Agenda item

(To consider further the minute of the meeting of 18^th June which, at the request of Councillor Kingston, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration.)

            The Committee considered further the undernoted minute of the meeting of 18th June:

      “The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Poster for Tomorrow to exhibit within the grounds of the City Hall 100 posters marking World and European Day against the Death Penalty on 10th October.  The posters would be selected from public competition submissions by a panel comprised of eminent local people and would be displayed within the grounds from 7th till 10th October.  Belfast would be one of 100 cities across the world marking the event.

      The posters would be displayed on trellis-type fencing positioned within the grounds.  There would be no resource implications for the Council as the organisation would provide all of their own display materials.  In addition, there would be no requirement for electrical power and the organisation would take out full indemnity insurance.  Due to the nature of the subject, some of the posters might be sensitive in nature, although the Council did have the option of vetoing specific posters if it were deemed that they were controversial or offensive.

      The Committee was advised that the death penalty was still supported by a number of countries, notably the United States of America and China, so the organisers’ position would not have unqualified support.  It was envisaged that the exhibition might receive significant media coverage.  One of the criteria for use of the City Hall grounds stated that the request should comply with the Council’s Equality and Good Relations obligations.  The application by Poster for Tomorrow had been discussed with the Council’s Good Relations Manager who had recommended, given that the United Kingdom had abolished the death penalty, that the application be approved by the Committee.

      After discussion, it was

      Moved by Councillor N. Kelly,

      Seconded by Councillor McCarthy,

      That the Committee agrees to accede to the request.

      On a vote by show of hands eight Members voted for the proposal and seven against and it was accordingly declared carried.”

            With the permission of the Chairman, Councillor Kingston addressed the Committee.  He expressed the view that the grounds of the City Hall were an inappropriate venue for the display of posters opposing the death penalty.  He made the point that the application had not specified the contents of the posters and, whilst the Council did have the option of vetoing specific posters if they were deemed to be controversial or offensive, there was a possibility that the display could include pictures of persons who had been convicted of committing serious crimes.  He stated that the United Kingdom had already abolished the death penalty and therefore it was unnecessary for a campaign seeking for it to be abolished to be located within the grounds of the City Hall and he requested that the Committee refuse the request.

Moved by Councillor McCarthy,

Seconded by Councillor Attwood,

      That the Committee agrees to affirm its decision of 18th June and approve the use of the City Hall grounds by the Poster for Tomorrow organisation.

            On a vote by show of hands eight Members voted for the proposal and four against and it was accordingly declared carried.