Fresh twist in row over name for leisure centre

The notice of motion was brought forward by DUP group leader, Councillor Mark Baxter, seconded by Alderman Stephen Moutray and supported by the party’s other nine members on Council.

It read: “On May 3rd 2021 Northern Ireland will celebrate it’s 100th Anniversary as a country and integral part of our United Kingdom.

“To commemorate and celebrate this momentous occasion and to mark this significant milestone in our history, we propose that the new state of the art Leisure Centre which is nearing completion at the South Lake be officially named the ‘Centenary Leisure Centre,’.

“Additionally, this council seeks to invite her Majesty the Queen, or her representative, to officially open this iconic facility.”

However, with debate on the motion set to get underway the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kevin Savage, told the chamber he did not think such a motion should have been brought forward at this time and using standing orders ruled that the motion was improper and would not be debated.

Alderman Stephen Moutray said he was surprised by the decision and asked the Lord Mayor “who you have sought and received advice from in relation to this”.

The Lord Mayor made it clear he had not sought legal advice but had consulted his Sinn Fein party colleagues.

DUP group whip, Councillor Darryn Causby, said there was nothing “unlawful or improper about the wording of the motion” and claimed the Lord Mayor took this course of action simply because “you do not like the motion”.

“You consulted party colleagues, not the Chief Executive or member services or the Council solicitor and that is quite disgraceful,” said Cllr Causby.

Sinn Fein councillor Liam Mackle commended the Lord Mayor’s decision, calling it a “very brave step”.

“This motion is a publicity stunt,” said Cllr Mackle. “This motion was not intended to succeed it was intended to cause division. You have taken a brave step Lord Mayor.”

Councillor Mark Baxter then accused the Lord Mayor of an “abuse of power” and asked the Chief Executive when he had been informed of this decision and  asked the Lord Mayor to adjourn the meeting so that legal advice could be sought.

SDLP Councillor Joe Nelson described the motion as “ridiculous” and said the move politicised the leisure centre and politicised sport in the borough.

DUP councillor Alderman Sydney Anderson then described the the situation the chamber now found itself in as the “closing down of democracy within ABC council”.

“They talk of respect but what respect are they showing me and those who voted for me,” asked Alderman Anderson. “I am deeply deeply offended tonight and advice needs to be taken to see if this is legal.”

Councillor Baxter then said the Lord Mayor had allowed the meeting to “descend into chaos”.

“You have misused your standing orders and are out of order,” said Cllr Baxter. “If you don’t take this tonight, it will come back, this centre has never been named. You are abusing your power, it is a disgrace this will come back to the floor and we will have a vote.”

Sinn Fein Councillor Garath Keating said he was staggered to learn of the motion through local media and explained that he felt such a proposal should have been brought forward through other means.

“The working group has been very successful and is a credit to everyone involved,” said Cllr Keating. “This project should be something for everyone but this proposal is farcical and disrespectful to the people who have put so much work in through the group.”

Ulster Unionist party councillor, Alderman Kenneth Twyble then reminded the chamber why the centre has been referred to as the South Lake Leisure Centre.

“I go back to the very beginning of this project,” said Alderman Twyble. “I was Chair of the leisure committee at that time and I remember the decision that took place.

“I remember the decision centred around the need to find a name not associated with Lurgan, Craigavon or Portadown. The name came from where the centre was situated on the South Lake. That idea, from the very beginning, is a name I appreciate and am happy to be associated with.”

Councillor Catherine Nelson said the Lord Mayor’s decision was the correct one and proposed that Council now move on.

SDLP group leader Thomas O’Hanlon said he was somewhat disappointed that this has happened around council’s first major project.

“The people of this borough are worried about the future of their jobs, returning to work and access to childcare,” said Cllr O’Hanlon.

“People want us to be addressing these issues and are watching this. This about a centre of sporting excellence so I am deeply saddened about the way this debate has gone.”

The Chief Executive, Roger Wilson, informed members that he was made aware of the decision just as the meeting was beginning and as such, legal advice was not produced.

He also said that with regards to standing orders it is for the Lord Mayor to articulate his reason and interpretation of them.

Councillor Causby asked the Lord Mayor if the motion could proceed if all reference to the name of the centre was removed, allowing an invite to be  extended to the Queen to “put the wheels in motion”.

Lord Mayor Councillor Kevin Savage indicated this would be acceptable and adjourned the meeting to allow time for the amended motion to be sent through the necessary council staff.

However, when the meeting resumed, confusion and an apology was to follow.

The Lord Mayor asked Cllr Causby to put his proposal to the floor. However, the councillor hesitated telling the Lord Mayor: “It was that, should you have been willing to put the motion to the floor, to take out any reference to the naming.”

The Lord Mayor said this was not the case. However, when Cllr Baxter said he had already spoken to the Chief Executive to clarify what the new motion was, the Lord Mayor apologised for the confusion.

“I have made a mistake,” said the Lord Mayor. “I have made a decision in relation to that motion, if you want to bring the invite as a proposal from the floor we will do that, I am going to bring this debate to a close. I apologise for that it was my error.”

Before the debate was brought to a close, Alliance Party group leader Eoin Tennyson called for a naming policy to be produced for Council in an effort to bring a constructive resolution to the matter.

Independent Councillor Paul Berry said that in all his year’s in politics he had never experienced a situation like this.

“In all my years, motions have been brought forward, we have made a decision and expressed our view,” said Cllr Berry.

“We postponed this meeting for 15 minutes, I was coming back under the impression that I would be hearing an amended motion. You are now saying that was an error but are you not obliged to put the amended motion to us?

“We are living in a democratic society, I would like to hear the amendment as is my right and then I can make a decision.”

The Lord Mayor said he had made a decision and acknowledged that he should have moved the meeting on at an earlier stage.