Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were recorded on behalf of Aldermen Copeland and McCoubrey and Councillors McAllister and Pankhurst.

            The minutes of the meeting of 9th 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.

The Committee approved the following schedule of meetings for the People and Communities Committee between January and April, 2019:

·        Tuesday, 8th January;

·        Monday, 21st January - Special Meeting (To hear presentations);

·        Tuesday, 5th February - Special Meeting (Housing Issues, to which all Members are invited);

·        Tuesday, 12th February;

·        Tuesday, 5th March;

·        March 2019 - Special Meeting (To hear presentations, date to be confirmed with the Chairperson); and

·        Tuesday, 2nd April.

            All meetings would commence at 4.30 p.m.

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

“This Council is committed to increasing household recycling across the city of Belfast; notes the colossal impact waste is having on our oceans, cities and countrysides; welcomes the recent waste consultation; and will commit to introducing glass recycling in households across the city of Belfast as soon as possible.”

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would take into consideration any statistical information available in respect of recycling.

The information contained in the reports associated with the following three items 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 on these items as, due to the nature of the items, 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 granted authority for Belsonic to hold a maximum of ten concerts at Ormeau Park in June of each year for a three year period (2019 – 2021), subject to satisfactory terms being agreed with the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and on condition that:

¾     the promoter resolves all operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction;

¾     an appropriate legal agreement is completed, to be prepared by the City Solicitor; and

¾     the promoter meets all statutory requirements of the Building Control Service including the terms and conditions of the Parks Entertainments Licence.

            The Committee also granted authority to the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services to:

·        negotiate an appropriate fee annually for the use of Ormeau Park taking into account costs to the Council, minimising negative impact on the immediate area and the potential wider benefit to the City economy; and

·        to write to the promoters of Belsonic to advise that the Council reserved the right to introduce a ‘social clause’ into annual legal agreements at any time (subject to Council approval of such a policy).

            The Committee further agreed that a report would be submitted to a future meeting (before the Local Government Election in May) which would outline the options for the possible inclusion of a type of ‘social clause’ in the legal agreements between the Council and all event promoters for events taking place on Council land.

The Committee granted authority to Aiken Promotions for the use and hire of the facilities at Botanic Gardens from 3rd June to 5th July 2019, which would include set up and take down, subject to satisfactory terms being agreed with the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and on condition that:

¾     the promoter resolves all operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction;

¾     an appropriate legal agreement is completed, to be prepared by the City Solicitor; and

¾     the promoter meets all statutory requirements of the Building Control Service, including the terms and conditions of the Parks Entertainments Licence.

            The Committee also granted authority to the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services to:

¾     negotiate an appropriate fee for the use of Botanic Gardens taking into account costs to the Council, minimising negative impact on the immediate area and taking into consideration  the potential wider benefit to the City economy;

¾     to write to the promoters and advise that the Council reserved the right to introduce a ‘social clause’ into any future legal agreements at any time (subject to Council approval of such a policy).

            The Committee agreed that future reports would include detail in respect of any previous working experience that the Council had with the Event Management Company/Organiser making the request. 

The Committee granted authority to UK Live Ltd for the use and hire of the facilities at Boucher Road Playing Fields for a two day music festival “Lets Rock Belfast” on 3rd and 4th August, 2019, subject to satisfactory terms being agreed with the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and on condition that:

¾     the promoter resolves all operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction;

¾     an appropriate legal agreement is completed, to be prepared by the City Solicitor; and

¾     the promoter meets all statutory requirements of the Building Control Service including the terms and conditions of the Parks Entertainments Licence.

            The Committee also granted authority to the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services to:

¾     negotiate an appropriate fee for the use of Boucher Road Playing Fields taking into account costs to the Council, minimising negative impact on the immediate area but also the potential wider benefit to the City economy; and 

¾     to write to the promoters and advise that the Council reserved the right to introduce a ‘social clause’ into any future legal agreements at any time (subject to Council approval of such a policy).

i.              Proposed gifting of Navigation Buoys to Titanic Quarter Ltd

ii.             Proposed container on land adjacent to the playground at Sally Gardens

iii.            Proposed container on land adjacent to the Fishermen’s Cabin at the Waterworks

iv.           Proposed Community Art Project at Falls Park Pavilion

v.             Building Successful Communities – Westlink Divis Back Path

vi.           Transfer of Assets/Liabilities to BCC: Urban Villages/Department for Communities/Building Successful Communities  

            i.     Proposed gifting of Navigation Buoys to Titanic Quarter Ltd

           ii.     Proposed container on land adjacent to the playground at Sally Gardens

         iii.     Proposed container on land adjacent to the Fishermen’s Cabin at the Waterworks

         iv.     Proposed Community Art Project at Falls Park Pavilion

           v.     Building Successful Communities – Westlink Divis Back Path

         vi.     Transfer of Assets/Liabilities to BCC: Urban Villages/Department for Communities/Building Successful Communities 

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

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      

i)       Proposed gifting of Navigation Buoys to Titanic Quarter Ltd

Members are asked to agree to recommend to the SP&R Committee that the Council gift the buoys at Cathedral Gardens to the Titanic Quarter Ltd.

2.2

ii)      Proposed container on land adjacent to the playground at Sally Gardens

It is recommended that Members approve the grant of a licence to St Michael’s Boxing Club to allow the club to site a container on land adjacent to the playground at Sally Gardens subject to the Boxing Club supplying the container and approval by SP&R.

2.3

iii)     Proposed container on land adjacent to the Fishermen’s Cabin at Waterworks

It is recommended that Members approve the grant of a licence to Families at the Waterworks for the purpose of additional storage to allow the club to site a container on land adjacent to the fishermen’s cabin subject to the Families at Waterworks supplying the container and approval by SP&R.

2.4

iv)     Proposed Community Art Project at Falls Park Pavilion

It is recommended that Council supports a John Muir ‘Explorer’ Award programme working with young people from St Gall’s GAA Club in West Belfast. The aim of the programme is to reconnect participants with the surrounding countryside, to get outdoors and explore the Belfast Hills and our parks, as well as learning about biodiversity, conservation and their place in local environment. As part of this programme young people will create a symbolic piece of public art, to artistically represent their journey, as well as conveying a strong environmental message to their local community. The location for the decorative art piece is on the side of the community sports space in Falls Park, which is owned by Council. 

2.5

v)     Building Successful Communities – Westlink Divis Back Path

It is recommended that Members consider the report and agree in principle to the proposal from community representatives to enter into a bespoke management arrangement to protect and optimise the proposed regeneration project at Westlink Divis Back Path; this will primarily take the form of a key holding agreement to control access to the facility to support the development of a programme of use for both organised groups and clubs as well as casual use. 

2.6

vi)    Transfer of Assets/Liabilities to BCC: Urban Villages/Department for Communities/Building Successful Communities

The Committee is asked to note the update in respect of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

            The Committee was reminded that a request had been received from the Eastside Partnership seeking permission to rename Flora Street Walkway Play Park to Friendship Play Park. 

             The Director of Neighbourhood Services recapped 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.  The Eastside Partnership had 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, at its meeting on 8th May, 2018, had agreed that the necessary community consultation on the proposed name change be undertaken and this had now been completed.  The Eastside Partnership had consulted with a number of community groups in the area and they had all expressed support for the proposed name.

            The Committee approved the request to rename Flora Street Walkway Play Park to Friendship Play Park.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that the Council had previously agreed to enter into Partner Agreements at seven sites and she then provided an update on the progress in relation to the Agreements for July – September 2018.   

            She advised that the regular checks on the necessary Insurance, Health and Safety and Governance had been undertaken and all sites had been fully compliant. 

            The Director reminded the Committee that funding of up to £20,000 per annum was available for each partner for the delivery of a programme (supporting the Sports Development Plan).  She reported that letters of offer had been sent to all partners based on approved sports development plans in the current financial year and added that full payments had been made to all Partners in this Quarter.

            She explained that, in line with the Council’s objectives, the diversification of use and improved sports development impact were priorities at the partner agreement sites and she advised that so far the programme delivery had led to significant positive achievements across the seven sites.  She drew the Members’ attention to a table which indicated the outputs at the sites as reported by the partners up to the end of September 2018. 

The Committee noted the information which had been provided.  

The Committee approved the naming in respect of:

·        Mount Gilbert, off Lyndhurst View Park, BT13;

·        Loughside Chase, off Shore Road, BT15;

·        Mill Valley Road, off Ligoniel Road, BT14; and

·        Mill Valley Way, off Mill Valley Road, BT14:

            The Committee approved the applications to erect second nameplates in Irish at Ponsonby Avenue, Dart Hill, Ballaghbeg, Churchill Street and Lagmore View.

            (Miss N. Largey, Divisional Solicitor, attended in connection with the following two items).

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To consider an application for the erection of dual language street signs for a new street under construction within the City.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to make a decision regarding an application for a dual language street sign for Rose Street as it is not covered by the existing Street Naming policy given that no residents can be surveyed as the development is still under construction. Members are reminded that following an unsuccessful legal challenge in respect of the current policy the Court of Appeal affirmed the existence of discretion for the Council to deal with applications notwithstanding that the policy tests were not met and/or in cases in which there were exceptional circumstances.

            Members can chose to:

1.     Approve the application accepting Radius Housing as the occupier, subject to assessing equality and good relations impacts or

2.     Refuse the application and carry out a survey of residents once the development is completed and occupied as per the Street Naming and Numbering policy

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       The power for the Council to consider applications to erect a second street nameplate in a language other than English is contained in Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1995.

3.2       Members are asked to consider an application to erect a second street nameplate for Rose Street, located off Springfield Road in BT12, showing the name of the street expressed in a language other than English. The second language is Irish.

3.3       The original street naming application for Rose Street was approved by the People and Communities Committee on 10th April 2018 and confirmed by the City Council on 1st May 2018.

3.4       Following the approval of Rose Street an application for a dual language Irish Street sign has been received from Radius Housing Association. Their request is outside the normal policy as Rose Street is currently under construction, the dwellings are not complete and there are no occupiers in the street.

3.5       Background

            The Dual Language Street Naming policy was adopted by the Council on 1st September 1998 and since the policy was adopted 82% of 212 dual language applications have been approved by the Council with a further 37 applications pending.

3.6       In accordance with the Council’s policy for the erection of dual language street signs the Council is required to take account of the views of the occupiers of premises in the street. For the purposes of the policy occupiers shall be taken to be any person whose name appears in the current electoral register plus the owners or tenants in actual possession of commercial premises but not employees in such premises.

3.7       The procedures for seeking and assessing the views of occupiers and the criteria to be applied in deciding whether to erect a street sign in a language other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To consider an application for the erection of a dual language street sign for an existing street within the City.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to make a decision on the proposal to erect a second street nameplate in Irish at Mountforde Park. This request is outside the Street Naming Policy as there are no properties within the street, therefore no survey had been carried out.

2.2       Members are reminded that following an unsuccessful legal challenge in respect of the current policy the Court of Appeal affirmed the existence of discretion for the Council to deal with applications notwithstanding that the policy tests were not met and/or in cases in which there were exceptional circumstances.

2.3       Committee is therefore asked to consider whether it wishes to exercise its discretion in these circumstances.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            The power for the Council to consider applications to erect a second street nameplate in a language other than English is contained in Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1995.

3.2       The legislation requires the Council, in deciding whether and how to exercise its discretion to erect a street name in a language other than English, to take account of the views of the occupiers of the premises in the street. The Council will normally canvass all people appearing on the electoral register of the street and seek their views on the request to erect a street sign in a second language. Members are reminded that following an unsuccessful legal challenge in respect of the current policy the Court of Appeal affirmed the existence of discretion for the Council to deal with applications notwithstanding that the policy tests were not met and/or in cases in which there were exceptional circumstances.

3.3       Councillor Mairéad O Donnell has made a request for an Irish dual language sign at Mountforde Park. There are no properties, and therefore no residents in Mountforde Park to survey as it is a small street, which facilitates access to four streets which have already had dual language street signs erected by Belfast City Council.

3.4       Members are asked to consider this application for Mountforde Park to erect a second street nameplate showing the name of the street expressed in a language other than English. The second language is Irish.

3.5       In support of the application for a dual language Irish sign at Mountforde Park, Councillor O Donnell has advised that this is a small street located off Mountforde Road in the Short Strand area of BT5. Mountforde Park has no residents and there is no opportunity to develop or continue this street. The four streets accessed from and located off Mountforde Park are: Comber Court, Bryson Court, Bryson Gardens and Comber Gardens and all have approved dual language Irish street signs erected by Belfast City Council. The first three being approved in 2002 and Comber Gardens was surveyed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5d

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from SÓLÁS, a special needs charity that supported children and young people, seeking permission for access from its special needs facility at the adjacent Parkmore building to Ulidia Playing Fields.

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reported that, with £100k support from the Council’s Local Investment Fund, SÓLÁS had recently acquired the Parkmore Building from the Belfast Met and had been operating from that facility since September 2017.  He explained that the new site was adjacent to Ulidia Playing Fields and, whilst the building provided a much needed base for SÓLÁS, it was restricted by its size.  SÓLÁS had asked the Council to install a pedestrian access to Ulidia Playing Fields from their site, this would provide the children and young people with disabilities with safe access to the playing fields, enabling it to be used for a range of outdoor activities.

            The Committee noted that Rosario YFC currently held a partnership agreement for Ulidia Playing Fields and were fully supportive of the request.  

            The Committee granted permission for a pedestrian access arrangement with SÓLÁS, which would provide safer access for children and young people with disabilities.  It agreed further, in principle, to the use of the facilities by SÓLÁS, subject to agreement with the local site manager and Rosario YFC who held a partnership agreement for Ulidia Playing Fields.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services informed the Committee of the successful achievement of the nineteen Green Flag awards across the City of Belfast in 2018 for the City and Neighbourhood Services Department’s parks and open spaces.

            The Committee noted that this was a tremendous achievement and that the staff had been thanked for their hard work and effort. 

            The Director then detailed that the cost for submitting the proposed Green Flag applications and assessment for 2019 would be approximately £10,000  and confirmed that this had had been included in the department’s budget.

            The Committee:

·        noted the achievement of the nineteen Green Flag Awards across the City of Belfast in 2018; and

·        granted permission to nominate Drumglass Park to apply for Green Flag accreditation in 2019, along with the resubmission of the existing Green Flag sites. 

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       This report is primarily to provide Members with an update on the Waste Framework and the results of the recent public consultation on the preferred, kerbside waste collection arrangements.

1.2       To highlight opportunities to work with neighbouring councils, to submit an application for funding from DAERA and to consider additional steps for Members to familiarise themselves with the revised preferred waste collection option.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are requested to:

1.     Note the results of the public consultation exercise and agree the approach in principle for kerbside collections outlined in the report, subject to the successful conclusion of the project through the Council’s capital works programme ;

2.      Prepare a business case for funding for a preferred kerbside waste collection options trial from DAERA and present this to the SP&R Committee for consideration and explore opportunities to collaborate in a pilot with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) on waste collection arrangements;

3.      Propose a Members/Officers study visit to councils in Wales in order to improve understanding of how the preferred waste collection option could work, following Welsh successes in improving the quality of collected materials, and

4.      Agree to a study visit for Members/Officers to local businesses and organisations which are demonstrating how waste and resources is actively contributing to the Circular Economy in Northern Ireland.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Members will be aware that the Waste Framework document was approved by the People & Communities Committee in June 2017.  This provided an overview of options regarding how waste could be collected, treated and in general managed within the city over the next decade, including what steps we (the Council) would have to take to engage with householders and some of the new approaches and equipment which are now being used in this process.  The framework outlined issues around legislative requirements, changes in the local marketplace, and the need to bring about significant behavioural change to achieve challenging recycling and landfill diversion targets.  To future-proof the document, the Waste Framework was developed to align with the Belfast Agenda by recognising the value inherent in waste and how this could contribute to the Circular Economy, support jobs and boost the economy.  This latter point has become even more relevant in the intervening months.

3.2       The Waste Framework outlined four areas namely: collection arrangements, infrastructure, behaviour change and technology.  This report focused on potential waste collection arrangements and outlined a proposal for a uniform, kerbside collection scheme throughout Belfast.  This option, as outlined in the document, involves transitioning from fortnightly collected blue recycling bins – to a weekly, segregated collection of dry recyclables and food waste, combined with a three weekly collection of residual waste.

3.3       This weekly/three weekly approach was based on the WRAP NI Recycling Gap analysis carried out for DAERA for Northern Ireland in 2017.  This approach was re-enforced for Belfast by a bespoke options appraisal, conducted by Resource Futures  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5g

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Committee is advised that the Environmental Noise Directive (END) and the Environmental Noise Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 place a duty on the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), George Best Belfast City Airport (GBBCA) and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to periodically undertake noise mapping for noise sources within their respective areas of responsibility in order to identify locations where members of the public are predicted to be exposed to excessive noise levels.

1.2       Based upon the noise mapping results, competent authorities are required to develop and adopt Noise Action Plans in order to prevent and reduce environmental noise where exposure levels can induce harmful human health effects. The Noise Action Plans also seek to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.

1.3       Accordingly, DfI, GBBCA and DAERA are presently consulting on their draft third round Noise Action Plans for road sources, aircraft noise and industrial noise sources respectively. The plans cover the 5-year period 2019–2024 and are available to download via the following weblinks:

·   https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/environmental-noise-directive-road-noise-action-plan-2018-2023

·   https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/Round3IndustryNoiseActionPlan

·   http://www.belfastcityairport.com/Community/Environment/Aircraft-Noise/Noise-Action-Plan-2019-2024

1.4       This report serves to provide an overview of the draft Noise Action Plans to Committee and to seek the Committee’s assent to provide the attached consultation responses to DfI and GBBCA in respect of their draft Noise Action Plans.

1.5       The Committee is advised that the closing date for receipt of consultation responses to the Department for Infrastructure Roads, Environmental Noise Directive Round Three Noise Action Plan 2018-2023 is 16th November 2018, whereas the closing date for receipt of consultation responses to the George Best Belfast City Airport Environmental Noise Directive Round Three - Draft Noise Action Plan 2019-2024 was 26th October 2018. An extension to the submission date has been granted by GBBCA.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to note the contents of this report;

·        on draft third round Noise Action Plans for DfI Roads, George Best Belfast City Airport and DAERA industry noise sources.

2.2       Members are asked to consider the;

·        draft consultation responses in respect of the DfI Roads and George Best Belfast City Airport Draft Noise Action Plans, attached as Appendices 1 and 2 to this report, and to recommend that these responses be forwarded to DfI Roads and to George Best Belfast City Airport.

2.3       Members are advised that the consultation responses will be marked as being in draft format and subject to ratification by Council at its next scheduled meeting of 3rd December 2018.

3.0       Main report

            Department for Infrastructure Roads - Noise Action Plan 2018- 023.

3.1       DfI has advised that 3rd round noise mapping has taken account of all major roads across Northern Ireland with more than 3 million vehicle passages per year and all roads within the Belfast Agglomeration. DfI has further advised that whilst the legislation does not include noise limit values, DfI has been recommended to identify those locations where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5h

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To advise Committee of progress with the Stadia Community Benefits Initiative and update on the action plan.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Consider the content of the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Council has been undertaking the Leisure Transformation Programme to renew its Leisure facilities across the City. This Programme has been influenced by the Partnership opportunities presented by the NI Executive Stadia Programme.

3.2       The Council, Department for Communities (DfC) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) have recognised the opportunities presented by the Stadia Programme, have committed to work together to maximise these benefits, and have agreed to establish a Stadium Community Benefits Initiative as part of the Belfast Community Benefits Initiative (‘the Project’) to implement and deliver agreed objectives including promoting equality, tackling poverty, and tackling social exclusion within the Belfast area.

3.3       In March 2016 the Council, DfC and IFA signed an agreement which sets out their respective commitments to the project. As other major stadia are developed in Belfast it is anticipated that other sports governing bodies shall become parties to the agreement. At its April 2018 meeting People and Communities committee agreed that Council would work with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) within the Stadia Community Benefits Initiative and recognised their significant planned investment in gaelic games in the city to support their Gaelfast strategy. It is anticipated that gaelic games programmes will be fully incorporated into the action plan in the next financial year and that GAA representatives will join the governance structure at Delivery Board and Policy and Performance Board level.

3.4       The agreement is for a period of ten years with financial commitment from Council and IFA in place to the end of March 2026. Delivery is managed through monthly meetings of the Delivery Board which reports quarterly to the Policy and Performance Board. Financial and performance reports will be presented to Council and other partners’ Boards as necessary. Formal review of the agreement will be carried out in years 5 and 10.

3.5       The Policy & Performance Group is responsible for agreeing the Benefits Realisation Plan and associated annual targets. Work was undertaken to ensure the end benefits/outcomes are aligned to partners’ strategies. To measure the progress of this the Council and the IFA have developed a range of indicators/intermediate benefits which are monitored through programme delivery:

·        Number of coaching sessions provided

·        Number of coaches engaged in delivering coaching

·        Number of sessions improving club governance

·        Number of volunteering opportunities

·        Participation opportunities for under 16s

·        Female participation rates

·        Number of people completing skills development programme

·        Number of sessions for under-represented groups

·        Number of sessions for school and youth groups

·        Community group usage of stadia

·        Number of clubs attaining club-mark

·        Educational opportunities

·        Number of programmes targeting ASB

·        Improved collaborative working

·        Number of disabled participants

·        Number of older people participating

3.6       Following the completion of a baseline assessment in early 2017, an annual work-plan was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5i

            The Committee considered a report in relation to the proposed Community Centre opening hours over the Christmas period 2018.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that the majority of user groups took a break from their programmes and meetings over the holiday period and there was usually extremely low footfall and usage.  She detailed that the following revised opening times for 2018 were proposed:

            The Committee:

·        agreed to the closure to the public of Belfast City Council Community Centres for defined seasonal periods at Christmas, subject to staff taking annual leave for any days that were not statutory holidays; and

·        noted that any staff wishing to work over these periods on the non-statutory holidays would be facilitated.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised the Members that the Future Park Accelerator (FPA) was a new initiative and joint venture between the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the National Trust.  It was available to land owners and managers of public parks and green spaces throughout the United Kingdom.  The fund was aimed at supporting innovative projects and applicants could apply for financial support of between £250k and £1million pounds.

            The Director explained that the Council’s proposed enhancement project focused on a City Wide Scale Project to enhance Belfast City Council sites for biodiversity whilst ensuring community involvement buy in.  Activities would be undertaken across the City and the Council would not only involve existing park users but also would engage with new groups and communities to shape their local areas.  A key focus would be on health and wellbeing, physical activity and participation, for example:

·        proposals might include habitat management for pollinators which could include both semi-natural areas and horticultural features;

·        horticultural improvements such as scoping alternative means of working for example around pesticide usage;

·        restoration of habitats including hedgerows, woodland, wetlands, species rich grasslands etc;

·        all proposals would be linked to upskilling staff and community groups in areas such as recording species and habitat management; and

·        events programmes that would engage and enthuse Belfast ratepayers.

            The Committee noted that this proposal aligned to the Belfast Agenda’s Living Here priority to make Belfast a great place to live, it also supported the Future Parks Accelerator aim of promoting a step-change in how people engage with their parks in order to maximise public benefit, local potential and innovation.

            The Director advised that, following receipt of the expression of interest, the funders would make an initial judgement on whether the idea demonstrated the potential to meet the FPA funding criteria. It would then decide whether to invite a full application form around the 26th November (to be confirmed). 

            The Committee granted authority for officers to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Future Parks Accelerator, by the deadline of 19th November, to seek potential funding for proposed enhancement projects in Council parks and open spaces.  If successful, it was agreed further that officers would progress and submit a full funding application (subject to Council ratification and agreement with the Director of Finance and Resources on any budgetary impact).

            The Committee was reminded that it had previously granted approval for the Belvoir Residents Association to erect a living Christmas tree on Belfast City Council land at Belvoir open space.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that Belvoir Area Residents Association had received external funding to purchase and plant the Christmas tree and it had received further external funding to decorate the tree with festive lights. 

            Approval from the Committee was sought to grant license to connect to a Council owned street light in Belvoir Park, subject to a successful application by the Belvoir Area Residents Association to Northern Ireland Electricity to use the electricity supply.

            The Committee granted authority for festive lights to be erected on a living Christmas tree in Belvoir Open Space, subject to Belvoir Area Residents Association receiving the relevant approvals from the Council and Northern Ireland Electricity.

            The Committee considered a report seeking permission to locate a sandbag container near Mount Eagles Playground, on ground owned by Belfast City Council.  The container would store sandbags and bags of rocksalt for use by the community during flooding and severe winter weather.

            The Committee was advised that there had, in the past, been issues with flash flooding in the Lagmore area and the nearest sandbag container was located a considerable distance away at Finaghy Road North.  In addition to the potential flooding issues, residents had also raised concern regarding the lack of salt provision for local residents during icy conditions.

            The Committee noted that the roads in the areas were unadopted and the Department for Infrastructure was unable to provide grit boxes at this time, therefore, as an interim measure it had agreed to locate a sandbag container in the area which could also be used to store bags of rock salt.  The DfI would maintain and replenish the container and Council staff would manage access to it in line with arrangements for other sandbag containers.

            The Committee approved the location of a new sandbag container near Mount Eagles Playground for the storage of sandbags and bags of rock salt. 

The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that, at its meeting held on 7th August, it had agreed not to grant permission to East Belfast Football Club to install a temporary container on the Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park.  Accordingly, a letter had been forwarded to the Club instructing it to advise the Council of its proposed arrangements for removal of the structure no later than 2nd November.  The Director advised that, an e-mail had been received earlier today, on behalf of East Belfast Football Club Management Committee, seeking permission to extend the deadline until 31st December, to enable it to explore alternative options.

            Following discussion, it was,

            Moved by Councillor O’Donnell,

            Seconded by Councillor Baker,

      That the Committee agrees not to grant an extension to the East Belfast Club to enable it to explore alternative options regarding the removal of the temporary structure at the Tommy Patton Memorial Park and that officers put the appropriate mechanisms in place to ensure the removal of the structure immediately.

            On a vote by show of hands, ten Members voted for the proposal and none against it was declared carried.

It was agreed that representatives from Building Homes Now would be invited to present to a future special meeting of the Committee, with a date to be agreed with the Chairperson.

It was agreed that representatives from the Belfast Advice Group would be invited to present to a future special meeting of the Committee, with a date to be agreed with the Chairperson.