin, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 30th April, 2026, under the heading “Requests for Funding” be amended to provide that the Director of Finance submit a report to the Committee which would outline how the remaining requests could be funded.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th and 30th April, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee were thereupon approved and adopted.