Concerns over council motions being prioritised

SOME Derry City and Strabane councillors have voiced concerns that certain motions passed by the local authority are unfairly prioritised by council officers.

At last week’s full meeting of council, Strabane independent councillor Paul Gallagher noted that a dog exercise area scheme had been given £10,000 in funding ‘very speedily’ by council.

The planning application for the pilot scheme, at St Columb’s Park, was accepted by councillors in September this year.

Cllr Gallagher said, “Only very recently the motion was passed, and now council’s found ten grand to put it in place. How do reports get, I’d say, ‘elevated’ within council?”

“A motion for a report around spending by council was put forward in March and we’ve yet to see it. And some reports are in the pipeline for years.

“I brought one myself recently on floodlighting, which was before this (dog) proposal, so there could be a perception that if something is brought forward around spending or an activity in Derry City, it tends to get elevated.

“There are a lot of reports that seem to swim around in the system. There’s a delay in some of these reports and some are expedited, so is there fairness across the board?”

Council’s Chief Executive, John Kelpie, said Cllr Gallagher’s concerns were “valid”, but said there was no prioritisation unless it was for something ‘incredibly urgent’.

He said the system was ‘not perfect by any means’, and relies on members lobbying for updates and reprioritisation, but when things can be implemented quickly officers will bring back quick reports.

Foyleside People Before Profit District Councillor Shaun Harkin agreed with Cllr Gallagher and said he has had to ‘chase up’ motions from several months ago.

“It shouldn’t take a year for a motion to be actioned,” He said. “And I don’t think people should be forced to chase them up.”

“When is motion is passed it’s up to council officers, and it seems like there are decisions being prioritised.”