Committee passes vote of no confidence in Rodgers

A BELFAST City Council committee yesterday passed a vote of no confidence in its chairman, Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers.

The east Belfast councillor, who is a former Lord Mayor, faced the move at the strategic policy and resources committee.

Alliance’s Michael Long, leader of the party’s grouping at City Hall, said the concerns related to Mr Rodgers’ comments in relation to controversial bonfires over the Twelfth.

Speaking ahead of yesterday morning’s meeting of the committee, councillor Long said: “While appearing on BBC’s Nolan Show last month, councillor Rodgers made a series of negative comments about council staff in relation to their actions with respect to controversial bonfires in east Belfast over the 11th of July.

“That is not acceptable.” He also criticised Mr Rodgers for calling “unnecessary” special meetings, which he claimed caused delays and made it increasingly difficult to get decisions around controversial issues.

Yesterday’s no confidence motion was carried by seven votes to four, with two Alliance committee members voting with five from Sinn Fein.

It is thought to be the first time such a motion has been passed in censure of a sitting committee chairman.

Veteran: Jim Rodgers

Three DUP councillors and one UUP colleague voted against the motion.

The decision will now go be- fore the full council for ratification next month.

Mr Rodgers declined to comment on the issue when contacted last night.

But sources close to the councillor said he had vowed he would not be standing down from his chairmanship under any circumstances.

Last night Mr Long said: “I hope councillor Rodgers reflects on the need for him to be more responsible in dealing with the media, particularly when discussing the role and performance of council staff.

“His party colleague Chris McGimpsey has indicated councillor Rodgers has apologised to staff privately. That is welcome.

“However, his initial comments were made publicly, and so we believe his apology should also be similar.

“While this motion may result in nothing binding, it has at least brought councillor Rodgers’ disappointing behaviour into the public sphere.”

It also emerged that the veteran is facing a probe by the office of the Local Government Commissioner for Standards.

Marie Anderson’s office tweeted yesterday: “The Commissioner has announced her intention to hold an adjudication hearing into a complaint that Alderman Jim Rodgers (Belfast City Council) breached the code in relation to the rules regarding the registration, disclosure and declaration of interests.”

No date has been set for that hearing.