Agenda and minutes

An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor McReynolds.

            The minutes of the meeting of 10th October and the special meeting of 18th October 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 November.

            No declarations were reported.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Orla Nic Biorna, who had replaced former Councillor Austin, to her first meeting.

The Committee approved the following schedule of meetings for the People and Communities Committee during 2018, subject to a new date being identified for the special meeting to consider housing issues during January 2018:

Special Meeting (Housing Issues) – new date during January 2018 to be confirmed

Tuesday, 9th January                        

Tuesday, 6th February

Tuesday, 6th March

Tuesday, 10th April

Special Meeting (Housing Issues) – Monday 16th April (to which all Members are invited)

Tuesday, 8th May

Tuesday, 5th June

No meeting in July

Special Meeting (Housing Issues) – Wednesday 1st August (to which all Members are invited)

Tuesday, 7th August

Tuesday, 4th September

Tuesday, 9th October

Tuesday, 6th November

Special Meeting (Housing Issues) – Monday 12th November (at 12.30 p.m.)  (to which all Members are to be invited)

Tuesday, 4th December

            All meetings would commence at 4.30 p.m. apart from the special meeting of 12th November which would be at 12.30 p.m.

            The Committee noted that a request had been received from County Antrim Boxing seeking permission to present a proposal on behalf of the Belfast Clubs’ regarding progressing the Council’s Boxing Strategy.

            The Committee agreed that representatives from County Antrim Boxing would be invited to present at the December meeting.  

         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 provide a mid-year update on the People and Communities Committee Plan 2017/18 outlining progress on key actions, achievement and risks.

1.2       The People and Communities Committee Plan 2017/18 was approved by Committee on the 13 June 2017, following a planning workshop with members on the 15 February 2017 and a follow up Committee Planning feedback report noted at the People and Communities Committee on the 7 March 2017. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

            Note the progress to date against the agreed actions within the Committee Plan.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            The Committee is currently working to an ambitious Committee Plan which describes how it’s purpose, objectives and activities contributes to the strategic direction of the Council’s Corporate Plan and the achievement of the city’s long term vision and priorities detailed within the Belfast Agenda.  The Committee Plan was created after discussion with Members and Senior Management Team about the role of the Committee and its priorities for the City and local neighbourhoods.  While the Committee contributes to the delivery of all four Belfast Agenda priorities, City Development, Growing the Economy and Living Here are the main focus of this Committee, particularly the latter priority. 

            Committee Plan Update

3.2       Over the last six months Committee have developed and implemented a range of strategies, policies, programmes and projects aimed at improving the quality of life at the local level, working with partner organisations and communities to realise the City’s full potential.  Lead officers provided status and progress updates against Committee Plan projects, programmes and activities.  A detailed update is outlined in Appendix 1 and some key highlights are summarised below against the relevant priorities of the Belfast Agenda. 

3.3       Living Here – Improve Neighbourhoods highlights:

·        We are working on the development of a neighbourhood regeneration framework to include a range of key workstreams identified in the Belfast Agenda e.g. employability and skills, health and well-being, community safety, good relations and are currently sharing and learning good practice with Officers from Bradford City Council. 

·        We have established contacts with the Family Support Hubs to raise awareness of our outreach play service and made links with Barnardo’s and the Red Cross to deliver a play programme for Syrian families.  We continue to deliver programmes to the Belfast Islamic Centre, Traveller children and reach out to new groups across the city. 

·        We continue to deliver the Belfast (D)PCSP strategic plan, using an outcomes based approach to monitor performance.  We are maximising our resources by integrating internal working between SNO’s, Parks Wardens and AEO staff and by liaising weekly with the PSNI and carrying out joint operations.  We are currently finalising an information sharing agreement on drug and alcohol issues and supporting vulnerable people in partnership with the statutory, community and voluntary sector.

·        We have a grand total of 17 green flags, by successfully retaining our  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

         The Director provided the Committee with an update in respect of the waste collection service which included a detailed update in respect of the following key areas:

·  customer call handling and management interventions; and

·  the waste collection improvement plan.

         The Assistant Director advised the Committee that the Council had just recently been shortlisted for a Sustainable Ireland Award.  The Committee agreed that, in the event that the Council be awarded a Sustainable Ireland Award, to authorise the attendance of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson at the Awards Ceremony on 27th November.

         It was agreed further that, given the progress made to date in terms of improving the efficiency of the waste collection service, the submission of officer update reports could move to bimonthly, commencing January 2018.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services advised that it was proposed that a site visit would be organised for Members of the Committee to visit the Covanta Energy from Waste (EfW) plant in Poolbeg, Dublin.

            Several Members stated that the site visit was not required and it was unanimously agreed that it would not take place.

            A further Member requested an update in respect of Arc21. 

            The Committee was advised that the minutes of the Arc 21 meetings were available for viewing online.  Following discussion, it was agreed that officers would submit an update report in respect of Arc21 to a future meeting and the three Council Member representatives on Arc 21 would be invited to attend the Committee meeting.

            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:

Provide Members with an update on initial thoughts around developing our approach to area planning, in the first instance using Peace IV as a catalyst to develop this work.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

            Note the contents of this report which was taken to SP&R on 20th October resulting in ongoing Party Group briefings.

3.0       Main report

            Area Planning

3.1       The Belfast Agenda is the city’s first community plan which sets out our joint vision and long-term ambitions for Belfast’s future, as well as outlining our priorities for action over the next four years.

3.2       In the Belfast Agenda we identify the four key areas we want to focus on in the next 4 years (the period of the Community Plan).  One of the four key priorities identified is ‘Living Here’, for this area of focus we have described the difference we want to make, the stretch goals or targets we want to achieve and the population indicators that we think this work will impact.

3.3       Some of these targets over the next four years include;

-       delivering £1billion of physical investment in neighbourhoods;

-       improve how safe people feel within our neighbourhoods;

-       supporting communities to make progress towards reducing the number of physical barriers at interface sites.

3.4       It is also worth noting that one of the key workstreams contained within the ‘Living Here’ priority is to ‘Design an integrated, inter-agency approach to neighbourhood regeneration and maximise the impact of local assets and investment’.

3.5       Despite significant capital and revenue investment in local areas across Belfast, it is the case that sometimes we are not maximising the opportunities and resources available to us in a coordinated way as effectively as we would like. However, through our community planning process we now have an opportunity to start to integrate a range of programmes and services at an area level in order to improve outcomes for our residents, and visitors.

3.6       To help achieve our goals identified in the Belfast Agenda we need to harness some of the opportunities that currently exist through current and planned investment in specific areas.  Where there are current investment opportunities and resources available, the Council have the potential to lead on developing an emerging area planning model for delivering against the priorities identified in the Belfast Agenda by integrating a range of programmes and services and associated staff resources. 

            Peace IV

3.7       One of the opportunities we have to test this area planning approach exists through Peace IV.  Council officers have been working closely with SEUPB over the past number of months to submit an action plan for Belfast which, if successful will provide significant investment both capital and revenue to deliver a number of projects under the themes of Children and Young People, Shared Spaces & Services and Building Positive Relations.   We have received positive feedback  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3d

         The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0       Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1          Further to discussion at the special People and Communities Committee meeting on 18 October 2017 Members requested that a report be submitted which would consider the implementation of additional preventative measures to the Council’s Parks, including the feasibility of staffing resources.  The report would include projected expenditure, resource requirements and detail any financial impact on the Council’s existing budgets.

2.0         Recommendations

2.1         The Committee is asked to;

              Consider the contents of the report and endorse the strategic direction and allocation of resources as outlined.

3.0         Key Issues

              Additional Preventative Measures

3.1         Members will be aware that anti-social behaviour is challenging to resolve, not just in parks/open spaces but across Belfast generally.  It is a complex issue and is, in most circumstances, the manifestation of wider community and societal vulnerabilities which require holistic strategic planning and investment with statutory, community and voluntary partners. 

3.2         Effectively and sustainably addressing these vulnerabilities can take time, and it is important to recognise the detrimental impact on the quality of life of individuals, families and communities affected by anti-social behaviour in the present.  It is therefore incumbent on all partners (including the Council) to do whatever it can operationally to minimise anti-social behaviour in the present.  Weekend nights and school holidays are usually most problematic.

              Operational Preventative Measures

3.3         Council provides a range of existing services the purpose of which is to address anti-social behaviour.  These services are outlined below:

              Mobile CCTV

3.4         Existing Provision – One mobile CCTV van follows a pre-set route each weekend based on parks/open spaces hot spots.  Cover is provided on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights up to end March 2018

              Existing Provision Cost – The cost of existing provision up to end March is approximately £42,000 per year and this is budgeted for within existing revenue budgets.  A procurement exercise is scheduled for early 2018 as the existing contract runs out.

              Additional Provision – The existing contractor has only one mobile CCTV van.  In the short term, an additional supplier would be required and availability is not guaranteed.

              Additional Provision Cost – The approximate cost of an additional vehicle is £700 per night.  To provide an additional vehicle on each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night up to end March 2018 would cost an additional £40,000. 

              Safer Neighbourhood Officers (SNO’s)/Park Wardens

3.5         Existing Provision – 4 SNO’s are on normal shift from 4.30pm – Midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.  SNO’s do not normally work on Sundays.  Park Wardens work annualised hours in line with the seasonal opening/closing times of parks.  Park Wardens are not on normal shift after approximately 6.30pm, however, practically they are not available from 5.30pm as they have locking up duties during the last hour of their shifts.

              Existing Provision Cost – The existing provision as outlined below is part of normal Council service delivery and as such is budgeted for within existing revenue budgets.

              Additional Provision – Additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3e

The Assistant Director advised that, at the meeting of the Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Working Group held on 2nd November, the following key items had been considered.

·        update on the CCTV cost options for the Falls Parks and the City Cemetery;

·        update on the City of Belfast Crematorium – joint initial guidance and coffin accreditation schemes;

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

·        update on the implementation of the Memorial Management Policy; and

·        update on the economic appraisal of future cremation facilities.

            A Member once again reiterated that recent meetings of the Working Group had been poorly attended.  He stressed the importance of some of the issues currently under consideration and encouraged greater cross Party attendance at the forthcoming meetings.  He noted that the Council protocol did allow for the attendance of other representatives and he encouraged the Members to nominate another Member to attend should they be unable to make the meeting.   

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Cemeteries and Crematorium Working Group held on 2nd November 2017, subject to the date of the next meeting being amended from Thursday, 4th December to Thursday, 7th December.

         The Committee was reminded that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting held on 21st October 2016, had agreed in principle to accept the transfer of assets and the associated liability subject to certain conditions being met which had included securing a minimum of three years’ maintenance from the Department for Communities (DfC).

            Included within the general consent were two projects under Building Successful Communities, these related to regeneration projects in the Divis and Lower Shankill areas.  The Members were asked to note that, whilst this update related specifically to the proposals for the Divis Back Path, the project was linked with a similar proposal, the Bullring, and design work on this project was ongoing.

            The Director drew the Members’ attention to the proposed concept plan options.  He reported that Council officers had been involved in discussions regarding the plans.  The design was quite innovative and not something that the Council would normally provide.  He advised that it incorporated a significant sports area that would facilitate sprinting, ‘bag’ workouts, among other items of equipment.  The proposal had emerged following a consultation exercise undertaken on behalf of the DfC.

            The Director advised that the Council was satisfied that a maintenance regime could be put in place to undertake routine inspection of the facility, to open and close it and undertake general routine operational maintenance of the facility.  The DfC had agreed to provide three years’ maintenance costs, outside of any defects liability period.  The facility, once completed, would be included on the Council’s Insurance schedule.

            The Committee was asked to note the concept plans with the understanding that more detailed designs would be developed and a planning application submitted in due course.  The DfC had indicated that it was under financial pressures to incur spend by the end of March 2018.  The Members were also asked to note the reference in the drawing to a memorial garden, the Director advised that, whilst there was no firm proposal as to the nature of the memorial, it was officers understanding that it would be a memorial to victims of suicide.

            The Director then provided the Committee with detail in respect of the future management of the facility and highlighted that it was anticipated that the facility would be able to support both casual and programmed use.  He advised that the community were open to conversation regarding involvement in the future management of the asset.  

            The Committee:

·        noted the drawings for the proposal were being brought forward to design stage; and

·        agreed that officers would engage with the Community and other partners regarding the resourcing of the facility post completion within the context of the ongoing work on Area Planning.

            The Committee was advised that works at Cherryvale Playing Fields, as previously agreed by the Council as part of the Pitches Strategy, had commenced and were scheduled to be completed by March/April 2018, subject to the weather conditions and any other potential unforeseen technical issues.  The Assistant Director reported that it was unlikely that the new pitch would be available for use until late 2018/ early 2019.

            The officer reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 12th September, it had agreed to consider whether the Council would erect Gaelic posts and mark out an area of Botanic Gardens at the rear of Queens Sport adjacent to Ridgeway Street/Stranmillis Embankment to provide a temporary pitch to address the issue of displacement. 

            The Assistant Director advised that officers had inspected the site and concluded that a full size GAA pitch (140m x 90m including run off, could not be accommodated, however, it might be possible to provide an area of approximately 130m x 80m including run off).  The pitch would be bordered by a pedestrian path and a perimeter fence, behind which was a small area comprising of trees and hedging.

            The Members noted the following points:

·        the Council had not previously provided temporary playing field facilities to offset displacement and the Committee was asked to be mindful of a precedent being set should approval be granted;

·        the cost of establishing the pitch, including the erection of the goal posts, was estimated to be in the region of £5,000.00.  This would need to be found from within existing budgets;

·        the site had natural drainage and retained rainwater, particularly during the autumn and winter months, this appeared to be most evident where there was run off at the edges.  As a consequence, grass cutting might not be possible and usage might be limited;

·        all pitches needed to be rested and, if the facility was used in the autumn and winter, it might not be available for use over the spring / summer;

·        owing to the site conditions and operational difficulties, it was unlikely that other sports would be able to be accommodated on this site, although it was noted that no formal requests had been received from other sports;

·        unauthorised use might be an issue;

·        this was an area of open space which was used casually by dog walkers and other casual users and there had been no consultation undertaken with other users of the facility.  The South Area Working Group had requested that the Stranmillis Residents Association and the Friends of Botanic be consulted.  The use would be temporary and limited to weekends and it was noted that consultation would delay the marking out of the pitch;

·        there was no Council car parking or changing facilities available on the site.  The Clubs were aware of this and had advised that they would use either the car parking at Queens or at Shaftesbury Recreation Centre; and

·        a charge would be levied for use of the facility.

            With the permission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

The Committee approved the naming in respect of Mill Valley Gardens, Off Mill Valley Road, BT14.

The Committee approved the erection of a second street nameplate in Irish at Conway Square, Conway Place, Devenish Court, Conway Link and David Street.

         (Mr. I. Harper, Building Control Manager, was in attendance for this item).

         The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members will be aware that Belfast City Council is engaged in a partnership with the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) in the delivery of the Affordable Warmth Scheme. The scheme aims to address fuel poverty for the most vulnerable households in the city. 

1.2       This report provides an update on the scheme based upon further confirmation from DfC on funding for the remainder of the 2017-18 financial year.

1.3       The report also outlines the requests from DfC for councils to consider options such as shared service delivery of the scheme and the potential for councils to contribute financially towards the administration of the scheme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

            Note the contents of the report and in relation to DfC requests for consideration of a shared service model and the potential for council funding, it is recommended that:

1.     The Council continues to participate in the delivery of the Affordable Warmth Scheme on the basis of the current 11 council model.

2.     The Council confirms the position that all costs associated with the administration of the scheme are provided from within the scheme budget and requests that the DfC increases the levels of funding to councils to ensure adequate staffing levels for effective delivery of the scheme.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       As previously brought to committee, correspondence issued from DfC to Councils on 29th March 2017, confirmed the reduction in the number of referrals to 25 per month be provided in Q1 (17-18), reduced from 46 per month in 16-17. The associated funding to councils was also reduced.

3.2       DfC convened a workshop on 8th June 2017 and confirmed at the meeting that funding of £15.5m was being allocated to the Affordable Warmth Scheme for 17-18.  They subsequently confirmed (Appendix 1) that this would result in further changes to the target number of referrals and the associated funding per council. The number of referrals for 17-18 are shown in the table below.

3.4       While confirmation of the funding was welcome to allow planning for the full year, the overall funding to each council for 17-18 is £73,305 for the total 405 referrals, over the year is a reduction from the £107,250 per council for 16-17.

3.5       It should be noted that the level of funding provided is based on a unit cost of £181 per referral. Following a partnership meeting in June 2017, a Council subgroup was tasked with a review of delivery costs and to establish an average cost per referral from Councils to the NIHE. It was established that although each Council delivers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6c

         The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       This report is to inform Committee of an option to provide temporary transport and associated costs to shuttle users affected by the closure of Andersonstown Leisure Centre to alternative leisure centres at Whiterock Leisure Centre and/or Falls Leisure Centre.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

            Consider the proposal and recommend whether or not it wishes officers to implement provision of transport on a pilot basis as outlined.

            Overview

3.1       Andersonstown LC closed for redevelopment under the LTP on 28 May 2017.  At the time it was suggested that temporary shuttle transport should be considered to take users affected by the closure to alternative centres.

3.2       A large percentage of users/members and user groups were retained after the Andersonstown closure as alternative accommodation and access were made available at other BCC centres.  Mostly Brook, Whiterock, Falls and Olympia.

3.3       Having reviewed user trends at Andersonstown LC and Whiterock LC peak usage times for fitness suite throughput, swimming pool use and casual activities has been established.

3.4       It is extremely difficult to establish convenient transport services for all eventualities as by its nature ‘casual use’ is sporadic and spread throughout the day.  The provision of an extensive service throughout the day would be cost prohibitive and unlikely to be justified by demand.  Similar service provision was put in place following closure of the Robinson Centre in 2016 but withdrawn after a trial period as demand proved to be virtually non-existent.  However, it should be accepted that local conditions, user patterns and the location of alternative centres may result in a different response in West Belfast.

            Proposal

3.5       It is proposed that a shuttle bus service is established to take users from the Andersonstown site to Whiterock and/or Falls could be provided based on the following nine runs per week:

            Morning

            8.30am - 9.30am Tuesday and Thursday

            Lunch Time- Adult only swim lanes

            12.00pm - 1.00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday

            Evening

            7.00pm - 8.00pm Wednesday

            7.00pm - 8.00pm Friday

            Weekend

            12.00pm - 1.30pm Saturday

            2.00pm - 3.30pm Sunday

            The route will be established with a number of pick up/set down points.

3.6       As actual demand will be unknown until evidence from a trial period is available it is proposed that a service should be considered on a temporary basis with monthly review points at which future provision can be assessed and revised.

            Closure Dates

3.7       Andersonstown LC will be closed during the new build programme for a period of 2 years up to the anticipated opening of the new centre in late 2019.

3.8       Finance and Resource Implications

            The estimated cost of providing a shuttle bus service based on the above schedule is set out in Table 1 below.  Costs are provided for three different bus capacities and are per single return run, weekly cost and total two-year cost based of 2 X 48 week years (96 weeks) for routes from Andersonstown to Whiterock and separately from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6d

         The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 12th September, following a request from Councillor Milne, it had agreed that a report would be submitted to a future meeting regarding the potential for the Council to direct additional resources towards an appropriate tree planting programme throughout the City.  Councillor Milne had also requested that the Council would assess the feasibility of it developing a programme of activities to tie in with National Tree Week which was held annually from the end of November through to early December.

         The Assistant Director explained that the Council was responsible for the management of £12,500 street trees on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure and it also managed over 60,000 park trees throughout the City.  She reported that, as part of the Council’s Park tree management programme, health and condition tree inspections were undertaken on a cyclical basis of all the semi-mature, mature and over mature Park trees and remedial tree surgery works were carried out to include the removal of dead, diseased and dying trees.  The officer explained that, when carrying out the survey, the Council’s woodland officers had also identified locations within Council Parks for replacement/new tree planting schemes but unfortunately this tree planting had not taken place in recent years due to a lack of dedicated resources.

         The Committee noted that £20,000 had been allocated from within existing budgets to enable the Council to undertake all outstanding replacement tree planting as well as planting new additional trees.  This year’s National Tree Week (NTW) theme was ‘Tree Value’ which was scheduled to run between 25th November and 3rd December.  The Committee was advised that the Council’s Parks outreach officers would be organising various trees planting and educational activities to promote the value of trees as part of the NTW at the following locations:

·        Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

·        Grovelands

·        Half Moon Lake

·        Cherryvale

·        Cregagh Green

·        Loopriver

·        Glenbank

·        Cavehill

·        Water Works

  Noted.

         The Assistant Director advised that a request had been received for the use of Alexandra Park on Sunday, 17th December from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. to stage a ‘Lark in the Dark’ event.  She advised that this would be the third year that the event would be held with approximately 100 children and parents attending.  The event was aimed at young people from both communities and would consist of a Christmas trail with the participants in fancy dress.  The trail would follow the paths in the lower part of the park and stop at the Peace gates.  At this point there would be a photo booth and the participants would meet Santa and have their picture taken.

            The Committee granted free use of Alexandra Park for the ‘Lark In The Dark Event’, on condition that the event organisers:

·        meet all statutory requirements, including Health and Safety responsibilities; and

·        ensure that an event management plan and risk assessment are undertaken to the Council’s satisfaction.

The Assistant Director advised that a request had been received for the use of Botanic Gardens from 9th to 11th March 2018 to stage the 2018 Belfast Children’s Festival.

            The Committee granted permission for the use of Botanic Gardens for the 20th Belfast Children’s Festival, subject to satisfactory terms being agreed with the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and on condition that:

·        the event organiser resolves all operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction;

·        an appropriate legal agreement is completed; and

·        an event management plan is developed to the Council’s satisfaction and the organiser meets all statutory requirements of the Building Control Service, including the terms and conditions of the Parks Entertainments Licence.

            The Assistant Director provided the Members with an update on the outcomes of the One Path Initiative which included proposals in respect of progressing the initiative.

         The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 12th January 2016, it had agreed to Belfast City Council’s participation in the One Path initiative.  The officer advised that Sustrans had since piloted a scheme and had used the Comber Greenway to help develop a code of conduct for the use of greenways.  The officer advised that the scheme included guidance for pedestrians and cyclists and focused on areas with particularly high traffic/usage. 

            The Members were reminded that the Comber Greenway was not owned by the Council but was under the management and operation of the Department for Regional Development (DRD). She advised that the Comber Greenway intersected with the Connswater Community Greenway in East Belfast, therefore there was an interest in developing principles for behaviours and use of greenways that could potentially be adopted, in line with Council’s bye-laws, for pathways in parks and open spaces.

            The Committee granted authority for Council staff to continue to work in partnership with Sustrans and the other Partners to develop and progress the scheme.  It was agreed further that staff should also explore with the other Partners how the principles could be applied initially to the greenway and potentially longer term to other parks and open spaces in Belfast.

FieldsThe Committee noted that, as a late request had been received from the Old Park/ Cavehill Royal British Legion, the Director had used his delegated authority for the organisers to hold a commemoration event, Row and Row, each evening from Monday, 6th to Friday, November, except Thursday, 10th at the Shankill Memorial Garden.

            A Member suggested that groups who regularly applied for the use of Council parks/facilities should be reminded of the protocol and deadlines for the submission of requests to enable them to be considered by the Committee.

The Assistant Director advised the Committee that she had just been advised earlier in the day that Cregagh Green had been shortlisted for an award from Fields in Trust.

            The Committee granted authority for the Chairperson (or his nominee) and an officer to attend the Awards Ceremony, in London, on 28th November.