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A council committee meeting tomorrow night has just two items up for discussion in public (Not taking into account Introduction, Declaration of Interest and Action Sheet procedural items) in an agenda with 18 items. One is 'Notice of Motion - Daisyhill Hospital' and the other a 'Request for name to be added to Castlewellan War Memorial'.
Items to be discussed 'in- committee' at the Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee Meeting, 16 February, with public and press excluded include Sale of lands at Clanrye Avenue, Camlough Lake Recreational Hub and Monaghan Row Office Site.
Five items are just 'For Noting' which means that Councillors in the Committee aren't even meant to discuss. Item 18 the 'Minutes of Newry City Centre Regeneration Programme Board Meeting held 2nd February' at which just two Councillors were present Cllr Pete Byrne and Cllr David Taylor is one item marked 'For Noting'. The fact that this multi million pound project isn't meant to be even discussed at the SP&R meeting it's put forward to is incredible.
For Consideration?
The SP&R Agenda contains a graphic of three floor plans of the proposed Newry Civic Centre overstamped with 'For Discussion only". Because there wasn't a quorum at the aforementioned meeting, an item in the minutes state "it was agreed to recommend that the drawing of civic centre internal hub be attached as an appendix to these minutes for consideration at Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee Meeting to be held on Thursday 16th February 2023." Macmillan Dictionary defines 'Consideration' as "careful thought before making a decision or judgement about something". How that is supposed to happen when the agenda item is just 'For Noting' is anyones guess.
