Agenda item

Moved by Councillor I. McLaughlin,

            Seconded by Councillor de Faoite,

            “That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.”

Amendments

Request for Illumination of City Hall

to Mark International Safe Abortion Day 2026

Moved by Councillor Kelly,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting,

            “That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Request for Illumination of City Hall to mark International Safe Abortion Day 2026”, be rejected and, accordingly, the Council agrees not to illuminate City Hall to mark International Safe Abortion Day on 28th September, 2026.”

            On a vote, eighteen Members voted for the proposal, thirty-six against and one no vote and it was declared lost.

Belfast Region City Deal - Annual Report

Moved by Councillor Groogan,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

            “That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Belfast Region City Deal - Annual Report”, be rejected and, accordingly, the Council agrees to defer consideration of the report to enable further information to be brought back to the Committee in respect of the AI Adoption Programme, including details of the fund and the environmental and economic impact.”

            On a vote, five Members voted for the proposal, forty-nine against and two no votes and it was declared lost.

Independently Managed Community Centres

(IMCC's)

            At the request of Councillor Brennan, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Independently Managed Community Centres (IMCC's)”, be amended to provide that funding would continue until the review of the IMCC’s was complete.

TEO Rapid Response Funding

            At the request of Councillor Beattie, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “TEO Rapid Response Funding”, be amended to provide that delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Policy and Resources in respect of the removal of any offensive signage displayed throughout the city.

Irish Language Policy – Implementation Plan

            At the request of Councillor R. Brooks, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Irish Language Policy – Implementation Plan”, be amended to provide that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee which would provide further information on the expenditure associated with the implementation of the Irish Language Policy.

Minutes of the Disability Working

Group of 14th August, 2026

            At the request of Councillor R. Brooks, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Minutes of the Disability Working Group of 14th August, 2026”, be amended to provide that a workshop be held for all Members by the end of October in relation to the delivery of a strategic roadmap to create an accessible city by 2035.

Correspondence received –

Removal of Ring-fenced Protection for

Youth Service Funding – Department of Education

            At the request of Councillor Collins, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, under the heading “Correspondence received - Removal of Ring-fenced Protection for Youth Service Funding - Department of Education”, be amended to provide that the Council writes back to the Minister of Education to highlight its concern that the Education Authority’s youth services budget would no longer be ring-fenced and to call on the Education Authority to ensure that funding for youth services would be protected.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 21st August, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.