Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were recorded on behalf of Alderman Rodgers and Councillors Baker, Corr-Johnston, Heading and McCusker.

            The minutes of the meeting of 12th April and the special meeting of 16th April 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 May.

·        Councillor Newton declared an interest in agenda item 5 (a), viz, Street Naming; and

·        The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Copeland) declared an interest in agenda item 5 (e), viz., Marie Curie Northern Ireland, in that she volunteered for the Charity.

Pride of Place Awards

            The Committee noted that the above item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of the Council on 9th April, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Kyle, had been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“That this council will support the further development of the Greenway strategy in Belfast, including assessing the benefits of a Sydenham Greenway, linking East Belfast and Holywood.  Council will engage with potential partners to assess how such a strategy would be implemented, with focus on improving connectivity and benefiting health and well-being in our community.”

            The Committee agreed that the following wording be added to the motion following the word Holywood ‘and the development of the Greenway in West Belfast and the Shankill linking Belfast and Lisburn’. 

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of the Council on 1st May, the following motion, which had been proposed by Alderman McGimspey and seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Copeland), had been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“This Council, recognising that under the terms of the Children’s Funeral Fund, Councils in England and Wales do not charge parents the costs of burials or cremations. Accordingly, the Council agrees to waive all charges and costs relating to those services for children up to the age of eighteen.”

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting.

            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.

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

The Committee agreed that the report be deferred to enable a more detailed report to be submitted to the June meeting of the People and Communities Committee.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that it had held a workshop in March 2018 to focus on its priority areas of work for the year ahead and that it had subsequently agreed the draft Committee ‘Plan on a Page’ at its meeting held on 12th April.

            He outlined that the draft Committee Plan had been drawn up to help maximise the Committee’s role in delivering on the ambitions within the Belfast Agenda and in turn influence the priorities of the year two updated Corporate Plan and Annual Improvement Plan (which was currently out for consultation).

            He explained that the engagement with Members had helped to build officers’ understanding of the key issues to lead to more informed decision-making on the implementation of the actions contained within the plan and advised that a six monthly progress update would be submitted to the Committee.

            The Committee approved the draft People and Communities Committee Plan for 2018-19.

The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that, in April 2017, an All-Party Deputation had met with the Chief Executive of the Education Authority and senior officials from the Youth Service in response to a Motion regarding the Council’s concerns in respect of proposed cuts to the Youth Service in Belfast and the related impact on local youth organisations.

            The Director advised that, at this meeting, the Members had highlighted issues regarding any reduction to youth service provision, particularly the impact on marginalised and disadvantaged areas of the City.  They had also discussed the ongoing challenges in respect of issues such as suicide, mental health and educational attainment and the need for improved communication between the Youth Services and the Council.

            The Members noted that, since this meeting, Council officers had met with officials from the Youth Service on a number of occasions and it was felt that this was helping improve collaborative service provision.  Given this focus, it was suggested that the Committee might wish to seek a further meeting with the Education Authority in order to continue discussions regarding youth provision in the City.

            The Committee agreed to seek an All-Party Deputation with representatives from the Education Authority.

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 bring to the Committee’s attention Notices of Motion regarding increasing awareness and understanding of health conditions – specifically anaphylaxis and epilepsy, which were raised by Council at its meetings on 1st February and 5th March, respectively; and

·        Propose action to align awareness raising activities for both conditions to the Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the content of the report; and

·        Agree to the proposed action outlined.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

3.1       The Notice of Motion regarding better support for people with anaphylaxis, moved by Councillor Nicholl and seconded by Councillor Long, centred on raising awareness of this condition and reviewing support and facilities available for people living with anaphylaxis, within Council amenities.

3.2       Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction, which is characterised by rapidly developing, life-threatening problems involving; the airway and/or breathing and/or circulation (NICE Guidance: CG134). The most common causes of an anaphylactic reaction include: certain foods (including nuts or shell fish), insect stings and drugs and contrast agents (particularly those administered by injection).

3.3       The Food Information Regulations (NI) 2014, introduced legal requirements to ensure consumers are made aware of the allergenic ingredients in foods. The council is the relevant enforcement authority for these regulations. The Food Safety Unit provides guidance and support to all our local food businesses, including those within Council amenities, to build compliance with these requirements. That support  includes:

·        Providing businesses with an allergen compliance toolkit including guidance materials on how to manage allergens as well as information on what to do in the event of an a consumer having an allergic reaction.  An allergen checklist and ingredient matrix are provided to help businesses keep track of potential food allergen risks;

·        The delivery of training and seminars for businesses on allergen management and the provision of allergen information to customers;

·        The Food Safety team monitor the compliance of the allergen requirements during routine inspections, they also investigate consumer complaints including those relating to allergic reactions to food. When necessary officers may use enforcement powers to secure compliance.

·        Where Food Safety Officers detect food that is unsafe, including food labelled with incorrect allergen information, they work collaboratively with the business and the Food Standards Agency to ensure the food is removed from the supply chain and to alert consumers.

3.4       The Food Safety section of Council’s website also provides businesses and individuals with information on food labelling, including links to the FSA website, where individuals can register to receive allergen email or text alerts; information on current and previous allergen alerts; allergen information for businesses, including ‘Think Allergy’ posters and allergen signage and tips on planning an allergen free meal.

3.5       Incidents of allergic reactions as a result of insect stings and risk factors associated with risk of stings are managed by Departments through accident reports and risk  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

Physical Programme and asset Management      The Assistant Director advised that, at the meeting of the Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Working Group held on 18th April, the following key issues had been considered:

• update on a permanent Memorial to mark Plot Z1 in the City Cemetery; and
• update in respect of  a request to film a historical drama at the Crematorium.

            The Committee noted that the request to film had subsequently been withdrawn as the Company had sourced an alternative film location.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Cemeteries and Crematorium Working Group held on 18th April 2018.

(Councillor Newton, who had declared an interest in this agenda item, withdrew from the table whilst it was under discussion and took no part in the debate or decision-making process.)           

            The Committee approved the application to rename an existing street in the City from Haddo Street to the new name Haddo Woods, Off Hospital Road, BT8.

            At this stage in proceedings Councillor Newton returned to the table.

            The Committee approved the application to erect a second street nameplate in Irish at Portland Place.

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 Members on the progress to date at Girdwood Community Hub.  This will include:

                                          i.     General outline of the work of the Girdwood Hub Forum and its subsequent working groups.

                                         ii.     Overview of the animation programme, including the community, leisure and education programme, and

                                       iii.     An update on the current position of the proposal to community manage the youth space.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                          i.     Note the content of the progress report and

                                         ii.     endorse the emerging business case to support the proprietary use of local community organisations to deliver a robust youth engagement and activity programme.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

3.1       Girdwood Community Hub, which combines community facilities, a dedicated Youth Space, leisure facilities and educational outreach and training facilities, was developed with support from a capital grant award from SEUPB to support the Peace III priority of ‘contributing to a shared society by creating public shared space’.  The Council managed the delivery of the hub project and the Department for Communities (DfC) are currently leading on the wider development of the Girdwood Park site.  Girdwood Community Hub has the principles of shared space built into its core and, to enable the facility to benefit inter and intra community relations, the Council set up a dedicated Community Hub Forum whose role is to promote and help manage the hub as a welcoming, open, shared and safe space.  The Girdwood Community Forum is chaired by the Council’s Community Development Manager and has representation from 2 elected Members.

3.2       The key objective of the Hub is to be a shared space for all, offering an activity programme to support peace and reconciliation and facilitate sustained dialogue between local communities. The state of the art facility opened its doors to the public in January 2016 and is currently managed by the Council’s leisure operator GLL with support from a Council Girdwood Community Engagement Officer. Current usage figures are:

·        Hub Footfall 335,941

·        Gym Visits 47,346

·        Active Gym Members 491

·        Male Users 54.1%

·        Female Users 45.9%

3.3       Girdwood plays host to a wide range of events, conferences, performances and concerts and thus far has lived up to the community aspiration that it will become an International Centre for Peace and Reconciliation welcoming visitors from all over the globe. For example, the Hub recently welcomed members of the committee of Regional Development of the European Parliament. A representative group of 8 MEPs visited Northern Ireland on a fact finding mission to obtain information that will influence a report on ‘the impact of cohesion policy in Northern Irelan’. The MEPs met with community reps, delivery partners and Council officers involved in service delivery at Girdwood Community Hub.

3.4       Community partners are agreed that Girdwood must impact positively on the lives of the local people by providing opportunities for improved health and wellbeing, higher obtainment in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7c

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;

·        Provide Members with an overview of the main findings and specific recommendations for local authorities proposed by the NIHRC in the ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Travellers’ Accommodation in Northern Ireland’ Report, March 2018.

·        Outline a process throughwhich Council can meet the proposed recommendations

1.2       The NIHRC initiated an investigation on Traveller’s accommodation following a scoping exercise concluded in June 2016. The Out of Sight, Out of Mind report was launched in March 2018 at City Hall. The report sets out a series of recommendations for Public Bodies and Local Authorities.  There are four specific recommendations for Local Authorities to implement within the next twelve months.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Committee are asked :

                                           (i)   To note the key recommendation and the implications for Council.

                                         (ii)   To consider and agree the proposed steps to meet the recommendations put forward by the NIHRC.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key finding of the report:

                                           (i)   The Commission found there were inadequacies in some laws, public authorities’ policies and public authorities’ practises, in the context of Traveller accommodation in NI. It confirmed that such inadequacies can dissuade and supress a Traveller’s culture, including the ability to exercise a nomadic lifestyle.

                                         (ii)   The Commission found thirteen systemic Issues in:

·        Domestic Legal Framework.

·        Domestic Practise.

·        Racial Discrimination.

·        Race legislation.

·        Resource availability

·        Resource and Policy Accountability.

·        Provision of Traveller-specific accommodation.

·        Monitoring needs for Travellers accommodation

·        Inadequacy of Traveller sites

·        Participation

·        Information on Travellers’ accommodation

·        Data collection

·        Complaints mechanisms

            Recommendations for Local Authorities

3.2       The report made four specific recommendations that should be implemented within twelve months.

                                        (i)     The NI Housing Executive, in conjunction with all relevant providers, should take steps to ensure that all required services are adequately available in practice within all Travellers’ accommodation and that the provision of these services is sufficiently regulated. In particular, the NI Housing Executive should work with: the local Councils to ensure Travellers have regular refuse collection; with the electricity supplier to ensure Travellers have prompt and consistent access to electricity; and with the Royal Mail to ensure Travellers have adequate access to adequate postal services.

                                       (ii)     Local councils should take reasonable steps to prevent undue delays in the planning application process relating to Travellers’ accommodation. They should also ensure that all planning decision-making processes are fair, impartial and transparent.

                                     (iii)     Local Councils should take proactive reasonable steps to ensure Travellers’ sites are licensed when required. Local Councils should regularly monitor the licensing of Travellers’ sites and be aware when sites require a license, whether they are licensed and when the licence will expire. Local councils should ensure all licences meet the minimum standard of provision and safety as required by the model license, developed by the Department of Infrastructure.

                                     (iv)     All local councils should be active members of the NI Local Government Partnership on Travellers Issues and should give consideration to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7d

The Committee was reminded that representatives from Marie Curie NI had presented its case for a whole society approach to end of life care at a special meeting of the People and Communities Committee on 16th May.

            The Assistant Director outlined that Marie Curie had presented the need for a whole society approach to end of life care as it recognised the limitations to clinical care and service provision.  It had also advocated the need to consider the need to provide non-clinical support in a community setting, treating care as a civic responsibly to be shared by everyone.  This approach required social efforts from across society to improve health in the face of terminal illness, caregiving and bereavement.  Central to this approach was the recognition that care was not solely the responsibility of Health and Social Care services.

            At the meeting, representatives of Marie Curie had sought the Council to endorse the benefits of a whole society approach to end of life care and asked it to consider supporting Marie Curies’ ambition of hosting a partnership event in the City Hall, which would seek to raise awareness of the issues around terminal illness and a whole society approach to end of life care. 

            The Committee:

·        agreed that officers would engage further with Marie Curie NI to consider the necessary action required to support Marie Curie NI hosting a partnership event in the City Hall;

·        noted that this would include progressing the appropriate steps to secure the use of the City Hall and to raise awareness of the event and the whole society approach to end of life care across all relevant forums; and

·        noted that an update report would be submitted in due course.

            The Assistant Director advised that a request had been received from Twaddell and Woodvale Residents’ Association seeking permission to hold a three-day programme of cultural celebration in Woodvale Park.  The officer reported that, for a number of years, the group had been an active participant on the bonfire programme and that in 2007 it had been involved in the design of the Bonfire Beacon as an alternative to the traditional 11th July bonfire.  It had successfully ran this event from 2008, attracting over 1000 people and for the past number of years the group had successfully used a bonfire frame instead of a beacon.  The officer explained that the group was again intending to design and deliver a cultural event in Woodvale Park from 9th July to 11th July.  She explained that the event would be designed around interventions and would seek to engage local youths and the community in activities such as soccer tournaments, which would be provided by Live for Sport.  The final day would see Woodvale Park play host to a family fun day celebration.  The officer detailed that the Twaddell and Woodvale Residents’ Association was seeking permission to construct a framed bonfire within the park and to stage associated community activities as part of its ongoing efforts to transform bonfires within the wider locality. 

            It was reported that the event organiser was also identifying ways in which the event could be built upon and expanded and that details of this would be included in a citywide report that would be submitted to a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            The Committee granted authority to Twaddell and Woodvale Residents’ Association to hold a three-day programme of cultural celebration in Woodvale Park in July 2018, subject to satisfactory terms being agreed with the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and on condition that:

• the event organiser ensures that all health and safety requirements are met to the Council’s satisfaction, including an event management plan, risk assessments and public liability insurance; and
• the event organiser meets all statutory requirements, including entertainments licensing.

The Assistant Director detailed that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) was involved in a UK-wide project to ban the manufacture and sale of cosmetic products containing microbeads.  DAERA proposed to introduce bans using powers in Article 32 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997. 

            The Committee was advised that the Council had received a letter from the Permanent Secretary of DAERA seeking the Council to permit staff to be authorised by the Department for the purposes of enforcing the ban in the Belfast area.  It was anticipated that the legislation would come into force in July 2018.  

            The Assistant Director confirmed that this request could be accommodated within existing work streams.   

            The Committee agreed to regulatory officers in the Environmental Health Service being authorised by DAERA, for the purposes of assisting with the enforcement of the proposed legislation to ban the manufacture and sale of rinse-off cosmetic products containing plastic microbeads.

The Assistant Director advised that Belvoir Residents’ Group had sought permission to plant a ‘living Christmas tree’ at Belvoir Drive, Belvoir Estate. 

            The Committee was advised that the group wished to purchase a 10-12 foot Norway Spruce, subject to satisfactory terms in line with the Council’s Arboriculture Officer and to be agreed by the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services.

            The Committee granted permission to the Belvoir Residents’ Group  to plant ‘a living Christmas tree’ at Belvoir Drive, subject to terms to be agreed by the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services.

The Committee granted authority for the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services, the incoming Chairperson and the incoming Deputy Chairperson (or their nominees) to attend the annual National Recycling Awards (NRA) in the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London on 28th June.

The Committee was advised that a request had been received regarding the possibility of siting a bronzed sculpture entitled ‘Homeless Jesus’ on a bench outside the City Hall to raise awareness of homelessness within the City.  The request had also asked that consideration be given in respect of a procession to the City Hall  

            The Committee granted approval for officers to consult with the Shared City Partnership to explore the request and noted that a further report would be submitted to the relevant Committee in due course.

The Committee was reminded that Flora Street Play Park was one of the structures that had been included within the third phase of the consultative naming process to name six new structures that had been constructed as part of the Connswater Community Greenway.

            The Assistant Director advised that a request had been received from the Eastside Partnership seeking permission to rename Flora Street Walkway Play Park to Friendship Play Park. 

             The Members were reminded that, in August 2017, the Committee had been informed that a decision had been made to omit the play park at Flora Street from the final vote stage of the cumulative naming process to name six new structures which were being constructed as part of the Connswater Community Greenway after one of the preferred name options had been identified as being ineligible in respect of aspects of the Council’s naming policy.  Eastside Partnership had since advised the Council that they had liaised with a local Community Youth Worker in Avoniel Play Centre (with 30 over thirty years’ service) and she had suggested that the play park be renamed ‘Friendship Play Park’ to reflect how the play park and other facilities in the area, such as the play centre, primary school and leisure centre all encouraged friendship and play amongst children and young people in the community.

            The Committee agreed to proceed to carry out the necessary consultation on the proposed name change of Flora Street Walkway Play Park to Friendship Play Park as it met the criteria of the Council’s (re)naming policy.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Department of Health opened consultations on 9 April 2018 on proposals to make amendments to the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The consultation period ends on 3 June 2018.  This paper provides background information and includes a draft response, for Members’ approval.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is;

·        Invited to consider and endorse the draft consultation response.

3.0       Key Issues

3.1       At the meeting of 13 October 2015, the Committee approved a response to a consultation from the Department for Social Development Committee on the (then) proposed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) Bill.  The response included the following City Council concerns regarding Fire Safety Measures proposed in the Bill:

            The Council requested that the Bill and any future regulation/guidance allow for the Councils and NIFRS to agree local arrangements and protocols around the regulation and enforcement of Fire Safety in HMO’s’.

3.2       The Department of Health is now proposing to make amendments to the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. 

3.3       The operation of the HMO licensing scheme will be the responsibility of councils. Councils will carry out all the checks/inspections (including fire safety) required to license or otherwise an HMO.

3.4       In order to facilitate the provisions and policy intent of the HMO Act, the Department of Health proposes to amend the 2006 Order to allow the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer to delegate fire safety inspection for ‘relevant premises’ rather than just ‘work places’ which the current Article 33.(5) specifies.

3.5       Under the current registration scheme the regulation of Fire Safety matters is the responsibility of the NIHE HMO team.  These amendments would mean that the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer could authorise suitably trained and competent Council staff to undertake fire safety inspections in HMOs. This will allow for the existing arrangements to be continued into the new Licensing Regime.

3.6       A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be agreed between local councils and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). The memorandum will include a detailed training and competency framework in relation to Fire Safety Inspections, Auditing, Enforcement and the handling of evidence in accordance with Police & Criminal Evidence NI Order 1989 (PACE) for designated HMO officers. 

3.7       A draft response to the consultation paper is attached as Appendix 1 (below).  The draft response supports the amendments as being necessary and sufficient to achieve the requirements outlined. 

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.8       It is anticipated that all costs associated with the new HMO licencing scheme will be met by fee income.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.9       No equality or Good Relations implications have been identified.”

Appendix 1

Draft response

Belfast City Council welcomes the opportunity to provide a detailed response to this consultation.

The proposals to make amendments to the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is of particular importance to the Council for the following reasons:

Background  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7l

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       This report outlines a series of proposed outdoor events, delivered by large arts organisations, in partnership with the Council. Each event will require the closure of all or a substantial proportion of the facility. 

2.0       Recommendations

            The Committee is asked to:

·        Approve the funding subject to an agreed programme of events

·        Approve the closure of facilities as required for the set-up, delivery and take-down of the events, resolving all operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction;

·        Agree that the Town Solicitor prepares appropriate legal agreements for the programme;

·        Agree that Event Organisers are required to meet all statutory requirements including Public Liability Insurance cover, Health and Safety, Food Safety and licensing responsibilities; and

·        Agree that Event Organisers shall consult with public bodies and local communities as necessary.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issue

3.1       Following discussions with officers a programme of events has been proposed for October 2018 with Belfast International Arts Festival.

3.2       The Council has received a proposal from Belfast International Arts Festival to deliver a programme of free, family-focussed events in the following locations: City Hall grounds and Falls Park. This programme rotates around the city and was in CS Lewis Square in 2017.

3.3       This includes two performances at each location of:

            Handle with Care created by the Spanish company, Diana Gadish’s interactive and warm hearted street show that explores visibility and invisibility in everyday life. They are currently in dialogue with several other potential artists and ensembles to join the double bill including Story Machine’s new version of Kumkum Malhotra (Look How We Disappear) by award winning Indian author Preti Taneja and Cie Dyptik’s D Construction, an outdoor hip hop spectacle from France.

3.4

·        The final locations are determined by health and safety requirements of the performers – there may be some minor changes to final locations;

·        The events shall be subject to the preparation of an event management plan which shall cover all aspects of management including health and safety, access and will comply with the current events policy;

·        and A legal agreement will be provided by Legal Services

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.5       Funding for the programme has been budgeted for in the 2018/9 estimates at £20k.

            Staff may be required to work additional hours to cover the events outside normal hours and this will be charged to the hirer, in line with the process adopted in previous years.

3.6       Council officers will liaise with organisers in relation to the potential environmental impact of these events.

3.7       Equality or Good Relations Implications

            The Events Policy for Parks and Leisure facilities and venues was previously screened. It is anticipated that this range of events will deliver a positive impact for equality and good relations.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

The Committee approved the appointment of the following suitably qualified person as Public Analyst to the Council under Article 27(1) of the Food Safety Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1991: Michelle Lesley Evans BSc, MChemA, MRSC.

Last meetingThe Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To provide an update on the waste collections work stream within the Waste Framework and, following on from a preliminary consultation exercise, outline the next steps to determine public opinion and support the development of the Circular Economy in Belfast.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

(a)    note the contents of the report

(b)   receive a presentation from USEL outlining the current mattress recovery operations

(c)    approve holding a facilitated workshop for Members in June to develop a consultation document which will be published on Citizen Space in summer as part of the consultation exercise, along with supplementary activities.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Last June, the Committee approved the Waste Framework document.  This showed that on current performance, the Council would not meet the 50% recycling target by 2020 and that a paradigm shift was needed to affect major change.  It provides an overview of several options which could be taken to improve how waste could be managed within the city over the next decade in order to deliver the challenging targets (NILAS compliance/landfill diversion and 50% household recycling by 2020).  It has been developed to align with the objectives of the Belfast Agenda and emerging Resourceful Belfast (Circular Economy) document, which outlines the contribution which waste and resources management can make in supporting jobs and the local economy.

3.2       The Waste Framework focuses on four areas: (i) Collection Arrangements, (ii) Infrastructure, (iii) Behaviour Change and (iv) Technology.  Following consideration of the report, Members made a number of points on engaging with schools and maintaining facilities and specifically highlighted that:

(a)    they would welcome an opportunity to input into the drafting of the final consultation document and

(b)   the importance of the ‘Circular Economy’ around creating and maintaining jobs should be emphasised

3.3       This report is designed to provide an update on the results of the preliminary consultation exercise, completed in 2017/18 and to seek approval to undertake a more comprehensive exercise in the summer on the collection arrangements work stream following engagement with Members.

3.4       Pre-Engagement Consultation – Resident buy-in is essential if the proposed scheme is to deliver on the goals of; quality materials, improved value for money, increased recycling and supporting jobs.  Waste Management engaged the Consultation Institute and Social Market Research (SMR) to ensure that the preliminary public engagement and research exercise was deemed suitably objective and robust.  Outcomes will be presented at the workshop.  Some positive examples include:

·        More efficient than the current range of separate bins and boxes

·        Less opportunity for stacked boxes to get blown/kicked about than the current recycling boxes

·        Better separation of waste leading to improved quality of recycled materials

·        Weekly collection of food and recyclables (including glass) from residents’ doorstep

·        Uniform system across almost all of the city (a limited number of apartments may still require a bespoke solution) leading to simpler  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7o

            Councillor Sandford referred to the fact that this had been his last meeting in the role of Chairperson, as his replacement was due to be appointed in June, and thanked the Members and officers for their support over the previous year.