►
Description
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Special Council Meeting on Tuesday the 14th of February 2023 at 6.00pm. This is a hybrid meeting with Members and staff attending in the chamber and remotely using Zoom
B
B
A
A
Members
and
officers
have
worked
hard
to
arrive
at
a
proposed
rate
increase.
That
is
a
compromise
against
the
numerous
asks,
the
statutory
obligations
that
we
have
and
the
finite
resources
that
are
available
to
the
council.
The
cost
pressures
four
constantly
for
the
incoming
year
continue
to
include
those
increasing
energy
costs.
There
are
increasing
staff
costs
and
a
further
significant
cut
to
the
rate
support
ground.
A
The
proposed
rate
also
confirms
the
council's
commitment
to
supporting
recovery
and
growth
across
the
borough,
while
minimizing
the
cost
to
the
local
Reit
pair,
not
just
for
next
year,
but
in
the
years
to
come,
as
chief
executive
and
as
the
accounting
officer
under
the
local
government.
Finance
act
I'm
legally
required
to
be
satisfied
that
the
estimates
presented
should
provide
adequate
Financial
Resources
to
support
the
running
costs
of
the
organization
for
the
incoming
year.
A
To
provide
Assurance
to
members
on
the
robustness
of
the
revenue
estimates
and
the
adequacy
of
the
council's
reserves
position
as
part
of
the
real
setting
process.
The
budget
presented
to
Nate
meets
these
requirements
in
previous
years.
We
have
always
strived
to
ensure
that
our
rate
is
below
or
at
the
rate
of
inflation,
and
the
proposed
rate
tonight
is
significantly
below
the
current
rate
of
inflation.
A
Members
are
also
reminded
that,
whilst
we
are
considering
the
district
rate
and
we
are
endeavoring
to
keep
it
as
low
as
possible,
this
is
only
one
component
of
the
rate
spell.
There
is
no
indication
as
to
what
the
regional
rate
is
likely
to
be
or
when
the
secretary
of
state
will
announce
it.
This
element
of
our
citizens
bills
is
outside
of
the
council's
control.
A
A
Lord
I
would
like
to
express
my
sincere
thanks
to
the
estimates
and
the
efficiencies
working
group,
especially
the
chairman,
who
has
had
significant
number
of
additional
meetings
to
oversee
this
year,
to
thank
all
of
the
party
leaders,
the
governance,
resources
and
strategy
committee
and
members
from
across
all
of
the
political
parties
for
their
engagement,
further
scrutiny,
their
advice
and
their
support.
During
the
estimates
process,
there
has
been
a
long
and
open
and
honest
conversation
which
have
helped
us
enormously
getting
to
the
point
where
all
parties
can
support
the
proposed
rates
increase
for
next
year.
A
There
are
too
many
of
them
to
mention,
and
it
would
be
unfair
to
do
so,
but
we
pay
a
tribute
to
the
hard
work
that
they
have
put
in
over
the
last
six
months
or
so
so.
Lord
mayor
the
rate
before
members
tonight
as
a
recommendation.
That's
coming
from
the
special
governance
committee
meeting
last
week
and
it
equates
to
an
increase
of
4.83
for
the
domestic
rate
and
7.5
7
for
the
non-domestic
rate,
and
this
is
on
average,
at
5.96
increase
in
the
rate
Lord
Mary.
B
D
Thank
you
Lord
mayor
and
thank
you
to
Dominic
and
Liam,
and
all
the
team
and
finance
for
all
the
hard
work
over
the
past
number
of
months
and
also
to
colleagues
on
the
estimates.
Working
group
roller
work
over
the
months
has
been
a
hard
slog
and
to
get
to
this
place,
but
I
think
that
we've
got
to
a
very,
very
impressive
figure
in
terms
of
our
Ritz
increase
and
I'm
happy
to
propose.
Thank
you.
B
C
E
E
You
know
when
it's
gonna-
it's
gonna,
prove
very
difficult
over
the
next
over
the
next
12
months
in
terms
of
of
services
and
trying
to
put
this
Council
on
a
sign,
fit
and
going
forward
financially,
but
all
credit
to
the
officers
and
from
the
paper
between
the
colleague
as
well
Alderman
and
Sharon
those
those
meetings.
And
there
are
many
of
them
on
some
lengthy
ones,
and
he
certainly
was
across
all
of
the
detail,
to
try
and
get
down
to
the
Reit
and
where
we
are
I.
E
E
And
this
is
the
start
of
the
process
and,
as
I
mentioned
to
the
deputy
chief
Executive
before
you
know,
the
process
starts
over
the
next
12
months
and
I
know.
There's
an
election
coming
on
on.
Some
of
us
might
be
here
and
that's
that's
up
to
the
red
pair,
but
certainly
we
can't
continue.
We
just
simply
can't
continue
to
put
the
burden
on
the
red
pair
and
every
time
there's
a
bit
of
a
financial
crisis.
E
We
are
a
huge
organization,
we
have
money
assets,
we
need
to
look
at
new
and
innovative
ways
to
try
and
raise
revenue.
We
simply
can't
come
every
year,
bro
and
just
wherever
the
shortfall
is
just
lump
it
onto
the
repair.
We
have
to
change
the
way
we
do
things
when
they
come
into
this
I
am
first
organization
11
years
ago
and
then
laterally
to
different
of
the
super
Council
and
what
was
formed.
E
We've
always
talked
and
numbers
right
across
the
chamber
that
you
know
we
have
to
run
the
council
like
a
business,
but
sadly
we
don't
run
it
like
a
business
and
that's
in
member
chance
and
decisions
taken
in
this
place
that
aren't
fiscally
responsible,
they're,
not
financially
responsible,
but
they're
not
be
popular
and
sometimes
in
this
position.
You
have
to
take
on
popular
decisions
too.
E
So
it's
just
a
you
know,
put
that
in
record
and
all
our
thanks
to
the
team
and
we
have
a
palatable
raise,
but
it's
only
the
start
of
a
process,
because
you
know
we
have
all
the
study
again
next
year
and
it's
going
to
be
a
more
difficult
year
on
year.
But
we
have
to
look
at
new
as
on
how
to
raise
revenue
and
members
whoever's
back
in
the
chamber,
whether
I'm,
here
or
whether
or
not
or
whether
other
members
are
here
or
not.
E
We
have
to
probably
look
and
make
more
probably
our
own
popular
decisions,
and
we
can't
just
always
make
no
apology
for
standing
up
for
the
red
pair
and
tonight,
but
just
on
behalf
of
our
party
just
again
and
thanks
to
the
officers,
because
it's
been
a
very
difficult
process,
I
think
for
us
all
and
have
worked
extremely
hard.
Thank
you.
F
Yeah,
hey
thank
you
Lord
Mur,
and
make
others
before
me.
I
I
want
to
thank,
obviously
the
whole
team
that
worked
so
hard
in
what
has
been.
Let's
be
honest,
a
lot
of
unforeseen
pressures,
Within
These
12
months
and
be
it
energy,
be
it
inflation,
be
it
other
things
and
I
think
when
we
we
first
started.
We
we
were
talking
double
figures,
I
think
that
was
worth
being
reported
in
the
Press.
F
But
look
it's
shown
with
you
know
everybody
at
the
whale
working
hard
and
again,
I
want
to
pay
a
tribute
and
part
of
our
group
on
the
working
group,
as
has
been
said
before,
constantly
I'm,
not
sure
but
shared
it
very
well,
and
and
obviously
it
was
over
the
detail
and
we
all
worked
well
together
because,
let's
be
honest,
as
we've
seen,
probably
in
other
countries
over
the
last
week
or
two,
the
race
process
can
be
the
the
subject
of
political
mystery,
safe
and
I.
I.
F
What
I
think
given
some
of
the
reacts
were
seen
struck
throughout
Northern
Ireland,
given
the
rate
of
inflation
and,
as
Roger
has
already
said,
we're
we're.
Not
in
control
of
the
regional
Rift,
what
weakens
and
ABC
Council
can
say
we
have
we're
providing
the
real
players
best
value
and
for
going
forward
and
I.
Think
as
I
say,
our
our
domestic
rate
is
way
way
below
what
a
lot
of
people
were
were
expecting
to
see
when
you
compare
what
was
going
on
so
look.
F
Finally,
I
just
want
to
thank
again
all
the
officers
Liam
Dominic,
everybody
I
know
it's
been
a
difficult
time
and
and
all
the
members
in
the
chamber-
and
hopefully
we
can
move
forward
and
continue
to
to
grow
this
Borough
over
the
next
12
months,
as
as
Oliver
says,
if
we're,
if
we're
back
in
the
chamber,
but
we'll
find
out
that
in
there.
So
thank
you.
Lord.
B
G
We
recognize
that
this
has
been
an
alert
difficult
year
for
our
residents
and
indeed
for
this
Council.
We
can
do
nothing
without
the
rear
pair
because
it
is
there
who
provide
the
resources
for
this
Council
to
deliver
the
services,
whether
that
is
the
business
repair
or
the
private
repair.
This
is
why
we
must
take
steps
as
we
move
forward,
to
ensure
that
we
are
delivering
the
best
service
and
the
best
and
most
effective
way
forward.
G
G
We
have
sites-
and
I
have
pointed
this
out
before
that
wrong.
Huge
deficits-
and
we
have
have
to
accept
that
this
cannot
continue
to
operate
like
this.
We
must
seek
other
operating
models.
Members
as
well
as
officers
must
face
up
to
this.
As
a
party
we
will
not
say
from
taking
from
having
to
make
difficult
and
challenging
decisions
if
it
means
delivering
better
services
and
value
for
the
repairs.
G
G
We
must
get
to
get
to
grips
with
the
issues
and
environmental
services
for
once
and
for
all,
we
have
to
work
to
ensure
that
all
our
facilities
and
Leisure
community
and
other
departments
are
working
together
and
delivering
for
the
red
pair.
We
must
tackle
the
issues
of
Staff
morale,
absence
levels
and
speed
up
recruitment
processes.
G
G
Our
prayers
deserve
the
best
on
our
party
are
prepared
to
deliver
better
for
everyone
in
this
Borough
tonight's
rise
is
a
chief
executive
said,
is
reasonably
low,
but
we
still
have
the
central
element
to
be
put
to
it.
So
therefore,
it
may
not
be
as
good
as
we
would
like
it
to
be
in
this
occasion,
but
let's
move
forward
together
to
try
and
to
deliver
the
red
pairs,
the
people
who
put
us
here
and
the
people
who
finances
counselor.
Thank
you.
Lord
mayor.
B
H
Thank
you
Lord,
mayor
and
good
evening
members,
so
just
firstly
just
to
say
a
big
thanks
to
all
members
for
your
kind
words
this
evening.
It's
it's
been
a
has
been
a
pretty
long
process
and
for
all
your
support
throughout
that
process,
members,
you
know
I
think
we've
got
to
to
a
pretty
good
place
tonight.