Nationalist councillors storm out
Thursday, 14 August 2008
OUTRAGED nationalist councillors stormed out of a Development Committee meeting at Limavady council offices on Tuesday night en bloc, after an angry debate over funding.
The SDLP's Michael Coyle, called the actions of the Chair of the meeting, the DUP'S Alan Robinson, a disgrace, after Cllr Robinson refused to accept a proposal he put forward.
A debate over a decision on whether or not to award £24,8222 and £11,284.41 to the Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism Partnership, and Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust became extremely heated in council chambers.
At an earlier development committee meeting on June 12, it was agreed to give the financial assistance to the two groups, however at the following June monthly meeting Sinn Fein councillors asked that the payments be frozen and a cost benefit analysis be undertaken.
However, at Tuesday night's meeting, Unionist councillors claimed the payments should not have been frozen as council did not have the right to rescind the earlier decision without a notice of motion.
During angry exchanges, the UUC's Councillor Coyle hit out at the council's Chief Executive, who was not in attendance at Tuesday night's meeting, saying he "hasn't the foggiest what he's doing".
He added: "The Chief Executive should have informed council at the June monthly meeting that the original decision could not be rescinded without a notice of motion."
Councillor Michael Coyle suggested postponing any decision for two weeks, in order to seek clarification from the Chief Executive at the August monthly meeting.
However, Cllr Alan Robinson, as chairman, made a ruling on the debate, opting to go with the decision made at the previous development committee meeting on June 12, and therefore go ahead with the financial assistance for the two organisations.
At this point an enraged Cllr Coyle asked the chairman if he was going to ignore his proposal, to which cllr Robinson replied yes.
Both Sinn Fein and the SDLP left the meeting in protest, calling Cllr Robinson's actions a disgrace.
Cllr Coyle said: "We are supposed to live in a democratic society, but the chairman of this meeting does not know how to run a meeting and ignored a legitimate proposal put by a member of council and properly seconded.
“Walking out of council had nothing to do with whether or not money is awarded to any organisations, it was not the subject matter but the process which has left me outraged.
“Councillor Robinson does not have the right to ignore a proposal, as chairman he must take a proposal yet he refused to accept mine, so I walked out in protest.
“I am passionate about politics and passionate about getting things done in the proper manner.
“I think the chairman should apologise to council and consider stepping down from his post as chairman of this committee."
Councillor Robinson defended his position saying: "I believe I made the right decision.
“When a decision has been made and then adopted, are we to then overturn that decision on a proposal, should we do that at every meeting - if so we would never get anything done.
“According to standing orders, you cannot rescind a resolution of council unless notice of motion has been given by as many councillors as would constitute a quorum of council.
“Also, according to Standing Order 35, all rulings of the mayor or chairman upon all points of order and of matters arising in debate shall be final and not be open to discussion.
“Our council officer made a recommendation, which was agreed at a previous development meeting and adopted, it should not have been rescinded, it's a simple as that
“A decision taken at a later monthly meeting is not a matter for me, I don't chair the monthly meeting, I do however chair the development committee and therefore the decision taken at the previous development meeting is the one that I will abide by."
In response to Cllr Coyle's suggestion the he consider stepping down as committee chair, Cllr Robinson added: "I have been elected to the position of chairman on the d'hondt system, which the nationalists advocate, and as such I will certainly not be stepping down."
