Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman McKee and Councillors McCusker, Nicholl and O’Neill.

            The minutes of the meetings of 4th, 10th and 24th January were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st February.

            Councillor McCabe declared an interest in respect of agenda item 3 (b), viz., Sally Gardens Management Arrangements, in that he was a member of the Sally Gardens management committee.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

            In December 2016 the Council received an invitation from the Housing Executive to contribute to a consultation in relation to its Homelessness Strategy 2017–2022 ‘Ending Homelessness Together’. Full details of the consultation are available at:

            http://www.nihe.gov.uk/draft_homelessness_strategy_2017_22.pdf

1.2       The aim of the consultation is to seek views on the strategic direction Housing Executive has set out in its Strategy document.

1.3       The purpose of this report is to:

·        inform Members of the Housing Executive’s consultation exercise;

·        seek approval of the proposed response from Council;

·        subject to approval by this Committee, it is proposed that a final response is submitted to Housing Executive by 8 February 2017, with the proviso that this is subject to full Council approval at its meeting in March. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

            Consider the draft consultation response to the Homelessness Strategy for Northern Ireland 2017–2022, ‘Ending Homelessness Together’ and agree the response to Housing Executive.  

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            The Strategy sets out key objectives and the associated actions aimed at preventing homelessness where possible, and also to develop long term sustainable housing and support solutions for those households faced with homelessness. The Strategy supports a multi-agency approach to tackling homelessness and recognises the importance of local service delivery.    

3.2       The Strategy document has four main areas to be considered, which are:

·        Defining the problem of homelessness in Northern Ireland.

·        The strategic context in relation to Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European dimension, taking into consideration the Programme for Government 2016 – 2021 and other key policies and strategies.

·        An evaluation of the previous Housing Executive Homelessness Strategy 2012 – 2017.

·        Vision, aims and objectives.

3.3       The document’s overarching vision is to ‘end homelessness together’, specifically aiming to prevent homelessness, ensure that households experiencing homelessness are supported to find suitable accommodation and support solutions as quickly as possible and to ensure a cross departmental and interagency approach to ending homelessness. 

3.4       The Strategy sets out five key objectives with recommended short, medium and long term actions as follows:

·        To prioritise homelessness prevention.

·        To secure sustainable accommodation and appropriate support solutions for homeless households.

·        To further understand and address the complexities of chronic homelessness across Northern Ireland.

·        To ensure the right mechanisms are in place to oversee and deliver the strategy.

·        To measure and monitor existing and emerging need to inform the ongoing development of appropriate services.

3.5       The draft consultation response welcomes the continued drive to prevent homelessness by addressing significant challenges which aim to provide sustainable housing solutions for everyone in need. Additionally, it reflects Council’s desire to work as part of a multiagency team at every opportunity and to integrate our resources where practicable to ensure effective and collaborative delivery across Belfast. There are however key areas we would welcome greater detail on, to provide further clarity and inform how best we can become involved. These areas are fully detailed in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2a

The Committee considered the undernoted report:   

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        The purpose of this report is to make Members aware of the Department of Education’s consultation on the Children and Young People’s Strategy and to seek Members’ approval of the Council’s draft response.

2.0      Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to;

·        Consider the draft response and approve its submission to the Department of Education, subject to any comments or amendment provided, with the proviso that the response is subject to full Council approval at its meeting in March 2017.

3.0      Main report

            Background

3.1      The Department of Education is currently consulting on the Children and Young People’s Strategy; the consultation period commenced on Monday 19th December 2016 and will run until 5pm on Monday 27th February 2017. 

3.2      Members are also advised that officers from the Children and Young People Unit have had ongoing discussions with representatives from the Department of Education during the development stage of the draft strategy. 

            Summary of draft strategy

3.3      The draft strategy is designed to improve the well-being of all children and young people living in Northern Ireland.

3.4      The Programme for Government (PfG) identifies that a key desired outcome is ‘giving our children and young people the best start in life’ - the Strategy states that it is a key component to achieve this and that it sets out a direction of travel for how it wants the lives of children and young people to improve.

3.5      The Strategy seeks to build upon the many positive outcomes children experience whilst also focusing on areas of concern where outcomes are poorer or specific groups of children and young people face barriers to positive outcomes.

3.6      PfG has established the budget priorities which will reflect and drive the Executive’s improvement agenda.  Within this context funding for this Strategy will come from within departmental budget allocations.

3.7      The Strategy proposes the following eight outcomes:

·        Children and young people are physically and mentally healthy

·        Children and young people enjoy play and leisure

·        Children and young people learn and achieve

·        Children and young people live in safety and stability

·        Children and young people experience economic and environmental well-being

·        Children and young people make a positive contribution to society

·        Children and young people live in a society which respects their rights

·        Children and young people live in a society in which equality of opportunity and good relations are promoted 

3.8      For each of the eight outcomes, the consultation response asks:

·        Based on evidence, where is the greatest effort needed?

·        How do we know if we are achieving the outcome? (Proposed indicators)

            Draft Response

3.9      A summary of the key issues are outlined below.  As the closing date for responses is prior to the March Council meeting it is proposed that the response, subject to any comments or amendments from Members, be submitted with the caveat that it is still subject to ratification at the full Council meeting.

3.10     The Council welcomes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2b

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        The purpose of the report is to present the draft response to the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) corporate plan for Members to consider and agree.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to;

·        Consider and agree the draft response to the PHA corporate plan.

3.0      Main report

3.1      The PHA is seeking views on its draft Corporate Plan 2017 – 2021.

3.2      In summary its purpose, vision and values are to ‘protect and improve the health and social wellbeing of our population and reduce health inequalities through strong partnerships with individuals, communities and other key public, private and voluntary organisations’ by placing individuals and communities at the heart of it who we will listen to and involve openly and honestly whilst working in partnership to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities. Valuing and empowering staff to deliver evidence led and outcomes-focussed services.

3.3      We welcome the high level direction of travel and outcomes prioritised in it and its straightforward presentation in the draft corporate plan. Our full response provides the specific commentary we encourage for the best fit to our aspiration in the draft Belfast Agenda and in response to the latest Programme for Government consultation.

3.4      The consultation seeks feedback to the corporate plan vision generally and any gaps or opportunities for incorporation. It names 4 main priority outcomes for action in the corporate plan as:

·        Outcome 1: All children and young people have the best start in life

·        Outcome 2: All older adults are enabled to live healthy and fulfilling lives

·        Outcome 3: All individuals and communities are equipped and enabled to live long healthy lives

·        Outcome 4: All health and wellbeing services should be safe and high quality

3.5      A summary of specific feedback follows in the key issues section of the report:

3.6      Key issues

            We agree generally with the direction of travel in the corporate plan to promote health and social wellbeing where everyone is the heart of it and there is a focus on addressing health inequalities. We recommend going further to add a value in it to aspire to ‘local people shaping and co-producing the services they require’. We encourage PHA that when listening to individuals and communities that this should also cover families/ or agreed advocates/ appointed professional representatives (e.g. educator, social worker, hub co-ordinator etc) for individuals to be effectively represented.

3.7      The main question in the consultation is whether or not you agree with the direction of travel, each outcome and any gaps or suggestions. Table 1 summarises the main feedback in our response to the suggested outcomes:

            Table 1: Summary of main feedback on each Outcome

1.      All children and young people have the best start in life?

            We welcome that CYP getting the best start in life is a prioritised outcome and reflects our thinking in the Belfast Agenda. We recognise the items which promote the best start  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2c

            The Assistant Director advised that, at the meeting of the Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Development Working Group held on 3rd February, the following key issues had been considered:

·        update on the Economic Appraisal and Future Cremation Facilities;

·        update on the new tender arrangements for the café at Roselawn Crematorium;

·        update on the Cemetery opening hours; and

·        Memorandum of Understating with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; and

·        discussions with neighbouring Councils regarding future Cremation and Cemetery Provision. 

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services advised that at the meeting the Members had supported the recommendation for officers to engage neighbouring councils in a strategic conversation to better understand needs and demand in respect of cremations and burials across Northern Ireland.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes and the specific recommendation of the Working Group in respect of officers being granted authority to initiate discussions with neighbouring Councils regarding Belfast City Council’s plans in relation to cemetery and cremations provision, to take into consideration the needs and plans of those neighbouring Councils.

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

            The Committee was updated on discussions that had taken place with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) regarding the arrangements put in place to provide a subsidy for former Lisburn and Castlereagh residents in relation to burial charges.

            The Assistant Director advised that LCCC had requested that Belfast City Council (BCC) review its existing process.  She detailed that with the current arrangement BCC treated LCCC customers as non-residents when making burial arrangements and the bereavement administration team then forwarded correspondence to the relevant customer inviting them to contact LCCC regarding a subsidy to enable them to receive a refund.

            The Committee was informed that LCCC had requested that this policy be amended to provide the LCCC residents with the subsidy at the start of the process, that is, when booking and paying and that the subsidy could then be recouped by BCC from LCCC.

The Committee:

·        agreed that Belfast City Council (BCC) would enter into a legal agreement with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) to provide a subsidy scheme for residents wishing to use BCC’s cemetery services which would be managed by BCC Bereavement Services; and

·        agreed that the fees outlined would be recharged to LCCC and noted that this agreement would be subject to an annual review to ensure the scheme was administered by the team without impacting the service and to ensure the customer received a high quality service.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Committee on the Management Arrangements at Sally Gardens.  The Committee is reminded that at its meeting in April 2016 it agreed to operate a 3 month pilot scheme with Poleglass Community Association.  The 3 month pilot scheme operated from 5th September 2016 and the association has been paid a monthly fee of £3666.67.  The Committee further agreed at its meeting on 6th December 2016 to extend the pilot for a further 3 months.  This report reviews the current arrangement and makes recommendation as to future arrangements.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        Agree to formalise the agreement until September 2017 at which time it will be reviewed after a full year of operation

·        Convey delegated authority to the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services to extend the arrangement on a year to year basis subject to a satisfactory review and agreement of Poleglass Community Association. 

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Committee is reminded that, at its meetings in April and December 2016, it agreed to operate a pilot management arrangement at Sally Gardens.  Essentially the Poleglass Community Association would carry out a range of duties as associated with opening and closing of the facility, reporting any damage; ensuring there was no unapproved use and facilitating casual bookings as necessary; and keeping the facility clean and tidy by removing litter from the pitch area. 

3.2       As previously reported the Association has aspiration to extend the use of the facility beyond the core use of sports clubs.  This would mean greater use during the day time and sustained use over the summer when soccer is in recess, such as using the facility to support summer schemes etc.  To date the Association has not been able to increase day time use but it remains committed to the concept and is currently working on a summer scheme programme which will incorporate use of the facility. 

3.3       A brief summary of the figures from September and October are given below:

3.4       Members will note that the usage levels are positive and during January we have seen an increase in usage and income generation, indications for February and into March suggest that the levels of use will be sustained.  Figures for December were low but this can be explained by seasonal variation given the run up to the Christmas holiday period.

3.5       In relation to the upkeep of the facility, it is kept clean and tidy in accordance with the agreement. 

3.6       Members are asked to note that although the figures show that the income generated exceeds the monthly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

            The Committee considered a report in relation to the lease of Balmoral Bowling Club. 

            With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor Reynolds addressed the Committee.  He circulated pictures of the bowling greens at the facility and proceeded to outline a proposal on behalf of the club, whereby the Council would provide funding of £5,000 per annum for a three year period to the Bowling Club to assist them in undertaking the maintenance of the bowling greens.

            The Assistant Director confirmed that she was unaware of this proposal and she undertook to investigate the details further with the Council’s Legal Services Section and to update the Committee in due course.

            The Committee:

• noted the existing lease arrangements and agreed to defer consideration of the matter to enable officers to liaise with the Council’s Legal Services Section to explore options for a separate agreement to provide £5,000 per annum for a period of 3 years to contribute to the refurbishment of the Bowling Green.  Thereafter responsibility for the maintenance would transfer to the Bowling Club for the term of the lease; and
• agreed that an update report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee. 

            The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that, at its meeting held on 13th September 2016, it had agreed to surrender the River Terrace Site back to the Department for Communities as it was no longer deemed to be a viable site due to contamination issues and undulating ground conditions.  This agreement had been subject to the South Belfast Area Working Group (SBAWG) agreeing how the £20,000 funding for the proposed project would be spent. 

            The officer advised that at a recent meeting of the SBAWG it had been agreed that a Community Garden should proceed in the area adjacent to the original River Terrace Department for Communities site.  She reported that door to door house surveys had been undertaken and these had indicated that 86% of householders had been interested in participating in a community garden, with the proposed location being their preferred choice.

            The Committee noted that, should they give approval to proceed, officers from the Parks Section would proceed to allocate £20,000 of capital funds to purchase the necessary equipment and materials in order to assist the local community in establishing a Community Garden.

            The Committee:

• approved the recommendations of the South Belfast Area Working Group to proceed with a Community Garden in the  area adjacent to the original River Terrace Department for Communities site; and 
• agreed to allocate the remaining £20,000 Capital Fund to develop the site.

            The Assistant Director advised the Committee that Brantwood Football Club was a Football Club based in Jellicoe Avenue, North Belfast.  She reported that at the former Parks and Leisure Committee, held on 11th March 2011, approval had been given for the Council to enter into a legal agreement with the Club to carry out routine football pitch maintenance on their pitch subject to a full recovery of the cost.  She advised that the agreement had been put in place for five years and this had now expired and the club was seeking to extend the existing arrangement. 

            The officer outlined the details of the previous agreement and confirmed that this had worked successfully.  She reported that a legal opinion had previously been obtained regarding the additional works which had advised that the works could proceed under Article 10 of the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.   

             The Committee approved an extension to the legal agreement with Brantwood Football and Recreation Club for the Council to carry out routine football pitch maintenance on the pitch at the agreed rates at no cost to the Council.

(Mr. T. Walker, Head of Waste Management, attended in connection with this item).

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 11th August 2015, it had agreed that a ‘Real Nappy Scheme’ would be developed within Belfast. 

            The Head of Waste Management summarised the report which outlined the results from the scheme, which had commenced in November 2015.  He advised that, in Belfast, uptake of the scheme had been very positive with 94 applications.  Of the 94 applicants received, four had been from outside the Council boundary, and had therefore been excluded.  Of the remainder, there had been 53 eligible applications of which 22 households converted to reusable nappies on a more permanent basis.  This represented a 42% conversion rate which had exceeded the expectations of the Service. Out of the initial £3,000, a total of £2,462 had been allocated.  He reported that the scheme would continue until either all the funding had been used up or to the financial year-end.

            The committee agreed:

·        to approve regularising the current scheme within the Service’s existing budget; and

·        to write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs making a case for them to provide additional funding to support the implementation and promotion of this, or a similar, scheme across Northern Ireland.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 8th November 2016, it had agreed to renew the licence to use agreement with Grow to provide a community garden at the Waterworks Park. 

            The officer reported that in subsequent discussions with Grow it had requested an alteration to the existing boundary.  She drew the Members’ attention to the boundary map and explained that they wished to include a small grassed area and she highlighted that this proposal did not include the woodland area adjacent to the additional area. 

            The Members noted that Grow had also requested permission to create an earth oven on the site and advised that officers had no objection to this request.

            The Committee noted the report and agreed to extend the boundary on condition that any proposed use would be agreed in advance with the Park Manager, and that it would not extend into the adjacent Woodland Area.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            This report is to update Members on the Landlord Registration scheme as requested at the November Committee meeting.

2.0      Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to;

·        Note the contents of this report.

3.0      Key Issues

3.1      The Landlord Registration (Northern Ireland) 2012 became operational on 25th February 2014. The regulations has created a register of all private landlords that can be accessed by councils, tenants and members of the public to check if a landlord has registered under the scheme.  It has also given the Department for Communities (DFC) and local councils the means to communicate and work with private landlords, allow them to ensure that landlords comply with the law and where necessary take enforcement action.

3.2      Landlords register with the DFC and pay one fee regardless of the number of properties they own.  The fee is £70 on-line and £80 for paper/non-electronic applications. A registration lasts for 3 years.

3.3      The DFC appointed a Landlord registrar who is in charge of the information and may disclose it, on request, to:

·        a district council to enable or assist it to carry out its legal duties;

·        the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland to help it to carry out its legal duties for rating purposes;

·        the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, for the purposes of administering housing benefit, and the regulation of Houses in Multiple Occupation.

3.4      The offence of failure of a landlord to register carries a maximum fine on conviction of £2,500. If a landlord is found guilty of providing false information it carries a maximum fine on conviction of £2,500. If a landlord fails to provide evidence of registration it carries a maximum fine on conviction of £500.

3.5      Payment of a fixed penalty will discharge any liability for prosecution.  These penalties must be determined by the Council and cannot exceed £500 for the offence of non-registration and providing false information, and £100 for the offence of failing to provide evidence of registration.

3.6      The register can be accessed on-line via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/landlord-search

3.7      It is estimated that there are currently 106,126 properties in the Private Rented Sector in Northern Ireland with over a quarter of them 28,676 in Belfast.  The numbers of landlords registered in Northern Ireland is currently 50,884.

3.8      30,011 landlords registered in relation to 65,532 properties in the first year (2014/15) of the scheme.  A further 16,354 registered in relation in a further 16,354 properties in the second year (2015/16).  So far this year 4,526 landlords have registered in relation to 8,319 properties.

3.9      From April 2015 until present the City Council has completed over 1907 Landlord Registration checks and sent 557 warning letters to and served 18 fixed penalties on non-compliant landlords.

3.10     A press article in September 2016 highlighted that 738 rented properties in the Holylands did not have a landlord registered with the scheme.  Since then we have undertaken an extensive exercise in the area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

The Committee considered the following report: 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        To provide further update report to the Committee on the          progress with the public access defibrillator pilot             programme.

2.0      Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to:

·        note the update on the pilot programme;

·        approve a second phase of the public access defibrillator programme for nine further Council sites – Botanic Park; City of Belfast Playing Fields; Grove Playing Fields; Cherryvale Playing Fields; Blanchflower Stadium; Wedderburn Playing Fields; Woodvale Playing Fields, Henry Jones Playing Fields and Woodlands Playing Fields.  This is subject to the identification of a suitable location with an electrical supply and confirmation with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) that there are no other public access defibrillators within a short distance;

·        approve the proposed installation of a publicly donated public access defibrillator at the Lock Keepers Cottage site;

·        approve the registration of the existing Council workplace defibrillators on the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service database.

3.0      Main report

            Background

3.1      In considering a Notice of Motion moved by Councillor Garrett regarding defibrillators, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the 20 November 2015 agreed to extend the Council’s deployment of defibrillators to a number of additional Council premises and also, on a trial basis, installing public access defibrillators in a number of Council parks / playing fields.  This report provides an update on this pilot programme. 

3.2      At the same Committee meeting (item 5b – non recurring expenditure), Members also agreed to the allocation of £15,000 funding for defibrillators at Council sites during 2016/17. 

3.3      Update on pilot public access defibrillator programme

            In accordance with the Committee’s instructions, public access defibrillators were installed in the following parks in May 2016:

·        Victoria Park

·        Waterworks Park

·        Fullerton Park

·        Tullycarnet Park

·        Boucher Road Playing Fields

·        Falls Park

3.4      In addition, two mobile defibrillators were also deployed in May 2016.  One is carried by a Safer Neighbourhood Officer Team and the other by a Parks Warden Team.

            The following is the status of these units as at 12 January 2017:

·        Deployment - there are no records of any of these defibrillators having actually been used in the first eight months of the pilot programme.

·        Vandalism – there has been no vandalism reported to the defibrillators installed in Victoria Park, Tullycarnet Park, Waterworks Park or Boucher Road Playing Fields.  The Fullerton Park defibrillator had been tampered with twice in the initial few months but remains in place with no further reports.  After initial vandalism to the Falls Park defibrillator cabinet, this was relocated to the reception area of the pavilion building and no further instances have been recorded.

·        Management - there are ongoing arrangements in place for the monitoring of the equipment and refresher training for a number of local staff. 

3.6      Potential second phase of public access defibrillator provision

            It is proposed that a second phase of public access defibrillators be installed using the funds allocated in November 2015.  During this pilot programme, the focus for public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

            The Committee considered a report which sought authority for the commencement of formal statutory and community pre-consultation in respect of alleygates proposed at Castle Arcade without prejudice to a final decision by the Council on whether to formally proceed.

            Several Members stated that they felt the erection of alleygates at this location would not be a solution to the problem.  Whilst they recognised the ongoing concerns of the Council, PSNI and businesses around increasing levels of criminal damage, anti-social behaviour and environmental crime they expressed concern at the displacement of homeless people who used this location.

            The Assistant Director advised that officers had engaged with the main service providers in the City (Welcome Centre, Council for the Homeless and St. Vincent de Paul).  She reported that they fully supported the wishes of the Members to ensure appropriate support was in place for those individual with vulnerabilities and therefore should a decision be taken in the future by the Council to install alleygates in this area, signs would be erected in the vicinity providing information on support services for vulnerable people and how to access accommodation.

            Detailed discussion ensued during which several Members highlighted the impact that that the anti-social behaviour in this location was having on local businesses, stating that this had been exacerbated by the closure of the British Homes Store.

            The Committee agreed:

• that officers would commence wider consultation in respect of the Castle Arcade and the surrounding area which  would not focus entirely on the erection of an alleygate at Castle Arcade;
• that all the alternative options available to regenerate the area would be considered and discussed with the stakeholders in the area; and
• that an update report would be submitted to a future meeting but within a period of three months. 

            The Committee was reminded that, at its last meeting, clarity had been sought around the Active Belfast Limited governance and reporting arrangements.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services drew the Members’ attention to the Governance and Accountability framework that had been agreed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting held on 23rd October 2014.

            The Committee noted the governance and reporting arrangements for Active Belfast Limited.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services advised the Committee that, as previously requested, he had written to the relevant Department Ministers to outline the action being taken by the Council to try and combat this issue on its lands and to offer the support of officers to work with the Departments’ and other relevant agencies to consider any potential legislative changes necessary. 

            The officer reported that further research had been carried out to establish how off road vehicles were legislated for in other jurisdictions and this had highlighted the range of legislation that existed to deal with the misuse of motorised vehicles as follows:

• all motorised vehicles must be registered in the Republic of Ireland following new legislation implemented earlier in the year;
• the situation in the UK was less straightforward in that road activity was regulated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and there was only a voluntary registration scheme for off road motorised vehicles.  The Minister of Infrastructure had outlined during an Assembly debate on 3rd October 2016 that this needed to be extended to this jurisdiction as it was an excepted matter; and 
• in 2015 the Scottish Parliament held a similar debate and they too had to consider adopting the DVLA voluntary off road registration scheme.

            The Director advised that he had written to the Minister for Infrastructure, outlining the Council’s desire to explore a registration scheme, seeking support to align resources and to provide a practical and purposeful approach over the Christmas period and the longer term as the review of the legal frameworks progressed.

            The Director detailed that in response the Minister had provided the following information:

• the remit of the Department of Infrasturcture only extended to the use of motorised vechicles on public roads. Motorised vechicles used on public roads must comply with all legal requiements including type approval and must meet necessary safety standards as well as having appropriate insurance; 
• they must also be licensed by the DVLA;
• in the case of private roads or land, responsibility lies with the user of the vehicle in question and the land owner;
• at present registration requirements were only attached to motorised vehicles driven on public roads;
• off-road vehicles such as quad bikes and scramblers cannot be driven on public roads and are exempt from vehicle requirements;
• in Britain there had been several attempts to introduce primary leglislation to require all off-road vehicles to be registered, however, these had not come to fruiton; and
• as vehicle registration was an excepted matter, the Department had no powers to introduce similar statutory registration requirements in Northern Ireland.

            The Director stated that the Minister had expressed his concern about off-road vehicles being used on private land and had welcomed the opportunity to meet to discuss the issue.

            The Committee noted the progress in respect of this issue and agreed that the Director of City and Neigbourhood Services and the Chairperson of the Committee would seek a meeting with officials from the Department for Communities in order  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6e

            The Committee agreed that an invitation to attend a Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) organised exhibition and conference on 29th March, at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, would be extended to all the Members of the People and Communities Committee. 

The Committee approved the naming of Ishbel Gardens, off Lady Ishbel Avenue, BT8.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1      This report is to provide Members with an update on the partnership-working with (i) Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB) to deliver several programmes, and (ii) The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).

1.2      Specifically, this report is seeking approval to continue funding the Eco-Schools Programme and to endorse the approach used for the clean-up operations carried out by TCV in Poleglass.  The funding for KNIB will be used to ensure that more schools achieve a Green Flag award, thereby ensuring that pupils develop and maintain an excellent knowledge of environmental and recycling considerations which affect schools, Belfast and the planet. 

1.3      There are 185 schools in Belfast and, in terms of the Green Flag award they have achieved the following: 38 x Green Flag (excl 23 which have lapsed), 39 x Silver Flag, 22 x Bronze Flag and 63 x no award.

2.0      Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to;

·        Approve the continued funding of the KNIB Eco-School programme and ‘The Wheelie Big Challenge’ at a cost of £18,158 in 2017/18;

·        Endorse the Service Level Agreement approach being used by Waste Management to accept waste collected by TCV during daily clean-up operations around Poleglass, inherited under local government reform.

3.0      Main report & Key Issues

            Eco-Schools

3.1      Eco-Schools is an international programme which seeks to harmonise environmental education and protection across the globe.  Since 2012/13, the Service has been using this programme to broadcast its recycling message to all schools in Belfast.  Successes to date include having every school now registered as an Eco-School participant, and a continual flow of schools moving through the award system with the ultimate goal of attaining the highest award – the Green Flag.

3.2      Using Eco-Schools allows Waste Management to ensure that the recycling message is delivered consistently to schools, while at the same time the Service’s Education Officers can focus on engaging with other community groups and ensuring that there is effective and consistent communication with schools, householders, communities and businesses across the city.

3.3      To date, KNIB and Waste Management have agreed a work programme to ensure that the quality of communication is maintained and progress reports are provided on a regular basis. 

3.4      Additionally, working with KNIB, the Service has designed an annual schools competition called ‘The Wheelie Big Challenge’ which is a team competition focusing on practical activities to reduce waste and increase recycling in the school.  It is aimed to be more inclusive than the usual schools’ environmental competitions as entries are not judged simply on how well they deliver a presentation, but on the quality of the recycling actions carried out.  Last year, over 35 schools took part.

3.5      In recent years, in June the ‘Wheelie Big Challenge’ is held in the City Hall as part of a celebratory event for schools who have achieved their Green Flag.

            The Conservation Volunteers

3.6      The former Department of Social Development (DSD) now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6h