Agenda item

Moved by Councillor I. McLaughlin,

Seconded by Councillor McCallin,

 

      “That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.”

 

Requests for Funding

 

            Moved by Councillor I. McLaughlin,

            Seconded by Alderman Lawlor,

 

      “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading be amended to provide that the Committee agrees to fund the 47 discretionary funding support requests as outlined in the report and agrees that the funding, totalling £339,242, be allocated from the non-recurrent community capacity building monies included in the Growth Fund for 26/27”.

 

The following addition, proposed by Councillor McCallin, was agreed by the proposer:

 

“with a report to come back to the committee on up to £100,000 being allocated for dual language signage in the extended Gaeltacht area as identified in the Irish Language Policy.”

 

On a vote on the amendment standing in the name of Councillor I. McLaughlin, as amended by Councillor McCallin, thirty-seven Members voted for it, eighteen against, and with one no vote, it was accordingly declared carried.

Minutes of the Language Strategy Working Group

 

                  Moved by Councillor Walsh,

                  Seconded by Councillor Ó Néill and

 

    Resolved – That the Council agrees that the Irish Language Commissioner,Pól Deeds, be invited to attend the next meeting of the Working Group.

 

Sunday Trading

 

Moved by Alderman McCullough

Seconded by Councillor Doran

 

      “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading be rejected and, accordingly, the Council agrees not to designate the Belfast City Council area as a Holiday Resort designation to enable extended Sunday trading hours for larger retailers.”

 

On a vote, nineteen Members voted for amendment and 41 against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Further Amendment

 

Moved by Councillor Nelson

Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown

 

      “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading be rejected and accordingly agrees to the implementation of the in-principle Council decision from July 2025 and to designate the entire Belfast City Council area as a Holiday Resort designation under Article 6, paragraph (9) of the Shops Sunday (Sunday Trading) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.”

 

            On a vote, ten Members voted for the amendment, forty-nine against and with one no vote, it was accordingly declared lost.

 

Neighbourhood Tourism Investment Programme

 

Moved by Councillor I. McLaughlin,

Seconded by The High Sheriff (Alderman McCoubrey)

 

      “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading, be amended to provide that a report be submitted to a future meeting seeking to allocate £50,000 from the growth fund for the tourism plan for the Greater Shankill area of the City.”

 

                  On a vote, sixteen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-nine against and it was accordingly declared lost.

 

Outcome of the Judicial Review in relation to

Animal Welfare Services and new Animal

Welfare Legislation

 

            Moved by Councillor Flynn,

            Seconded by Smyth and

 

    Resolved - “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading, be amended to provide that the Committee’s letter to the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee includes that the Council has concerns that introducing additional animal welfare enforcement responsibilities, without providing adequate resources, risks undermining both existing enforcement activity and the successful implementation of new legislation and, moreover, cannot be improved through legislation alone.  It requires properly resourced enforcement services capable of investigating complaints, tackling illegal breading and protecting vulnerable animals.”

 

External Funding for Pre-Accession Assistance

 

            Moved by Councillor McDowell,

            Seconded by Alderman McCullough,

 

   “That the Council rejects the decision to write to write to the EU Commission and the British and Irish Governments regarding the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).”

 

            On a vote, seventeen Members voted for the amendment and forty voted against it and it was accordingly declared lost.

 

Belfast Stories - Community Grants

 

                        Moved by Councillor Maghie,

                        Seconded by Councillor Murray,

 

    “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading, be rejected and that accordingly the Council agrees to the recommendations as outlined in the report, namely, to:

 

·         Award the recommended 5 creative project grants (up to £30,000) following completion of the assessment and moderation process;

·         Note the 12 small grants up to £10,000 approved under delegated authority; and

·         In light of the significant demand and high quality of submissions received, as outlined at 3.15, agrees to increase the fund for small grants utilising an additional allocation of £41,560 from the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) reserve to fund 4 additional projects.”

 

            On a vote, thirty Members voted for the amendment and twenty-four against and it was accordingly declared carried.

 

Drumglass Park – SuDs Project

 

                        Moved by Councillor McKeown

                        Seconded by Councillor Lyons and

 

   Resolved - “That the Council agrees that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, under the above heading, be amended to require that NI Water would detail options for physical and programmatic elements, as discussed at the South Area Working Group, that they were prepared to include for the benefit of the community as part of the project, ahead of public consultation, and to engage with Council officers and organisations in the area, given that the project appeared to be advancing at pace.”

 

Adoption of Minutes

 

            Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee were thereupon approved and adopted.