Mid and East Antrim councillors have agreed that there should be no free use of council facilities on the grounds of equality.
They have also agreed a “reasonable charge” should apply with the “aim to reduce the burden on ratepayers”.
In July, Knockagh Alliance Councillor Aaron Skinner proposed a motion seeking the council to facilitate free HIV testing by the Positive Life organisation in the borough’s civic buildings, including town halls
It was agreed that a decision would be deferred to enable officers to examine the implications of offering free use of council buildings for this type of activity/service/organisation.
Speaking at last week’s meeting of the borough council, at The Braid, in Ballymena, Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly proposed removing the officer’s recommendation of not allowing free use of facilities on equality grounds, saying that it was “not compatible with the corporate plan”.
Referring to the council’s corporate plan, Cllr Donnelly told the meeting:
“In the people section – ‘our focus is always to improve the quality of life for our citizens. It goes on to say we will support and deliver opportunities for our citizens to improve their physical, mental and emotional health, also explore ways to help vulnerable and marginalised individuals feel welcome and supported in our local communities removing feelings of isolation or exclusion’.
“I would suggest that once a month, council facilities could be used by a service delivery group to run screening, testing and health advice sessions. This links back to the corporate plan to help reduce health equalities across MEA.”
Cllr Donnelly’s proposed amendment was rejected after six votes in favour and 29 against.
Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Councillor Roy Beggs said officers have pointed out that there could be “significant financial implications if all facilities were free”.
“Nevertheless, there is much merit in trying to address the issue of the spread of HIV amongst the entire population because it is not restricted to any one group.
“It is still being transmitted, so I am trying to take on board the officer’s concerns of financial implications of the current wording which would essentially encompass all council buildings including town halls.”
Clr Beggs suggested another amendment that one specific meeting room at a suitable location in each of the three principal towns be available for community organisations or charitable use and there should be restrictions on that room to minimise costs implications and it should only be available during normal hours, when the building is manned, so there would be no potential caretaker call-outs.
His amendment was defeated by 13 in favour and 22 against.
Ballymena Alliance Councillor Jack Gibson stated:
“The argument around grounds of equality feels to me like a bit of a red herring. We, as a council, should be free to take whatever decisions we want around our buildings, around our assets. This point seems a rather heavy-handed way, effectively tying our hands, in terms or what we are able to do with our buildings rather than allowing us the flexibility to take more decisions on issues where we think they are of importance.”
Larne Lough DUP councillor Alderman Paul Reid said:
“I am slightly confused. We say we are going to give it to limited charities. I have had a number of charities already speaking to me and if we talk about equality, there will be an issue for officers to police this whether it is during our office hours or whatever, there will be a number of charities that will be queuing up to use whatever facilities we have.
“You can’t say it is going to be limited because a charity is a charity if it is registered with The Charity Commission. We are putting our officers in a difficult position to police. I believe it is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
“As elected members, we should be conscious of what we are doing and the knock-on effect and how this is received by the ratepayer.”
Seconding Cllr Beggs’s proposal, party colleague Coast Road councillor Alderman Maureen Morrow suggested that the borough’s leisure centres could be considered.
“We do have to be careful, as Ald Reid says, that we don’t set a precedent that all charities think they can book the venues and get them free of charge.
“We can’t afford to lose money by giving it out free of charge. There needs to be thought for the community but we do still need to pay our way.”
Cllr Skinner stated: “Our town centres are crying out for footfall and we have empty buildings in our town centres that are not being used and we have a group here who are wanting to bring in a service to use them.
“It is important when we are considering financial implications that we are very very clear in what it is we are considering. The £118,000 figure which is the revenue from community centres is not a factor in this. We are talking about the three civic centres buildings – The Braid, Larne Town Hall and Carrick Town Hall.”
He asked why council officers have recommended not supporting the proposal.
Ald Reid commented: “When we open up our doors free of charge, it is ratepayers’ money we’re using. As a gatekeeper, we are going to open up the floodgates.”
Carrick Castle DUP councilllor Alderman Billy Ashe MBE pointed out that the town hall in Carrickfergus is a community venue.
“We will certainly not have happy customers if we are saying no to certain customers and yes to others. There is a whole lot of issues”
Bannside TUV Councillor Anna Henry said that for ratepayers, it is “very unfair for us to increase their rates, then say, it’s OK we are going to give out our buildings free of charge but you are going to have to pay for it. It’s not fair to them at all.”
Cllr Skinner added: “We have town halls in Carrick and Larne that are incredibly under-used but we have many rooms that aren’t used on a daily basis. The motion was for the council to work with an organisation that would help us to meet our corporate objectives in our corporate plan and partner with them to provide that service.
“When 20 per cent of people with HIV don’t know they have it, there is nowhere in Larne or Carrick currently for them to find out. Would you rather our town halls stay empty or allow them a room on an occasional basis to run this clinic. It is as simple as that.”
Bannside Sinn Fein Councillor Ian Friary proposed that the officer’s recommendation is accepted, seconded by Coast Road Sinn Fein Councillor James McKeown.
Ballymena TUV Councillor Matthew Armstrong said:
“I think the rates we offer community groups, charities and not-for-profit groups at the minute are fair and reasonable and I am not for one second trying to keep any charity or group out of any of our facilities but there is a fee structure there which they can pay if they wish to use them.”
Cllr Friary’s proposal to accept the officer’s recommendation was carried after 22 votes in favour with 12 against and one abstention.