Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Attwood and McAllister.

            The minutes of the meeting of 22nd March were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 4th March.

            Councillor O’Donnell declared an interest in relation to item 5(f) – Summer Community Diversionary Festivals Programme, in that she was employed by the Short Strand Partnership and left the meeting whilst this item was under consideration.  Councillor Long declared an interest in the same item insofar as he was a member of the Eastside Partnership but declared a dispensation to take part in the meeting and vote for that item as he had been appointed to that organisation by the Council.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following 3 items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the Press and public from the Committee meeting during discussion of these items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014.

The Committee was advised that the Council was now in receipt of its formal letter of offer of funding from the Department for Communities, under the Community Support Programme, totalling £1,503,333.86.

            The breakdown of the allocation was as follows:

·        Community Support General                                    £829.405.44

·        Advice Grant                                                             £607,928.42

·        Welfare Reform Support Payment                            £66,000.00

            Total                                                                                 £1,503,333.86

            It was reported that the level of funding awarded under the Community Support General and Advice Grant had remained static compared to the 2018/2019 allocation.  It was pointed out also that an additional allocation of £66,000 had been included to support frontline advice services with increased workload, associated with Welfare Reform, including appeal representation. 

            The Committee:

(1)    agreed to accept the funding and conditions detailed in the Letter of Offer from Department for Communities in respect of the 2019/20 Community Support Programme; and

(2)    noted the provision of an additional allocation of £66k for Frontline Advice Services Welfare Reform Support Payment, which the Committee had previously agreed to use in support of the Belfast City Wide Tribunal Service.

i)       Grove Primary School Site to Grove Housing Association

The Committee approved the disposal of the former Grove Primary School Site to the Grove Housing Association for the consideration of £370,000, with detailed terms to be agreed by the Estates Manager and City Solicitor.

ii)     Wilmont House - Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

The Committee approved the advertising for Expressions of Interest for the physical restoration and regeneration of Wilmont House, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Belfast, on terms to be agreed by the Estates Manager and City Solicitor

iii)    St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Donegall Pass - Amendment to proposed Grant of Right of Way

The Committee approved an amendment to a proposed Grant of Right of Way to the Trustees of St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Donegall Pass.

iv)    Grazing Agreements at Roselawn and Beechvale Farm

The Committee noted the Expressions of Interest received for grazing and grass cutting at Beechvale Farm and Roselawn and granted retrospective consent to the leasing of land at Roselawn and Beechvale Farm to the successful bidders

v)     Grant of Easement to Belfast City Council – Old Golf Course Road

The Committee approved acceptance of a Grant of Easement from the Department for Infrastructure to permit access to lands at Dunmurry Station Road.

vi)    Facilities Management Agreement – Lenadoon Community Forum

The Committee granted approval for the Facilities Management Agreement with the Lenadoon Community Forum in regard to Lenadoon Park to be adjusted to meet the requirements of an Alpha Fund application for the upgrade of the pitch facility at Lenadoon Park.

The Committee noted an update which had been provided by the Chief Executive on recent and ongoing recruitment exercises for Senior Officer postsand that Cathy Reynolds had been appointed to the post of Director (Operational) of City Regeneration and Development.

The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 3rd December, had passed the following motion on Community Pharmacies which had been proposed by Alderman Copeland and seconded by Councillor Mullan:

“This Council recognises the contribution to society made by Community Pharmacies and notes with growing concern the current financial crisis facing the sector, caused by a serious level of underfunding over the last decade.

The Council agrees to seek an urgent meeting between the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and an all-party delegation from the Council, along with representatives of the Pharmacies.”

            It was reported that letters had been forwarded subsequently to Mr. G. Greene, Chief Executive of the Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), and to Mr. R. Pengelly, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, in relation to the motion.

            The Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI had confirmed shortly afterwards that he would be willing to meet with an all-Party delegation from the Council and with the Permanent Secretary to discuss the motion.  A response was then received from Mr. Pengelly and was presented to the Committee on 22nd February.

            The Committee was reminded that Mr. Pengelly had, within that response, provided details of substantial funding which had been made available in 2018/19 and 2019/20 to community pharmacies and had confirmed that a further £800k had been allocated within the current financial year.  However, he had made no reference to the request to meet with an all-Party delegation from the Council and Community Pharmacy NI, as had been alluded to within the motion.

            At that meeting, the Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that a further letter be forwarded to Mr. Pengelly inviting him again to meet with an all-Party delegation from the Council and the Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI.

            A further response had been received from Mr. Pengelly which again outlined the extent of funding which had been allocated to community pharmacies and pointed out that Departmental officials had ongoing contact with CPNI representatives on a wide range of funding issues.  He stated that that represented the most appropriate forum for engagement on funding issues and the development of new contractual arrangements for community pharmacies.  He did not, therefore, feel that a meeting with an all-Party delegation from the Council and with Community Pharmacies NI would be beneficial at this time.

            Mr. Pengelly had then highlighted the difficult and challenging financial environment being faced across the public sector, and by the health service in particular, and concluded by assuring Members that his Department was committed to ensuring that there continued to be a sustainable community pharmacy network and effective contractual arrangements.

The Committee noted the further response which had been received from the Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, in relation to the Council’s motion on Community Pharmacies and agreed that a press release be issued expressing the Committee’s disappointment that the Permanent Secretary had refused to meet with an all-Party deputation from the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To consider the governance arrangements to apply for the new Council term commencing in 2019.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to;

            Consider the issues and to decide on the preferred governance arrangements for the new Council.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Background

            At the meeting of the new Council following the local government elections in May, it will be necessary to agree the new council’s governance arrangements for the period 2019-23.

            A report on this matter was submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 22nd March.  The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the report until the April meeting.  In order for the proper arrangements to be made, including meetings with the Nominating Officers of the Parties returned after the elections, in advance of the Annual Meeting of the new Council on 21st May, it is now necessary for decisions to be made.

3.2       Key issues

1.      Council governance arrangements

            The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 provides for a number of types of governance arrangements, namely:

·        Traditional committee arrangements (default position)

·        Executive model

            In 2014, the Council adopted a Constitution which, amongst other things, agreed the default governance arrangements prescribed in the 2014 Act namely:

·        Traditional Committee system

·        Positions of responsibility selected using the D’hondt model

·        Committee places allocated using the quota greatest remainder model

            It would have required a qualified majority vote (80%) in order to choose any of the alternatives.

            Looking forward to the new Council term, should the Council agree to continue with the existing arrangements as set out in the Council Constitution, then the decision making process requires a simple majority vote to do so.

            Decision required:

·        Do members wish to continue with existing governance arrangements ie traditional committee system?

3.3

2.      Standing Committees

            The council currently has established seven Standing Committees which promote cross-departmental and thematic working across the organisation supporting the delivery of the Belfast Agenda and the developing process of Outcomes Based Accountability:

            The Committee was reminded that it had agreed previously that Belfast would apply to join a 100 Resilient Cities Challenge to explore opportunities to develop a city currency for Belfast.  It had approved also a funding requirement of £25k, if successful, in applying to join the challenge.  It was explained that a city currency was a payment and rewards app, working on a smartphone, through which people were rewarded for good behaviour, for example, for shopping locally, for using public transport or for recycling.  Party briefings had taken place in February to brief elected Members on the challenge. 

            The Committee was advised that it had been successful in the application to join the city challenge.  In March the Commissioner for Resilience had joined four other cities, Addis Ababa, Porto Alegre, Cape Town and Milan in the Headquarters of the company, Colu, in Tel Aviv, to plan the next steps in the development of a city currency pilot for each city.  The visit also enabled officers to review how the company worked in practice and how the technology platform was supported.

            The company was in the process of hiring three staff to work in Belfast to lead its operations here, and was currently securing a retail/community space in the city centre through which it would operate. 

            Officers had met with several city partners to encourage them to join the challenge and discussions were progressing well.  Ulster University was exploring how it could use a currency to incentivise or reward students’ behaviour, for example, use of public transport.  Several large employers in the city were exploring whether to use the city currency to reward/encourage positive behaviour among their staff.

            Belfast had already taken several steps to progress the city currency challenge, and was keen to announce the challenge in May, to help encourage new partners to come on board, including local businesses.  Given the importance of students and young people to the success of the currency, officers were keen to launch the app in August or September in time for the new academic year.  It was aimed to ensure that at least 50 businesses and organisations had joined the challenge in advance of its launch. 

            The Committee:

·        noted the progress in the development of the city currency challenge (pilot), which would run for a year from March, 2019 and that Belfast was successful in competing against other cities in the 100 Resilient Cities network to join a city currency challenge; and

·        noted that an event to announce Belfast’s City Currency Challenge would be held in May, involving the Lord Mayor and city partners, with the eventual launch of the Belfast Coin city currency in August/September, to coincide with the new academic year. 

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is for Members to note the decision taken by the City Growth and Regeneration Committee to approve a formal 12-week public consultation on the draft Cultural Strategy 2020-2030 and agree to receive detailed draft implementation plans and financing strategy.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that Committee:

·        Note the contents of this report and the commencement of a 12-week public consultation from 17 April 2019.

·        Agree to receive further detail on draft implementation plans and financing strategy in September 2019.    

3.0       Main report

3.1       Background

            In December 2018 the City Growth and Regeneration Committee agreed for officers to progress with the development of a new 10-year cultural strategy for the city.

            The timing of this work was in response to a number of important developments and milestones including:

-       End of participation in the European Capital of Culture bidding process.

-       Initial recommendations from a draft Festival and Events strategy.

-       Current Cultural Framework due to end in March 2020.

-       Current Tourism Strategy due to end in March 2020.

-       Core multi-annual funding programme for arts and heritage organisations in the city due to end in March 2020.

-       Tourism as a key strand in the Belfast Region City Deal including proposals for a new visitor attraction, the Destination Hub.

3.3       It was agreed that the strategy would build on the extensive public engagement carried out during the bid to become European Capital of Culture. Furthermore it would present an integrated approach to long-term cultural development in the city including:

-       A citizen focussed approach

-       Consideration of the long-term sustainability of the cultural sector

-       A new approach to Events and Festivals

-       Strengthen the tourism proposition in the city through greater understanding of the city’s cultural narrative and international appeal.

-       Integration of planned major developments such as the Destination Hub into citywide tourism.

3.4       Key Issues

            The context

            The global context for this strategy is the increasing recognition that cities of culture can drive transformation. Culture has a critical role in shaping great places through:

-       Increasing cohesion and permeability

-       Building identity and confidence

-       Attracting investment

-       Retaining talent and attracting talent back

3.5       The Belfast Agenda sets out a vision for 2035 that imagines a culturally vibrant city.  The purpose of the cultural strategy is to present a series of priorities that have the potential to contribute significantly to all five outcomes of the Belfast Agenda:

-       Everyone in Belfast benefits from a thriving and prosperous economy

-       Belfast is a welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive city for all

-       Everyone in Belfast fulfils their potential

-       Everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing

-       Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city

3.6       As well as supporting the Belfast Agenda, the strategy also responds to and helps to define the role of culture across other priority areas including:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to request Committee approval for the delivery of two pilot projects aimed at supporting social enterprise development, business start-up and employment for those with disabilities and/or health related conditions.  

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the ongoing work of the Economic Development Unit in supporting business growth, jobs creation, skills development under the Working and Learning and Growing the Economy pillars of the Belfast Agenda

·        Approve the delivery of two pilot projects to be delivered in partnership with NOW Group and USEL (Ulster Supported Employment and Learning) aimed at supporting people with disabilities or health related conditions into work as well as helping new artisan food businesses including social enterprises to start up and grow.

·        Agree to enter into a Licence agreement for an initial 12 months period to facilitate delivery of the pilot initiative in partnership with USEL (Ulster Supported Employment and Learning), subject to the advice and approval from the Council’s Legal Services and Estates Management teams.

3.0       Main report

3.1       As Members will be aware, the Council provides a range of activities to support business growth, help create jobs and enhance the skills levels of Belfast residents. This includes delivery of a suite of business start and development programmes including social enterprise support, as well as a variety of employment and skills initiatives including the sector-specific employment academies.  Aligned to both the Working and Learning and the Growing the Economy pillars of the Belfast Agenda, these work streams support inclusive growth ambitions by addressing barriers to employment and progression. 

3.2       The city continues to face persistent challenges relating to the high levels of economic inactivity and geographical deprivation, and whilst unemployment rates are decreasing, levels of economic inactivity remains high at 31% or 67,850 persons of working age across the city of Belfast. Of these numbers, around 35% (or 23,748 persons of working age) are known to have a disability or health-related condition. Council officers have been working with a number of organisations to explore opportunities for developing targeted initiatives to help some of those individuals to re-enter the labour market on a voluntary participation basis. For out-of-work individuals, long periods of inactivity cancause health conditions to worsen, work related skills and motivation deteriorate, and significant new barriers towork can arise. These individuals will require additional support to remove their particular barriers to employment.

3.3       In recent years, the Council’s Hospitality Employment Academy has provided an ongoing pipeline of talent into this sector.  Whilst efforts in this regard have been positively received, the challenge of low levels of unemployment, sector growth and the potential implications of the UK exit from the EU on the flow of migrant labour have highlighted the risk of labour shortages within this industry and underlined the need for ongoing interventions of scale. 

3.4       The growth of the hospitality industry has been driven by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is to advise the Committee of an inquiry by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of the UK Government on tourism in Northern Ireland and to seek approval for the key elements of a Council response.  This response will be subject to engagement with other partner organisations in order to ensure alignment and consistency in support of the Belfast position.

1.2       The official deadline for submissions is 18 April 2019.  However, the NI Affairs Committee has agreed to an extension until early May 2019 to allow time for additional liaison with our partner organisations.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Agree that a full response is developed along the lines set out in section 3.3. below

·        Consider any additions or amendments that they wish to see incorporated in the final Council response

·        Agree that officers should continue to liaise with our strategic partners including Tourism NI, Visit Belfast, ICC Belfast and Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency, to ensure consistency in our responses and to put forward the best case for Belfast

·        Agree that authority is delegated to the Director of Economic Development to submit the final version of the response within the timeframe set out by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has recently launched an Inquiry examining the importance of tourism to the economy and society of Northern Ireland more widely and to investigate ways in which the industry could be improved or further supported.  Specifically, the Inquiry has invited written submissions pertaining to:

·        The economic and societal impact of the tourism industry in Northern Ireland

·        Transport links to Northern Ireland

·        The promotion of Northern Ireland as a destination.

3.2       Officers are liaising with our strategic partners (ICC Belfast, Visit Belfast and Tourism NI) who have specific expertise and information relating to the areas set out in the scope of the inquiry. While each of the partners is working on their own individual responses, Council officers are engaging with them all to ensure that the response from the Council is consistent with the key messages and draws out the specific challenges and opportunities for Belfast. 

3.3       In terms of headline commentary, it is proposed that the Council response covers the following key points:

            The economic and societal impact of the tourism industry in Northern Ireland

·        The growth of tourism has been critical to Belfast’s improved economic performance, particularly over the last two decades

·        Belfast is the key regional driver for tourism in the region.  The last Local Government District tourism statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in 2017 indicated that Belfast generated 30% of all overnight tourism trips to Northern Ireland (1.5m trips) and tourism spend on overnight trips amounted to £328m, 35% of Northern Ireland tourism spend

·        The city’s contribution to the region’s visitor economy increases to 44% when analysing spend  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5d

The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is update Members’ on completion of the final draft of ‘An Aquatics Strategy for Belfast’ and seek approval to move to a formal launch event as soon as is practicable.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        note completion of the public consultation exercise;

·        note completion of equality screening and the resulting ‘screened out’ decision;

·        approve the final draft document ‘An Aquatics Strategy for Belfast’ and

·        grant approval to prepare for a formal launch of the strategy as soon as is practicable

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            The proposal to develop an Aquatics Strategy was prompted by the Active Belfast Ltd (ABL) board at its meeting on 9th June 2016.  A further report was presented to the ABL board on 31 August 2016 outlining a proposed development approach and a broad scope works.  Approval to proceed was granted and a working group consisting of representatives from ABL, Belfast City Council (BCC) and Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) was set up to deliver the project.

3.2       The Aquatics Strategy Working Group was made up of officers from BCC, staff from GLL and members of the ABL Board.

3.3       The Working Group met on ten occasions between 6th October 2016 and 26 October 2017 with numerous development sessions between formal working group meetings.

3.4       Aquatics Strategy update reports were presented to the ABL board and subsequently to BCC via SP&R on the following dates:

ABL Board                   SP&R Committee

9 June 2016                 24 June 2016

31 August 2016            23 September 2016

13 October 2016          21 October 2016

5 December 2016         16 December 2016

21 March 201721 April 2017

20 April 2017                19 May 2017

7 August 2017  18 August 2017

30 October 2017          24 November 2017

5 March 2018               23 March 2018

10 September 2018      21 September 2018

3.5       Pre-consultation

            Pre consultation with key stakeholders was undertaken between 7 July and 10 August 2017.

3.6       The final Aquatics Strategy document (draft for consultation) was approved by the ABL board on 5th March 2018 and subsequently accepted by SP&R and full Council on 22nd June 2018 and 2 July 2018 respectively.

3.7       Public consultation on the draft strategy

            A twelve week period of public consultation on the draft strategy took place between 24 July and 12 October 2018.  A copy of the draft strategy and a response questionnaire were available to download from the Council’s website.

3.8       The public consultation exercise yielded 58 written responses of which 28 were on behalf of organisations.  The content of the draft document was positively received.  Most comments received were of an operational nature and have been noted for consideration when a post launch action plan is being developed.  No amendments have been made to the draft strategic document.

3.9       Equality Screening

            Following review of the public consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5e

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       At the Council meeting in January 2019 it was agreed to allocate £500k to a summer diversionary and festival programme, this was in context of the Revenue Estimates & District Rate report agreed as part of the rate setting process.  The programme was advertised as an open call and officers have completed the preliminary assessment process.

1.2       The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with the detail of the preliminary assessments undertaken by officers and seek approval to award funding to those groups who have met the minimum standard required to receive funding.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Make a recommendation that successful projects are awarded funding, totalling the amounts outlined in Table 1.  Any funding awarded is subject to further engagement with groups and analysis of projects and associated budgets in line with Council due diligence procedures;

·        Work with any unsuccessful groups to support, where appropriate, aspects of their application that can be delivered through the Council led Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            Process

            Following approval by Council in January 2019 to deliver a £500,000 Summer Community Festivals Diversionary Programme (£250,000 for July Groups and £250,000 for August Groups), the following process has been followed;

·        All applicants submitted an application form by an agreed date;

·        Officers undertook due diligence exercise to ensure that only applications that are fully completed and meet the conditions of funding were considered for assessment;

·        During the open application process, officers were available to advise groups on the necessary due diligence requirements that must be met to enable groups to be considered suitable for funding;

·        Officers have undertaken a preliminary assessment of each application against the agreed criteria (see Appendix 1) and are seeking a recommendation from the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on proposed successful applications.

3.2       July Programme

            Five applications for the July programme were received with a total funding requirement of £354,229, (this was reduced to £311,729 following a reduction in the amount requested by the The Hubb. 

            One of the applications, Consensus Restorative Justice did not meet the minimum quality standard to receive funding.  It is proposed, that officers will work with this group to offer support in delivering a community festival in the local area in the lead up to the 11 July, through the Council led Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme.

            Table 1 summarises the applications received for the July programme.

The Committee:

            Area Working Group (AWG) Minutes

·        approved and adopted the minutes of meetings of the North Belfast AWG on 19th March 2019 and the South Belfast AWG on 25th March 2019.

            Project Updates

·        agreed that the following project receive funding from the Social Innovation Challenge Programme: 15,000 for the New Lodge Arts Group Breakthrough project; and

·        agreed the proposed movements of the BIF and LIF projects from North and South as set out below:

            LIF Programme - LORAG – John Murray Lock House project (LIF2-13 - £40,000) had been scored and met the minimum threshold and agrees that this project is progressed to Due Diligence stage.

BIF Programme

The Committee:

·        approved the public advertisement and acceptance of tenders as listed in Appendix 1, Table 1 through the Council’s electronic procurement system;

·        granted delegated authority to the appropriate Director using pre-agreed criteria to accept the most economically advantageous tender;

·        agreed to accede to Standing Order 55(b) -  exceptions in relation to contracts by direction of the council acting on recommendation of a Chief Officer that the exception is justified in special circumstances for the contracts laid out in paragraph 3.6 and Appendix 1 Table 2;

·        noted that the Council had an existing contract with Land and Property Services (LPS) for the provision of detailed property surveys and agreed to the LPS request that this contract be extended for another year; and

·        noted the update on the City Revitalisation Programme:

Appendix 1 - Schedule of tenders for consideration

Table 1 - New tenders

            The Committee was reminded that, under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (“The Act”), (as amended by the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006) public authorities, when carrying out their functions must have due regard to the need to:

·        Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people; and

·        Encourage participation by disabled people in public life.

            It was reported that the Council’s Disability Action Plan had expired in March, 2018.  However, it had been arranged that a one year holding Action Plan from April 2018 – March 2019 would be put in place to allow time to develop the draft three year plan.  The Equality Commission had advised that The Council would be resubmitting a DDO Disability Action Plan in 2019 which would cover a three year period.

            The three year Plan items were now being presented as a draft document to proceed through the committee cycle and would also to go out for public consultation as required.

            The Committee approved:

·        the Disability Action Plan 2019-2022; and

·        the document for consultation for a twelve week period, from 15th April, 2019 to 8th July, 2019.

            The Committee considered a report which sought approval to to partner with the Northern Ireland Executive to host the Northern Ireland Regional Event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and to run a programme of events to supplement the main commemoration ceremony.

            The Committee was reminded that Holocaust Memorial Day was the international day of remembrance for all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.  The date, 27th January, marked the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camps.  The purpose of the commemoration was to honour survivors and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today.

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reported that the Good Relations Unit had been invited to partner with the Executive Office to run a regional event in the City Hall to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.  In addition a programme of events would be organised to engage schools and a wider society in events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.  The costs for those events were estimated at £3,000 and would be covered through the existing Good Relations budget.

            The Committee agreed that the Council partner with the Executive to host the regional event in the City Hall, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, and to run a programme of events to supplement the main commemoration ceremony.

The Committee considered the following applications for the use of the City Hall and for the provision of hospitality which had been received up to 29th March, 2019:

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update members of a request from the Oldpark/Cavehill Royal British Legion Branch to lead on an event on 1st June 2019 at the USAF Memorial at Belfast Zoo. The event is being held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the air crash involving an American B-17 crew in which all 10 members lost their lives.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked consider the request in the following context:

·        The event on 1st June 2019 at the USAF memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the aircrash on Cavehill should be coordinated by Council.

·        The level of support which Council can contribute bearing in mind there has been no budget set aside for this type of event and the SP&R Committee has previously agreed not to consider requests for ad hoc funding until the end of June 2019.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            On June 1st 1944, only five days before D Day B-17 Flying Fortress no 42-97862 had flown from the US via Reykjavik and was preparing to land at Nutts Corner and was due to fly onward to Anglesey in Wales in preparation for deployment in the Allied war effort.

3.2       The plane never managed to reach its destination due to fog shrouding Cavehill, obscuring its course with such fatal and tragic consequences for the aircrew on board, their comrades and their families.

3.3       A memorial at Belfast Zoo was unveiled by the then Lord Mayor, Councillor Wallace Browne on Thursday June 1st 2006.  The service included a colour guard from US Military, a service conducted by Very Reverend Dr. Houston McKelvey, an address by the US Consul General and by an assistant air attaché at the US Embassy in London, Taps and a flypast by a WW2 aircraft.

3.4       Since the unveiling and dedication of the memorial, the Oldpark/Cavehill RBL branch have organised and held regular services and a wreath laying at the memorial on June 1st and the Friday preceding Remembrance Sunday of each year.

3.5       The Secretary of the Oldpark/Cavehill branch has written to Council to advise that he had recently met with Dawn and Alfie Montgomery. Alfie Montgomery was the person who found the wedding ring that belonged to the pilot.  The ring was eventually returned to the deceased pilot's family and this story was subsequently made famous by Richard Attenborough in the film 'Closing the Ring.'

3.6       Permission has been granted under delegated authority for the regular service to take place on 1st June 2019, with arrival at 9.15am, the service taking place at 9.30am and finishing prior to the Zoo opening at 10am. Those taking part usually drive to the memorial given its location within the Zoo.

3.7       The organisers have been in touch with Alison Fleming from UTV who has agreed to cover the story and at the time of writing this report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9b

            The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting of the Active Belfast Limited Board of 8th April.

            The Committee was advised that a letter had been received asking the Council to nominate Members to attend the D-Day Commemoration Concert being held in the Waterfront Hall on 8th June, 2019.  The Committee was reminded that it had previously approved the attendance of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson plus one Member from the six main parties on the Council at events organised by the ABF Charity as follows:

1.      The Centenary of the Battle of the Somme Event on 7th May, 2016;

2.      The Ulster at War Concert on 24th March, 2018; and

3.      The Ladies’ Lunch Event on 11th September, 2018.

            It was pointed out that the event would take place on 8th June, which was after the local elections on 2nd May.  It would not therefore be possible to nominate Members to attend until after the elections.  However, if the Committee was minded it could reserve places for the incoming Chairperson and the incoming Deputy Chairperson of the Committee who would be appointed at the Annual Council Meeting on 21st May and for a representative of each of the main Parties on the Council.  The names of the nominees could then be given after the elections.

            The Committee agreed to this course of action.

            The Committee approved the acceptance of an invitation by the Chief Executive to become the Honorary Council in Belfast for Iceland.