Call to end sectarian and illegal activity

The Notice of Motion by Cllr Philip McGuigan, seconded by Cllr Cathal McLaughlin, was heard during last Monday’s Full Council meeting.

Cllr McGuigan proposed: “That Ballymoney Council works effectively to end sectarian, illegal and anti-social activity within the Borough.

“That Councillors recognise their responsibility and support the efforts, through their words and actions, of council officers and other statutory organisations working to end the illegal burning of tyres on bonfires, the promotion of hate crime, the placing and/or removal of cultural flags and symbols in an act meant to intimidate or cause offense.

“That this council recognises the damage that these activities do to community relations and also the financial cost to ratepayers.”

However following the proposal, Ald Bill Kennedy outlined: “The item falls within the Leisure and Amenities Committee remit ie bonfires etc and therefore under 6.4 of the Council Bill must be deferred to that committee for further discussion.”

In response Cllr McGuigan stated that the proposal ‘covers more than just bonfires’.

But Ald Kennedy explained that it involved ‘community relations’, which was a sub-committee of the Leisure and Amenities and therefore would be passed on to the relevant committee for further discussion.