Partial u-turn by Council

Last Tuesday night, the first full Council meeting was held in Cloonavin.

However over the past month, four committee meetings - ‘environment’, ‘leisure and development’, ‘corporate affairs’ and ‘audit and risk’ have met behind closed doors.

At Tuesday’s meeting the minutes of each of the committees were rattified by the full council.

In the minutes of the corporate affairs committee, members were asked to ratify a decision to permit two council meetings per month.

David Jackson, Council’s Head of Performance, Policy and Governance told the meeting that at the governance working group meeting in August, members reviewed the committee structures and that it was recommended that two meetings per month should be adopted for the remainder of the pilot period.

This was agreed by all members.

In a statement, Coleraine Borough Council said: “At the meeting on the 24th of September 2013, Coleraine Borough Council reviewed its recent changes to Committee structures.

“Elected Members felt that the agenda for a single Council meeting each month could prove too lengthy and have decided that two Council meetings per month is an appropriate schedule for Council business.

“Councillors will also continue to hold their monthly Planning meeting and the press and public are welcome to attend all three meetings. The new Council meeting arrangements are entering the second month of a six month trial.”