Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Committee on the progress of all Notices of Motion for which SP&R Committee is responsible for.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that SP&R Committee:

·        Note the updates to all Notices of Motion that SP&R Committee is responsible for and

·        Agree to the closure of Notice of Motion 266, 269, 302, 320, 327, 331, 332, 336, 346 and 350 as referenced in Appendix 1 and paragraph 3.4 below.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Background

            At SP&R Committee on 25th October 2019, the following Notice of Motion was agreed:

            ‘That this Council notes that other Councils produce a monthly status report in relation to Notices of Motion; and agrees Belfast City Council adopts a similar practice and produces a monthly Notice of Motion Update which will be brought to each full Council Meeting, detailing the following:

1.     Date received

2.     Notice of motion title

3.     Submitted by which Councillor

4.     Council meeting date

5.     Committee motion is referred to

6.     Outcome of committee where Notice of Motion will be debated

7.     Month it will be reported back to committee

8.     Other action to be taken.’

3.2       Following a review exercise, a new database containing all Notices of Motion and Issues Raised in Advance at Committee was created and quarterly reporting to Committee commenced in March 2021.  Appendix 1 is the latest quarterly update showing all active Notices of Motion and Issues Raised in Advance which SP&R Committee is responsible for.

3.3       Closure of Notices of Motion and Issues Raised in Advance

            At SP&R Committee on 20th November 2020, it was agreed that Notices of Motion could be closed for one of two reasons:

·        Notices of Motion which contained an action(s) that has been completed; and

·        Notices of Motion have become Council policy.

3.4       SP&R Committee are asked to agree that the following 10 Notices of Motion are now closed:

            Category 1 Recommended Closures:

·        Support for Striking Communication Workers Union ( Ref 269) – This NOM called on the Council to support the decision by communication workers to engage in strike action to lift pay. It asked the Council to write to senior management of Royal Mail, BT and Openreach encouraging them to present a fair, above inflation pay offer to workers and host an all-party meeting of Councillors, officers and representatives from CWU engaging in strike action. A response was received on 15th September 2023 and an all–party meeting is being arranged. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Department for Infrastructure – Standards of Repairs to Roads and Footpaths ( Ref 320) – This NOM called on the Council to write to DfI to raise the issue regarding the standard of repairs to roads and footpaths. A response has now been received and is being taken forward as part of ongoing engagement with the Department for Infrastructure. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Save West Wellbeing Suicide Awareness ( Ref 331) – This NOM called on the Council to explore all options to fund the West Well Being Suicide Prevention Centre, including using reserve funds, if necessary, to source up to £50,000 so the organisation could continue to deliver its full range of services for the remainder of 2023. Following discussion it was agreed that all requests for funding would be dealt with via the revised discretionary payments policy. Further information was provided to the organisation but no application has been made. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Future Management Structures of Lough Neagh ( Ref 332) – This NOM calls for the public acquisition of Lough Neagh from Lord Shaftesbury, an exploration of a right of nature for Lough Neagh and the future participation of communities in any future decision making. This call was passed at Committee. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        National Famine Memorial Day ( Ref 336) – This NOM called on the Council to write to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to request that Belfast host, in 2024, the National Famine Memorial Day, which takes place every May. A response was received and reported to SP&R in January 2024. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Request for Update on Motion on Overdose Prevention Facility in Belfast ( Ref 346) – This Issue Raised in Advance called for a report to be submitted providing an update on the above-mentioned motion, which had been passed by the Council at its meeting on 1st March, with specific reference to meetings held, legal advice sought and partners engaged with. An update was provided to SP&R in Jan 2024. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Removal of the Maximum Value Cap on Domestic Rates ( Ref 350) – This NOM called for a fully restored Executive so that collective decisions could be made on important devolved matters. In addition, it asked that in light of consultation that will take place on this issue, the Council would also make this motion a collective submission to the consultation. The consultation response was agreed at SP&R in January 24 and ratified at Council in Feb 24 and has been submitted. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

            Category 2 Recommended Closures:

·        GLL and Trade Unions ( Ref 266) – This NOM called on GLL to officially recognise trade unions in Belfast City Council leisure centres and for the Chief Executive of the Council to convene a meeting with the relevant trade unions to hear directly about the issues facing workers. The Chief Executive convened a meeting with the Trade Unions on 5th April 2023 and GLL now formally recognise the Trade Unions.  Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Winter Outdoor Preparedness Strategy ( Ref 302) – This NOM called on the Council to work with key stakeholders to develop a funded winter outdoor preparedness strategy and action plan for the city, to be operational by Quarter 3 of the 2023/2024 financial year. An update report on Winter Preparedness was presented to the People and Communities Committee in November 2023. Therefore it is recommended that this NOM is now closed.

·        Corporate Communications – Language Policy ( Ref 327) – This Issue Raised in Advance called on the Council to issue a social media tweet in Irish marking the 130th anniversary of the founding of Conradh na Gaelige and grant approval, in advance of the Language Strategy Action Plan being approved, for social media tweets marking similar illuminations to be issued in both English and the minority language. The social media tweet was issued on 18 August 23 and the draft Language Policy Action Plan was issued for public consultation in Oct 2023 and contain actions about social media tweets in all languages. Therefore it is recommended that this Issue Raised in Advance is now closed.

3.5       Financial and Resource Implications

            There are no additional financial implications required to implement these recommendations.

3.6       Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

            There are no equality, good relations or rural needs implications contained in this report.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.