Agenda and minutes

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

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Adamson, Bostock, Ekin, Empey, Jones, McCausland, McCoubrey, McMillen, O’Reilly, R. Patterson and Smyth.

Moved by Councillor Hendron,

Seconded by Councillor Mullaghan and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st September be taken as read and signed as correct.

            The Council agreed that the question of the nomination of Members suitable for appointment to the Office of High Sheriff of the City for the year 2011 be deferred until its next monthly meeting.

            The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Ulster Unionist Party Grouping indicating that it wished Councillors D. Browne and F. Rodgers to fill the vacancies on the North Belfast Partnership Board and the Greater Shankill Partnership Board respectively, consequent upon the resignation of former Councillor Cobain.

            He reported further that correspondence had been received from the Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping indicating that it wished:

·         Councillor McCarthy to replace Councillor O’Reilly on the East Belfast District Policing Partnership;

·         Councillor Mallon to replace Councillor Mullaghan on the North Belfast District Policing Partnership; and

·         Councillor B. Kelly to replace Councillor McCarthy on the South Belfast District Policing Partnership.

            In addition, the Democratic Unionist Party Grouping had indicated that it wished:

·         Councillor Kingston to replace the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Humphrey) on the West Belfast District Policing Partnership;

·         Councillor L. Patterson to replace Councillor Kingston on the North Belfast District Policing Partnership; and

·         Councillor Kingston to replace the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Humphrey) on the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.

            The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

Minutes of meeting of 24^th September

Moved by Councillor Crozier,

Seconded by Councillor J. Rodgers,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th September be approved and adopted.

Amendment

Belfast Telegraph Roadshow

Moved by Councillor Hartley,

Seconded by Councillor McCarthy,

      That the decision under the heading “Belfast Telegraph Roadshow” be amended to provide that no charge be levied on the Belfast Telegraph for the use of the City Hall.

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

Amendment

Use of the City Hall Grounds –

Poster for Tomorrow Exhibition

Moved by Councillor Kingston,

Seconded by Councillor Campbell,

      That the decision under the heading “Use of the City Hall Grounds – Poster for Tomorrow Exhibition” be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees, due to the inappropriateness of the images contained therein, that the Poster for Tomorrow Organisation be refused permission to display any of the posters in the grounds of the City Hall.

            A division on the amendment was demanded.  A poll having been taken on the amendment, there voted for it nineteen Members, viz., the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Humphrey); the High Sheriff (Councillor Stalford); and Councillors D. Browne, W. Browne, Campbell, Crozier, Hendron, Kingston, Kirkpatrick, Kyle, McKenzie, McNamee, Newton, L. Patterson, Robinson, F. Rodgers, J. Rodgers, Rodway and Stoker; and against it twenty-one Members, viz., the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Attwood, Austin, M. Browne, Brownlee, Cunningham, Cush, Hartley, B. Kelly, N. Kelly, Lavery, Mallon, A. Maskey, C. Maskey, McCabe, McCann, McCarthy, Mac Giolla Mhín, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Mullaghan and O’Neill.

            The amendment was accordingly declared lost.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Councillor Brownlee,

      That the decision under the heading “Use of the City Hall Grounds – Poster for Tomorrow Exhibition” be amended to provide that the images relating to hanging be exhibited elsewhere in the City Hall, rather than in the City Hall grounds.

            After a lengthy discussion on the amendment it was

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

Seconded by Councillor N. Kelly,

      That the question be now put.

            On a vote by show of hands twenty-one Members voted for the proposal and seventeen against and it was accordingly declared carried.

            The amendment standing in the name of Councillor Attwood and seconded by Councillor Brownlee was thereupon put to the meeting when twenty-two Members voted for the amendment and seventeen against and it was accordingly declared carried.

Adjournment

            The Council agreed to adjourn for a period of time in order to enable the Party Group Leaders, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to identify those posters within the exhibition which related specifically to hanging.

(The Council stood adjourned from 7.22 p.m. to 7.40 p.m.).

Amendment

Moved by Councillor W. Browne,

Seconded by Councillor Kirkpatrick,

      That the decision under the heading “Use of the City Hall Grounds – Poster for Tomorrow Exhibition” be amended to provide that the exhibition be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Minutes of meeting of 6^th and 16^th September

Moved by Councillor Hartley,

Seconded by Councillor McCann and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 6th and 16th September be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 15^th September

Moved by Councillor C. Maskey,

Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 15th September be approved and adopted.

Markets Policy Update

            Arising out of discussion in the aforementioned matter, it was agreed that Party Group briefings be undertaken prior to the draft Belfast City Council Markets Policy being submitted to the Committee for its consideration.

Amendment

Campaign for Tourism – One Voice One Team

Moved by Councillor Hartley,

Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,

      That the decision under the heading “Campaign for Tourism – One Voice One Team” be amended to provide that the Council endorses the content of the publication and that it be at no cost to the Council.

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

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 15th September were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the foregoing amendment.

Minutes of meeting of 8^th September

Moved by Councillor Kirkpatrick,

Seconded by Councillor McNamee,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 8th September be approved and adopted.

Request for Matter to be Taken Back

for Further Consideration

            Residual Waste Treatment Contract –

            Guaranteed Minimum Tonnages

            At the request of Councillor Rodway, the Council agreed that the minute under the heading “Residual Waste Treatment Contract – Guaranteed Minimum Tonnages” be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 8th September were thereupon approved and adopted, subject to the omission of the minute under the heading “Residual Waste Treatment Contract – Guaranteed Minimum Tonnages” which, at the request of Councillor Rodway, is taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Minutes of meeting of 22^nd September

Moved by the High Sheriff (Councillor Stalford),

Seconded by Councillor N. Kelly and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 22nd September, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 9^th and 23^rd September

Moved by Councillor Brownlee,

Seconded by Councillor Lavery,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 9th and 23rd September, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor Rodway proposed:

      “This Council acknowledges that the United Kingdom is facing the most severe economic downturn for many decades and that, in such times, there is an obligation on the Council to retain its vision of strategic, equitable and sustainable development of the City.  To this end, the Council recognises that adequate funding needs to be made available in the medium to long term and accordingly agrees to plan for year upon year increases in the Council reserves.”

            The proposal was seconded by Councillor W. Browne.

            Prior to the Notice of Motion being considered, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery) reminded the Council that Standing Order 11(e) specified that, if the subject matter of any Motion of which Notice had been given comes within the province of any Committee, upon being moved and seconded, it shall stand referred without discussion to that Committee or such other Committee as the Council may determine for consideration and report.

            Accordingly, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor indicated that the matter would be referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee without debate.