Tuesday 7 January 2025 The Council Meeting

Full Council

1. The Mayor’s Business

2. Apologies

3. Declaration of Members’ Interests

4. Deputation – Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University

5. Minutes of the Reconvened Council Meeting held Tuesday 3 December 2024 (adjourned from 5 November 2024) (copy attached)

6. Minutes of The Council Meeting held Tuesday 3 December 2024 immediately following the Reconvened Meeting (copy attached)

7. Minutes of Planning Committee Meeting held Wednesday 27 November 2024 (copy attached)

8. Minutes of Environmental Services Committee meeting held Tuesday 10 December 2024 (copy attached)

9. Minutes of Audit Committee meeting held Wednesday 11 December 2024 (copy attached)

10. Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting held Thursday 12 December 2024 (copy attached)

11. Minutes of Leisure and Development Committee meeting held Tuesday 17 December 2024 (copy attached)

12. Matters for reporting to the Partnership Panel

13. Conferences (report attached)

14. Correspondence (report attached)

15. Consultation Schedule (copy attached)

16. Seal Documents

   (i) Grave Registry Certificates, No’s 5890 to 5911 inclusive;

   (ii) Conveyance of Possessory Title DFI to CCGBC dated 7th November 2024 Dervock Road Off Street Car Park Ballymoney (Retrospective);

   (iii) Conveyance of Possessory Title DFI to CCGBC dated 7th November 2024 Millburn Road Off Street Car Park Coleraine (Retrospective).

17. Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Anderson, seconded by Councillor Stirling

That this Council engage in a scoping exercise to establish a magical Christmas experience in Coleraine similar to the successful events of the Yulefest Kilkenny and Enchanted Winter Garden in Antrim, utilising the Market Yard in the town and accessing the Coleraine Town Fund to deliver a Christmas experience for the community.

18. Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Kennedy, seconded by Councillor Stirling

I call upon this Council to create a funding pot for Community Groups who are Guardians of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in our borough. Community Groups are finding it increasingly difficult to replace and maintain the equipment.

This initiative is designed to address the risk of a defibrillator being out of use due to pads having been used and not replaced due to community groups not having adequate funding to replace the pads.

Our communities must be equipped to respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively. When it comes to life, every second counts.

This funding will undoubtedly save lives.

19. Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor N Archibald, seconded by Councillor Peacock

This Council calls for the urgent implementation of the Strategy to End Violence Against Women and Girls, which must address violence at its roots, tackling everyday sexism and misogyny, working with Women’s Aid and other community and voluntary organisations and most importantly with those women who are victims and survivors and families of those who have been killed.

This Council supports tackling violence against women and girls being a priority in the new Policing Plan 2025-2030 and calls on the local PCSP to include tackling violence against women and girls in the development of the local PCSP plan and work with the community and voluntary sector and statutory bodies to deliver on this priority.

20. Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Kyle, seconded by Councillor Jonathan McAuley

This council reiterates its support towards our senior citizens and their health and wellbeing, and in doing so we instruct our officers to prepare a membership concession proposal for use of our leisure facilities by senior citizens, noting that other councils already offer the facility.

21. Notice of Motion proposed by Alderman S McKillop, seconded by Alderman Fielding

That this Council recognises the need to protect businesses and charities that provide vital frontline services from the destructive impact of the Government’s changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions; notes concerns voiced by general practitioners, dentists, care homes and a range of other independent providers that this added cost could jeopardise the future of some services and create additional hardship for the most vulnerable in society; further notes the rising challenges facing Executive departments, local councils and the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a result of the hike in employers’ National Insurance; believes this deeply flawed policy will make it more expensive for businesses and employers of all sizes to retain and recruit staff, forcing many to choose between cutting jobs or raising prices for already-struggling consumers; urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reverse changes to employers’ National Insurance in order to protect businesses, farms and vital frontline services; and calls on the Minister of Finance to work with Executive colleagues to ascertain the total additional cost of increased employer national insurance contributions for the public sector, including independent providers; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to lobby the Chancellor of Exchequer for the funding required to meet this shortfall in full, protect jobs and incomes and place the delivery of frontline public services on a stable footing.