Councillor Sammy Douglas
At a recent Belfast City Council committee meeting, newly elected and younger DUP representatives came up against opinion from the old guard over city hall"s annual subscription to the Eurocities network.
Eurocities is a network of more than 200 major cities, across 38 countries.
It is made up of the elected local and municipal governments.
Sixteen cities in the UK have maintained their membership since Brexit.
A council report said the network was "important in positioning the city and building strong networks to support shared leaning and collaboration".
With the North no longer being part of the EU, members were told, there was limited access to funding opportunities
Newly elected DUP r representative for Ormiston, Andrew McCormick, asked how the membership benefits the city economically.
He requested an economic analysis and a report on the findings to be returned to the committee.
Titanic councilor Sammy Douglas was more positive and said: "It has been there for decades now, and I remember being on one of these programs.
"One of the benefits I have seen counsellors who in those days didn't even talk to one another would go away and actually build relationships.
"Sometimes we can be a bit parochial in Belfast. "Let's be honest, this is quite a small city, and I think there have been excellent opportunities come from this.
"The more we can get out and see other cities are doing, and build up links and networks [ the better]."
Another newly elected DUP representative for Ormiston, Alderman James Lawlor, said: "I understood completely what councillor Douglas is saying, but as we don't have access to the funding now, which are the main reason to be involved with things like this, I am not really sure where the benefits are going to be."
The council City Growth and Regeneration Committee voted.
unanimously to renew the 30-year subscription to the network, this year for a fee of £16,300..
With thanks to the: Irish News.
