When will councillors come out from behind closed doors?

In June 2022, it was reported in the local press that 62% of items put before councillors for decision (excluding the opening formality items) were heard by one Newry, Mourne and Down District Council ‘in committee’, behind closed doors during the previous 12 months.

From June 2021 to June 2022, there were 196 (decision) items heard during 13 meetings of the Strategy, Policy, and Resources Committee. Of those, 122 were heard behind closed doors away from the public and media - 62% of committee business.

Compare that with the same period in 2017 when there were 213 agenda items (from 12 meetings) but only 74 were in closed session - 35% of committee business.

During the same period, the Neighbourhood Services Committee - refuse collections etc (now called the Sustainability and Environment Committee) discussed 188 items.

Of those, 74 were behind closed doors - 39% of committee business.

The Active Healthy Communities Committee held 14 meetings which heard 232 items with 75 out of the public eye - 32% of committee business.

The Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee dealt with 225 items. There were 54 items heard behind closed doors - 24% of committee business.

Overall

Combined, the four committees had a total of 841 items down for discussion from June 2021 to June 2022.

There were 670 in open session and 325 behind closed doors - 39% of committee business.

August 2022 – March 2023

As a follow-up, Newry.ie looked at the meetings from August 2022 to March 2023 (there were no committee meetings in July 2022) and this time included “For Noting” items. 

These items appear at the end of agendas and, despite including important matters such as Newry City Centre Regeneration, they are rarely heard in full with only occasional questions raised by councillors with committee chairs - a further erosion of open discussion in council.

Strategy, Policy, and Resources Committee: There were 106 items put before councillors during the period.

There were 26 heard in public but 67, equating to an incredible 65% of committee business, were heard behind closed doors. 

There were 11 items ‘For Noting’.

Sustainability and Environment Committee: Committee members had 88 matters to consider over nine meetings.

Of those, 25 were in public and 43 were ‘in committee’ - 49%.

There were 20 items ‘For Noting’.

Active Healthy Communities Committee: Councillors dealt with 119 items over eight meetings with 59 heard in public. 

There were 31 items away from the public and press - 26%.

There were 29 items ‘For Noting’.

Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee: There were 122 items brought before councillors with 39 heard in public. 

Some 32 items were heard ‘in committee’ equating to 26%. 

However, there were 51 items ‘For Noting’ - 42% and very rarely were any of them discussed before the meeting was closed. 

Overall

Between the four committees there were 425 items put before councillors.

Of those 149 were heard in public - 35%. 

There were 173, or 40% of committee business kept behind closed doors, while 111 items were ‘For noting’- 26% - the vast majority of which were never discussed.

Combine the last two figures and 67% of council business over the four committees is not included for full discussion - not exactly the figure for councillors to promote the council mantra of ‘Openness, Transparency and Accountability’.