Local Government Bill Marshalled List of Amendments Consideration Stage Tuesday 18 March 2014

Amendment 1 [Made without division]

Clause 2 , Page 1, Line 14

Leave out ‘council’s code of conduct’ and insert ‘Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 2 [Made without division]

Clause 2 , Page 1, Line 17

After ‘that’ insert ‘from 30th April 2015’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 3 [Made without division]

Clause 2 , Page 1, Line 17

After ‘available’ insert ‘on its website and’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Clause 3 [Question that Clause 3 stand part negatived on division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 4 [Question that Clause 4 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 5 [Question that Clause 5 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 5 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 6 [Question that Clause 6 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 7 [Question that Clause 7 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 7 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 8 [Question that Clause 8 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 8 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Clause 9 [Question that Clause 9 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Clause 9 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 4 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 9 insert -

‘Disqualifications for being councillors

9A. A member of—

(a) the Assembly;

(b) the House of Commons; or

(c) the European Parliament,

is disqualified for being a councillor.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 5 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 9 insert -

‘Power to exempt offices and employments from disqualification

9B. In section 4(1)(a) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (disqualifications), for the words from “place of profit” to “council” there shall be substituted the words “employment appointments to which are made by a council if it is a prescribed office or employment”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 6 [Made without division]

Clause 10 , Page 5, Line 25

Leave out ‘subsection (1)(f)’ and insert ‘this Act’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 7 [Made without division]

Clause 10 , Page 5, Line 26

Leave out ‘prescribed public body or other association’ and insert ‘public body’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 8 [Made without division]

Clause 11 , Page 5, Line 38

At end insert -

‘( ) making a determination under section 13(1) of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (affordable borrowing limit) and monitoring an amount determined under that subsection;’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 9 [Made on division]

Clause 23 , Page 10, Line 11

Leave out lines 11 to 13 and insert -

‘a committee system unless the council decides to operate executive arrangements or prescribed arrangements’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 10 [Made without division]

Clause 25 , Page 11, Line 29

Leave out subsection (3) and insert -

‘(3) The chair and deputy chair of the council shall be non-voting members of the executive and shall be disregarded for the purpose of subsections (4) and (5).’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 11 [Not called]

Clause 25 , Page 11, Line 29

Leave out ‘not’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 12 [Made without division]

Clause 25 , Page 11, Line 31

Leave out ‘four’ and insert ‘six’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 13 [Made without division]

Clause 25 , Page 11, Line 34

Leave out ‘four’ and insert ‘six’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 14 [Made without division]

Clause 34 , Page 18, Line 9

Leave out ‘an excluded’ and insert ‘a prescribed’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 15 [Made without division]

Clause 34 , Page 18, Line 17

Leave out subsection (4)

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 16 [Negatived on division]

Clause 44 , Page 23, Line 40

Leave out ‘Standing orders must’ and insert ‘The Department must by order’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 17 [Negatived on division]

Clause 45 , Page 24, Line 16

At end insert -

‘(1A) The Department must appoint a panel of solicitors for the purposes of providing an opinion if requested under subsection (2).’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 18 [Not called]

Clause 45 , Page 24, Line 18

Leave out ‘a practising barrister or solicitor’ and insert ‘the panel of solicitors appointed under subsection (1A)’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 19 [Made without division]

Clause 45 , Page 24, Line 20

At end insert -

‘and the process by which a legal opinion is obtained in subsection (2)’

Mr Peter Weir
Ms Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Amendment 20 [Negatived without division]

Clause 46 , Page 25, Line 37

Leave out line 37 and insert -

‘(7) So far as is reasonably practicable, a council shall facilitate—’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 21 [Made without division]

Clause 48 , Page 27, Line 28

After ‘must’, insert -

‘as soon as is reasonably practicable’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 22 [Made on division]

New Clause

After clause 48, insert -

‘Audio recording of meetings

48A.—(1) So far as is reasonably practicable, a council must make an audio recording of so much of any meeting of the council as is open to the public and the recording must be available to the public at the offices of the council until the expiration of the period of six years from the date of the meeting and published on the council website until the expiration of the period of two years from the date of the meeting.

(2) This section does not apply in relation to meetings of any committee or sub-committee of the council.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 23 [Made without division]

Clause 49 , Page 28, Line 18

At end insert -

‘(6) A council must put on its website any document which is open to inspection under subsection (1).’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 24 [Made without division]

Clause 58 , Page 33, Line 17

At end insert -

‘(1A) Instead of, or in addition to, conducting an investigation under this section, the Commissioner may take such action as appears to the Commissioner to be desirable to deal with any particular case falling within subsection (1).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 25 [Made without division]

Clause 62 , Page 36, Line 36

At end insert -

‘(13) A person who is censured, suspended or disqualified by the Commissioner as mentioned in subsection (3) may appeal to the High Court if the High Court gives the person leave to do so.’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 26 [Made without division]

Clause 62 , Page 36, Line 36

At end insert -

‘(14) An appeal under subsection (13) may be made on one or more of the following grounds—

(a) that the Commissioner’s decision was based on an error of law;

(b) that there has been procedural impropriety in the conduct of the investigation under section 58;

(c) that the Commissioner has acted unreasonably in the exercise of the Commissioner’s discretion;

(d) that the Commissioner’s decision was not supported by the facts found to be proved by the Commissioner;

(e) that the sanction imposed was excessive.’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 27 [Made without division]

Clause 63 , Page 37, Line 29

At end insert -

‘(9) A person who is suspended (or partially suspended) by the Commissioner by notice as mentioned in subsection (1) may appeal to the High Court if the High Court gives the person leave to do so.’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 28 [Made without division]

Clause 64 , Page 37, Line 37

Leave out from ‘and’ to the end of line 38

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 29 [Made without division]

Clause 64 , Page 38, Line 5

Leave out from ‘and’ to the end of line 8

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 30 [Made without division]

Clause 64 , Page 38

Leave out subsection (6)

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 31 [Made without division]

Clause 67 , Page 39, Line 23

Leave out subsection (2)

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 32 [Made without division]

Clause 67 , Page 39, Line 28

Leave out ‘Commissioner’ and insert ‘Department’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 33 [Made without division]

Clause 67 , Page 39, Line 28

Leave out ‘, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel,’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 34 [Made without division]

Clause 67 , Page 39, Line 30

Leave out from ‘may be prescribed’ to the end of line 35 and insert ‘the Department, after consultation in accordance with subsection (3A), considers appropriate.

(3A) The Department must consult—

(a) councils; and

(b) such associations or bodies representative of councils as appear to the Department to be appropriate,

about the manner in which the amount mentioned in subsection (3) is to be apportioned.

(3B) The Department may deduct from any grant payable under section 27A of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to a council for a financial year the amount apportioned to it under subsection (3).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 35 [Made without division]

Clause 68 , Page 40, Line 11

At end insert -

‘(5) Where a councillor who is suspended otherwise than partially or is disqualified under this Part is also a member of any other public body (whether as an external representative of the council or otherwise), the councillor is also suspended or disqualified from being a member of that body and any committee or sub-committee of that body.

(6) Any reference in this Part to a councillor being partially suspended from being a councillor includes a reference to the councillor being partially suspended from being a member of any other public body of which the councillor is a member (whether as an external representative of the council or otherwise) and the reference in subsection (2) to particular functions or particular responsibilities as a councillor includes particular functions or particular responsibilities as a member of that body.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 36 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 68 insert -

‘PART 9A

GENERAL DUTY TO PROMOTE SHARED USE OF THE PUBLIC REALM

General duty to promote shared use of the public realm

68A. A council must in exercising its functions promote shared use of the public realm between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 37 [Negatived on division]

Clause 69 , Page 40, Line 25

At end insert -

‘(iv) equality and good relations between the categories of persons listed in section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 38 [Made without division]

Clause 69 , Page 40, Line 29

After ‘partners’ insert -

‘(including actions and functions related to the planning, provision and improvement of public services)’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 39 [Made without division]

Clause 69 , Page 40, Line 30

At end insert -

‘(2A) In subsection (2)(a)—

(a) the reference to improving the social well-being of the district includes promoting equality of opportunity in accordance with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and

(b) the reference to improving the economic well-being of the district includes tackling poverty, social exclusion and patterns of deprivation;

and expressions used in this subsection and in section 28E of that Act (Executive Committee’s strategy relating to poverty, social exclusion etc.) have the same meaning as in that section.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 40 [Negatived without division]

Clause 70 , Page 41, Line 3

At end insert -

‘(1A) The bodies or persons specified under subsection (1) must include representation from the community and voluntary sector and businesses.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 41 [Made without division]

Clause 74 , Page 43, Line 22

Leave out ‘towards’ and insert ‘and outcomes achieved in’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 42 [Made on division]

Clause 76 , Page 44, Line 3

Leave out from ‘ensure’ to ‘taken’ and insert -

‘(a) seek the participation of and encourage the persons mentioned in subsection (2) to express their views and (b) take those views’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 43 [Not called]

Clause 76 , Page 44, Line 3

At end insert ‘reasonable’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 44 [Made without division]

Clause 78 , Page 45, Line 7

Leave out ‘aim to’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 45 [Made without division]

Clause 85 , Page 48, Line 33

Leave out from ‘then’ to ‘overlap,’ and insert -

‘it shall seek to remove or reduce that overlap, taking into account the views of the bodies exercising the overlapping powers.

(2A) For the purposes of subsection (2)’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 46 [Made without division]

Clause 85 , Page 48, Line 41

At end insert -

‘(5) Before the Department makes an order under this section it must consult—

(a) such associations or bodies representative of councils;

(b) such associations or bodies representative of officers of councils; and

(c) such other persons or bodies,

as appear to the Department to be appropriate.

(6) If, following consultation under subsection (5), the Department proposes to make an order under this section it must lay before the Assembly a document explaining the proposals and, in particular—

(a) setting them out in the form of a draft order; and

(b) giving details of consultation under subsection (5).

(7) Where a document relating to proposals is laid before the Assembly under subsection (6), no draft of an order under this section to give effect to the proposals (with or without modification) is to be laid before the Assembly until after theexpiry of the statutoryperiod beginning with the day on which the document was laid.

(8) In preparing a draft order under this section the Department must consider any representations made during the period mentioned in subsection (7).

(9) A draft order laid before the Assembly in accordance with section 125(3) must be accompanied by a statement of the Department giving details of—

(a) any representations considered in accordance with subsection (8); and

(b) any changes made to the proposals contained in the document laid before the Assembly under subsection (6).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 47 [Made without division]

Clause 95 , Page 53, Line 34

Leave out ‘31st October’ and insert ‘30th September’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 48 [Made without division]

Clause 96 , Page 54, Line 13

Leave out ‘(1) to (5)’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 49 [Made without division]

Clause 96 , Page 54, Line 15

Leave out ‘under section 95(6)’ and insert ‘by the Department about the council’s duties under that section’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 50 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 54, Line 25

After ‘Each financial year, the’ insert ‘Department, after consultation with the local government auditor, must determine which councils are to be councils in respect of which subsection (1A) applies in that financial year.

(1A) Each financial year, the’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 51 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 54, Line 26

After ‘each council’ insert ‘to which this subsection applies in that financial year’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 52 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 54, Line 31

Leave out ‘(1) to (5)’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 53 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 54, Line 33

Leave out ‘under section 95(6)’ and insert ‘by the Department about the council’s duties under that section’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 54 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 55, Line 1

Leave out ‘under section 95(6)’ and insert ‘by the Department about the council’s duties under section 95’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 55 [Made without division]

Clause 98 , Page 55, Line 20

At end insert -

‘(5) In subsection (4) “specified” means specified in a direction under that subsection.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 56 [Made without division]

Clause 100 , Page 56, Line 4

At end insert ‘, unless no such reports have been issued in respect of that council during that financial year’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 57 [Made without division]

Clause 106 , Page 60, Line 6

Leave out ‘appointed by the Department’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 58 [Made without division]

Clause 106 , Page 60, Line 7

At end insert -

‘(c) a maximum of 5 representatives of such representative body or association of the district councils as appear to the Department to be appropriate,’

Mr Peter Weir
Ms Anna Lo
Mr Cathal Boylan

Amendment 59 [Made without division]

Clause 106 , Page 60, Line 8

Leave out ‘(4)’ and insert ‘(3A)’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 60 [Made without division]

Clause 106 , Page 60, Line 8

At end insert -

‘(3A) Each council may nominate a councillor to serve as a member of the Panel.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 61 [Made without division]

Clause 106 , Page 60, Line 9

Leave out subsection (4)

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 62 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 109 insert -

‘International obligations

109A.—(1) If any Northern Ireland department considers that any action proposed to be taken by a council would be incompatible with any international obligations, that department may direct that the proposed action must not be taken.

(2) If any Northern Ireland department considers that any action capable of being taken by a council is required for the purpose of giving effect to any international obligations, that department may direct that the action shall be taken.

(3) A direction under this section must give the reasons for making the direction and may make provision having retrospective effect.

(4) In this section “international obligations” has the same meaning as in the Northern Ireland Act 1998.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 63 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 109 insert -

‘Part 14A

Flying of flags at council offices

Flying of flags at council offices other than a bespoke council flag

109A.—(1) The Union flag and any other flag shall be flown at the main office of any council on the days on which and at the times at which they are required to be flown according to the UK Government department responsible for designating the days for the flying of flags on UK Government buildings in Northern Ireland.

(2) Except as provided in this Part, no flag shall be flown at any council offices at any time.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 64 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 109 insert -

‘PART 14A

FLYING OF FLAGS AT COUNCIL OFFICES

Flying of flags at council offices

109A.—(1) The Union flag shall be flown at the offices of any council as a minimum on the days on which and at the times at which they are required to be flown at United Kingdom government buildings in Northern Ireland.

(2) Except as provided in this Part, no national flag of any other country shall be flown at any council offices at any time.’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 65 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 109 insert -

‘The flying of bespoke flags for the district council at council offices

109B.—(1) A council may commission and adopt a flag for use which represents the council district.

(2) The adoption of a flag for the council district must be adopted by resolution of the council passed by qualified majority.

(3) This flag may be flown from the council offices on any day that the council decides.

(4) Nothing in this section should be taken to prevent the flying of flags as specified elsewhere in this Act.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 66 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 109 insert -

‘Flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Council offices

109C. The Union flag shall be flown at Belfast City Council offices every day.’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 67 [Made without division]

Clause 111 , Page 62, Line 25

Leave out ‘Article’ and insert ‘Articles 18(1) and’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 68 [Negatived on division]

Clause 114 , Page 63, Line 34

After ‘(2A)’ insert ‘for a rates convergence period lasting a minimum of three years’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 69 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 115 insert -

‘Transferred functions grant

Transferred functions grant

115A.—(1) In the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, after section 27 (rates support grant) there shall be inserted the following section—

“Transferred functions grant

27A.—(1) The Department shall for any prescribed financial year make a grant under this section to councils.

(2) In this section “transferred functions grant” means the grant payable under this section for any financial year.

(3) The transferred functions grant is payable only to a council which is a new council within the meaning of Part 2 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.

(4) The amount of the transferred functions grant payable to a council for any financial year is the amount equal to the difference between—

(a) the amount of the product of the district rate for that year (within the meaning of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977) so far as it relates to the rateable net annual values of the hereditaments in the district of that council; and

(b) the amount which would have been the amount of that product if the total of the rateable net annual values of the hereditaments in the district of that council had been increased by a prescribed amount.

(5) Subsection (4) is subject to section 28 (reductions in grants) and to section 67(3B) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

(6) Payments in respect of transferred functions grant shall be made to a council at such times as the Department may determine.”.

(2) In section 28 of that Act (reductions in grants), in subsections (2)(a) and (6)(b) and in the heading for “or 27” there shall be substituted “, 27 or 27A”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 70 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 117 insert -

‘Payments for special purposes etc.

Payments for special purposes and public appeals

117A. In the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 the following provisions cease to have effect—

(a) section 37 (payments for special purposes);

(b) section 38 (restrictions on power to make payments under section 37); and

(c) section 40 (limit on expenditure on payments under section 37 and on public appeals).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 71 [Made without division]

New Clause

After clause 119 insert -

‘Power to dissolve Local Government Staff Commission

Power to dissolve the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland

119A. In section 40 of the Local Government Act ( Northern Ireland) 1972 (Staff Commission), after subsection (8) there shall be added the following subsection -

“(9) The Department may by order make provision for, and in connection with, the dissolution of the Staff Commission and such an order may—

(a) provide for the transfer of the functions, assets and liabilities of the Staff Commission to any other body or person; and

(b) contain such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions (including the modification or repeal of any statutory provision (including a provision of this Act)) as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient.

(10) An order must not be made under subsection (9) unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Assembly.”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 72 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 66, Line 14

Leave out subsections (1) to (3) and insert -

‘121. —(1) The power conferred by subsection (4) is exercisable where it appears to any Northern Ireland department necessary or expedient as mentioned in section 123(1) or (2).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 73 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 66, Line 27

Leave out ‘paragraph (c) of section 123(1)’ and insert ‘section 123(2)’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 74 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 66, Line 30

At end insert -

‘(6A) The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure may make one or more schemes for the transfer of designated assets or liabilities of the Board of Trustees of the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland relating to Armagh County Museum to the council for the district of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 75 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 66, Line 40

Leave out from ‘means’ to ‘that’ in line 42

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 76 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 67, Line 1

Leave out ‘it’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 77 [Made without division]

Clause 121 , Page 67, Line 3

Leave out ‘it’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 78 [Made without division]

Clause 122 , Page 67, Line 11

Leave out from ‘means’ to ‘includes’ in line 15 and insert ‘includes the Local Government Staff Commission and’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 79 [Made without division]

Clause 122 , Page 67, Line 18

Leave out from ‘Act’ to the end of line 22 and insert -

‘or any other Act mentioned in subsection (1) of section 123;

(b) any transfer of functions or any statutory provision falling within paragraph (a) or ( b) of subsection (2) of that section.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 80 [Made without division]

Clause 122 , Page 67, Line 28

At end insert -

‘(4A) Subsection (4) does not preclude the payment of compensation if it forms part of a severance arrangement which has been sanctioned by the Department. The Department must satisfy itself that the arrangement is reasonable.’

Mr Peter Weir
Ms Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Amendment 81 [Made without division]

Clause 123 , Page 68, Line 12

Leave out from ‘order’ to ‘order’ in line 38 and insert -

‘regulations make such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplemental provision as appears to the Department to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with—

(a) this Act;

(b) the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008; or

(c) the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

(2) Any Northern Ireland department may by regulations make such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplemental provision as appears to that department to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with—

(a) any transfer of functions to a local government body, whether they are functions of that department or not, coming into operation on or before 1st April 2015; or

(b) any statutory provision coming into operation on or before 1st April 2015 which confers functions on a local government body, whether this is expressed as transfer of functions or not.

(3) In this section “local government body” includes the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

(4) Nothing in this section is to be taken as limiting the generality of any other statutory provision (including a provision of this Act) and nothing in any other statutory provision (including a provision of this Act) is to be taken as limiting the generality of this section.

(5) Regulations under this section which amend any statutory provision must not be made unless a draft of the regulations’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 82 [Negatived on division]

New Clause

After clause 123 insert -

‘Appointment of chair and vice-chair of district policing and community safety partnerships

123A. —(1) Schedule 2 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c.24) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph 10(2)(b) insert—

“(c) In this sub-paragraph, “in turn” means in order of size, with size being determined by the number of seats won by each political party in the previous local government election, with the largest first, second largest second and so on. Where the number of seats won by two or more political parties is equal, the number of first preference votes cast in the council district for the parties at the last local government election shall be used to determine the order in which each of those parties shall hold the relevant position.”.’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 83 [Made on division]

New Clause

After clause 123 insert -

‘Council websites

Council websites

123A. The Department must by regulations specify a standard format for the domain names of council websites.’

Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Danny Kinahan

Amendment 84 [Made without division]

Clause 124 , Page 69, Line 12

At end insert -

‘“external representative”, in relation to a council, has the meaning given by section 10(4);’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 85 [Made without division]

Clause 124 , Page 69, Line 17

At end insert -

‘“local government body” means a local government body within the meaning of Part 2 of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005;’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 86 [Made without division]

Clause 124 , Page 69, Line 27

Leave out ‘section 103’ and insert ‘sections 103 and 123’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 87 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 5

Leave out ‘making’ and insert ‘a Northern Ireland department makes’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 88 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 6

Leave out ‘the Department’ and insert ‘it’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 89 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 10

Leave out ‘the Department’ and insert ‘it’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 90 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 12

Leave out ‘made by the Department’ and insert ‘under this Act’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 91 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 27

At end insert -

‘( ) section 51;

( ) section 54;’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 92 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70

Leave out line 33

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 93 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 34

At end insert -

‘(m) paragraph 4A of Schedule 4’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 94 [Made without division]

Clause 125 , Page 70, Line 40

Leave out ‘Department’ and insert ‘Northern Ireland department making them’

Minister of the Environment

Schedule 1 [Question that Schedule 1 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Schedule 1 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Schedule 2 [Question that Schedule 2 stand part negatived without division]

The Minister of the Environment gives notice of his intention to oppose the question that Schedule 2 stand part of the Bill.

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 95 [Negatived on division]

Schedule 3 , Page 74, Line 6

Leave out ‘unless’ and insert ‘only if’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 96 [Not called]

Schedule 3 , Page 74, Line 8

Leave out ‘applies’ and insert ‘does not apply’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 97 [Made on division]

Schedule 3 , Page 75, Line 33

At end insert -

‘(3) This paragraph does not apply in relation to a position of responsibility specified at section 10(1)(e) (member of a cabinet-style executive of the council) or section 10(1)(f) (external representative of the council).’

Mr Peter Weir
Ms Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Amendment 98 [Not called]

Schedule 3 , Page 76, Line 18

Leave out ‘only if’ and insert ‘unless’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 99 [Not called]

Schedule 3 , Page 76, Line 18

Leave out ‘so decides’ and insert ‘decides otherwise’

Ms Anna Lo
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 100 [Made without division]

Schedule 3 , Page 79, Line 12

At end insert -

‘(6A) In this Schedule “term”, in relation to a member of a cabinet-style executive of the council, means the period beginning with the date of the meeting at which the nomination is made and ending when the members of the council retire by virtue of section 11(2)(c) of the 1962 Act.’

Mr Peter Weir
Ms Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Amendment 101 [Made without division]

Schedule 4 , Page 80, Line 28

At end insert -

‘4A. Regulations shall provide for the application of paragraphs 2 to 4 in circumstances where a council decides to appoint more than one Committee.’

Chair, Committee for the Environment

Amendment 102 [Made without division]

Schedule 9 , Page 89

Leave out line 20

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 103 [Made without division]

Schedule 10 , Page 91, Line 19

Leave out ‘Northern Ireland department concerned’ and insert ‘transferee’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 104 [Made without division]

Schedule 11 , Page 92, Line 25

At end insert -

‘Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (c.9)

[A1]. In section 9 (vacation of office on account of non-attendance) -

(a) in subsection (1), for “and (3)” substitute “to (4)”;

(b) after subsection (3) add -

“(4) Any period during which a councillor is suspended or partially suspended under Part 9 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 is to be disregarded for the purpose of calculating the period of six months under subsection (1) (and accordingly—

(a) a period during which a councillor fails to attend meetings of the council that falls immediately before, and

(b) a period during which a councillor fails to attend meetings of the council that falls immediately after,

a period of suspension or partial suspension are to be treated as consecutive).”.

[A2]. In section 42 (councillors not to be appointed officers) -

(a) after “paid office” insert “office which is prescribed under section 4(1)(a)”;

(b) omit subsection (2).

[A3]. In section 143 (orders and regulations), for “115(2A)” substitute “4(1)(a) or 115(2A)”.

[A4]. In Part 1 of Schedule 1 (declaration of councillor on acceptance of office), for “be guided by the Northern Ireland code of local government conduct” substitute “observe the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors (as revised from time to time)”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 105 [Made without division]

Schedule 11 , Page 92

Leave out lines 26 to 34

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 106 [Made without division]

Schedule 11 , Page 93, Line 8

At end insert -

‘Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c.7)

3A. In section 17 (power to modify legislation), in subsection (2) in the definition of “local government legislation”, after paragraph (cc) insert -

“(cd) the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014;”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 107 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 16

In the second column leave out ‘Sections 3’ and insert -

‘In section 4(1)(b)(i) and (ii), the words “or interim order”.

Section 7A.

Sections 11’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 108 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 18

In the second column at end insert -

‘Section 42(2).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 109 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 19

In the second column at end insert -

‘In section 104(1), the words “any other council or”, and in both places where they occur the words “the other council or, as the case may be,”.’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 110 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 26

In the second column leave out ‘Articles 29’ and insert ‘Article 29(1).

Articles 31’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 111 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93

Leave out lines 30 to 33

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 112 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 33

At end insert -

‘The Local Government (Best Value) The whole Act.’

Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (c.4)

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 113 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 93, Line 33

At end insert -

‘The Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (N.I. 18)

In Article 5(1), (2), (4), (5), (6) and (8), the word “chief”,

In Article 25(1), the word “chief”.

In Article 26, in paragraph (2) the words “Department or the chief” in the second place where they occur and in paragraph (3) the word “concerned”.

Article 28(2) and (3).’

Minister of the Environment

Amendment 114 [Made without division]

Schedule 12 , Page 94, Line 9

At end insert -