The announcement of the new Belfast district rate by the council has been marred by an argument at City Hall over a bonfire diversionary fund.
The chamber at Belfast City Council on Wednesday was split with Sinn Féin and the unionist parties carrying through a 7.99 per cent rate for homeowners and businesses, one of the largest in recent years. Last year the district rate rise was 2.99 per cent, the year before was 1.92.
An unsuccessful Alliance proposal to reduce the proposed rate rise to 7.71 per cent by dropping the summer diversionary scheme - a programme directing young people away from antisocial and criminal behaviour over the summer months - led to bitter exchanges across the chamber.
