Ards and North Down Borough Council has a thinly weighted unionist majority, with 40 elected representatives in total.
Only one Nationalist councillor sits in the chamber the smallest nationalist representation in all of the 11 Council's in the North
Twenty one from unionist parties or unionist independents, the other 19 are from Alliance, the Green Party, the SDLP and one independent. There is only one nationalist councillor in the chamber out of 40 councillors - the smallest representation of nationalists in all eleven councils in the North of Ireland.
ALLIANCE and the TUV have clashed over a proposal to withdraw local authority funding for sports clubs "with political objectives".
AT a recent meeting of Ards and North Down Council, elected representatives heard a motion to withdraw funding to any sporting organisations "with any political objectives or named references to terrorism in their constitution, club names, stadiums or competitions" (obviously but not naming directly referring to the GAA).
The motion, by controversial TUV councillor Stephen Cooper and Independent Unionist councillors Tom Smith and Wesley Irvine, also called for a report by council officers outlining the specific relevant council policy.
Alliance attempted to stop the tabling of the motion to get a solicitor's opinion (to check on the legality of the motion). This was overruled by the Council's chief executive, Stephen Reid, who said the motion was in line with council creteria for debate, and could be tabled at committee next month.
Alliance Alderman Alan McDowell attempted to obstruct the motion by raising a standing order that proposals should be "clear and meaningful, otherwise (they) should be rejected until such times as (they are) resubmitted in clear language".
He urged the chief executive to take legal advice on the proposal as he "believes it could be unlawful."
He added: "The motion is not clear to what it is referring, and it is not clear what action should be taken.
"It requests a report relating to specific relevant council policy - I wasn't aware this council had a policy to discriminate against people with a different political, religious or sporting preference."
Chief Executive Stephen Reid said: "In terms of the clarity of it, I am satisfied the generality of the direction of it is clear enough. It is quite common that notices of motion are presented to committees, and it is at the time of presentation at committee that the clarity and full meaning is heard."
The Alliance amendment fell with 24 votes against and 12 for.
Independent Unionist councillor Tom Smith said: "You must remember some months ago when some Orange lodges were denied funding by this council because they were deemed to be political organisations. So I don't think Alliance can kick up about that.
"There is no mention of the GAA anywhere in this proposal. Perhaps Alderman McDowell can tell us why he immediately brings up the GAA on this."
Following the meeting TUV councillor Stephen Cooper claimed the Alliance amendment was a "blatant attempt to try and upsurp any attempt at tackling the scourge of sectarianism in our communities, and worse still, sport."
The motion will be heard at the council's Corporate committee on Tuesday September 13th.
With many thanks to: The Irish News and Marie Louise McConville for the original story.
Follow these links to find out more on this story: TUV bid to stop funding sports clubs with 'political objectives'
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