Agenda item

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Smyth proposed:

“This Council notes with concern the rising number of needles being discarded and drug paraphernalia waste in Belfast city centre from intravenous drug use. Since the City has come out of the pandemic, it has seen an increase in the number of vulnerable people suffering from addiction issues in the City centre. With this increase, it has seen that needles and syringes are not only being discarded in public places but also in some standard public waste bins in the City Centre, potentially putting the public and Council staff at increased risk of a sharp’s injury.

It notes also that Glasgow has recently installed a new secure disposal bin to reduce drug-related litter and for service users to positively discard needles after they have finished injecting and improve collective community safety in its City centre.

This Council will, therefore, commit to working with relevant partners, including the Public Health Agency, Government Departments, PSNI, BIDs, businesses and organisations supporting the vulnerable in the City centre core, towards the installation of specific needle/drug waste bins in key locations that are known to have high incidences of needle finds.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor McCusker.

            Councillor Smyth sought and was granted approval by the Council to add the following paragraph to the end of his motion:

“To initiate this work, the Council will invite the Public Health Agency to a meeting of the People and Communities Committee to explore the legalities and logistics of the installation of such secure needle/drug waste bins, including best practice around community consultation.”

Amendment

Moved by Councillor McCormick,

Seconded by Councillor S. Douglas,

      That the following paragraph be added to the end of the motion:

“The Council will also commit to liaising with the relevant community/resident organisations before the placement of any disposal bins in the respective residential areas to ensure community approval before installation.”

            On a vote, sixteen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-five against and it was declared lost.

            The motion standing in the name of Councillor Smyth and including his amendment was thereupon put to the Council and passed as follows:

“This Council notes with concern the rising number of needles being discarded and drug paraphernalia waste in Belfast city centre from intravenous drug use. Since the City has come out of the pandemic, it has seen an increase in the number of vulnerable people suffering from addiction issues in the City centre. With this increase, it has seen that needles and syringes are not only being discarded in public places but also in some standard public waste bins in the City Centre, potentially putting the public and Council staff at increased risk of a sharp’s injury.

It notes also that Glasgow has recently installed a new secure disposal bin to reduce drug-related litter and for service users to positively discard needles after they have finished injecting and improve collective community safety in its City centre.

This Council will, therefore, commit to working with relevant partners, including the Public Health Agency, Government Departments, PSNI, BIDs, businesses and organisations supporting the vulnerable in the City centre core, towards the installation of specific needle/drug waste bins in key locations that are known to have high incidences of needle finds.

To initiate this work, the Council will invite the Public Health Agency to a meeting of the People and Communities Committee to explore the legalities and logistics of the installation of such secure needle/drug waste bins, including best practice around community consultation.”