Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Copeland), the Chairperson (Alderman Sandford) and Councillors Armitage and McCabe.

The minutes of the meeting of 13th June were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting of 3rd July.

No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee noted that the above items had been withdrawn from the agenda.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services provided an overview of the operational issues that had affected the Cleansing Services Section as a result of the civic unrest in some areas of the City.

Noted.

            The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Ms. J. Devlin, Chief Executive, and Dr. D. Stewart, Chairman, Belfast Healthy Cities, to the meeting.

            Dr Stewart thanked the Committee for the opportunity to present.  He commenced by advising that he was delighted to highlight that Belfast had been chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to host its Global Conference of Healthy Cities in 2018, which would bring people from across the world to the City of Belfast.  He informed the Members that Belfast was one of the founding members of the Healthy Cities movement and highlighted the vision of the movement, as follows: ‘to be a leader in creating a healthy, equitable and sustainable city’ and that its mission was ‘to promote health and well-being, provide inspiration and to facilitate innovative collaborative action and good policies’. 

            This was achieved through:

·        leadership and learning from the network;

·        supporting research, sharing evidence and building capacity;

·        piloting innovative concepts and approaches; and

·        maximising partners impact on health and inequalities.

            The representative advised that all Government Departments’ policies and initiatives affected health and health inequalities and helped shape the living conditions that impacted on the health of the population.

            Dr Stewart advised that Ms. Devlin would detail to the Members some of the work currently undertaken by Healthy Cities.  Ms. Devlin commenced by highlighting to the Members the evolving challenge of public health.  She stated that during the 19th century the problems and challenges faced by people were malnutrition, overcrowding, poor housing, water supply and sewage disposal.  She continued that, whilst there had been a positive change over the years to many of these problems, today’s population faced different challenges; a lack of physical activity, obesity, asthma, mental health issues, isolation, cancer, heart disease and demography, to name but a few.

            Ms. Devlin proceeded to detail some of the recent work that Healthy Cities had undertaken in respect of Healthy Urban Planning and Child Friendly Places.  She reported that there was a strong preference across groups for more green spaces, increased clean public spaces and calmer traffic.  She specifically highlighted the work of KidsSpace, explaining that this was a large scale event which explored the creation of child friendly space in the City centre.  Since 2011, KidsSpace events had transformed Victoria Square, CastleCourt, St Anne’s Square, Buoys Park, Writers Square and Belfast City Hall into welcoming spaces for families and children.

            Dr Stewart informed the Committee that Healthy Cities worked in five year cycles and that the Phase VI Programmes (2014-2018) would continue to address the health inequalities and the challenges outlined above.  The representative then outlined the work of Belfast Healthy Cities within the context of the Belfast Agenda and the important role that Belfast currently played within the Healthy Cities movement. He concluded the presentation by outlining the details of the International WHO Healthy Cities Conference that was being held in Belfast from 1st – 4th October, 2018.  

            The representatives then answered a number of questions which were put to them by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

It was agreed that the aforementioned report would be deferred until the September meeting to enable Councillor McDonough-Brown, the proposer of the motion, to be in attendance. 

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 13th June, it had agreed that representatives of the family of the late Mr. Mark Murphy would be invited to a small reception to acknowledge their generous donation which would be used for the installations of defibrillators in public accessed playing field and parks.

            The Democratic Services Officer reported that the family had requested that rather than attending a reception, they would prefer to make the presentation at the location of Cherryvale defibrillator.  

Noted.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       To provide Members with an update on waste collection services and, in particular, implementation of the Route Optimisation exercise.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        note the issues which have occurred with waste collections and the actions which are being taken to improve the service.

3.0       Main report

3.1       In February 2015, the Council commissioned a route optimisation exercise to review and improve the efficiency of its waste collection services. This methodology is used by the majority of Councils.  The new, optimised, collection routes were implemented in October 2016. Members will be aware of the previous issue around the delivery of letters to households, leading to a period of confusion as many residents’ collection days changed and this had not been properly communicated. This was rectified as quickly as possible and the Council apologised to those affected.

3.2       The route optimisation mapping exercise shifted the Council from the previous area based working to a much more detailed, individual property-based (Pointer) system.  It also incorporated the additional 22,000 properties transferring to Belfast arising from Local Government Reform.  As part of this exercise, the route optimisation mapping and route design, the Pointer Plus and Ordnance Survey data provided the actual number of households in Belfast, which now stands at around 165,000.

3.3       As with the introduction of any new route and/or collection system, it was anticipated that there would be an initial impact on the general public as they and staff sought to familiarise themselves with the changes. It was previously reported to members that the initial issue with the letter drop impacted further on this settling in period.  In order to ensure that any potential difficulties during this transition period were operationally managed, especially important in the run up to Christmas when residual waste arisings increase, additional temporary squads were introduced. The agreed approach was to reduce the number of these squads over a phased period as collection routes started to normalise. The phased reduction of these squads has been impacted upon, for example by the gradual increase in residual waste which has been occurring since 2014 (the base data year for the route optimisation exercise), but also by the introduction of the ‘No Food Waste’ campaign. 

3.4       In April 2017, the former Head of Cleansing Services retired and responsibility for Waste Collection transferred to the Head of Waste Management.  Members will be aware that the Waste Management team have been drafting the recently approved Waste Framework to identify options so that emerging legislative requirements, changes in the local marketplace, Arc21’s residual waste treatment facilities or alternatives, and Brexit could all be addressed over the next decade.  Several of the options identified have a bearing upon Waste Collection arrangements and were integral to the drafting of the Framework.  The Service has been considering how expenditure could be minimised, efficiency savings could be delivered and revenues maximised, using scenarios to achieve a 50% household waste recycling target and aligning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

            The Assistant Director advised that, at the meeting of the Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Working Group held on 26th June, the following key issues had been considered:

·        update on the business case for Crematorium Development;

·        update on the meeting with the other councils regarding the regional discussion on crematoria and cemetery development;

·        update on the finding of survey of crematorium users;

·        update on the meeting with memorial sculptors; and

·        update in respect of the permanent memorial to mark Plot Z1 in the City Cemetery.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Cemeteries and Crematorium Working Group held on 26th June 2017.

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter to allow Party briefings to take place.

            The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that Sydenham Bowling Club had been a key holder at the Inverary Bowling Pavilion for approximately 20 years and it had provided a valuable service to the sport of bowling and to the local neighbourhood. 

            The officer detailed that, following a recent review of the Facilities Management Agreement (FMA) between Belfast City Council and Sydenham Bowling Club, a variation to the existing FMA had been proposed whereby key holding arrangements would revert to the Council.

            Following a query, the officer clarified that this would be an interim arrangement which had been agreed on a mutual basis for a period of six months after which arrangements for the use would be reviewed and changed accordingly in agreement with the club.    

            The Committee approved the proposed variation to the Facilities Management Agreement.

            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. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        agree to continue with a management agreement in respect of the 3G pitch, to include the changing pavilion upon completion; and that Legal Services prepare a suitable agreement to outline the terms of the agreement.   The Committee is asked to agree that the duration of the agreement be extended to 3 years and that a review of arrangements is carried out in advance of this period ending to determine the effectiveness of the arrangements and future requirements.

3.0      Main report

3.1       The Committee is reminded that its meeting on 9th February 2016 it received a report, a copy of this is available on modern.gov which set out the arrangements agreed under Local Government Reform in respect of land and facilities at Sally Gardens which had previously come under the Lisburn City Council boundary.

3.2       In subsequent meetings the Committee approved a pilot management arrangement in respect of the newly constructed 3G artificial turf pitch.  It was agreed at meetings in April 2016, September 2016 and in February 2017 to pilot a management process.  This was initially piloted and reviewed and subsequently extended to allow adequate time to consider the arrangement. 

3.3       A list of the duties undertaken by Poleglass Association is available on modern.gov. 

3.4       Feedback from the Park Manager and the Council’s Booking Office have confirmed that the arrangement with the Association has worked well and that they have fulfilled the duties required of them.  It has been noted that the Association deals with issues around unauthorised use and reports any damage to the facility, normally the fencing.  To address this particular issue the Association has put in place an intervention programme with local young people and while still in its early stages appears to be working. 

3.5       The Association also manage the Community Centre and is able to provide a joined up offering of services to the community and integrate the pitch with wider community activities.  The Association had hoped to increase usage during the traditional off peak hours but has not yet realised this.  It does however intend to continue to promote use of the facility. 

3.6       A brief summary of the figures from August 2016 to July 2017 inclusive are provided below. 

            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 inform Committee that the Council has received a request from East Belfast Football Club to install a hospitality room on council land at Alderman Tommy Patton Park (Inverary Playing Fields).   

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        note the report and to agree in principle, subject to the conditions being met and subsequent approval by Strategic Policy and Resources Committee:

1.     To grant a licence to East Belfast Football Club to locate a temporary building on a piece of council land to be agreed with Council Officers;

2.     That the licence will run co-terminously with the existing Partner Agreement and that in the event that the Partner Agreement ends the licence will also terminate;

3.     That the Club secures the necessary statutory approvals, including planning consent before a licence is granted;

4.     That the Club provides evidence of its health and safety policy, safeguarding policy, insurance cover and meets any other requirements as deemed appropriate and necessary by Officers;

5.     That the Club meets all of the associated costs and agrees to undertake the management and maintenance of the facility in line with the terms and conditions of the licence and is aligned to the sports development plan agreed as part of the Partner Agreement; and

2.2       In addition, it is recommended that the Council agree to the storing of the facility on this site at a location to be agreed with the Park Manager and that the Director of Property & Projects asked to use his delegated authority to enter into an appropriate licence agreement with the Club for a period not exceeding 6 months. 

3.0       Main Report

3.1       The Council has received a request from East Belfast Football Club to install a hospitality room on council land at Alderman Tommy Patton Park.  A copy of the request, photographs of the structure and an outline of the proposed location is available on modern.gov. 

3.2       The Club currently hold a partner agreement with the Council which is due to end on 1st September 2020, with the option to extend to September 2022.  They play in the Intermediate League of the Northern Amateur Football League.  The Club retains ambitions to progress to higher leagues and within this context it is seeking to enhance the facilities available to the club by seeking consent from the Council to install a temporary building which would allow the club to offer pre and post-match hospitality.  It is also proposed that the facility could be used to support the programme of activities undertaken as part of the Partner Agreement. 

3.3       The cost of the building, it’s installation including connection of the services and internal fixtures fittings and equipment will be met through the Club, the building itself is being gifted to the Club.  The building will be owned and managed by the club and there will be no contribution from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7c

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 8th March, it had agreed to proceed with the third phase of the consultative naming process to name a further six new structures which were being constructed as part of the Connswater Community Greenway.  The Assistant Director advised that, although the process initially focused on a total of six structures (two pedestrian bridges, two links/paths and two playgrounds), a decision had been made to omit one of the structures, the playpark at Flora Street, from the final vote stage of the process after one of the preferred name options had been identified as ineligible in regard to aspects of the Council’s naming policy.  She reported that the process of naming the new Park at Flora Street was currently on hold until a review of the Council’s naming policy had been undertaken and she reminded the Members that, as agreed earlier in the meeting, this report had just been deferred to enable Party briefings to be held.    

            She advised that the naming process had involved a three week consultation period in April, during which the public had the opportunity to submit ideas for the names for each structure in line with the Council’s naming policy.  Following that, a panel of judges had met and considered the submissions and shortlisted two or three for each structure.  The public then had then once again been invited to vote, during this process a total of 1470 votes had been cast. 

            The Members noted that the final structure name proposals had been determined by the majority votes for each and within the context of the Belfast City Council Naming Policy.

            The Committee approved the following name preferences that had emerged from the consultative naming process:

1.     ‘Ropeworks Bridge’ at Connswater Shopping Centre and Retail Park;

2.     ‘Veterans Bridge’ at Alexander Road;

3.     ‘Dairy Lane’ connecting Ladas Drive to Montgomery Road;

4.     ‘Daddy Winker’s Lane’ connecting Ladas Way to Castlereagh Road; and 

5.     ‘Daddy Winker’s Play Park’ at Loop River.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            Upper Ardoyne Youth Centre has become vacant and the former occupier Upper Ardoyne Youth Centre Limited (UAYC) has dissolved.  The Council owns the land and had entered into an Agreement for Lease with the former UAYC although the Lease was never executed.  This report seeks approval to take possession of the Youth Centre and bring it into operational Council use.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Committee is asked to:

·     Agree to terminate the Agreement for Lease to take possession of the property, subject to approval from SP&R Committee and further subject to the funder providing formal confirmation that it does not wish to exercise step in rights.

·     Agree to bring the property into operational use by the Council subject to assessment of condition and need – consideration of the purpose/use to be considered by the North Area Working Group.

·     Alternatively seek to sell the property for a capital receipt if no viable alternative use exists

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Upper Ardoyne Youth Centre is situated off Alliance Drive on Council owned land at the south east of Ballysillan Playing Fields.  It was constructed circa 2007 and comprises a single storey brick built building laid out to provide partitioned meeting room, office, youth room and ancillary facilities, together with external yard space and grassed area.

3.2       The Council entered into an Agreement for Lease with UAYC on 25 October 2007 to facilitate construction of a Community Centre and Community Garden.  Issues arose with regard to rental and the Lease did not complete, however, the Company built and then occupied the premises for a number of years.  The Company was dissolved on 26 July 2013 and the property is currently unoccupied. 

3.3       We have obtained legal advice which confirms that under the terms of the Agreement for Lease the Council may terminate the arrangement and take back the property, (unlike some situations in seeking to recover a property from a dissolved company it is not necessary to liaise with the Crown Solicitor’s Office as the Agreement for Lease contains provision for termination in the event that the Lease is not granted).  Recovering the property would be subject to the funder not opting to exercise step in rights.

3.4       The former UAYC had obtained Urban II funding through the former North Belfast Partnership (NBP).  Under the terms of the Agreement for Lease the Council would require to offer the funder the opportunity to take an assignment of the Agreement for Lease and complete the lease with the Council. The Department for Communities (DFC) as successor to NBP has however already given an initial indication that they have no interest in the subject property.

3.5       In terms of future use it is proposed that it be brought into operational use by the Council subject to a condition survey and assessment of need in the area, with the purpose to be agreed through the North Area Working Group.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7e

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To advise Members on the current position for 2016/17 for the six councils within the Arc21 region and consider the application of the agreed Arc21 NI Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS) transfer protocol.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        Approve the transfer of allowances to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, subject to approval at the Arc21 Joint Committee meeting in August 2017.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Members will be aware that councils are permitted to landfill a proportion of their residual waste on a progressively reducing annual basis.  The Department of the Environment (DOE) set these annually reducing targets between 2006 and 2020 on a council-by-council basis, called the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS), in order to deliver the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive (LFD).

3.2       Since 2008, across the Arc21 region, a protocol has been in place relating to the transfer of excess NILAS allowances between constituent councils, should this be required. 

3.3       As Members may be aware, the Arc21 Joint Committee endorsed a NILAS Transfer Protocol which was agreed and ratified by all the constituent councils.  The principle of the protocol is for any constituent council with excess allowances in any given scheme year to make them available for transfer to any other constituent councils, should they require them to meet their allocation.

3.4       The adoption and implementation of the protocol has ensured that Arc21 councils maximise their excess allowances should the need arise and is a tangible example of Arc21 being a beacon of partnership best practice.  It also gives the councils some protection in the event they do not meet their allocation for whatever reason.

3.5       The Protocol comprises the following;

·        Excess annual allowances to be collated and totalled at Group level (known as GEA – Group Excess Allowance)

·        GEA distributed amongst those constituent councils requiring additional allowances to meet their annual NILAS allocation

·        Each council’s allocation from GEA shall be calculated in proportion to the population or utilising an alternative method duly agreed.  Where applicable, the total amount to be transferred shall not exceed the total required to meet that council’s annual NILAS allocation.  This step shall be repeated until either all constituent councils meet their annual NILAS allocation or the GEA has been exhausted and

·        Thereafter, the formal transfer procedure outlined in Regulation 7 of the Landfill Allowance Scheme (NI) Regulations 2004 shall be complied with.

3.6       With regard to 2016/17, the NILAS reconciliation currently indicates that one council; Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has exceeded its annual allowance.  Accordingly, the agreed Arc21 protocol requires initiation and the report outlines the outworking’s in respect of the transfers of allowances.  It should be noted the actual amounts are still indicative and may change when these figures are finalised, typically in the autumn.  It is intended to make a written progress report to the August meeting of the Arc21 Joint Committee for noting. The current position and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

Operational issue                 The Assistant Director informed the Committee of the successful achievement of the seventeen Green Flag awards for the City and Neighbourhood Services Department’s parks and open spaces, underlying the contribution to the City and its neighbourhoods.

            The Committee was reminded that in 2017 two new entries had been submitted - Tullycarnet Park and Dunmurry Village.  She advised that both of these had achieved the Green Flag status and this year it was proposed to put forward another three new sites.

            She outlined that the cost for submitting the proposed Green Flag applications and assessment was approximately £10,000 which had been included in the department’s budget.

            The Committee:

• noted the achievement of the seventeen Green Flag Awards across the City of Belfast in 2017; and

• granted permission for three additional submissions to the Green Flag Awards for accreditation in 2018: Connswater Community Greenway and the City Cemetery  for Green Flag Awards and the Tropical Ravine, Botanic Gardens for the Green Flag Heritage Award, along with the resubmission of the existing Green Flag sites (twenty entries in total).

The Committee was advised at the World Health Organisation – European Healthy Cities Political Vision Group meeting was being held in Cork during September 2017.  The Assistant Director advised that this would provide an opportunity for an Elected Member to engage with other political representatives from across Europe, to discuss the key themes for inclusion in the 2019-2020 phase of Healthy Cities within Europe.

            The Committee granted authority for the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson (or their nominees), to represent Belfast City Council at the World Health Organisation,  Healthy Cities Political Vision Group Meeting, in Cork in September 2017.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1      Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) within local Councils may be requested by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to undertake specific inspections to assist in the NIHE’s response to their statutory housing functions.

1.2       Requests for service are initiated by NIHE subject to the demands of that authority.

            These requests are responded to by local Councils utilizing suitably trained and competent staff and a report provided to NIHE. A fee and travel expenses is charged by the local Council.

1.3       Previously inspection requests from the NIHE outside of Belfast were subject to a Service Level Agreement with the former Group Environmental Health structures on behalf of local Councils.

1.4       Local Councils also have their own responsibility for certain provisions under the Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006 as amended and subordinate legislation. These responsibilities are not subject to this agreement.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        consider and endorse the draft Service Level Agreement with the NIHE and Belfast City Council with regard to the provision of Housing Fitness Inspections and authorise the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services to sign the agreement on the Council’s behalf.

3.0       Key Issues

3.1       This agreement outlines the arrangement between the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the City and Neighbourhood Services Department of Belfast City Council.

3.2       The objectives of this agreement are:

1.     To establish the roles of both parties;

2.     To establish an agreed level of response and performance target;

3.     To set out the financial arrangements

3.3       Council shall provide suitably competent and trained staff to carry out the inspections required by the NIHE and shall respond to service requests within the agreed timeframe.

            The document has been reviewed by the Council’s Legal Services Department.

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.4       The NIHE have set the following fees for all District Councils:

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.5       There are no relevant equality considerations associated with the delivery of the service level agreement.”

            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 on the situation surrounding the review of ground criteria currently being undertaken by the Irish Football Association.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1        The Committee is asked to;

·        Consider the report and direct Officers to undertake a review of the use of its pitches for association football and to establish a position and policy regarding use of Council facilities to accommodate Intermediate League Football. 

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members are reminded that at the People and Communities Committee on 10th January 2017 it was agreed, ‘given that the Irish Football Association (IFA) was currently undertaking a review of Intermediate League Ground Criteria, which would likely result in revised standards, that representatives from the IFA be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the proposed changes.’  The IFA has now responded to the Council’s request and has advised that the review is ongoing and that it would be premature at this time to outline proposals, it has however indicated that it will update the Committee once the review is complete.  A copy of the existing ground criteria is available on modern.gov.

3.2       It is the understanding of Officers that it is likely that the existing facilities will require a higher standard of facilities for those clubs playing at the higher levels of local soccer.  It is also possible that the IFA may require that Clubs have a greater degree of control over the facilities which they use, designated, as ‘their home’.  However, while at this time the IFA is not prepared to clarify matters it does appear likely that any enhanced requirements resulting from the review is likely to have implications for the Council in terms of upgrading of facilities and security of tenure for local clubs.

3.3       Within this context Committee is asked to consider if it wishes to undertake a wider assessment of the Council’s approach to supporting local soccer clubs.  

3.4       Members will be aware that there are a number of teams operating within Council facilities who play at what we refer to as Intermediate League Standard.  Members will be aware that from time to time they will receive an approach from a local Club who may play at this level and who seek accommodation from the Council, Crumlin Star being a recent example of this.  In addition, members may receive requests from Club playing at lower levels but who aspire to higher league status and in preparation seek the allocation of a pitch / facility which they can designate as a home pitch.  Members may also receive approaches from teams seeking to upgrade facilities to meet higher standards of ground criteria, on occasion Clubs may seek Council to agree to make the changes and meet the cost, others have accessed funding from a variety of sources and seek Council consent to enhance facilities and may require Council to agree to providing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9c

            The Assistant Director advised that Committee that through the Horizon 2020 funding call for ‘Nature-based solutions for inclusive urban regeneration’, the EU Commission wished to support projects that ‘would develop solutions inspired and supported by nature and provide sustainable, cost-effective, multi-purpose alternatives to talking challenges faced by cities as a result of increased urbanisation’.  She reported that the funding available was a minimum of €10 million and the bid application deadline was 6th September, 2017 with the project running for five years from May/June 2018.

            The Committee was asked to note that Future Cities Catapult had identified this opportunity for Belfast and it was being led by the University College Dublin in conjunction with a range of other bid partners (EU cities).  Belfast had been elevated to a ‘class’ of cities called front-followers with a funding estimate of circa €300k, depending on the scope of work and activities that Belfast would be involved in. The officer reported that all of the EU cities involved in the funding application faced similar social and environmental issues and challenges including social inclusion, crime, anti-social behaviour and lack of connectivity, to name but a few.  This funding would enable EU cities to develop areas of neglect and bring about significant environmental, social and economic benefits.

            The officer detailed that if successful, the funding bid would provide the Council with the following opportunities and benefits:

·      the ability to proactively seek advice, expertise, assistance, capacity building and mentoring from other front-runners;

·      access to privileged contacts and collaboration with other EU cities;

·      ability to deliver and test some small scale activities;

·      to embed and replicate the lessons learned from the front-runners into processes and city strategies; and

·      to complement and bolster existing green corridor funding programmes.

            The Assistant Director outlined that the total funding available for EU cities involved in the overall bid would be approximately €10 million and the funding estimate for Belfast, as a front-follower, would be circa €300k (i.e. funding for staff costs), depending on the actual scope of work and plan of activities and Belfast’s involvement in these.

            The Committee:

·        granted approval, in principle, for the Council to proceed as a front-follower city and involvement in the project development and application phase; and

·        agreed that an update report be submitted to a future meeting detailing the funding application and seeking approval to proceed with the application, prior to accepting the letter of offer and signing the project contract.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from the East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA) seeking officer representation on a Project Board that had been established to oversee the delivery of a Community Capacity and Leadership Programme (CCLP) in East Belfast.

            The officer advised that the CCLP project was funded through the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and aimed to build the core capacity of organisations and individuals within such organisations by developing leadership, community relations and community development skills, knowledge and abilities.  The CCLP was targeting 13 Super Output Areas in East Belfast that were within the top 20% of the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.

            The programme would be delivered by a consortium, including the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), Tides Training, Interaction Institute for Social Change and Youth Action NI.  It would use a wide range of techniques and processes which would included one to one training, action learning, formal training, round table workshops and mentoring.

            The Committee noted that it was anticipated that the board would initially meet on a monthly basis with a reduction in frequency as the project became established. The project had received initial funding for a two-year period.

            The Committee agreed to accede to the request from the East Belfast Community Development Agency for officer representation on a Project Board, which would oversee the delivery of a Community Capacity and Leadership Programme in East Belfast.

            The Committee was advised that, at its meeting on 6th December 2016, it had approved the donation of €1,000 towards the creation of a stone candle sculpture which would be gifted to Boston, as a sister City of Belfast, as part of a global initiative to highlight organ donation.

            The Assistant Director reported that a commemorative event would be held on 30th November, 2017, during which the sculpture would be gifted by each of Ireland’s five major cities, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Derry/Londonderry to the respective cities, Boston, Cape town, New Delhi, Melbourne and Barcelona.

            The Committee noted that the sculptures would be located in centres of transplant excellence/education in each city, which would add huge potency to the image and message of this global commemorative project.  It was further noted that Belfast City Hospital was currently in the process of planning a ceremony to mark the occasion in Belfast which would also be held on 30th November.

            The Committee was advised that the total cost would be in the region of £3,000 which could be accommodated within existing budgets.

            The Committee granted authority for the Chairperson (or his nominee) and one Council officer to travel to Boston to unveil and launch the candle sculpture, which the Council had gifted to Boston from Belfast, as part of a global organ donor commemorative event which would be held on 30th November, 2017.

            The Assistant Director advised the Members that ‘Grow Week’ was an annual community week organised by the Crescent Church to encourage communities and individuals in South Belfast to come together and avail of a range of positive activities which were all free of charge.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from the organisers to commence the week’s events with a Church Service in Lower Crescent Park.         

            The Committee granted approval to enable a Church Service to proceed in Lower Crescent Park on Sunday, 13th August to mark the commencement of ‘Grow Week’.

The Committee approved:

·        the naming in respect of Oldpark Grange, off Oldpark Road, BT14; and

·        the continuation of an existing street in the City namely Millburn Court, off Old Milltown, BT8.