Agenda item

Minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor Brennan,

Seconded by Councillor Black,

 

      “That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th December, 2025, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.”

 

Hardship Programme 2025/26 –

Response from the Department for Communities Minister

 

Amendment

 

Moved by Councillor Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

 

      “That the decision under the heading ‘Hardship Programme 2025/26 - Response from the Department for Communities Minister’ be amended to provide that the Council writes to the Minster for Communities to express its objection to the confirmation that the Department for Communities hardship funding, provided in 2023/24, would not be available in future years, and to encourage the Minister to look at more equitable ways to tax the profits of energy companies to help fund the service going forward.”

 

            At the request of Councillor de Faoite, the proposer and seconder agreed that the motion be amended to provide that the Council writes also to the Minister of Education to express its concern in relation to the Education Authority’s decision to increase the price of school meals, and to state its support of the campaign by trade unions for the delivery of free school meals for all children.

 

            Accordingly, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th December, 2025, under the heading “Hardship Programme 2025/26 - Response from the Department for Communities Minister” be amended to provide that the Council writes to:

 

·        the Minster for Communities to express its objection to the confirmation that the Department for Communities hardship funding, provided in 2023/24, would not be available in future years, and to encourage the Minister to look at more equitable ways to tax the profits of energy companies to help fund the service going forward; and

 

·        the Minister of Education to express its concern in relation to the Education Authority’s decision to increase the price of school meals, and to state its support of the campaign by trade unions for the delivery of free school meals for all children.

 

Draft Amenity Byelaws

 

Amendment

 

Moved by Alderman McCullough,

Seconded by Councillor McDowell,

 

      “That the decision under the heading ‘Draft Amenity Byelaws’ be amended to provide that the Council agrees not to progress with any byelaws that censor imagery or content.”

 

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

 

For (17)

Against (41)

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly);

Aldermen Copeland, Lawlor, McCoubrey, McCullough and Rodgers; and

Councillors R. Brooks, Bunting, Cobain, Doran, D. Douglas, S.  Douglas, Ferguson, McCormick, McDowell, I. McLaughlin and Verner.

 

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Doherty); and

Councillors Abernethy, Anglin, Beattie, Bell, Black, Bower, Bradley, Brennan, Canavan, Carson, Collins, de Faoite, M.Donnelly, P. Donnelly, R. M. Donnelly, Duffy, Garrett, Groogan, Hanvey, Long, Lyons, Magee, Maghie, McAteer, McCabe, McCallin, McCann, McCusker, McDonough-Brown, McKay, McKeown, R. McLaughlin, Meenehan, Murphy, Murray, Nelson, Ó Néill, Smyth, Walsh and Whyte.

 

 

 

Adoption of Minutes

 

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th December, 2025, were thereupon approved and adopted.

 

Supporting documents: