“A force bigger than life itself,” said a eulogy by O’Neill’s friend Carmel Jennings. “Working-class warrior,” said Rita Fagan, another friend of O’Neill’s.
Some councillors say the tax is unfair and plan to vote to keep it as low as possible until there is reform – even though this means millions less to spend on public services.
Part of the discussion focused on why the council had opted for affordable homes to sell, rather than to rent – and whether it was possible to revisit that.
Martin Keane told the council he probably didn’t need to highlight his “considerable financial resources” and “full legal team, ready, willing and able to take on this challenge”.
Some said they’d sought, and gotten, assurances that it wasn’t suitable for housing. Others questioned whether it could have been used for something else.
Irina Lapshina and Jurij Pučkov have been given notices to quit. They want greater assurance that, after the landlord refurbishes, they’ll be able to move back.
Planning documents show that Bartra has been granted permission to give money instead of providing public space, but don’t give any specifics as to why.
Developers wanting to build big apartment blocks have to say if there’s enough social infrastructure around. Their answers often differ from residents’ views.
Oppressive rules mean homeless families placed in The Bonnington hotel face a hostile environment, according to people who’ve been through it. Their complaints have fallen on deaf ears, they say.
Sharing its vision so far for the Player Wills and Bailey Gibson sites was a welcome first step, said one councillor. “But the devil will be in the details.”
