No Council support for community hall

During a recent Development Committee meeting, members voted not to send a letter of support for the application to the Rural Development Programme.

The report explained: “Committee is invited to consider request for a letter of support to an application to the Rural Development Programme for funding towards fit out of the new community hall in Cloughmills. Some members voiced need for clarification as regards ownership of the building, management arrangements, proposed role etc before considering the matter.”

It was proposed by Cllr Malachy McCamphill, seconded by Alderman Simpson, that Council provide a letter of support. However following further discussion the Chair put the motion to the vote with two members voting in favour and three voting against. The Chair declared the motion lost.

Alderman Frank Campbell, Cllr Evelyne Robinson and Cllr Ian Stevenson advised that they had abstained from voting as they sit on the Rural Development panel which considers applications for funding.

However during last Monday’s Full Council meeting the issue was raised again by Cllr McCamphill and seconded by Alderman Harry Connolly.

Calling on council to reconsider, he explained: “This is a community issue and all the group is asking for is a letter of support on this matter.

“Council should support any group looking at ways to enhance the local area. A simple letter isn’t going to cost council anything.”

In response Cllr John Finlay stated: “I am not objecting to Cloughmills getting a community hall, but it shouldn’t be in the name of the local community group.

“If council want to build a hall in a neutral venue then passing this could hinder them as Cloughmills would already have one.

“You can’t describe it as a community hall if it’s not on a neutral venue.”

Cllr James Simpson explained that this was a ‘rural development problem’ therefore members of the panel should put their points forward.

He continued: “The call for a letter of support has been defeated so we have to look somewhere else for a way forward.”

Cllr Stevenson offered Cllr Finlay his support adding: “I also support Cllr Simpson’s opinion as I sit on the panel.”

The proposal for reconsideration was put to a vote with three for sending the letter of support and four not - Mayor Frank Campbell made the casting vote.