Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were recorded on behalf of Councillors Corr Johnston and McCusker.

            The minutes of the meeting of 4th September 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 October.

            Councillor Magennis declared an interest in agenda item 4 (a) – Assets Report (Sally Gardens and Beechlawn Farm), in that he was associated with the Sally Gardens Management Committee.

The Committee agreed that representatives from the Front Row Women’s Rugby would be invited to present to a future special meeting of the Committee, with a date to be agreed with the Chairperson.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of Council on 1st October, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Kyle and seconded by Councillor Attwood, had been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“Creating green spaces in cities produces significant benefits, not least in the area of mental health. Recent research has shown a 40% reduction in feelings of depression and a 50% reduction in feelings of worthlessness among residents, as a result of greening derelict plots of land.  The benefits were even greater in areas of deprivation.

Simple interventions, such as clearing rubbish, sowing grass, planting trees and marking the boundary with a low fence, can produce health benefits, remove eyesores and reduce antisocial behaviour.

This Council will carry out an audit to identify derelict sites in public ownership.  It will establish a budget in the coming year and engage with other statutory bodies in order to create a programme of work whereby derelict plots of land are cleared, grassed and fenced, thus enhancing neighbourhoods and improving wellbeing.”

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would take into consideration the legal duties of private owners and other statutory agencies in respect of derelict land.

            The Committee was advised that at the meetings of the Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Working Group held on 5th September and 3rd October, the following key items had been considered:

·        update in respect of memorial safety;

·        a request, which had been declined at this time, seeking the Council to provide a headstone on the unmarked grave of Titanic survivor Mary Sloan;

·        information regarding the authorisation required to erect memorial plaques;

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

·        information regarding making Clifton Street Graveyard safe for public access;

·        update on the implementation of Plotbox as the Bereavement Services Business System which would be operational by November;

·        update report on the stream diversion in Roselawn Cemetery in order to try and avoid flooding;

·        the waiver to Children’s Bereavement Charges which would be applied from 2nd October;

·        update on plans to protect and enhance the existing heritage in the City Cemetery – it was noted that the Working Group would be going on a site visit in order to obtain a more detailed overview of the site;

·        Storm Ali – 28 memorial trees had been destroyed and 12 had been damaged.  These would be replaced as soon as was practicably possible;

·        Headstone Foundations – an update report regarding this matter would be submitted to a future meeting of the Working Group; and

·        Update in respect of the proposed burial site at Dundrod.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meetings of the Strategic Cemeteries and Crematorium Working Group held on 5th September and 3rd October.

            The information contained in the report associated with the following item 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 matter be deferred to enable a more detailed report to be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee, which would give consideration as to whether social clauses could be stipulated within the terms and conditions in order to add social value.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The paper presents the context and need for a review of our ‘Community’ service offer in support of integrated Neighbourhood Services and the priorities set out in the Belfast Agenda. 

1.2       The definition of ‘community provision’ for a future integrated service delivery includes the traditional services namely:

·        Community development and services;

·        Community safety/ anti-social behaviour;

·        Neighbourhood/ community cohesion/ Good Relations;

·        Outreach/ education and awareness/ open spaces;

·        Active living and leisure development &

·        Health and Wellbeing.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        note the planned review of community provision across the new CNS department and

                                          i.     Agree the proposed governing strategic principles

                                         ii.     Agree the commissioning of external support as required.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Since local government reform, Council has formed the Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan, and Belfast has become a SMART & Resilient city. The City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Local Development Plan seek to enhance city infrastructure & place and continuing efforts to attract external investment and tourism along with the City Deal provides opportunity for everyone to prosper. 

3.2       Members are shaping the Inclusive Growth framework to ensure ‘no one is left behind’ and this is likely to enable programmes & interventions to prevent poverty, or provide support where it may result. There is now a need to review our front line community provision to ensure it is enabled to play its significant part in achieving these goals.

3.3       Chief officers are forming the area framework to enable an integrated area service delivery with neighbourhood regeneration, targeted interventions and a suite of city services delivered through a robust and sustainable area planning model. This will help realise Council’s original aspiration in March 2015 ‘to review and modernise services to ensure they are performing at their best and that resources, processes and technology are integrated to maximise efficiency, improve performance and increase customer satisfaction’.

3.4       This decision led to the formation of the City & Neighbourhood Services Department & since appointment in January 2016, the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services has led this change programme bringing all 1700 staff together across a range of services from parks & open spaces, environmental health, waste, community safety, community services and good relations, etc. into one service hub with all services settled in the CWB.

3.5       The pillars on which the C&NS change programme is founded are improved customer focus, support for effective neighbourhood working, fit for purpose structure and increased efficiencies. These are supported by a number of work streams with a range of transition activities emerging, for example, the onset of the new customer focus management approach and the 10 year waste strategy consultation.

3.6       It is now timely, as the change process continues to evolve, to seek external assistance to independently scope current community provision in order to support the design of future activity in line with the emerging ‘neighbourhood/ area working’ framework.  The review will also consider how to improve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

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 seek approval from Members to asset related disposal, acquisition and estates matters.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Acquisition of roadway at Sally Gardens

            The Committee is asked to;

·        approve the proposed acquisition of the roadway  known as Sally Gardens Lane from the Department for Communities subject to the approval of the Strategic Policy & Resources Committee.

            Proposed Appropriation of Beechvale Farm

            Committee is recommended;

·        to approve the appropriation of Beechvale Farm from City and Neighbourhood Services to Property and Projects for holding in the Corporate Landbank, pending future decisions on the asset.  The decision is subject to agreement by Strategic Policy and Resources Committee as relevant committee for the receiving department.

3.0       Main report

3.1      

                                        (i)     Acquisition of roadway at Sally Gardens

            Key Issues

            As part of LGR and following an exchange of land with Poleglass Community Association @ Sally Gardens (PCA) the Council acquired the lands. The Council leased back the Community Centre and constructed changing facilities and a 3G pitch on the land to the rear of the site.

            As part of the transfer of lands, the Council were granted a right of way over Sally Gardens Lane but the ownership of the road remained with DfC.

            DfC have now approached the Council seeking to transfer the ownership of the road to the Council on the basis that Council now own all the facilities at Sally Gardens and the only access to these facilities is over Sally Gardens Lane.  Officers have agreed to this request subject to this Committee’s approval and a report to SP&R in accordance with standing orders.

3.2       Financial & Resource Implications

            The roadway will transfer at nil cost. The roadway is currently in good condition. C&NS will be responsible for all repair and maintenance following the acquisition of the roadway.

3.3       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            None

3.4        

                                      (ii)     Proposed Appropriation of Beechvale Farm

            Key Issues

            Beechvale Farm comprises a 136.9 acre farm approximately seven miles to the south east of Belfast and is in Lisburn and Castlereagh Council area.  It comprises a former farmhouse, bungalow, ancillary buildings, an office and commercial glasshouses.  The land is mostly fields with some wooded areas, a fen wetland, a watercourse and connecting laneways.  The farm was acquired for the cultivation of trees and shrubs for city parks.  This is no longer undertaken as significant cost savings were achieved by Competitive Compulsory Tendering.  Much of the land is let on seasonal lets and the buildings have become redundant apart from some storage use.

            City and Neighbourhood Services holds property for operational purposes.  As Beechvale Farm is no longer used for operational purposes, it would more suitably be held in the Corporate Landbank.  The Corporate Landbank comprises properties which have no current operational use but which are either being safeguarded for future use or are being held pending disposal.  The Corporate Landbank is managed and inspected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that, as the Committee was aware, the Tropical Ravine had recently undergone a 3.8m refurbishment programme which had been funded by Belfast City Council (BCC), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Friends of Botanic Gardens.  The Ravine had re-opened to the public in mid-April 2018 and the number of visitors had surpassed expectations, with approximately 142,000 visits to date.

            The Committee had previously agreed the operational arrangements around the opening/closing, staffing and programming of the facility but, as a result of the overwhelming response to the facility, management felt it was necessary to review the existing arrangements.  The Director explained that the use of the facility to include the hire of the venue for events and hospitality needed to be developed and the appropriate resources and skills recruited in order to ensure that the facility would generate revenue and repeat visits.

            The Director advised that the HLF had finalised its contributions to the scheme and confirmed the final funding available, on the basis of an agreed operational plan to the end of March 2021.  The funding would primarily be focused on ensuring the sustainability of the operations and improving the use of the venue.  The Committee noted that the current operational staff included part-time Bot Crew and an Activities Officer whose role was to develop a programme of events/activities to support the community engagement and educational awareness of the Ravine.  The temporary Activities Officer position was no longer required as the focus would now be on the day-to-day operations and development of the Tropical Ravine.  A new job role would be required with a more commercial focus to drive events, programmes and tourism linkages and to build upon the existing work with the community and education sectors.

            The Director advised that the staffing required to operate the facility would be provided from existing budgets and the balance of the grant funding, however, this would need to be mainstreamed, potentially through income generation, to ensure the sustainability of the facility going forward (after March 2021). 

            The Committee noted that the Department would consult with the Trade Unions representatives regarding the proposed staffing changes and seek its input.

            The Committee agreed to the creation of the relevant post in line with the existing funding, with the understanding that this would require Belfast City Council funding after the end of the grant period, which would be supported by income generation opportunities.

The Committee approved the applications to erect second nameplates in Irish at North Green and Cavendish Street.

The Committee approved the naming in respect of Castlegowan Park, off Quarry Hill, BT5 and Castlegowan Place, off Quarry Hill, BT5 and Ishbel Mews, off Lady Ishbel Avenue, BT8.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members will be aware that at the People and Communities Committee meeting of 6th February 2018, Councillor McReynolds proposed a motion that the Council must do more to assist individuals whose homes are negatively impacted upon by Japanese knotweed and should write to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to see if they would be content to co-fund a Belfast City Council 'not for profit' service to treat properties across Belfast. An action arising from the Committee meeting was therefore for officers to consider the feasibility of this request.

1.2       An interim update report was provided to Members at the Committee meeting of 12th April 2018, advising that officers had written to their counterparts within NIEA concerning the manner of delivery of a potential Japanese knotweed treatment scheme for Belfast and regarding the potential for part-funding by NIEA for such a scheme. In addition, the report highlighted a range of complex treatment and other technical issues that would have to be overcome by the council before any Japanese knotweed treatment scheme could be commenced. The report also highlighted that the view of the City Solicitor had been sought on whether a council ‘not for profit’ treatment scheme might face a legal challenge from existing commercial Japanese knotweed treatment providers.

1.3       Responses have been received from NIEA and the City Solicitor.

1.4       This report serves to provide a further update to the Committee and to seek a recommendation concerning the introduction of a Belfast City Council led 'not for profit' treatment service, taking account of the responses received from NIEA and the City Solicitor and the anticipated resource requirements and risks associated with the introduction and operation of such a scheme. 

2.0       Recommendations.

2.1       Committee is asked to

·        Note the content of this update report.

·        Consider the recommendation in paragraph 3.7 that the Council should not introduce a ‘not for profit’ Japanese knotweed treatment scheme to treat properties across Belfast at this time.

3.0       Main report.

3.1       In respect of a Council offered Japanese knotweed treatment scheme, the City Solicitor has advised that Article 79 ‘Council’s general power of competence’ of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, empowers a council to do anything, with or without a charge, that individuals generally may do for the benefit of the council, its district or persons resident or present in its district. However, the City Solicitor has caveated this advice by instructing that it would be important to have a form of indemnity signed off by those who are to receive a treatment service from the council in order to safeguard the council.

3.2       The previous Committee report of 12th April 2018 highlighted a range of technical Japanese knotweed treatment issues that, in view of the City Solicitor’s advice, would have to be specifically indemnified, including, for example, the treatment approach (chemical treatment, deep burial or excavation and off site disposal), the treatment methodology, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Following the United Kingdom Referendum, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 was passed making provision for all existing EU legislation to be converted on exit into UK law. This was an essential step to ensure food safety and other legal standards are maintained on exit. In order to ensure the converted EU law continues to operate effectively as part of domestic law, the Act provided for corrections to be made by way of statutory instruments. The Food Standards Agency is consulting on the corrections which ministers propose to make to retained EU law relating to food and animal feed safety and hygiene. The consultation also invites general comments on food and feed safety and hygiene in the UK after EU exit and provides an opportunity for the Council to clarify its preferred position in that regard.

1.2       Members are asked to agree the response to this consultation and in particular their preferred position for food safety and hygiene in Northern Ireland after EU exit.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is invited to;

·        consider and agree the consultation response.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 provided for all existing EU legislation to be converted on exit into UK law, so maintaining the current high standards of food safety and ensuring on day one the regulatory alignment likely to be required to negate the need for food safety checks as foods move between the UK and the EU. The later shall be important as the government seeks to agree with the EU a good deal for both sides. However the consultation package confirms the government continues to prepare for all scenarios including the unlikely prospect of leaving the EU with no deal.

3.2       The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been working with officials in Northern Ireland as well as Ministers in Westminster, Scotland and Wales is now consulting on the corrections which ministers propose to make to retained EU food law to ensure it continues to operate effectively as part of domestic law.

3.3       The consultation package is available at:

            https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/consultations/proposed-approach-to-retained-eu-law-for-food-and-feed-safety-and-hygiene

3.4       These corrections specifically relate to certain EU bodies and institutions which provide functions under EU law. Once the UK leaves the EU these bodies will no longer be able to perform these functions. It is proposed that these functions including risk management, risk assessment, setting of safety levels and provision of approvals shall, by way of statutory instrument, transfer from the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority to the appropriate UK authorities, including the Food Standards Agency.

3.5       The UK institutions will not provide these functions in isolation and, subject to negotiations with the EU, the UK government intends to redefine and formalise a close working relationship with the European Food Safety Authority based in exchange of information and expertise, contribution to scientific networks and cross-European collaboration.

3.6       The draft Council response, without prejudice to potential future arrangements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

            The Committee was advised that meetings of the Reference Group on Older People had been held on 12th June and 18th September and the Director of City Services provided a brief overview of the items that had been considered, which included:

·        Draft Age Friendly Belfast Plan 2018-2021, which had subsequently been agreed and ratified at the July Council meeting;

·        The Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership;

·        Age-friendly Belfast Summer Events;

·        Positive Ageing Month 2018;

·        World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy Cities Conference 2018;

·        Age-Friendly Network; and

·        an update in respect of ‘Be Prepared Events’;

            The Director advised that an invitation had been received to attend and help deliver a workshop using Belfast as a good practise example at a symposium on demographic change to be held in Hamburg, Germany on 14th and 15th November.  This event would be of particular interest to those individuals with responsibility for developing policy around the issues of ageing and demography.  Attendance at the symposium was free and the organisers had offered to pay all travel and accommodation costs for three attendees.  The Committee was advised that the Reference Group had considered the invitation and agreed that the Chairperson of the Reference Group would attend along with two officers, subject to the approval of the People and Communities Committee.

            The Committee:

·        approved and adopted the minutes of the meetings of the Reference Group on Older People held on 12th June and 18th September; and

·        approved the recommendation for the Chairperson of the Reference Group and  two officers to attend the Korber Symposium, in Hamburg, Germany on 14th and 15th November and noted that the organisers were paying all travel and accommodation costs for the three attendees and that booking would proceed now on this basis.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Traders within the city centre have been adversely affected by the recent fire at Bank Buildings in Castle Street. The purpose of this report is to provide information relating to temporary amendments in the guidelines relating to the enforcement of the Free Printed Matter (Belfast) Designation Order 2012. These changes will allow affected businesses to distribute free printed material, such as leaflets, within the city centre under amended guidelines during the period the cordon exists at Bank Buildings.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

·        Agree temporary amendments in the guidelines relating to the enforcement of the Free Printed Matter (Belfast) Designation Order 2012

·        Note the contents of the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The current guidelines relating to the distribution of free printed material within Belfast were approved by the Health and Environmental Services Committee in September 2014. This followed a one year review resulting from Belfast City Council enacting the Free Printed Matter (Belfast) Designation Order 2012 on 4 March 2013. The 2012 Order designated the land within Belfast City Centre and the Wider University Area on which consent of the council was required to distribute free printed material. The guidelines published in September 2014 included a number of streets in the city centre which the council will not permit the distribution of free printed matter:

·        City Hall Grounds

·        Donegall Square North

·        Donegal Square South

·        Donegall Square East

·        Donegall Square West

·        Castle Lane

·        Corn Market

·        Castle Arcade

·        William Street South

·        Arthur Square

·        Arthur Street

·        Arthur Place

·        Callender Street

·        Fountain Street

·        Fountain Lane

·        Ann Street

3.2       The guidelines also included the cost of the Annual Permit which was and remains at £450 per badge. The Council currently has 28 valid annual permits for the city centre. With regard to enforcement of the legislation the guidelines stated:

            The permit conditions will be rigorously enforced by the Council.  Any contraventions of the permit conditions may result in individual badges being revoked; full permits and any associated badges being revoked and/ or a refusal to grant further permits for a period of one year.

3.3       Proposal

            Following representations from traders affected by the recent fire at Primark, Bank Buildings, Castle Street, it is proposed that the current guidelines are suspended for affected traders pending the removal of the cordon around Bank Buildings, Castle Street.  To support all businesses, the Council proposes to animate the street scene through street artists and entertainment who may publicise future events.

3.4       It is proposed that the Council will consent to the suspension of these guidelines in relation to Council approved events and affected traders and give assurances to businesses that no enforcement action would be taken against them for handing out leaflets dependent upon certain conditions:

·        That they must make a written request in advance to distribute free printed material;

·        The business has been identified as one of the businesses affected by the cordon;

·        The business must notify the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

            The Director of City Services provided the Committee with an update in respect of the opt-in badging scheme which had been developed in collaboration with Tourism NI and Visit Belfast as a result of a Notice of Motion tabled at the meeting of Council held on 3rd July, 2017.

            The Committee was advised that the following measures had been implemented to promote the scheme:

·        a new section had been developed on the Council’s website to promote and provide information on the dog friendly scheme for businesses, residents and visitors to the City  https://belfastcity.gov.uk/dogfriendlybelfast  This webpage provided a link to dog control pages already established on the Council’s website regarding responsible dog ownership.  The website also provided advice for businesses, including guidance regarding food safety legislation, hygiene advice and an example of best practice from an established Belfast dog friendly restaurant.  It also provided links to two websites that maintained up-to-date lists of dog friendly facilities;  

·        Visit Belfast’s website https://www.visitbelfast.com/eat-drink/discover/pubs-clubs/collections/dog-friendly-pubs had a list of dog friendly pubs and restaurants and it would continue to add Belfast premises to this list;

·        Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) has two webpages that covered dog friendly pubs and restaurants https://discovernorthernireland.com/about-northern-ireland/pet-friendly/dog-friendly-pubs-and-restaurants and https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/food-and-drink/food-and-drink

            The Committee noted that Belfast City Council had designed and produced ‘we are dog friendly’ window sticker.  Visit Belfast had agreed to stock the sticker in the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, where it would be available for distribution to dog friendly businesses. 

Noted. 

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised the Committee that, as part of the current internal review of the existing Parks and Leisure Events Policy, it had become apparent that, with the increasing number of events being held in parks, there was a need to encourage best practice where third party event organisers were procuring suppliers to deliver services at events.  She outlined that, whilst the Council required event organisers to submit an event plan, risk assessment, evidence of public liability insurance and other relevant document for its approval, there was a growing awareness of health and safety risks around certain activities at events, such as inflatables.  It was therefore recommended that the Council would compile a list of approved suppliers for the provision of the main types of services at events.  These would include the provision of marquees, inflatables, fairground rides, climbing wall, petting farms, face painting, balloon modelling, food and musical performances.

            The Committee was asked to note that the Council would not be recommending any specific supplier, the purpose of the list was to provide third party event organisers with a City wide list of potential suppliers that would meet certain standards.  The standards would be developed for each service in accordance with the relevant legislation, best practice and guidance.  Suppliers would be encouraged to sign up to the approved list of suppliers on an annual basis and to provide evidence of public liability insurance cover and other relevant certification.

            The Director outlined that the information would be available on the Council’s website from March 2019.  Event organisers who wished to stage events in Council parks would be encouraged to avail of the approved list of suppliers to ensure that their events were managed and delivered in a safe manner.  This would also help third party organisers to improve the planning of events and would reduce the effort involved in them providing documentation and certificates.  

            The Committee authorised the collation of a list of approved suppliers for the provision of services at events in parks and open spaces for use by third party event organisers.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       In this consultation the Department for Communities (DFC) is seeking views on the future of the House Sales Scheme (HSS). The House Sales Scheme is Northern Ireland’s equivalent to the ‘Right to Buy’ Scheme in other jurisdictions. Registered Housing Associations are currently the only organisations that develop new social homes in Northern Ireland, although the HSS also applies to existing NIHE social housing tenants.

1.2       This consultation seeks views on the next stage of the Department’s work in response to a decision by the Office for National Statistics in September 2016 to reclassify Registered Housing Associations in Northern Ireland from the private to the public sector. In September 2016 the Northern Ireland Executive agreed that officials should work to reverse the Office for National Statistics’ decision including bringing forward options for amendments to legislation where appropriate. Any decision on whether and how to amend legislation arising from this consultation will be solely for Ministers to consider and take decisions. The purpose of the consultation exercise is to seek views on the options available so that these can be incorporated into the advice that will be provided to Ministers on the issues.

1.3       This is because without changes to these schemes it is likely that the Office for National Statistics’ classification of Registered Housing Associations, as being in the public sector will remain in place. This will have significant financial consequences. The House Sales Schemes are Northern Ireland’s equivalent to the Right to Buy Schemes in other jurisdictions. Since introduction, around 119,000 Northern Ireland Housing Executive and 3,000 Registered Housing Association properties have been sold to the tenants over the past 40 years.

1.4      The consultation outlines different proposals for the future of the Scheme and seeks views on each option.  A copy of the consultation can be found at https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/classification-registered-housing-associations-northern-ireland-consultation-two-future-house-sales.  Members should note that although the consultation closed on the 24th September 2018.  Belfast City Council have been granted an extension to allow members to consider and agree the Council’s response.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

·        consider and endorse the attached draft response.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            A recent change in accounting rules for Registered Housing Associations is likely to significantly increase the amount of money that has to be found from the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget to maintain current and planned levels of new social home provision.  The consultation explains that this would mean the amount of public money available for other capital projects would be reduced by a similar amount or, if this did not happen, the new social home building programme would be significantly cut back.  The Department for Communities (DFC) is therefore thinking about changing the rule that requires social housing to be sold to tenants.

3.2       The Office for National Statistics (ONS) determined that this compulsory application of the House Sales Scheme (HSS) to Housing Associations amounts to government control that is significant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23a

            The Committee agreed to invite a representative from TAMHI – Mental Health Through Sport to a special meeting of the Committee to inform the Committee of its important work in the City (along with the Community Rescue Service and Front Row Women’s Rugby), with a date to be agreed in liaison with the Chairperson.

The Committee agreed that a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee which would give consideration, in conjunction with the budget setting process, to the possible future removal of the current entrance fee charge to the Adventure Playground at Cavehill.