Agenda and minutes

            The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            No apologies were reported.

            Councillor de Faoite declared an interest in relation to the item “Planning Update” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that he was on the Board of Governors of Forge Integrated Primary School.

            Councillors Long and R. McLaughlin declared an interest in relation to the motion “Evidence-Based Approach to Preventing Radicalisation and Supporting the De-Radicalisation of Young Men” and the item “Regional Balance Bill Call for Evidence”  within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that their partners were members of the Northern Ireland Executive and left the meeting whilst those items were under consideration.

            Councillors Duffy, Groogan, McCabe and Verner declared an interest in relation to the item “Minutes of the Shared City Partnership Meeting” within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that they were employed by or associated with organisations which were in receipt of PEACEPLUS funding.

            Councillors Duffy, Groogan and Verner also declared an interest in relation to the item ‘Area-Based Community Planning and Community Wealth Building’ within the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee minutes, in that they were employed by or associated with organisations which had applied for funding.

Minutes of the Meetings of the Council

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor R.M. Donnelly),

Seconded by Councillor Walsh, and

      Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Council of 1st September, 2026, be taken as read and signed as correct.

Condolences

            The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the Council, expressed her condolences to officers, Tracy Cowan, Deirdre Kelly and Nicola Lane on the recent passing of their respective mothers.

Retirement

            The Lord Mayor acknowledged and congratulated former Council employee, Fra Shannon on his recent retirement.

Congratulations

            The Lord Mayor congratulated the Chief Executive on being awarded Gradam an Chomhaltais 2026 by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

            Councillor McAteer congratulated the officers involved in the organisation of Culture Night on having contributed to a successful event.

            At the request of Councillor McKay, the Lord Mayor agreed to write to An Droichead, to congratulate them on winning the Ardán 2026 overall national award at the Glór na nGael, and invite them to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour to mark the achievement.

            Councillor McKeown congratulated the officers involved in the organisation of the Autumn Fair which had recently been held in Botanic Gardens for an enjoyable and successful event.

Solidarity

            Several Members expressed their solidarity and support for the residents of the Garvaghy Road, Portadown following the recent disruption in the area.

Condemnation

            A number of Members expressed their condemnation of the actions of political figures during the recent disruption at Garvaghy Road, Portadown.

International Safe Abortion Day

            Councillor Groogan thanked Alliance for Choice and The Mac, which had illuminated their buildings to mark International Safe Abortion Day.

Minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

            Moved by Councillor I. McLaughlin,

            Seconded by Councillor Verner,

            “That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 18th September, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.”

Amendments

Area Working Groups Update

            At the request of Councillor Murray, the Council agreed that the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 18th September, 2026, under the heading “Area Working Groups Update”, be amended to provide that the South Belfast Area Working Group be provided with the funding allocations per District Electoral Area (DEA) and consideration be given to separation of the City Centre from the adjacent DEAs for the purposes of allocation of funding. 

Irish Language Policy – Implementation Plan

            At the request of Councillor R. Brooks, the Council agreed that the minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 18th September, 2026, under the heading “Irish Language Policy – Implementation Plan”, be amended to provide that the report submitted to the meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee did not provide information on the expenditure associated with the implementation of the Irish Language Policy.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 18th September, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, were approved and adopted.

Minutes of the People and Communities Committee

Moved by Councillor Maghie,

Seconded by Councillor R. Brooks,

             “That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 8th September, 2026 be approved and adopted.”

Amendment

Summer Scheme Grants

            At the request of Councillor R. Brooks, the Council agreed that the decision of the People and Communities Committee of 8th September, 2026, under the heading “Summer Scheme Grants” be amended to provide that greater detail be provided to the Committee on the uplift in the 2027/28 summer scheme grants budget, in line with the current financial year, and that all previous successful applicants to the Summer Scheme Grant for Children with Additional Needs, be contacted to request feedback.

Adoption of Minutes

            Subject to the foregoing amendment, the minutes of the People and Communities Committee of 8th September, 2026, were approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Duffy,

Seconded by Councillor O’Neill,

            Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 9th September, 2026, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor T. Brooks,

Seconded by Councillor McCann,

            Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 16th September, 2026, omitting matters in respect of which the Council has delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor Murphy,

Seconded by Councillor Carson and

            Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 15th September, 2026, be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor McAteer,

Seconded by Councillor Walsh, and

            Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. Shareholders’ Committee of 14th September, 2026 be approved and adopted.

Moved by Councillor M. Donnelly,

Seconded by Councillor McCann, and

            Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Climate and City Resilience Committee of 10th September, 2026 be approved and adopted.

Moved by Alderman Lawlor,

Seconded by Councillor Duffy, and

            Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the Standards and Business Committee of 22nd September, 2026, be approved and adopted.

In accordance with notice on the agenda, it was

            Moved by Councillor Whyte,

            Seconded by Councillor de Faoite,

““This Council unequivocally condemns the recent knife attack and expresses its solidarity with those affected;

•               further condemns attempts to exploit this or any other serious crime to inflame racial tensions, spread hatred or justify violence against minority communities;

•               notes with alarm the growing challenge of far-right, misogynistic and xenophobic radicalisation among young men, and recognises that children and young people, as they develop their identity and seek belonging and purpose, can be particularly vulnerable to radicalisation;

•               recognises that many young men are drawn towards extremist ideas not through deep ideological commitment, but through a search for belonging, respect, identity and community, particularly where they experience isolation, disadvantage or poverty;

•               acknowledges the role that far-right radicalisation has played in racist violence and disorder in our city and expresses alarm at the disturbing rise in recorded hate crimes and incidents;

•               expresses concern that, without effective early intervention, more young men will be vulnerable to individuals and organisations which deliberately exploit grievance, alienation and insecurity to spread hatred and prejudice;

•               calls on the Executive Office and Department of Justice to develop a new, evidence-based approach to preventing radicalisation and supporting the de-radicalisation of young men, drawing on international best practice and developed in partnership with experts and practitioners in education, youth work and community development;

•               further calls for this approach to go beyond traditional forms of outreach and engage young people in the spaces where radicalisation increasingly takes place, including social media, online communities and gaming platforms.”

            On a recorded vote, thirty-six Members voted for the motion and sixteen against and it was declared carried.