Belfast City Council is to look at a proposal for a pilot extending Sunday trading in the city.
During a meeting of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday (September 20), Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson proposed a plan for a pilot Sunday trading hours scheme.
The committee agreed to a report looking into the details of the proposal, on a vote with 18 in favour and one against. A decision will be taken on the pilot scheme at a future meeting.
The scheme would use existing legislation to allow a six week-long “relaxation” of opening restrictions, which would facilitate earlier trading hours on a Sunday. A report will be brought back to the committee with detailed plans on what the pilot scheme would look like, including a public awareness campaign aligned with “family-friendly animation.”
The proposal was not universally welcomed by all the parties. Green Councillor Áine Groogan said:
“I believe it is anti-worker. I don’t believe there is any need for this. I understand the issues around our city centre, and the need for more animation, particularly around the weekend and for families.
“That is not going to be achieved by allowing large multinational retailers to open longer on a Sunday. It needs to be pointed out that the majority of shops in our city centre are allowed to open on Sundays, but they choose not to.
“The idea that we somehow need to continually have more time for buying more things, that rampant consumerism is somehow going to lift our city centre, is based on an outdated economic theory that has been proved wrong.”
She said: “The speaker (Councillor Nelson) mentioned the rights of workers but he seems to choose to ignore frequent and multiple consultations and surveys from the unions, which have said their workers are absolutely, vehemently opposed to this.
“The last study showed 92 percent of Belfast workers opposed extension of Sunday trading hours. And a number have faced serious pressure to work on a Sunday. People are entitled to rest.”
DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: “Putting a pilot scheme out there that the majority of retail workers are against would be madness.”
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite successfully proposed that any report on the pilot would also consider the “car-free Sunday” model for street animation, and the possibility of stretching events such as Open Botanic across the city.
Councillor Sam Nelson said after the committee meeting:
“After trying for many years to explore the possibility of extending Sunday trading hours in Belfast, we’re glad to take this forward step with the committee agreeing to develop plans for a pilot scheme.
“We want to see a modernised, prosperous Belfast City Centre that is open for business. We are constantly looking at ways to revitalise our city centre and the creation of jobs is another potential way of doing so.
“Of course, the existing protection of workers’ rights must remain at the centre of considerations around any amendment to trading hours legislation. That’s why we have proposed this as a pilot scheme, so we can assess both the impact and the benefits, and we can make future decisions around Sunday trading hours based on evidence.
“It would be our preference that any pilot scheme would take place in the run up to Christmas, however this is not possible within existing legislation. I’m glad the committee has also agreed to write to the Minister about reviewing such legislation with a view to making it more flexible.
“This is about guaranteeing freedom and choice for businesses and residents alike, whilst also increasing footfall to our city centre. Now is the time to do it, and Alliance is glad to see this important first step approved.”