Court threats over council committee nominations

Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography

The Transition Committee, established to oversee the amalgamation of council areas, with Dunmurry Cross transferring into Belfast at the next election, is made up of representatives from the area.

Lisburn Council had been allocated two positions for Dunmurry councillors, five of whom are Sinn Fein councillors. Under the Chief Executive’s recommendations, Sinn Fein, as the biggest party in the Dunmurry area, should have taken the two positions.

However, the DUP’s Alderman James Tinsley proposed one of the positions should be taken by his party to ensure unionists in the Dunmurry area were fairly represented.

Sinn Fein Councillor Arder Carson said that if the council accepted Mr Tinsley’s proposal, his party would take legal action. “Sinn Fein took five seats in the last election,” he said. “We are entitled to the two committee seats. Sinn Fein will pursue a judicial review course of action.”

Following a recorded vote, Mr Carson’s proposal that two Sinn Fein representatives should be elected to the Belfast Transition Committee, was defeated with 16 councillors - DUP and UUP - voting against and 10 - SDLP, SF and Alliance - voting in favour.

Mr Tinsley’s proposal that one of the seats should be given to the DUP was agreed with 16 votes for and seven against, with the three SDLP councillors abstaining.

Sinn Fein then refused to nominate a representative for the second seat. Following their decision, SDLP Councillor Pat Catney nominated Councillor Brian Heading for the position. This nomination was seconded by DUP’s Alderman James Tinsley.

The Alliance Party and UUP abstained from voting on Mr Heading’s nomination, which was supported by both the DUP and the SDLP, with Sinn Fein objecting.

This decision must now be approved by the Minister. If approval is not forthcoming, the council will be reconvened and the matter reconsidered. “If the Minister doesn’t accept the Council’s decision and the Council doesn’t accept the Minister’s decision, it may cause some difficulties,” added Council Chief Executive Norman Davidson.