Derry councillors refuse to 'surrender' joint European Capital of Culture bid to save money
by Gareth Cross
A row erupted at a council meeting after it was proposed that Derry's bid to be joint European Capital of Culture in 2023 with Belfast be abandoned.
The move was proposed at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Governance and Strategic Planning Committee held in the Guildhall on Tuesday.
Councillors were discussing the best way to manage a £237,965 deficit in council's in-year budget following cuts to the rates support grant and other government funding cuts.
This grant is provided to the seven less wealthy councils to assist towards providing parity of service with the more wealthy councils.
Councillors were asked to give council permission to join with the other six councils affected, to seek a meeting between a delegation from the councils and government officials/ministers as a matter of urgency.
Speaking at the meeting, independent councillor Paul Gallagher said that central government was 'giving funds with one hand and taking away with the other'.
He supported the idea of a delegation seeking a meeting but suggested that council look at previously approved projects to find the money.
Cllr Gallagher said that the European Capital of Culture bid was costing '£200,000' and 'as things roll on it looks less and less likely it will be successful'.
He said that if things change, you have to make big decisions and the burden could not be placed on ratepayers.
Cllr Gallagher told council they couldn't 'break into the piggy bank' and said that in Belfast they are 'flush with dough' and council should 'let them pay for it'.
Responding, SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said he supported sending a delegation but that Cllr Gallagher had 'lost the run of himself'.
Cllr Tierney told council that he would not be one for reversing decisions already made and that councillors 'need to fight, not roll over'.
UUP councillor Alderman Derek Hussey said that he was 'aghast' at Cllr Gallagher's comments.
Alderman Hussey told the meeting that 'this city is not known for surrendering' and that 'youth must not lose out', before branding Cllr Gallagher's comments 'scandalous'.
Commenting, DUP Alderman Drew Thompson told council that things were being said 'without engaging the brain'.
He said that council should not backtrack on things that were agreed a year ago.
However, independent councillor Gary Donnelly said that 'once again the people who need it most are being shafted'.
Cllr Donnelly told council that it would be a 'play park' or other community project that would lose out.
He said some councillors were talking about 'no surrender' while 'time after time' council 'sticks its head in the sand like with the airport'.
Cllr Donnelly questioned council's attitude to the issue, adding: “We have to face it, the money's not there? What can we do?”