A dispute has broken out after it emerged that a recent Derry City and Strabane District Couneil committee meeting had to be cancelled due to the lack of elected members in attendance.
The meeting of the council’s Planning Committee had been due to take place at the Strabane council offices on Monday, April 18 at 4.00pm, to discuss the Local Development Plan (LDP).
However, it has emerged the meeting could not go ahead as not enough councillors turned up.
The details emerged at the monthly meeting of the council at which the minutes of the Planning Committee revealed that the Head of Planning advised that the meeting was adjourned as it was ‘inquorate’, meaning that it would not be unable to proceed effectively because not enough members were present to make up a quorum.
A quorum is the minimum number of members needed to conduct the business of that group.
It also emerged that five council officers were present at the meeting and apologies were received from UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton and Sinn Fein’s Ruairi McHugh.
The SDLP’s Gus Hastings said four members of his party had been present at the planning meeting.
Responding, Sinn Fein Councillor Kieran McGuire said for ‘accuracy’, there was only one member of the SDLP present, not four like Cllr Hastings had said.
Independent councillor Gary Donelly then remarked: “It’s not like the SDLP to get its sums wrong.”
Independent councillor Sean Carr asked that a report be brought back on councillors’ attendances at both committee meetings and meetings of outside bodies.
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