Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Beattie.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, had considered the following Notice of Motion, which had been moved by Councillor Heading and seconded by Councillor Convery:

      “This Council, having taken note of the level of fuel poverty in the city, urges the Northern Ireland Executive to recognise the relationship which exists between fuel poverty and poor home insulation.

      It notes further the core study and research carried out by the Mount Eagles Drive Action Group and the South Eastern Regional College into the health and financial impacts which the poor quality of the installation of cavity wall insulation can have.

      Accordingly, the Council calls upon the Northern Ireland Executive to provide direction to civil servants to enter into a process with the industry to identify effective measures (legislative and other) to address the problem of failure in cavity wall insulation.”

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the issues outlined in the motion.

The Committee considered the following report:-

“1.0       Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       This report outlines a proposal for an outdoor event as part of the Belfast Festival 2015 programme, in partnership with the Council. The Committee will recall that this matter was deferred at the meeting held on 21 April to enable a deputation from the organisers of the Belfast Festival to attend.  The representatives will be in attendance and will be admitted to the meeting for ten minutes to clarify issues for the Committee.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       1.  Authorise officers to initiate discussions with the Belfast Festival to agree the conditions of financial support for 2015, in line with the objectives outlined in the report; and

            2.  Agree to support an outdoors event as part of the programme for the Belfast Festival up to £20,000, subject to conditions agreed and legal agreements drawn up to the satisfaction of the Town Solicitor.  This will include the partial closure of Botanic Gardens for up to 8 days in October for the exclusive use of attendees.  A further outreach event may be facilitated in the City Hall grounds, depending on terrain and performer requirements.

            3.  Agree that a further report is presented to a future meeting which outlines a policy framework for a programme of supported, large scale partnership events in the city’s parks and open spaces.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            The Council established successful partnership arrangements with the Belfast Festival at Queen’s and Mela in 2013.  These operate at minimal cost to the public.  These type of events are well-received by audiences and significantly add to the attractiveness of the Council’s parks and open spaces.

            Proposal for 2015 event with Belfast Festival

3.1.1    Belfast Festival is proposing to work in partnership again with the Council to stage two outdoor performances in the Council’s open spaces.  Last year, over 5,000 people attended events in Botanic Gardens and City Hall grounds. 

            At the request of the Committee, Richard Wakeley, Director from Belfast Festival has been invited to present the proposal to the Committee at its meeting on 12 May.

            The proposal for 2015 is for two leading circus and acrobatic troupes from Europe; The Jashgawronsky Brothers (Italy) with their comedy musical work, Trash and Lonely Circus (France) with their unique acrobatic performance piece, Le Poids de la Peau.

            This would include an activity marquee in Botanic Gardens where families would be invited to participate in outreach workshops reflecting the nature of the two professional groups including music making, acrobatics and a variety of other activities.

            Taking into account artists’ fees, installation expenses, accommodation, transport, and travel costs from Europe, Belfast Festival is seeking a contribution of £20,000 towards this project.  Belfast Festival will take all responsibility for overseeing the installation, running and promotion of the work and will credit it as a joint presentation with the Council.

            Organisers are currently assessing the suitability of terrain.  The proposed timescale from set up to take down  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

            The Director of Property and Projects provided an update on the Council’s overall physical programme for 2015/16, which outlined key details of the Capital Projects including the Capital Programme, the Belfast Investment Fund, the Local Investment Fund and other projects.

            The Director also highlighted the role of the People and Communities Committee and the Area Working Groups in relation to the physical programme.

            The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that the Director of Property and Projects investigate the feasibility of working with partners on erecting hoardings on strategic physical programme sites which would communicate details of the projects being delivered.

            The Community Development Manager reminded the Committee that on 31st March the Community and Play Centre Committees had ceased with the end of the old Council and invited the Party Groups to consider representation on the list of current centres that had committees as outlined in the report. She informed the Committee that the community centre committee approach would be reviewed as part of the City strategy and framework for community centre provision, with any recommendations being submitted to the Committee for consideration.

            The Committee agreed that expressions of interest from Members to sit on the Community and Play Centre committees as listed (a copy of this was available on Modern.gov) would be submitted through their Party Groups and agreed, in principle, that each of the Community and Play Centre Committees would include at least one Member from the People and Communities Committee.

            The Director of Finance and Resources reminded the Committee of the work already undertaken to develop the Belfast Agenda and the planned work to engage stakeholders in ‘the Belfast Conversation’. He advised the Committee of a proposed workshop to consider the following themes:-

·        to define the role of the People and Communities Committee in supporting the delivery of the Belfast Agenda;

·        to raise awareness and understanding of the functions and cross cutting themes within the sphere of the Committee’s responsibilities and to obtain Members’ input to how Committee business should be conducted;

·        to set out strategic objectives for the Committee and further define its working relationship with Area Working Groups, working towards an outcomes based approach to understand causes, priorities and action at a local level; and

·        to identify key priorities and develop an action plan for 2015/2016.

            The Committee agreed that a workshop would take place before the summer break to develop a Committee work plan and that Members of the People and Communities Committee would be invited to attend.

The Committee considered the following report:

         “Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Members on the successful Playground Improvement Programme 2014 - 2015 and outline plans for a new two year rolling programme of playground refurbishments for 2015 -16 and 2016 – 2017. Members are asked to note that the refurbishments are funded under the Capital Programme and that an allocation of £580,000 has been agreed for the next two years for this programme

1.2    Members will be aware that as part of the LGR 16 playground sites were transferred to the Council which brings the total number of playgrounds across the city to 93. Members are asked to note that the SP&R Committee agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass. Preparatory work is being advanced on these projects and will be taken forward in conjunction with the playground refurbishment programme. 

2.0    Recommendations

2.1    1. Recommend to SP&R Committee the refurbishment of the sites below under Year 1 and Year 2 of the Playground Improvement Programme which has an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme for the next two years (a copy of which, was available on the Council’s website)

         2. Agree to replace eight, two-seater rotators that no longer comply with the BSEN 1176 safety standards during Year 1 of the Programme.

         3. Agree the use of Framework Agreement ‘E’ (Landscape Architecture) to assist delivery of the LGR playground improvements during Year 1 of the Programme.

         Members are asked to note that it was agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass.  Work on these will be progressed at the same time as the Playground Refurbishment Programme. 

3.0    Main Report

         Playground Refurbishment Programme 2014/15

3.1    Since its inception in 2012, the Playground Improvement Programme has made a significant impact on overall quality and play value of the city’s playgrounds. Through the Programme a total investment of £745k has improved accessibility and play value at each of the sites, providing new inclusive equipment, safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.

3.2    In 2012 independent inspection reports classified 25% of our facilities as ‘poor’ (quality score of 3.0 or less). Continued investment over the last four years has achieved the desired improvement in overall safety, quality and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6c

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which provided an update on the progress of the proposed DRD Lagan Footbridge ahead of the anticipated submission of a planning application and the impact the scheme might have on the Council post April 2016. The Director of Property and Projects outlined the key issues for notation, in particular:

·        the significance of the infrastructure project for the City and its importance for connecting the city centre with communities east of the Lagan;

·        the progress in recent months from concept design of nine options to detailed design of one preferred option and the anticipated submission of a planning application to the Council; and

·        the continued engagement by DRD with the Council regarding operational issues and potential developments in Ormeau Park, such as cycle paths.

            The Assistant Director advised the Committee on the progress that had been made in relation to cemetery and crematorium development. She reminded the Committee that the Shadow Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting in October 2014, had agreed to commission a review of the Council’s current burial policy and that an economic appraisal was also currently being undertaken around the options for future cremation provision for the City.

            The Committee noted the contents of the report and the planned workshop on Thursday, 18th June to consider the outcome of the review of the Council’s burial policy and economic appraisal, to which all Members of the Council would be invited.

            The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that over the past 18 months the Council had successfully progressed to Phase 2 of the SOPARC pilot using a technique to effectively measure, analyse and encourage levels and characteristics of usage and activity within Council parks and open spaces. She highlighted the principal aspects of the report which included updates on each of the three phased approaches that were currently being implemented across the City.

            Members noted the contents of the report and the ongoing development of the SOPARC pilot project.

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which outlined the decisions taken by the Assistant Director, under delegated authority, regarding the Parks Events Small Grants applications received in Tranche 1 for events taking place in parks between 1st April and 30th September, 2015 (a copy of which was available on the Council’s website).

            The Assistant Director provided an update on the funding position of Lagan Valley Regional Park (LVRP) and explained that a request had been received for additional funding of £41,055 in 2015/16 due to the changes in the availability of funding streams. She indicated that as part of Local Government Reform, funding for LVRP would now be divided between two Councils, namely the Council and the new Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, rather than three councils.

            She outlined that the Council had benefitted significantly from its partnership with LVRP and funding it in 2015/16 would support and enhance work undertaken by the Council in countryside recreation, biodiversity, promotion and community engagement.

            She reminded the Committee that the former Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting on 11th December 2014, had been informed that this level of funding had not been provided for in the estimates, however, officers had subsequently identified savings within the revenue budget for this request. She outlined that a report would also be submitted to the Committee at a later date regarding the assessment of the longer term funding arrangements.

            The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the funding of £41,055 to LVRP for 2015/16, subject to the relevant funding agreement being updated.

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the abovementioned report to allow Elected Members for the area to be consulted on the approach as set out within the report regarding the public consultation exercise on the development of an outdoor classroom in Alexandra Park and that a report be submitted to the Committee in this regard.

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which outlined the outcome of the Food Safety and Port Health Team’s investigation into the major E. coli O157 outbreak associated with Flicks Restaurant that had occurred in October, 2012.

            The Committee granted authority for the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, together with the appropriate officer from Environmental Health (or their nominees), to attend the Annual Business and Technical Conference (Phase VI) in Kuopio, Finland from 24 - 26 June.

            Alderman Rodgers referred to an incident that had occurred at Roselawn Cemetery, during which graves had been submerged with rain water.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, would write a letter of comfort to the families which had been affected during the incident. It was agreed further that a site visit would take place to Roselawn Cemetery and Crematorium for Members of the People and Communities Committee.