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Council will receive £2.5 million cash after agreeing to include nationalist politicians on committee

Lisburn & Castlreagh City Council will now be issued with a letter of offer for £2.5 million Peace IV funding
Lisburn & Castlreagh City Council will now be issued with a letter of offer for £2.5 million Peace IV funding Lisburn & Castlreagh City Council will now be issued with a letter of offer for £2.5 million Peace IV funding

A CITY council, which put £2.5m in funding at risk for failing to include nationalist politicians on a partnership committee, has done a u-turn on its decision.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council was in line for cash under Peace IV funding to help with children and young people services.

Councils wishing to be included in the programme must first submit an application which is assessed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and presented to an independent Steering Committee for a funding decision.

However, there is a requirement on each council to form a Peace IV partnership committee that is balanced with cross party representation as well as statutory representatives and social partner representatives.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council's (LCCC) PEACE IV Partnership committee however consisted of eight unionist councillors and two Alliance while none of the four SDLP councillors were represented.

As revealed by the Irish News in February, the SEUPB wrote to the council in December to highlight concerns by some members regarding the make up of the partnership.

The funding body requested that the council "re-consider the composition of the elected representation" so that it may "fully reflect the spirit of the objectives of the PEACE Programme". At the time the council declined the request to broaden the political representation.

However it has emerged that the council has reconsidered its position and will offer a place on the committee to the SDLP.

The move means it will now be line for the offer for £2.5 million Peace IV funding.

A spokesman for the SEUPB said it had "satisfactorily concluded discussions on this matter with the Council and is currently in the process of issuing a letter of offer from the Peace IV programme.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Mairtin O'Muilleoir, who had written to the council to raise the issue, said he was "pleased" the council had now "opted for a more inclusive and respectful approach to the allocation of peace funds".

"It shows that when we stand together for respect, integrity and equality we can make a real difference.

"I look forward to peace funds being disbursed in way which brings maximum benefit to all the community".