NI Council contemplating scrapping books of condolences in effort to chop prices

A council the place extra individuals expressed their on-line sympathies for Captain Tom Moore than they did for the late Queen is contemplating scrapping books of condolences.

owever the proposal to maneuver to a web based solely system, made at Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, was met with some issues over the gathering of knowledge on how many individuals have signed the bodily books.

The council’s company committee voted final week to maneuver in the direction of digital memorial books with a view to save £225 spent on every bodily e-book opened, in addition to flowers and a show picture.

Within the final 5 years, the native authority has opened 13 books of condolence of which seven had been digital and 6 bodily.

Current information have proven that extra individuals within the district signed a digital e-book to pandemic fundraiser Captain Tom Moore, who made worldwide headlines in 2020 when he raised cash for charity within the run-up to his a centesimal birthday in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, than they did for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Nonetheless, Councillor Paul Porter found that the council had not saved any report of what number of signatures had been made on bodily books.

He mentioned: “I do like the choice of a bodily e-book and I feel that with out the info of what number of signatures are on them we shouldn’t be going about to alter council coverage.

“It is a very delicate situation. We will need to have extra data earlier than going ahead in such a radical means.

“I suggest that we hold one bodily e-book open on the civic centre for one 12 months to achieve the info that’s wanted, so we all know how many individuals are signing and we will additionally see what number of have signed the digital books.

“If the info supplies assist for bodily books then we should always revert again.”

Help for the digital coverage was given by Councillor Stephen Martin who mentioned he disagreed with Mr Porter.

“The proposal for digital books would carry our coverage updated. Social media has modified all of this,” he mentioned.

“Current vital occasions have seen {that a} shift has occurred the place individuals can categorical themselves nearly, extra shortly and no have to journey to the Lagan Valley Island.”

The modification by Mr Porter to the proposal was supported and carried.

A council officer additionally highlighted that the mayor of the day might nonetheless open extra bodily books of condolence at their very own discretion.

A report on the collected signatures can be introduced to the council in 12 months to resolve on whether or not to finish bodily books of condolence utterly.