Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported for Councillor Gormley.

            Councillor Beattie declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that he was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            Councillor Bunting declared an interest in relation to the items “Asset Management“ within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that she was secretary for the Belvoir Area Residents’ Group which had applied for use of Council grounds, “Air Quality Progress Report“, within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that she was employed by the DAERA Minister and the Motion on Commonwealth Games Success, in that a family member had been a member of a participating team.

            Councillor Corr declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that he was employed by an organisation which had received funding and was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            Councillor Donnelly declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that he was employed by an organisation which had received funding and was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            Councillor Garrett declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that he was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            Councillor T. Kelly declared an interest in relation to the item “Air Quality Progress Report“ within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that she was employed by the DAERA Minister.

            Councillor McCabe declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that she was employed by an organisation which had received funding.

            Councillor McCann declared an interest in relation to the item “Partner Agreements Update/Shore Road Playing Fields Update“ within the People and Community Committee minutes, in that he was a member of Ford FC which had a Partner Agreement with the Council.

            Councillor McLaughlin declared an interest in relation to the items “Requests for use of the City Hall and the provision of Hospitality” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, and “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that he was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            Councillor Newton declared an interest in relation to the item “Stratagem Conference”, in that he was an employee of Stratagem.

            Councillor Verner declared an interest in relation to the item “Community Provision Funding Update” within the People and Communities Committee minutes, in that she was employed by an organisation which had received funding.

            Alderman Haire pointed out that his attendance at the special meeting of the Council of 1st July had not been recorded, the Council agreed that the minutes be varied accordingly.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Black),

Seconded by Councillor Beattie and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the special meeting of the Council of 1st July, to include the aforementioned amendment, the monthly meeting of the Council of 4th July be taken as read and signed as correct.

            Thanks

            Councillor Magee thanked the Council staff and community youth workers for the work that had been carried out over the previous months with regard to bonfires in north and west Belfast.

            Alderman Sandford paid tribute the National Association of Councils Northern Ireland region on its excellent work promoting the wellbeing of its member Councillors.

            Congratulations

            Councillor Donnelly congratulated Holy Trinity Boxing Club on its 50th anniversary and paid tribute to its contribution to the local Community, in particular Michael Hawkins Senior.  The Lord Mayor acceded to Councillor Donnelly’s request to write a letter of congratulations to the boxing club.

            Councillor Maghie congratulated the CSNI Women’s Cricket Team on reaching the all-Ireland T20 Cup Final and the CIYMS Men’s Cricket Team on the achievement of obtaining an historic double win of the all-Ireland T20 Cup and the Irish Senior Cup.  The Lord Mayor acceded to Councillor Maghie’s request to write a letter of congratulations to both cricket teams.

            Councillor Murray congratulated Belfast Mela and Belfast Pride on the provision of colourful and diverse festivals, and the Lord Mayor agreed to write to both organisations to offer her congratulations.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from both the DUP and Sinn Fein, of the following changes in membership:

            DUP

·        Councillor Verner to replace Alderman Sandford on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee; and

·        Councillor Thompson to replace former Alderman Kingston on the Building Successful Communities (Lower Shankill and Browns Square).

            Sinn Fein

·        Councillor McCabe to replace Councillor Duffy on the West Belfast Partnership Board.

            The Council noted the changes.

            Moved by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

            Seconded by Councillor Bunting,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th August, 2022, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Non-Recurrent Reallocations/

Update on Engagement with Trades

Unions on Cost-of-Living Demands

            At the request of both Councillor McLaughlin and Councillor Ferguson, the Chief Executive agreed that a report would be presented to the September meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the provision of a cost-of-living payment to temporary, agency and casual staff members.

Complex Lives – Supporting Vulnerable Individuals

            At the request of Councillor Heading, the Chief Executive agreed to write to the health and education authorities, to ascertain what plans had been put in place to monitor heating provision to the elderly and homes with vulnerable children over the coming winter.

Asset Management

            At the request of Councillor Spratt, the Chief Executive agreed to report back to the Strategic Policy and Resources committee on the potential to waive the fee associated with the grant of a lease to Belvoir Area Residents Group.

Electric Vehicle Charging Points Strategy

            At the request of Councillor Long, the Chief Executive agreed to present a report to the Climate and Resilience Committee on the provision of electric vehicle charging points on Council owned facilities across Belfast.

Amendment

Update on Contracts

            Moved by Councillor McLaughlin,

            Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

            That the undernoted proposed Single Tender Actions be administered as Competitive Tenders:

·     Fiat Original Equipment Manufacturer approved parts and components, warranty support and specialist repairs; and

·     Mercedes Benz Original Equipment Manufacturer approved parts and components, warranty support and specialist repairs.

            The amendment was put to the Council and passed.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th August, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the foregoing amendment.

Moved by Councillor McMullan,

Seconded by Councillor Groogan

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 9th August be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Murphy,

Seconded by Councillor Spratt

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 10th August be approved and adopted.

Ulster University – Belfast Campus Update

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor O’Hara,

            Seconded by Councillor Groogan,

      That an All-Party Delegation would be immediately convened with representatives from the University of Ulster and the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure to expedite works on junctions adjacent to the new Belfast Campus.

            The amendment was put to the Council and passed.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 10th August were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the foregoing amendment.

Moved by Councillor Matt Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 10th and 17th August, be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hussey,

            Seconded by Councillor Carson

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 27th June and 5th and 16th August, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Walsh,

            Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin

      Resolved - That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Climate and City Resilience Committee of 11th August, 2022 be approved and adopted.

            Moved by Councillor Hanvey,

            Seconded by Councillor Pankhurst

      Resolved - That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 23rd August, 2022, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor O’Hara proposed:

“This Council notes our ambitions as laid out in the Belfast Agenda, Bolder Vision and Resilience Strategy for a sustainable, well connected, vibrant and carbon neutral Belfast.

We acknowledge that our ability to achieve these ambitions has been severely hampered by our reliance on Government Departments and Statutory Agencies who do not always share our vision or who lack the agility to deliver at the speed required.

This Council has already called for the devolution of regeneration powers to help meet the ambitions of this Council. We believe that the further devolution of local transport and infrastructure powers are also necessary if we are to bring the Belfast Agenda to fruition.  

As such, we will initiate dialogue with the Department for Infrastructure, Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association to commence the process of devolving these key powers.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Groogan.

            On a recorded vote, twenty-one Members voted for the Motion and thirty-five against and it was declared lost.

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Maskey proposed:

“This Council recognises the special achievements of Team Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games and the recent success with the Northern Ireland Women’s Soccer Team reaching the European Championships.

We resolve that the Belfast Lord Mayor invites both teams to the City Hall to give them proper civic recognition for their success.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor McCabe.

The motion was put to the meeting and passed.