Belfast council attendance records spark "No show, no dough!" call

One North Belfast councillor with poor attendance gets high praise for their work outside of council meetings

Thomas Fair Community Editor and Belfast Live readers

12:03, 25 Nov 2024

Some Belfast councillors have missed more than half of their scheduled meetings in the past 6 months, according to attendance data - and some Belfast Live readers are calling for a new system of councillor pay in our comments section as a result.

As a whole, councillors attended 79.4% of their meetings between 26th May and 19th November this year, with 9 boasting a perfect record. 4 of them were not registered for at least half of their meetings, while one only showed up for a quarter of them.

Under current legislation, Councillors must attend at least one meeting every six months to be entitled to claim their allowance. Otherwise, they risk being struck off. Independent Councillor Paul McCusker, for the Oldpark DEA, had been scheduled to attend 12 meetings in the last six months but his attendance has only been recorded at three.

When asked about this, McCusker replied: "I work a lot in the community, and I have been under a lot of pressure in terms of working within the community and my role in the community in terms of the projects I am involved in. I am under a lot of demand."

Some readers are grateful for McCusker's efforts. Commenter Aferran says: "Paul McCusker does more for the people of Belfast than people would know, not just north Belfast. If his attendance is low it’s because he’s out actually helping the people of Belfast, Paul’s dedication to helping truly is amazing, and I can say that first hand I’m personally thankful to him for all the help he’s given me over the years."

Reader Shamrock2024 agrees: "Paul McCusker does more actual positive work than 3 councillors that do attend the meetings!"

The attendance records have caused frustration, however. GrannyAnne writes: "If you don't turn up for work, you're sacked. If you don't turn up for school, you're in front of the headmaster. But if you don't attend meetings that people have elected you for, don't worry, we the ratepayers will still pay you and even let you increase our payments. Get rid, and don't vote these no morals, good for nothing nobodies in again!"

Jez4008 says: "Anyone under an 80% attendance should be terminated, and the allowance returned and or passed on to the council. Only members that show up to do the work and drive our city to a better economy, enriching peoples lives all round, from city centre businesses to safety of visitors etc., should be allowed going forward. The city could do with no more 5 members to get the job done. Cut out the waste and fat and get the job done!"

Loyalist75 writes: "When they don't weigh in then don't pay them, any wonder this part of the UK is in the state it's in?"

On our Facebook page, Mary J Mckinney says: "It used to be that they got paid for each meeting they attended. That was changed to an annual pay!"

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R W Soupy Campbell writes: "They should get paid for their attendance. They’d either go or give the job up." Peter Finlay agrees: "No show, no dough!"

Have your say! Would pay adjusted by attendance be useful? Or would it get in the way of other work that councillors do in their community? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.