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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has held an entire committee behind closed doors despite pledging to have greater public transparency.
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The Council had approved a transparency system in 2023 to bring more discussions into the public eye following councillors’ concerns.
However, this week all seven items for decision making at the Strategy, Policy and Resources committee meeting were held in confidential session away from the media and the public. Normally notes and papers are attached to the agendas but in this case there was no information.
No objections were made in chambers by any elected members to the committee closing its doors.
Secret items on spending ratepayers’ cash included public realm investment, website services as well as matters for noting only on management accounts bringing the total to 13 topics hidden from view.
Many agenda items at committees in Northern Ireland’s 11 council districts continue to remain in confidential sessions due to legal advice on financial matters.
Media and members of the public are frequently requested to leave council chambers as councillors vote to move a meeting into a confidential session.
The reasoning for closing the doors to the public is quoted in chambers “due to containing information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the council holding that information)” being discussed.
The 13 Agenda items held 'In Committee'
4.0 Downpatrick Church Street Public Realm Scheme
5.0 Kilkeel Lower Square & River Walk EI Scheme
6.0 Facility Refurbishment Project
7.0 HR Structure
8.0 Licence re Hydrometric Units at Victoria Locks, Newry and
9.0 Public right of way between Ringhaddy Road and Quarterland
10.0 Corporate Website Hosting and Web Services Contract
For Noting
11.0 Minutes of Strategic Finance Working Group meeting of 4th
12.0 Management Accounts Update - Quarter 1 2026/27
13.0 Minister's memo and Co-Chairs' letter
14.0 Planning Update Report
15.0 Annual Registration Services Report 2025/26
16.0 Minutes of Newry City Centre Regeneration Programme Board
