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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}} |
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{{Use British English|date=May 2012}} |
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{{Infobox Northern Ireland district | |
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district_name = Belfast City | |
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alt_name = | |
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district_logo = {{Div col|cols=2}} [[File:Belfast Coat of Arms.gif|125px]] <br /> <small>Coat of Arms</small> <br /> [[File:Belfast City Council Logo.png|115px]] <br /> <small>Logo</small> {{Div col end}}| |
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district_map = [[File:Belfast in Northern Ireland.svg|250px]] | |
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area_rank = 23rd | |
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district_area = 115 | |
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district_HQ = [[Belfast]] | |
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district_iso = GB-BFS | |
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district_ons = 95Z | |
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<!-- Fetch dynamic statistics from Template:PopLookupNI --> |
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protestant_pc = 48.6% | |
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catholic_pc = 47.2%<ref>{{cite web | title = Area Profile of Belfast Urban Area - Based on 2001 Census | work = Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service (NINIS) | publisher = Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | url = http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme_towns/report.asp?SettlementName=Belfast%20Urban%20Area&bandName=Belfast%20Metropolitan%20Urban%20Area%20(BMUA) | accessdate = 2011-05-20}}</ref> | |
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district_control = '''No overall control''' <br /><small>{{Div col|cols=2}}[[Sinn Féin]]: 16 <br /> [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]: 15 <br />[[Social Democratic and Labour Party|SDLP]]: 8 <br /> [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]: 6 <br /> [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]]: 3 <br /> [[Progressive Unionist Party|PUP]]: 2 <br /> [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]: 1 {{Div col end}}</small> | |
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district_MLAs = '''Belfast''' '''[[Belfast East (Assembly constituency)|East]]''', '''[[Belfast North (Assembly constituency)|North]]''', '''[[Belfast South (Assembly constituency)|South]]''' & '''[[Belfast West (Assembly constituency)|West]]''' <br /><small>{{Div col|cols=2}} [[Sinn Féin]]: 8 <br /> [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]: 7 <br />[[Social Democratic and Labour Party|SDLP]]: 4 <br /> [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]: 3 <br /> [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]]: 2{{Div col end}}</small>| |
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district_MPs = [[Paul Maskey]] (Sinn Féin)<br>[[Nigel Dodds]] (DUP)<br>[[Naomi Long]] (Alliance Party)<br>[[Alasdair McDonnell]] (SDLP) | |
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meeting_place = [[File:997055128 c8fb27b317 b.jpg|250px]] <small>[[Belfast City Hall]]</small> | |
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web_address = http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ | |
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}} |
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'''Belfast City Council''' ({{lang-ga|Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste}}) is the [[Local government in Northern Ireland|local authority]] with responsibility for the city of [[Belfast]], the capital and largest city of [[Northern Ireland]]. The Council serves an estimated population of {{PopLookupNI|POP=Belfast City}} ([[{{PopLookupNI|TXT=Year}}]]), the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area. Belfast City Council is the primary council of the [[Belfast Metropolitan Area]], a grouping of six district councils with [[commuter town]]s and overspill from Belfast, containing a total population of 579,276.<ref>http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/urban_rural/ur_gaz.pdf Based on 2001 Census</ref> |
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The Council is made up of 51 [[Councillors#UnitedKingdom|councillors]], elected from nine district electoral areas across the City and holds its meetings in the historic [[Belfast City Hall]]. The current [[Lord Mayor of Belfast|Lord Mayor]] is [[Gavin Robinson]] of [[Democratic Unionist Party]], while the Deputy Lord Mayor is [[Tierna Cunningham]] of the [[Sinn Féin]], both of whom were elected in June 2012. |
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==History== |
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{{Main|History of Belfast}} |
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Belfast's modern history can be dated back to the [[Plantation of Ulster]] in the early 17th century which brought significant numbers of [[Protestant]] [[Scotland|Scottish]] and [[England|English]] settlers to [[Ulster]]. The town gradually developed to become a major industrial centre, in particular in the areas of linen and ship building. In recognition of this growth Belfast was granted city status in 1888 and by 1901, it was the largest city in Ireland. The city's importance was evidenced by the construction of the lavish [[Belfast City Hall|City Hall]], completed in 1906. |
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The body now known as Belfast City Council has its origins in the defunct [[Belfast Corporation]] and was created on its current boundaries following the local council elections of May 1973. Originally it was intended that there would be 52 wards. However, local enquiries meant that the proposed Tullycarnet ward became instead the Castlereagh Borough Council wards of Tullycarnet and Gilnahirk. Although the [[county borough]] of Belfast was created when it was granted city status by [[Queen Victoria]] in 1888,<ref>{{cite web | title = Belfast City Hall | work = Discover Northern Ireland | publisher = Ireland Tourist Board | url = http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/product.aspx?ProductID=2782 | accessdate = 2007-05-18}}</ref> the city continues to be viewed as straddling [[County Antrim]] and [[County Down]] with the [[River Lagan]] generally being seen as the line of demarcation.<ref>{{cite web | title = Belfast, Newcastle and the County Down Coast | work = County Down Northern Ireland | publisher = GoIreland.com | url = http://www.countydown.com/ | accessdate = 2009-01-17}}</ref> |
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From the late 18th century onwards, the City's [[Roman Catholic]] population gradually increased, although the city was still dominated by its mostly Protestant [[Unionism in Ireland|Unionist]] majority. In 1997, Unionists lost overall control of Belfast City Council for the first time in its history, with the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] gaining the balance of power between [[Irish nationalism|Nationalists]] and Unionists. This position was confirmed in the three subsequent council elections, with mayors from Nationalist [[Sinn Féin]] and [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP), and the cross-community Alliance Party regularly elected since 1997. The most recent election in 2011 saw Nationalist councillors outnumber Unionist councillors for the first time, with Sinn Féin becoming the largest party. |
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== Coat of arms and motto == |
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The city of Belfast has the [[Latin]] motto "{{lang|la|''Pro tanto quid retribuamus''}}." This is taken from [[Psalms|Psalm]] 116 Verse 12 in the Latin [[Vulgate|Vulgate Bible]] and is literally "For (''Pro'') so much (''tanto'') what (''quid'') we shall repay (''retribuamus'')" The verse has been translated in bibles differently – for example as "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?".<ref>King James Bible, Psalm 116 Verse 12</ref> It is also translated as "In return for so much, what shall we give back?"<ref>"I reflected on the two mottos of Belfast and America – '{{lang|la|''Pro Tanto Quid''}}' and '{{lang|la|''E Pluribus Unum''}}'. I am reliably informed that these roughly translate as 'In return for so much, what shall we give back?' and 'From many, one'." [http://www.allianceparty.org/news/000578/celebrating_diversity_by_belfast_lord_mayor_tom_ekin.html Celebrating diversity], by Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Ekin</ref> The [[Queen's University Belfast|Queen's University]] Students' Union [[Rag Week]] publication ''PTQ'' derives its name from the first three words of the motto. |
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The [[coat of arms]] of the city (pictured, above right) are blazoned as ''Party per fesse argent and azure, in chief a pile vair and on a canton gules a bell argent, in base a ship with sails set argent on waves of the sea proper''. This heraldic language describes a shield that is divided in two horizontally (''party per fesse''). The top (''chief'') of the shield is silver (''argent''), and has a point-down triangle (''a pile'') with a repeating blue-and-white pattern that represents fur (''vair''). There is also a red square in the top corner (''a canton gules'') on which there is a silver bell. It is likely that the bell is an example here of "canting" (or punning) heraldry, representing the first syllable of Belfast. In the lower part of the shield (''in base'') there is a silver sailing ship shown sailing on waves colored in the actual colors of the sea (''proper''). The supporter on the "dexter" side (that is, the viewer's left) is a chained wolf, while on the "sinister" side the supporter is a sea-horse. The crest above the shield is also a sea-horse. These arms date back to 1613, when [[James I of England|King James I]] granted Belfast town status. The seal was used by Belfast merchants throughout the 17th century on their signs and trade-coins.<ref name="Buildings of Belfast">{{cite book | last = Brett | first = C. E. B. | title = Buildings of Belfast, 1700–1914 | publisher = Weidenfeld and Nicolson | year= 1967 | location = London}}</ref> A large stained glass window in the [[Belfast City Hall|City Hall]] displays the arms, where an explanation suggests that the seahorse and the ship refer to Belfast's significant maritime history. The wolf may be a tribute to the city's founder, [[Arthur Chichester|Sir Arthur Chichester]], and refer to his own coat of arms.<ref name="Buildings of Belfast" /> |
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==Offices== |
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===Councillors=== |
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{{See also|Members of Belfast City Council}} |
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Belfast City Council currently comprises [[Electoral wards of Belfast|51 electoral wards]], nominally one for each elected councillor. However, as the [[PR-STV]] voting system requires [[multi-seat constituencies]], the 51 wards are grouped into nine district electoral areas (DEA) which elect between 5 and 7 councillors each: |
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{{Div col|cols=3}} |
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* '''[[Balmoral (District Electoral Area)|Balmoral]]''' (6) |
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* '''[[Castle (District Electoral Area)|Castle]]''' (6) |
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* '''[[Court (District Electoral Area)|Court]]''' (5) |
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* '''[[Laganbank (District Electoral Area)|Laganbank]]''' (5) |
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* '''[[Lower Falls (District Electoral Area)|Lower Falls]]''' (5) |
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* '''[[Oldpark (District Electoral Area)|Oldpark]]''' (6) |
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* '''[[Pottinger (District Electoral Area)|Pottinger]]''' (6) |
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* '''[[Upper Falls (District Electoral Area)|Upper Falls]]''' (5) |
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* '''[[Victoria (District Electoral Area)|Victoria]]''' (7) |
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{{Div col end}} |
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The [[Northern Ireland local government elections, 2011#Belfast|last elections to Belfast City Council]] were held on 5 May 2011, with the City's voters electing [[Members of Belfast City Council|fifty-one councillors]]. The results are summarised below: |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |
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|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" |
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!colspan=2| Party || 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/elections/resultsbyparty.asp |title=Belfast City Council election results 2011 |publisher=Belfast City Council |accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref> || +/- || 2005 || 2001 || 1997 || 1993 || 1989 || 1985 || 1981 || 1977 || 1973 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Sinn Féin/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Sinn Féin]] || align="center" | '''16'''|| align="center" | '''+2''' || align="center" | 14 ||align="center"| 14 || align="center"| 13 || align="center"| 10 || align="center"| 8 || align="center"| 7 || align="center"| 0 || align="center"| 0 || align="center"| 0 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Democratic Unionist Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Democratic Unionist Party]] || align="center"| '''15''' || align="center"| '''=''' || align="center"| 15 || align="center"| 10 || align="center"| 7 || align="center"| 9 || align="center"| 8 || align="center"| 11 || align="center"| 15 || align="center"| 7 || align="center"| 2 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Social Democratic and Labour Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] ||align="center"| '''8''' ||align="center"| '''=''' ||align="center"| 8 ||align="center"| 9 ||align="center"| 7 ||align="center"| 9 ||align="center"| 8 ||align="center"| 6 ||align="center"| 6 ||align="center"| 8 ||align="center"| 7 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Alliance Party of Northern Ireland/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] ||align="center"| '''6''' ||align="center"| '''+2''' ||align="center"| 4 ||align="center"| 3 ||align="center"| 6 ||align="center"| 5 ||align="center"| 6 ||align="center"| 8 ||align="center"| 7 ||align="center"| 13 ||align="center"| 8 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Ulster Unionist Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Ulster Unionist Party]] ||align="center"| '''3''' ||align="center"| '''-4''' ||align="center"| 7 ||align="center"| 11 ||align="center"| 13 ||align="center"| 15 ||align="center"| 14 ||align="center"| 14 ||align="center"| 13 ||align="center"| 15 ||align="center"| 25 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Progressive Unionist Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Progressive Unionist Party]] ||align="center"| '''2''' ||align="center"| '''=''' ||align="center"| 2 ||align="center"| 3 ||align="center"| 3 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 0 ||align="center"| 0 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Other/meta/color}}" | |
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| Other ||align="center"| '''1''' ||align="center"| '''=''' ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| 2 <sup>¤</sup>||align="center"| 2 ||align="center"| 6 <sup>†</sup> ||align="center"| 4 <sup>†</sup> ||align="center"| 9 <sup>‡</sup> ||align="center"| 5 <sup>†‡</sup> ||align="center"| 9 <sup>†</sup> |
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|- |
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|} |
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:<small>Notes: † [[Workers' Party of Ireland]] (1973 = 2; 1977/85/89 = 1); ‡ [[Unionist Party of Northern Ireland]] (1977 = 2; 1981 = 1); ¤ [[Ulster Democratic Party]] (1997 = 1)</small> |
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===Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor=== |
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{{Infobox political post |
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|post = [[Lord Mayor]] |
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|body = [[Belfast]] |
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|insignia = Belfast Coat of Arms.gif |
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|insigniasize = 200 |
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|insigniacaption = [[Belfast#Coat of arms and motto|Belfast City Coat of Arms]] |
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|image = |
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|imagesize = |
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|alt = |
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|incumbent = Gavin Robinson |
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|incumbentsince = 1 June 2012 |
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|style = [[The Right Honourable]]<ref>{{cite web | title = How to address the Lord Mayor | publisher = Belfast City Council | url = http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayor/lordmayoraddresslm.asp| accessdate = 2011-05-26}}</ref> |
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|appointer = Belfast City Council |
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|termlength = One year |
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|inaugural = [[Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet|Sir Daniel Dixon]] (Lord Mayor) <small><br /> George Dunbar (Mayor) <br /> John Vesey (Sovereign)</small> |
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|formation = 1892 (as Lord Mayor of Belfast) <small><br /> 1842 (as Mayor of Belfast) <br /> 1613 (as Sovereign of Belfast)</small> |
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|deputy = Ruth Patterson |
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}} |
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The [[Lord Mayor of Belfast]] is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council and is elected annually by the Council to serve a one year term. A Deputy Lord Mayor is normally elected at the same Council meeting as the [[Lord Mayor]]. The Lord Mayor is Gavin Robinson of Democratic Unionist Party, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in June 2012 |
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The Lord's Mayor's role is largely ceremonial, but does include the following powers and duties:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/councillors/index.asp?menuitem2=lord-mayor |title=Belfast City Council. Councillors. Lord Mayor |publisher=Belfastcity.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref> |
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* In times of natural disaster the Lord Mayor may direct resources such as Police, Fire and Ambulance as he sees fit |
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* Presiding over meetings of the council and, in the case of equality of votes, the Lord Mayor has a second or casting vote |
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* Promoting and raising awareness of the council’s main objectives and priority issues |
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* Encouraging and supporting all aspects of life in Belfast by attending civic and public events |
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* Receiving distinguished visitors to the city |
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* Acting as host on behalf of the council and the citizens of Belfast at civic functions |
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* Acting as a spokesperson to the local, national and international media |
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* Providing an appropriate response on behalf of Belfast at times of local, national and international catastrophe |
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* Supporting and encouraging charitable and other appeals as appropriate |
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* Promoting Belfast's business, commercial, cultural and social life |
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* Promoting Belfast as a place of excellence in which to do business and as a tourist destination. |
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The position that is now the Lord Mayor originated in 1613 in the town's Royal Charter as the 'Sovereign of Belfast'. In 1842, this position was restyled the 'Mayor of Belfast'. When Belfast was granted city status in 1892, the position was given Lord Mayor status, making it one of only three cities on the island of Ireland having a Lord Mayor, the other two being [[Cork (city)|Cork]] and [[Dublin]]. In 1929, it became one of only six cities in the United Kingdom to have a Lord Mayor styled "the Right Honourable". Until 1973 the position was held for three years, when it was reduced to its current term of one year. From 1921 until 1972, the Lord Mayor was automatically entitled to a seat in the [[Senate of Northern Ireland]]. |
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For most of the City's modern history, the position has been held by [[Unionism in Ireland|Unionists]], with members of the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] holding the post for a total of 61 of the 67 years between 1921 and 1997. The first non-Unionist Lord Mayor since the [[partition of Ireland]] in 1921 was [[David Cook (politician)|David Cook]] from the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]] who was elected in 1978. The first [[nationalist (Ireland)|nationalist]] Lord Mayor was not appointed until the election of [[Alban Maginness]] from the SDLP in 1997, while a [[Sinn Féin]] Lord Mayor was first elected in 2002. The loss of the Unionist majority on the Council in 1997 has resulted in a greater rotation of the position amongst the parties, which, like other elected positions within the Council such as Committee chairs, is now filled using the [[D'Hondt system]]. This system awards positions to parties based on their number of Councillors and means that the Council that sits from 2011 to 2015 will see the Lord Mayor post filled twice by Sinn Féin (2011-12 & 2014-15), once by the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (2012–13) and once by the SDLP (2013–14). For a full list of former Sovereigns, Mayors and Lord Mayors of Belfast see [[Lord Mayor of Belfast]]. |
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===Aldermen=== |
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{{See also|Aldermen of Belfast City Council}} |
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The Local Government (Modification of Borough Charters) Order (Northern Ireland) 1973 entitles the Council to appoint up to twelve of its members to the honorary position of [[alderman]]. The role of alderman is appointed at the first annual meeting following the election of the Council and does not carry any extra responsibilities other than the right to be referred to as an alderman rather than councillor. Following the local elections in 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/Data/COUNCIL/19970602/Minutes/$minutes.doc.pdf#search=%22alderman%20election%22 |title= Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council, Monday, 2nd June, 1997 |publisher=Belfast City Council |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> and 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/Data/COUNCIL/20050526/Minutes/$minutes.doc.pdf#search=%22alderman%20appointment%22 |title= Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council, Thursday, 26th May, 2005 |publisher=Belfast City Council |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> the Council voted not to appoint any of its members to the positions, however all twelve places were filled after the May 2011 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayor/aldermen.asp |title= Aldermen |publisher=Belfast City Council |accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref> |
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===High Sheriff=== |
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The [[High Sheriff of Belfast]] is a largely ceremonial position currently held by [[Ian Adamson]], who took office in January 2011. The [[High Sheriff]] is theoretically the Queen's judicial representative in the city, while the [[Lord Lieutenant]] is the Sovereign's personal representative, however the office is now largely symbolic with few formal duties other than deputising for the Lord Mayor at official events. The position was created in 1900 under the [[Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898]], with Sir James Henderson the first holder. Appointments are made on annual basis by the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]], who asks the outgoing High Sheriff and the Council to suggest the names of three people who are deemed suitable to hold the position. In recent years the Council has suggested only one candidate, who is normally a member of the Council.<ref>{{cite web | title = Minutes of Monday, 1st November 2010 | publisher = Belfast City Council | url = http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=277&MID=9748#AI11028| accessdate = 2011-05-31}}</ref> The High Sheriff's term of office runs from January to December, which is distinct from the term of office for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor who take up office in May or June each year.<ref>{{cite web | title = High Sheriff | publisher = Belfast City Council | url = http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/lordmayor/highsheriff.asp| accessdate = 2011-05-31}}</ref> |
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===Lord Lieutenant=== |
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[[File:Mary Peters.jpg|thumb|Mary Peters]] |
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The [[Lord Lieutenant of Belfast]] is the official representative of the Queen for the 'County Borough of Belfast'. The [[Lord Lieutenant]] is [[Mary Peters (athlete)|Dame Mary Peters]] who was appointed in August 2009. The position was first created in 1900 and was held by the [[Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry|Marquess of Londonderry]]. The role is largely honorary with the few formal duties relating to liaising with the Queen's Private Office in the lead up to visits to the City regarding issues of local concern and the presentation of awards on behalf of the Queen.<ref>{{cite web | title = Lord Lieutenants | publisher = The Royal Household | url = http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/OfficialRoyalposts/LordLieutenants/LordLieutenants.aspx| accessdate = 2011-05-31}}</ref> |
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==Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies== |
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Belfast has four coterminous constituencies for the [[UK Parliament]] and the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], which extend somewhat beyond the city boundaries into parts of [[Castlereagh Borough Council|Castlereagh]], [[Lisburn]] and [[Newtownabbey Borough Council|Newtownabbey]] districts. At the 2010 UK general election, Belfast returned four MPs for the following constituencies: [[Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast East]] ([[Naomi Long]], Alliance Party), [[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast South]] ([[Alasdair McDonnell]], SDLP), [[Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast North]] ([[Nigel Dodds]], DUP) and [[Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)|Belfast West]] ([[Gerry Adams]], Sinn Féin). |
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In the 2011 [[Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2011|Northern Ireland Assembly election]], Belfast returned a total of 24 MLAs (six per constituency) for the constituencies of [[Belfast East (Assembly constituency)|Belfast East]], [[Belfast South (Assembly constituency)|Belfast South]], [[Belfast North (Assembly constituency)|Belfast North]] and [[Belfast West (Assembly constituency)|Belfast West]]. The results are summarised below: |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |
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|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" |
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!colspan=2| Party || [[Northern Ireland Assembly|NIA]] 2011 || +/- || UK 2010 || +/- |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Sinn Féin/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Sinn Féin]] || align="center" | 8|| align="center" | = || align="center" | 1 ||align="center"| = |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Democratic Unionist Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Democratic Unionist Party]] || align="center"| 7 || align="center"| +1 || align="center"| 1 || align="center"| -1 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Social Democratic and Labour Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] ||align="center"| 4 ||align="center"| = ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| = |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Alliance Party of Northern Ireland/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland]] ||align="center"| 3 ||align="center"| +1 ||align="center"| 1 ||align="center"| +1 |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Ulster Unionist Party/meta/color}}" | |
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|[[Ulster Unionist Party]] ||align="center"| 2 ||align="center"| -1 ||align="center"| 0 ||align="center"| = |
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|- |
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! style="background-color: {{Other/meta/color}}" | |
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| Other ||align="center"| 0 ||align="center"| -1 ||align="center"| 0 ||align="center"| = |
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|- |
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|} |
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==Committees== |
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[[File:Belfast (16), October 2009.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Waste collection vehicle, Arthur Street, Belfast, October 2009]] |
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The council has six committees, the members of which are appointed at the annual meeting of the council. |
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Each of the committees consists of 20 councillors with the quorum (the minimum number of councillors that are required to be present to transact business legally) of each committee being five members. Committees sit at least monthly with the exception of July. All committees are constituted to reflect, as far as practicable, the different political groups into which the members of the council are divided. The posts of chairman and deputy chairman of committees are allocated on the basis of the d’Hondt system of proportionality: |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=115 Development Committee] |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=317 Health and Environmental Services Committee] |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=384 Licensing Committee] |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=112 Parks and Leisure Committee] |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=113 Strategic Policy and Resources Committee] |
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* [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.asp?ID=111 Town Planning Committee] |
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==Minutes== |
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Minutes of meetings of Council committees and subcommittees are available at [http://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/ Belfast City Council] (searchable) and at [http://belfast.nigov.org/wiki/Belfast_City_Council_Minutes Belfast NI Gov Wiki] (unofficial site). |
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==Council departments== |
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The council has seven departments. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! scope="col" width="150" | Department !! Activities !! scope="col" width="150" | See also !! Link |
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|- |
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| Chief Executive's || Responsible for providing support to the Lord Mayor and councillors in their roles as public representatives. || || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/index.asp?menuitem=chief-executives%20department] |
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| Corporate Services || Responsible for human resources, financial services and information systems. Also oversees the registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships. || || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/corporateservices.asp?menuitem=corporate] |
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| Development || Responsibilities include: <br /> - Community and play development <br /> - Culture and heritage <br /> - Economic development <br /> - Events <br /> - Physical regeneration <br /> - Tourism <br /> - Venue Management || [[St George's Market]] <br /> [[Ulster Hall]] <br /> [[Waterfront Hall]] || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/development.asp?menuitem=development] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/community/index.asp] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/index.asp] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/economicdevelopment/index.asp] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/index.asp] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/physicalregeneration/index.asp] <br /> [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism/index.asp] <br /> |
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| Health and Environmental Services || Works to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of all who live in the city or who come into the city each day to work or visit. Also has important waste management responsibilities, including promoting waste reduction and recycling and making arrangements for the collection, treatment and disposal of waste. || || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/healthandenvironment.asp?menuitem=health] |
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| Improvement || Responsible for developing and delivering a single improvement and efficiency agenda for the organisation. || || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/improvement.asp?menuitem=improvement] |
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| Legal Services || Provides comprehensive legal advice to the Council. || || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/legalservices.asp?menuitem=legal] |
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| Parks and Leisure || Maintain the city's green spaces and organising park events and activities. They also work to promote some of Belfast’s biggest tourist attractions and manage many of the council's major assets. || [[Belfast Zoo]] <br /> [[Belfast Botanic Gardens]] <br /> [[Belfast Castle]] <br /> [[Belfast City Cemetery]] <br /> [[List of parks and gardens in Belfast|Parks and gardens in Belfast]] || [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/departments/parksandleisure.asp?menuitem=parks] |
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|} |
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==See also== |
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* [[Local government in Northern Ireland]] |
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* [[List of parks in Northern Ireland]] |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ Belfast City Council] |
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* [http://www.gotobelfast.com/ Go To Belfast - Tourism] |
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* [http://nigov.tmtm.com/wiki/Belfast_City_Council_Minutes Belfast City Council Minutes] — unofficial wiki with annotated and cross-referenced minutes of meetings of Belfast City Council |
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* [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgbelfast.htm Belfast City Council, 1993 - 2005] |
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{{Belfast City Council}} |
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{{IrishCities}} |
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{{Northern Ireland Local Government}} |
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{{Commons category|Belfast City Council}} |
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{{coord|54|35|38|N|5|55|46|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}} |
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[[Category:Belfast City Council| ]] |
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[[Category:Local authorities of Northern Ireland]] |
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[[bg:Белфаст (район)]] |
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[[fr:District de Belfast]] |
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[[ru:Белфаст (район)]] |
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[[zh:貝爾法斯特區]] |