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Anyone interested in listening to the workings of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council should perhaps steer clear of this Thursday's meeting of the Strategy, Policy & Resources Committee, as not one Agenda item up for discussion is being conducted in public! That means that the public are excluded from hearing what is being discussed, and by whom, for all 6 items and will only hear what decision was made, which can still leave you in the dark about what exactly was discussed.
The legislation that councils use to conduct business in private states "Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council holding that information) and the public may, by resolution, be excluded during this item of business".
Up for discussion behind closed doors this week are 'Go Succeed NI Update', Newry City Centre Regeneration Theatre and Conference Facility Update, NCCR Theatre and Conference Facility - Operating Model, Delamont Country Park Caravan Site, Monaghan Row Lease and Capital Programme - Client Side Project Managers.
Even information about the items 'For Noting' which aren't normally discussed in detail is absent, baring one item on the Women's Working Group. P9 Management accounts, Treasury management and Minutes of Newry City Centre Regeneration Programme Board Meeting – 8th December 2025 are all not available to the public.
The only Agenda item that is public out of a total of 10 is the 'Minutes of Women’s Working Group meeting on 11th February 2026'.
Earlier in 2026 the January 2026 SP&R meeting had 13 out of 15 agenda items conducted entirely behind closed doors while the February 2026 meeting saw 5 out of 6 items conducted in secret.
In comparison in January 2019 8 out of 17 were in committee, February 2019 had 6 out of 14 in committee although March 2019 did follow the current trend with 14 out of 18 in committee - but at least some items were up for discussion.
Request for Transparency
Three years ago 16 February 2023 at the Strategy, Policy and Resources meeting Slieve Gullion Councillor Pete Byrne proposed that consideration be given to anything of a financial nature being placed in closed session as an appendix with the rest of the report being kept in open session for transparency. This was seconded by Councillor Hanlon.
The minutes of that meeting state "Mrs Kelly advised that going forward officers would consider the proposal and items would be reviewed to help reduce the number of reports held in closed session."
They add "It was agreed on the proposal of Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor Hanlon that consideration be given to anything of a financial nature be placed in closed session as an appendix and the rest of the report be kept in open session for transparency."
We have asked Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for comment.
