Meeting Details

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

This Council recognises that a lack of work life balance contributes to work related stress, low productivity and burnout amongst workers;  accepts that there is a growing body of International evidence that shows that moving to a four day working week, without a reduction in income, enhances productivity and happiness amongst workers; acknowledges that many companies have trialled the concept of a four day working week and found it had positive impacts both for business and workers; calls on the Council and Department for Economy to establish working groups and pilot programmes that support employers to trial the concept of a four day working week amongst their employees. 

This Council recognises that the £20 Universal Credit uplift has provided a lifeline to many families and recognises the devastating impact that its removal will have at this critical juncture of the recovery period with workers dealing with the end of the furlough scheme and massive increases in energy bills. The Council also recognises that the removal of the £20 per week payment will be devastating for those living here, will push more people into poverty, increase reliance on foodbanks, and increase homelessness, as well as having dire consequences for our local economy. The Council calls on the Communities Minister, in the absence of any further action from the Westminster government, to liaise with her colleague Finance Minister Conor Murphy, to reverse this cut for the remainder of the financial year and commit to expediting a long term strategy to tackle the shameful levels of poverty and social deprivation across Mid Ulster.

That this Council notes with concern the significant increase in the cost of energy; recognises this will adversely affect many households across Northern Ireland and calls on the Minister for Communities to establish a departmental led fuel poverty task force to assist the department in developing solutions to support those impacted and prevent many more people from falling into fuel poverty.

This Council expresses their deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Sir David Amess MP, following his horrific murder on 15th October. This tragedy again highlights the unacceptable risks faced by elected representatives and other public servants. Further, it must be recognised that toxic elements of social media continue to be a breeding ground for vile, threatening and hate filled posts, which may raise the rhetoric, and be a contributing factor in violent attacks in wider society. I call on this Council to write to the Northern Ireland Executive Office, highlighting our concerns, and ask that a review be carried out of all possible steps that can be taken to protect public servants in their roles here in Northern Ireland.