Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

Apologies were reported on behalf of Councillors McAllister and McDonough-Brown.

No declarations of interest were reported.

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor D. Baker),

Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting and the special meeting of the Council of 2nd and 18th December respectively be taken as read and signed as correct.

Expressions of Sympathy

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, extended his condolences to Councillor Dorrian on the recent death of his mother, Maureen.

The Lord Mayor, at the request of several Members, extended his condolences to the families of Cillian Draine, Eoin Hamill, Sophie Hamilton and Gary Laverty following their recent untimely deaths. 

            New Member

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, welcomed Councillor Maskey, who had replaced former Councillor Finucane, to the meeting.

            High Sheriff of Belfast

            Alderman Sandford highlighted the fact that his term as the High Sheriff of Belfast had ended in December and expressed his appreciation for the support which he had received from the Civic Dignitaries, Members and officers over the course of the year. He wished his successor, Councillor Verner, well during her term as High Sheriff.

            Several Members paid tribute to Alderman Sandford and congratulated Councillor Verner on her appointment.

            Councillor Hargey

            The Lord Mayor reported that this would be the last meeting which would be attended by Councillor Hargey, as she had been selected by her Political Party to fill a vacancy in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

            He, together with a number of Members, paid tribute to Councillor Hargey for the service which she had provided to the Council and her constituents during her time as an Elected Member and wished her well in her new role.

            Councillor Hargey thanked the Members for their kind remarks.

            Congratulations

            At the request of Councillor de Faoite, the Lord Mayor agreed to extend, on behalf of the Council, his congratulations to Mrs. Hillary Clinton on her recent appointment as the Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast and to host an appropriate event once she had taken up that position.

            Climate Crisis

            Councillor Flynn referred to the significant ecological and environmental impact of the bush fires which were currently sweeping across large areas of Australia, expressed his solidarity with all those who had been affected and emphasised the need for a global response to avert a catastrophic climate breakdown.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the following Political Parties of changes to membership of Committees/Outside Bodies:

            Alliance

·        Councillor McMullan to replace Councillor McAllister on the Brexit Committee; and

·        Councillor Nicholl to replace Councillor McMullan on the Planning Committee.

            DUP

·        Councillor Bunting to replace Councillor Pankhurst on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            Sinn Féin

·        Councillor Magee to replace the Lord Mayor (Councillor D. Baker) on the Brexit Committee;

·        Councillor McAteer to replace the Lord Mayor (Councillor D. Baker) on the People and Communities Committee;

·        Councillor Murphy to replace Councillor Hargey as the Chair of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee;

·        Councillor Walsh to replace Councillor Hargey on the City Growth and Regeneration Committee;

·        Councillor Donnelly to replace Councillor Garrett on the City Growth and Regeneration Committee;

·        Councillor Garrett to replace Councillor Donnelly on the People and Communities Committee;

·        Councillor Maskey to replace Councillor Canavan on the Planning Committee;

·        Councillor McLaughlin to replace Councillor Hargey on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee;

·        Councillor Magennis to replace Councillor Corr on the Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership;

·        Councillor Maskey to replace Councillor Murphy on the North Belfast District Policing and Community Safety Partnership; and

·        Councillor Donnelly to replace Councillor Corr on the Belfast Hills Partnership.

The Council approved the changes.

The Chief Executive reported that a request had been received from Ms. G. Poots, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Students’ Climate Network, to address the Council on the climate crisis.

The Council approved the request and Ms. Poots was welcomed to the meeting.

Ms. Poots referred to the increasing threat of climate change and highlighted the devastating impact of the bush fires which were currently affecting large areas of Australia. She outlined the challenges which would be faced by future generations should the climate crisis fail to be addressed as a matter of urgency and urged the Council to build upon the work which it had undertaken to date by, for example, identifying additional renewable energy sources, conserving resources and promoting the use of public transport.

The Lord Mayor thanked Ms. Poots for her presentation, following which the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

Moved by Alderman Kingston,

Seconded by Councillor Dorrian,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th December, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Brexit Committee - Commissioning of a Report

Moved by Councillor McLaughlin,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      That the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th December, under the heading “Brexit Committee - Commissioning of a Report”, be rejected and accordingly the Council agrees that officers research the issue and bring back a report on how it would be developed, resourced and led.

On a vote by show of hands thirty Members voted for the amendment and twenty-five against and it was declared carried.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 17th December, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Michael Collins,

Seconded by Councillor Garrett,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 3rd December be approved and adopted.

Christmas Waste Collections Update

            The Council agreed, in response to issues which had been raised by Alderman McCoubrey, to include on the agenda for the monthly meeting of the People and Communities Committee on 14th January an item on the collection of waste generally.

Adoption of Minutes

Subject to the foregoing addition, the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 3rd December were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Murphy,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 27th November and 4th December be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor S. Baker,

Seconded by Councillor Donnelly and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 11th December, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Carson,

Seconded by Councillor Brooks and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 10th and 16th December, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Noticeof MotionMoved by Councillor de Faoite,

Seconded by Councillor McKeown and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Brexit Committee of 4th December be approved and adopted.

Proposed by Councillor Flynn,

Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

“This Council recognises the important work carried out by local animal charities, including the Dogs Trust, which recently suspended its adoption service over the holiday period to highlight the fact that dogs are for life and not just for Christmas.

The Council notes with concern that unethical breeders and profit-driven third party commercial traders of young animals has led to an industry rife with serious neglect and abuse of animals across the United Kingdom and Ireland and has led to the unnecessary suffering of animals bred in dissolute puppy farms.

The Council recognises the successful campaign for the introduction of Lucy’s Law in England, which will come into effect from April 2020. This new legislation will ban the sale of puppies and kittens from third parties, ensuring that buyers deal directly with registered breeders.

Accordingly, the Council resolves to write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to express its concerns, affirm its support for Lucy’s Law and request that preparatory work be undertaken to allow for Lucy’s Law to be legislated for in Northern Ireland.”

(To be debated by the Council)

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

“This Council recognises the important work carried out by local animal charities, including the Dogs Trust, which recently suspended its adoption service over the holiday period to highlight the fact that dogs are for life and not just for Christmas.

The Council notes with concern that unethical breeders and profit-driven third party commercial traders of young animals has led to an industry rife with serious neglect and abuse of animals across the United Kingdom and Ireland and has led to the unnecessary suffering of animals bred in dissolute puppy farms.

The Council recognises the successful campaign for the introduction of Lucy’s Law in England, which will come into effect from April 2020. This new legislation will ban the sale of puppies and kittens from third parties, ensuring that buyers deal directly with registered breeders.

Accordingly, the Council resolves to write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to express its concerns, affirm its support for Lucy’s Law and request that preparatory work be undertaken to allow for Lucy’s Law to be legislated for in Northern Ireland.”

            The motion was seconded by Alderman Rodgers.

            After discussion, the motion was put to the meeting and passed.