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 Mullaghan and O’Neill.

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

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Lavery) and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Monthly Meeting of the Council of 1st February be taken as read and signed as correct.

            In accordance with Notice on the Summons Paper, the Council considered the question of the filling of the casual vacancy in the Pottinger District Electoral Area consequent upon the resignation of Councillor Sammy Wilson.

            The Chief Executive informed the Council that Section 11 (4) (a) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 enabled the Council to choose a person to fill the vacancy by co-option, provided that such a person is qualified to be a Member of the Council and is not objected to by any Member of the Council present at the meeting.  In the event of the vacancy not being filled by co-option, a By-Election would be required to fill the vacancy.

            Councillor Newton proposed the co-option of Mr. Gavin Robinson to fill the casual vacancy in the Pottinger District Electoral Area.

            The proposal was seconded by the High Sheriff (Councillor Stalford).

            As no objection was made to the proposal, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Long) declared Mr. Robinson co-opted as Councillor for the Pottinger District Electoral Area.

            Councillor Robinson, having subscribed to the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and the Declaration against Terrorism, was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Lord Mayor.

            Several Members paid tribute to the work and service provided by Sammy Wilson to the Council and his constituents during his long period of service as a Member of Belfast City Council.

            The Lord Mayor pointed out that a number of Councillors had resigned in recent months and it was her intention to hold in due course an event in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour to recognise the service those Councillors had given to the Council and the citizens of Belfast.

            The Council was advised that notification had been received from the Democratic Unionist Party Grouping indicating that it wished:

·         to replace Councillor Patterson with Councillor Robinson on the Parks and Leisure Committee; and

·         Councillor Robinson to fill the vacancy on the Town Planning Committee, consequent upon the resignation of Councillor Wilson.

            The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

            The Chief Executive advised the Council that notification had been received from:

·         the Sinn Féin Party Grouping indicating that it wished to replace Councillor Cush with Councillor Lavery on the Local Government Partnership on Travellers’ Issues; and

·         the Democratic Unionist Party Grouping indicating that it wished to replace Councillor Stalford with Councillor Robinson on the Board of the Ulster Orchestra.

            The Council approved the changes.

Minutes of meeting of 19^th February 2010.

Moved by Councillor Hartley,

Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th February be approved and adopted.

Request for Matter to be

Taken Back for Further Consideration

            Security Unit Update

            At the request of Councillor Rodway, the Chairman (Councillor Hartley), with the consent of the Council, agreed that that portion of the minute of the meeting under the heading “Security Unit Update” in so far as it related to the Control Room be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Amendments

Publication of Members’ Information

Moved by Councillor Jones,

Seconded by Councillor Ekin and

      Resolved – That the decision under the heading “Publication of Members’ Information” be amended to provide that a report be presented to the Committee setting out the extent of the information included in the Council’s Publication Scheme in relation to all payments made to Council officers and comparing and contrasting this with the information to be published in relation to Council Members.

Plaques in the East Entrance, City Hall

Moved by Councillor C. Maskey,

Seconded by Councillor M. Browne,

      That the decision under the heading “Plaques in the East Entrance, City Hall” be referred back to the Memorabilia Working Group for further consideration.

            On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the amendment and thirty against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Further Amendment

Moved by Councillor M. Browne,

Seconded by Councillor C. Maskey,

      That the decision under the heading “Plaques in the East Entrance, City Hall” be rejected and accordingly that the Council agrees to defer consideration of the question of the placing of the plaques in the East Entrance of the City Hall to enable a full and comprehensive report on all the memorabilia which would be placed in the City Hall to be submitted in due course to the Committee.

            On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the amendment and thirty-three against and it was accordingly declared lost.

Adoption of Minutes

            The minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th February were approved and adopted, subject to:

(i)   the omission of that portion of the minute under the heading “Security Unit Update” in so far as it related to the Control Room which, at the request of Councillor Rodway, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and

(ii)  the amendment of the minute under the heading “Publication of Members’ Information” to provide that a report be presented to the Committee setting out the extent of the information included in the Council’s Publication Scheme in relation to all payments made to Council officers and comparing and contrasting that with the information to be published in relation to Council Members.

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

·         £462,000 for the upgrade of the chilled water plant at the Waterfront Hall;

·         £450,000 to finance the renovation of pitches at the Council’s recreation grounds;

·         £575,000 for the costs associated with the development of a household recycling centre at Palmerston Road;

·         £165,000 for a new changing pavilion at Strangford Avenue Playing Fields;

·         £160,000 in connection with the Mary Peters Track – 2012 Elite Sports Facility funding bid;

·         £666,750 for the financing of information technology ancillary equipment and software support;

·         £510,000 for the costs associated with the development of staff toilets at the Council’s recycling centres;

·         £310,000 associated with the development of lands at the Gasworks Northern Fringe;

·         £567,000 for the City Hall Telecom-Information Systems Strategy;

·         £560,000 to finance information technology security for virtualised data;

·         £1,500,000 to undertake mercury abatement at the City of Belfast Crematorium;

·         £2,000,000 towards the re-development of the Woodvale and DunvilleParks;

·         £500,000 towards the costs associated with Phase II of the alleygating project; and

·         £235,000 to finance a waste heat utilisation system at Duncrue Industrial Estate.

Minutes of meeting of 11^th February, 2010.

Moved by Councillor Stoker,

Seconded by Councillor Adamson and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 11th February be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 8^th and 10^th February, 2010.

Moved by Councillor Humphrey,

Seconded by Councillor Stalford and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Development Committee of 8th and 10th February be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 3^rd February, 2010.

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

Seconded by Councillor Adamson and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 3rd February be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meeting of 17^th February, 2010.

Moved by Councillor Austin,

Seconded by Councillor Rodway and

      Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 17th February, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Minutes of meetings of 4^th and 18^th February, 2010.

Moved by Councillor Campbell,

Seconded by Councillor Patterson,

      That the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 4th and 18th February, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Amendments

70 North Road

Moved by Councillor Empey,

Seconded by Councillor Hendron,

      That the decision of 18th February under the heading “70 North Road” be rejected and accordingly that the recommendation of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the demolition of a rear return and the erection of a two-storey rear extension with a single-storey extension to the rear and side and conversion of building into six apartments be rejected.

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

7, 9 and 11 The Plateau, Piney Hills, Malone Road

and 3 Piney Way, Piney Hills, Malone Road

Moved by Councillor Ekin,

Seconded by Councillor B. Kelly,

      That the decisions of 18th February under the headings “7, 9 and 11 The Plateau, Piney Hills, Malone Road” and “3 Piney Way, Piney Hills, Malone Road” be rejected and accordingly that the applications be refused on the basis that the building of apartments would be inappropriate in that area of the City. 

      The Council agreed, with one Member voting against, to the amendments to the decisions.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments in relation to 70 North Road and 7, 9 and 11 The Plateau, Piney Hills and 3 Piney Way, Piney Hills, Malone Road, the minutes of the proceedings of the Town Planning Committee of 4th and 18th February, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

Declaration of Interests

            In accordance with Notice on the Agenda, Councillor N. Kelly proposed:

      “This Council takes the view that there is now an urgent need for all Councillors to be more aware of the requirement to declare interests in matters being considered by the Council in which they may have a pecuniary or other interest.

      The Council directs that this matter be considered at an early date by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee so that an enhanced level of transparency and openness can be created around this issue in order to provide a measure of reassurance to the public.”

            The proposal was seconded by Councillor B. Kelly.

            Prior to the Notice of Motion being considered, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Long) reminded the Council that Standing Order 11 (e) specified that, if the subject 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.