Agenda and minutes

            In accordance with Standing Order 9, the Lord Mayor read a passage from the Scriptures.

            The Director of Corporate Services submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Adamson, W. Browne, Crozier, Kirkpatrick, McCann, McMillen, Mhic Giolla Mhín and Wilson.

Moved by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Rodgers),

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly) and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 3rd March be taken as read and signed as correct.

(i)                 To pass a resolution making application to the Department of the Environment for sanction to the raising of loans of:

·        £750,000 to meet the costs associated with the North

Foreshore Northern Ireland Electricity Substation/ Electricity

Compound Site works project; and

·        £140,000 to meet the costs associated with the provision of a replacement Fire Alarm System at the Waterfront Hall.

Moved by Councillor D. Dodds,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 29th February and 14th March be approved and adopted.

Loan Sanctions

Moved by Councillor D. Dodds,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway and

      Resolved – That application be made to the Department of the Environment for sanction to the raising of loans of:

·         £750,000 to meet the costs associated with the North Foreshore Northern Ireland Electricity Sub-Station/Electricity Compound site works project; and

·         £140,000 to meet the costs associated with the provision of a replacement Fire Alarm System at the Waterfront Hall.

Moved by Councillor Stoker,

Seconded by the High Sheriff (Councillor McKenzie) and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 13th March be approved and adopted.

Grove Wellbeing Centre – Staffing Structure

            During discussion of the minute under the heading “Grove Wellbeing Centre – Staffing Structure”, the Council agreed that the gym at the Grove Leisure Centre remain in operation until the new gym opens at the Grove Wellbeing Centre.

Moved by Councillor M. Browne,

Seconded by Councillor C. Maskey,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 27th February and 7th March be approved and adopted.

Request for Matter to be Taken

Back for Further Consideration

            West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council

            At the request of Councillor D. Dodds and with the consent of the Council, the Chairman (Councillor M. Browne) agreed that the minute of the meeting of 27th February under the heading “West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Amendment

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Young People’s

Draft Corporate Plan – Consultation

Moved by Councillor Kyle,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway and

      Resolved – That the decision of 7th March under the heading “Northern Ireland Commissioner for Young People’s Draft Corporate Plan – Consultation” be amended to provide that the Council’s response include a reference to the impact which the first two years of life has on the future wellbeing and mental health of children and that the wellbeing and mental health of children cannot be considered in isolation to the wellbeing of parents.

Adoption of Minutes

            The original proposal relevant to the minutes of the Development Committee was thereupon put to the meeting and passed in the following form:

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 27th February and 7th March be approved and adopted, subject to:

(i)      the omission of the minute of 27th February under the heading “West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council” which, at the request of Councillor D. Dodds, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and

(ii)     the amendment of the minute under the heading “Northern Ireland Commissioner for Young People’s Draft Corporate Plan Consultation” to provide that the Council’s response include a reference to the impact which the first two years of life has on the future wellbeing and mental health of children and that the wellbeing and mental health of children cannot be considered in isolation to the wellbeing of parents.

Moved by Councillor Mullaghan,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 5th March be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Stalford and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 19th March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Lavery,

Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 5th, 6th and 20th March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Planning Application – 8 Castle Park

Moved by Councillor McCausland,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway,

      That the decision of the Town Planning Committee of 6th March under the heading “Planning Application – 8 Castle Park” be amended to provide that, regardless of whether or not the Divisional Planning Manager accepts the Council’s opinion to reject the application relating to the demolition of a dwelling house and erection of nine two?bedroom apartments at 8 Castle Park, provision be made for the protection of the mature trees located to the rear of the site.

            On a vote by show of hands thirty-three Members voted for the amendment and none against and it was accordingly declared carried.

Planning Application – 34 Knightsbridge Park

Moved by Councillor Stalford,

Seconded by Councillor Long,

      That the decision of the Town Planning Committee of 6th March under the heading “Planning Application – 34 Knightsbridge Park” be rejected and accordingly that the revised opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application relating to the erection of two semi-detached dwellings at 34 Knightsbridge Park be opposed on the grounds that it would result in an unacceptable change to the local character in that it failed to respect the surrounding contents and characteristics of the site in terms of layout, form and design and would result in unacceptable damage to residential amenity of neighbouring properties by reason of overshadowing and consequential loss of light.

            On a vote by show of hands seventeen Members voted for the amendment and twelve against and it was accordingly declared carried.

            Subject to the foregoing amendments in respect of the planning applications for 8 Castle Park and 34 Knightsbridge Park, the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 5th, 6th and 20th March, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence

and Human Trafficking

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly) to move:

      “That this Council is concerned at the absence of a co-ordinated approach to address the increasing prevalence of violence against women in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland and, accordingly:

·         Welcomes the ‘Making the Grade’ report produced by the End Violence Against Women Coalition;

·         Recognises the level of domestic violence and sexual violence in Northern Ireland, for example, that 20% of murders in 2006/07 had a domestic motivation, that 30% of all cases of domestic violence start during pregnancy and that conviction rates for rape have gone down while the number of recorded rapes has increased;

·         Acknowledges the Women’s Aid ‘Beyond Borders’ report which demolished the myth that trafficking does not happen within Northern Ireland;

·         Notes the call in the Making the Grade report for an integrated strategy, across all authorities, to tackle violence against women;

·         Commits itself to implementing recommendations of the ‘Making the Grade’ report applicable to the Council; and

·        Calls for the actions on the recommendations by

relevant departments and authorities.”

Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence

and Human Trafficking

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly) proposed:

      “That this Council is concerned at the absence of a co-ordinated approach to address the increasing prevalence of violence against women in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland and, accordingly:

·         Welcomes the ‘Making the Grade’ report produced by the End Violence Against Women Coalition;

·         Recognises the level of domestic violence and sexual violence in Northern Ireland, for example, that 20% of murders in 2006/07 had a domestic motivation, that 30% of all cases of domestic violence start during pregnancy and that conviction rates for rape have gone down while the number of recorded rapes has increased;

·         Acknowledges the Women’s Aid ‘Beyond Borders’ report which demolished the myth that trafficking does not happen within Northern Ireland;

·         Notes the call in the Making the Grade report for an integrated strategy, across all authorities, to tackle violence against women;

·         Commits itself to implementing recommendations of the ‘Making the Grade’ report applicable to the Council and

·         Calls for the actions on the recommendations by relevant departments and authorities.”

            The proposal was seconded by Councillor Long.

            At the request of Councillor Humphrey and with the permission the Council, the proposer agreed to amend the Notice of Motion by the inclusion of the following sentence after the word authorities “and calls for the introduction of stronger, more robust sentencing by the Judiciary for the perpetrators of such violence against women”.

            The Notice of Motion, as amended, was thereupon put to the Council and passed unanimously.