A NI council that pledged to have greater public transparency has held an entire committee behind closed doors.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had approved a transparency system (2023) to bring more discussions into the public eye following councillors’ concerns.
However, this week all seven items for decision making at the strategy, policy and resources committee were held in confidential session away from the media and the public.
No objections were made in chambers by any elected members to the committee closing its doors.
Secret items on spending ratepayers’ cash included public realm investment, website services as well as matters for noting only on management accounts bringing the total to nine topics hidden from view.
Many agenda items at committees in Northern Ireland’s 11 council districts continue to remain in confidential sessions due to legal advice on financial matters.
Media and members of the public are frequently requested to leave council chambers as councillors vote to move a meeting into a confidential session.
The reasoning for closing the doors to the public is quoted in chambers “due to containing information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the council holding that information)” being discussed.
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