Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were recorded on behalf of Councillors Baker and Kyle.  

            The minutes of the meeting held on 4th June were taken as read and signed as correct.

            No declarations were reported.

            The Committee noted that the above item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

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

“This Council recognises the dangers associated with the use of glyphosate-based weed killers, including the World Health Organisation's warning about carcinogenic side effects and the damaging impact on the environment and biodiversity.

The Council notes that other councils and government agencies have introduced bans across the world and agrees to immediately investigate and implement the use of safer weed killing methods in order to protect Council staff, the general public, and local flora and fauna.”

            With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor Ferguson addressed the Committee and outlined her concern regarding the use of glyphosate-based weed killers and the potential problems associated with its use.

            It was agreed that a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

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

“This Council notes that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) monitoring of Air Quality in Belfast has identified breaches of the Air Quality legal limits, alongside the Council’s own monitoring of and the data collected by Greens across the City. 

Poor Air Quality reduces life expectancy, increases incidents of respiratory conditions, rates of lung cancers, strokes and asthma.  These are more prevalent amongst older people, younger people and vulnerable groups. In addition, this disproportionally impacts inner city and working class communities.

In view of these issues and in support of all 5 objectives of the Belfast Agenda, particularly outcome 5 to make ‘Belfast a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable City’, the Council agrees to engage formally with DAERA and the Department for Infrastructure on the areas of concern and to produce reports on:

1.      Enhancing monitoring and reporting of air pollution, including recommended limits in line with the more stringent World Health Organisation Standards; and

2.      Introducing a Clean Air Zone in Belfast, in line with UK Government Guidance.”

            With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor O’Hara addressed the Committee and stressed the urgent need to tackle air pollution in an attempt to improve air quality standards across the City of Belfast.

            A Member concurred and highlighted the rise in respiratory problems in young people and stated that he would welcome increased air quality monitoring, particularly in the vicinity of local schools.

            A further Member referred to the need to consider commuter travelling and car parking and its impact on Belfast’s air quality and it was further suggested that any research should take into consideration good practice models that had been implemented in other Cities.

            It was agreed:

·        that a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee which would address the proposals contained within the motion; and

·        that the Committee would write to the Department for Infrastructure in support of Eco Belfast’s Campaign to designate Belfast a car free City from 20th – 22nd September, 2019.

            The Director of City Services provided the Committee with an update in respect of the process to design, produce and install a permanent memorial at Plot Z1 in the City Cemetery in which many babies had been buried. 

            The Director reminded the Committee that a Focus Group had been established, which had been made up of representatives of families that had relatives buried in the plot.  The Focus Group had met regularly with Council officers and it had imputed greatly into both the design and installation of the memorial, to ensure that it was undertaken in a sensitive manner and also met the Council’s protocol and policies. 

            The Committee was advised that the Bereavement Administrative team had undertaken a comprehensive count of burial records for Plot Z1, which had been validated against the original burial orders.  The final verified number of babies buried in the Plot was 7,160 and this number had been inscribed onto the memorial.

            The Director advised that it was anticipated that the works to erect the memorial would begin in early August and permission was sought to hold a commemorative and dedication event on Thursday, 12th September to unveil it, to which the Lord Mayor, Elected Members and other dignitaries would be invited to attend.

            The Focus Group had requested that part of the proposed ceremony would have a religious aspect, as many of the families had been unable to hold funeral ceremonies.  The Director advised that the Council would be taking advice from the Northern Ireland Inter Faith Forum to ensure that an inclusive spiritual element would be included within the ceremony that would recognize the faiths of all those buried within the plot.

            The Committee agreed to hold a commemorative and dedication event on Thursday, 12th September to unveil the permanent memorial at Plot Z1 in the City Cemetery, known as the Baby Haven.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To provide Committee with progress on implementing the Waste Framework, an update on household recycling performance over the recent past and to respond to the Notice of Motion raised at 1st November 2018 Council meeting which states that:

            ‘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.’ 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

1.      Agree that the wheelie-box scheme outlined in this report is the strategic direction of travel for the Council, subject to a successful assessment of the project within the Council’s Capital Programme.

2.      Agree the wheelie-box pilot as outlined to:

·        approximately 5,000 households in North Belfast commencing September 2019;

·        change collection day for operational reasons and to mitigate against ‘bin blight.’  If considered necessary, these will be communicated in advance to the residents affected;

·        in order to improve recycling further, as per the January 2014 policy, the trial will implement one bin per household with the usual exceptions (i.e. larger families of 6 or more, and those households with a resident who has a medical condition which generates additional waste,) following the successful application to DAERA to fund an in-house trial.

3.      Agree implementation of Phase 2 of the food waste campaign, as set out in the Council’s Improvement Plan for 2019-20.

4.      Agree extending the existing WRAP Collaboration Agreement for the 2019/20 financial year.

5.      Agree to a Members’ study visit to Welsh councils (as per November report) to see first-hand a kerbside sort approach, in operation.

6.      Agree to a study visit to businesses and organisations in NI which use the secondary materials collected from the Council’s recycling operations and learn how they contribute to the local Circular Economy.

7.      Note the response to the November Notice of Motion.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

            Background

3.1       There are several drivers influencing management of the city’s waste including:

·        legislative compliance;

·        fit-for-purpose and value-for-money services;

·        the Belfast Agenda – an additional 66,000 residents will generate additional waste; and

·        the Circular Economy Package (CEP) focusing on higher recycling targets (65% municipal waste by 2035), improving quality of materials and contributing to jobs within the economy.

3.2       To address these challenges the Council, and its regional waste management group (arc21), have developed waste plans, the most recent of which was the Waste Framework approved in June 2017.  These plans make recommendations in terms of infrastructural and policy requirements with the primary aim of reducing reliance on landfill and increasing recycling.

3.3       Over the last 15 years, the Council has achieved increases in the recycling of household waste from 5% in 2003/04 to 44% in 2017/18 (the most recent NIEA validated year).  This has been achieved by developing an adequate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       As agreed at the April 2019 People and Communities Committee, this update is to provide Committee with a copy of the relevant responses from the Council and arc21 to recent consultations relating to Packaging and Packaging Waste. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked:

·       To retrospectively adopt the consultation responses to the Reforming the UK Packaging Producer Responsibility Scheme, Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales & NI and Plastic Packaging Tax as submitted by the Council and arc21 earlier this summer.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members may be aware of a recent series of consultations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) relating to packaging and packaging waste.  These are likely to have a considerable impact upon the waste and resources sector in the UK in general and serve to provide further justification for the Council in its approach to target improving the collection of quality materials from householders.

3.2       The three consultations are as follows:

1.      Reforming the UK Packaging Producer Responsibility Scheme (PPRS);

2.      Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales & NI (DRS); and

3.      Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT).

3.3       Members may care to note that DEFRA also produced a fourth consultation entitled ‘Consistency in Household and Business Collections in England’ which is not applicable to Northern Ireland.

            Key Issues

3.4       Considerable change in public attitudes to the natural environment and our impact upon it is underway, highlighted by TV programmes such as ‘Blue Planet’ and ‘The War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita’ which expose the pollution caused poor waste and resource management.  Against this background, there is increasing recognition that waste and resources management provides a considerable opportunity to address production and consumption and manage materials better.  Increasingly, this is being labelled as the circular economy which, as a concept, seeks to rebuild economic and natural capital.  As an approach, it is worth emphasising that the circular economy is not just about recycling more stuff – dealing with materials and products once they become waste – but is about a complete recasting of how materials and resources are treated throughout their production and post-production life – managing the supply chain. 

3.5       In May 2018, the EU approved a package of legislation setting binding targets on waste and recycling to move to a more Circular Economy.  There are several headline targets under the new Directive which will require Member States to recycle 65% of their municipal refuse by 2035, to separately collect hazardous waste by January 2025, to halve food waste by 2030.  The EU also proposed phasing out landfilling, and promoting economic instruments ‘such as extended producer responsibility schemes’ (EPR).

3.6       A separate directive was also approved on Packaging Waste to ensure that 70% of packaging is recycled by 2030 (this is different for individual packaging materials, for example  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

The Director of Neighbourhood Services referred to the significant levels of concern in recent years around alcohol and drug misuse in Belfast and the wider region.  He explained that, more recently, the inter-dependency between alcohol/drugs and mental health/suicide had been recognised, as had the need for those issues to be considered more effectively together.

            In recognition of this, the Department of Health had initiated a pre consultation on the successor strategy to the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2.  The full consultation report and was available for download http://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/nsd-pre-consultation

            Several Members of the Committee welcomed the draft Council response that had been prepared by Council officers and made a number of comments and addendums that they requested be incorporated into the draft document in advance of it being submitted.  Given the number of addendums requested, it was agreed that officers would liaise with the various Members to ensure that their comments were accurately reflected in the consultation. 

            As the deadline for the submission of the draft consultation response to the Department of Health (DoH) was 9th August, the Committee agreed to defer submission of the draft consultation response and requested that officers seek an extension from the Department for Health (DoH) to enable the Members’ comments to be  incorporated into the consultation and further agreed that the amended consultation response would be tabled at the September Committee for its endorsement prior to submission to the DoH.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services referred to the significant levels of concern in recent years around the levels of homelessness in both Belfast and the wider region of Northern Ireland.  He explained that, as a result of this, the NIHE was introducing its first Chronic Homelessness Action Plan which set out what the NIHE planned to do with the support of its partners in the statutory, voluntary and community sectors over the next three years to tackle homelessness.  

            A representative outlined his concern in relation to the growing homelessness problem in the City and requested that the Council investigate any Council sites that were surplus to Council requirements that might be suitable for social housing.  He stated that he felt that this approach would help assist with providing a long term solution to the growing problem. 

            The Committee noted that the full consultation report and associated screening documents could be downloaded at https://www.nihe.gov.uk/Working-With-Us/Partners/Consultations and that the Council’s draft response was available here  

            The Committee:

·        endorsed the draft response to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), relating to the NIHE Chronic Homelessness Action Plan 2019; and

·        agreed that that the Council should consider any Council sites, surplus to Council requirements, that might be suitable for social housing.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members are reminded that a new changing pavilion was built at the Westland pitch adjacent to the Waterworks in North Belfast as part of the Pitches Strategy investment.  This development made the site more attractive to teams playing in the Northern Amateur Football League (NAFL).

1.2       The annual process of pitch allocations facilitated by League Secretaries subsequently saw a significant increase in interest for use of the site from clubs in the area.  The issue of pitch allocation was not resolved for the Westland site and was raised with Council by the League Secretaries.

1.3       The purpose of this report is to update members of the progress to date in regards to pitch allocation at Westland and to agree the arrangements to bring this pitch into use for the 2019 and subsequent football seasons.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                        (i)     Agree to enter into a ground share agreement with both Westland Young Men’s and St Patrick’s Football Club for the Waterwork pitches (Westland).

                                       (ii)     Agree that this arrangement will be in place for up to five years and will be reviewed annually as part of the pitch allocation process.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Members are advised that over the past number of years officers have been working with football clubs, who had initially expressed an interest to League Secretaries and then confirmed this through a formal expression of interest process, for the use of the Westland pitch for Saturday fixtures, with a view to reaching a suitable agreement that would bring the pitch into use

3.2       Of the six teams from four clubs who had originally expressed an interest in utilising the pitch over the course of the discussion, three teams (two clubs) have formally withdrawn their interest leaving only Westland Young Men’s (1st and 2nd teams) and St Patrick’s Football Club (2nd team) with a formal interest. 

3.3       Since that time officers have also been advised that the Westland Young Men’s Club have further redeveloped to now only include one team and a new Westland Football Club has now formed. 

3.4       By way of context, Members are also asked to note that Council does not directly provide ‘home grounds’ for sports clubs, however, there are two ways in which clubs have been able to meet the requirements of the Northern Amateur League to enter into the higher leagues.

3.5       Firstly, in the past, the Council entered into Facilities Management Agreements and more recently through Partner Agreements with sports clubs and organisations.  These agreements were secured through publicly advertised expressions of interest.  Successful applicants have used this process to provide preferential use of pitches for clubs and have, through the erection of signage, displayed the impression that these facilities are the home of specific clubs.  This ability to manage the allocation process has led to a number of clubs being able to demonstrate control of the site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            To advise elected Members of the approaching termination date of the Facilities Management Agreement with Suffolk Football Club and to seek approval as to the future relationship with this club.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to recommend that:

·        The Facilities Management Agreement dated 9th August 2012 be terminated in line with its maximum term of 7 years. It is further recommended that Suffolk Football Club are offered preferential use of facilities at this location for a period of 10 years in recognition of their initial capital investment in development of the pitch and the ongoing management and maintenance of the site entirely at the expense of the club.

3.0       Main report

Key Issues

3.1       Up until May 2017, Suffolk Football Club had two Facilities Management Agreements (FMA) in place on a number of pitches at the playing fields at Carnamore Park. The FMA from 2008 terminated in May 2017 and control of the three pitches it related to reverted to Belfast City Council.

3.2       A second agreement, in place since August 2012, related to a single pitch at the same site. This pitch had been disused for many years. Suffolk Football Club applied for Alpha funding to carry out the necessary drainage works to bring the pitch back into use. The work was carried out at no cost to Belfast City Council and the reinstated pitch was given into the control of Suffolk Football Club under the seven year FMA dated August 2012. No financial support accompanied the FMA and the club maintained the pitch entirely at their own expense.

3.3       In 2014, as part of the capital programme, the Council improved the facilities associated with the Suffolk Football Club pitch, installing new changing and meeting facilities in the form of modular buildings. These facilities have to date also been managed and maintained by the club at their expense. The club have been playing at IFA intermediate league standard at this site.

3.4       Members will recall that Facilities Management Agreements across sports sites are to be phased out. A report submitted to the People and Communities Committee in August 2016, authorised officers to engage with Suffolk Football Club and other clubs in similar circumstances to regularise arrangements for the management of sites after FMAs terminate.

3.5       Council officers engaged with Suffolk Football Club over several months and are recommending that the club be offered preferential use of this single pitch at Suffolk Playing fields, in recognition of their considerable financial investment over the last seven years in the management and maintenance of this pitch and its facilities. The offer of preferential use would align the club’s position to that agreed by the People and Communities Committee in May 2017 for the facility at Clarendon Playing fields.

3.6       The financial investment of the club into this site in the last seven years, over and above the initial £30,700 grant for pitch  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            To bring to the attention of Members a request from Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT) in relation to the terms of their lease for Blythefield 3G pitch and pavilion and to request authorisation to review the terms of the lease.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Recommend that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee authorise officers from Estates and City and Neighbourhood Services to engage with GVRT to review the terms of the current lease.

·        Should relevant officers find cause to support any or all of the requested changes in respect to the issues raised by GVRT as at 3.7 below that these are directly passed to Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT) is an urban regeneration charity based in the Village area of South Belfast. It delivers a range of inter-related programmes that seek to improve the quality of life for local residents. Its primary remit is to address housing unfitness, while dealing with educational under-achievement, worklessness, lack of community space, health and well-being concerns and improving community cohesion.

3.2       At its meeting on 19th August 2016 the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at the recommendation of the People and Communities Committee, approved the granting of a ten year lease to Greater village Regeneration Trust for Blythefield Open Space. This site is located in an area bordered by Sandy Row and Donegall Road. In 2009 a polymeric MUGA and changing pavilion was provided as part of a regeneration project funded by BRO but on completion and under council management the facility was significantly underused.

3.3       In 2016 GVRT made a successful application to Sport NI for £100,000 funding to convert the polymeric surface to artificial grass (3G) to increase the appeal of the facility to the local community and maximise on its potential to address the promotion of health and wellbeing in the area.

3.4       In order to meet the requirements of Sport NI, GVRT required security of tenure to enable the facility to function for a period of 10 years and to satisfy this requirement it was agreed a lease would be provided from the date of completion transferring control of the pitch and small changing room pavillion to GVRT. Works were carried out by a contractor appointed by GVRT and council officers had no part in the project management of the works.

3.5       A practical completion certificate was issued by the contractor on 23rd February 2018 and the lease is dated 22nd May 2018. There were, however, a significant number of defects to the pitch which rendered it unplayable until early 2019. A defects correction certificate was finally issued on 30th May 2019.

3.6       GVRT pay an annual rent of £1,400 for the pitch and the two room pavilion and the current lease requires the leasee to be responsible for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6c

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Committee on the Management Arrangements at Sally Gardens. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                          i.     agree to extend the current management agreement in respect of the 3G pitch and changing pavilion to 31st March 2020 in line with other BCC revenue contracts with the group;

                                         ii.     agree that a review of arrangements is carried out in advance of this period ending to determine the effectiveness of the arrangements and recommend future requirements.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

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

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

3.3       The Committee is reminded that a changing pavilion was completed in August 2017.  Jointly funded by the Council and the Department for Communities, this enables matches to be played on the facility thus making it more attractive to users, existing and potential.  The opening and closing of the new changing pavilion is undertaken by the Association who also clean the facility.  Maintenance is a Council responsibility. 

3.4       While satisfied with the arrangement, the Association stated that the short term nature of the agreement creates an element of uncertainty and as such it is unable to fully plan ahead.  In response to this, Committee reviewed the existing agreement in August 2017 and agreed to extend the period to 3 years, with a review carried out by officers and a report provided to Members in advance of this period ending.

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

3.6       Committee should note that the Association also manage the Community Centre and is able to provide a joined up offering of services to the community and integrate the pitch with wider community activities.  To support the management of the centre and the delivery of the community programme, the Association receive a revenue support grant of £55,183 which is reviewed and agreed annually within council’s Community Development support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6d

            The Committee was updated in respect of the financial position of the People and Communities Committee for Quarter 4, which confirmed an over spend of £256k for that period.  This represented 0.3% of the budget which was well within the acceptable variance limit of 3%.

            The Committee noted that, in financial terms, it had been a difficult year for the Council.  The Primark fire and changes to the rules on holiday pay had led to an additional funding requirement of £3.7m.  In order to try and protect general reserves, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee had agreed not to re-allocate any in-year underspends and to use any year end balances to support the £3.7m funding requirement.  The year-end position was that £2.2m of balances were available, arising from overall departmental underspend of £1.1m, capital financing underspend of £1m and specified reserve allocation of £0.15m less rates clawback of £0.05m.  This had resulted in £1.5m of general reserves being used to finance the remaining balance.  Given this position, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 21st June, had agreed that no further reallocations or cash flow payments would be considered until the Quarter 1 2019/20 position had been presented to the Committee at its August meeting. 

            The Committee noted the year-end financial position. 

The Committee approved:

·             the naming in respect of Carolan Park, Off Carolan Road, BT7, Rosepark Gardens, Off Upper Newtownards Road, BT4, Diamond Gate, Off Diamond Gardens, BT10; and

·             the continuation of an existing street, namely Ormonde Gardens, Off Castlereagh Road, BT5.

            The Committee approved the application to erect a second nameplate in Irish at Dunmisk Park and Dunmisk Terrace.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval for the use of the Boucher Road Playing Fields and the Great Lawn at Botanic Gardens for a number of music events between 2020 and 2023.

During discussion, several Members highlighted their concern in regard to the number of underage youths who often attended these events and found themselves in vulnerable or dangerous situations.  Concern was expressed in regard to the lack of safeguards and precautions that existed to protect both the young people and the Council.  A further Member suggested that officers should ensure that the Council would be able to revoke use of the venues if necessary.

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the hire of the Great Lawn at Botanic Gardens for a series of music events in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 until September to enable a more detailed report to be submitted to the Committee which would give consideration as to what contractual precautions/safeguards existed in regards to welfare support and to enable the Council to revoke use of venues if necessary.

The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson (or their nominees) be authorised to attend the CIWM (NI) conference in the Titanic Belfast entitled ‘Life Beyond Plastics?’ and also, should they wish to attend, the speakers’ dinner in the Titanic Hotel on the preceding evening.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services informed the Committee of the successful achievement of the twenty Green Flag awards across the City of Belfast in 2019 for the City and Neighbourhood Services Department’s parks and open spaces.

            The Director then detailed that the cost for submitting the proposed Green Flag applications and assessment was approximately £500 per park and confirmed that this had had been included in the department’s budget.

            The Committee noted the achievement of the twenty Green Flag Awards across the City of Belfast in 2019.

            With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor Heading addressed the Committee and outlined his concern regarding the widespread problems associated with cold homes in Belfast.  He specifically referred to the recent Cavity Wall Insulation Report that had been published by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and stated that it would be useful if the NIHE could attend a future meeting to provide an overview of the report.

            The Director of City Services reminded the Committee that, following the Committee’s request for an official to address the Committee in respect of the Affordable Warmth Scheme, the Department for Community (DfC) had responded and she suggested that representatives be invited to attend a special meeting.

            The Democratic Services Officer advised that a special meeting of the People and Communities Committee (Quarterly Housing meeting) was scheduled to be held on Monday, 16th September.  Representatives from the NIHE would be attending this meeting to present the annual Housing Progress Report and she suggested that consideration of the NIHE Cavity Wall Insulation Report and an update in respect of the Affordable Warmth Scheme be added as agenda items.

            The Committee agreed that:

·        consideration of the NIHE Cavity Wall Insulation Report and an update in respect of the Affordable Warmth Scheme would be added as agenda items to the Special People and Communities Quarterly Housing meeting scheduled to take place on Monday, 16th September; and

·        given the recent response from the Permanent Secretary, following the Committee’s request for an official to address the Committee in respect of the Affordable Warmth Scheme, an invitation would be extended to the Department for Community (DfC) to attend the aforementioned meeting.  

“This Council believes that in order to protect this planet from catastrophic climate breakdown, we must prevent average global temperatures rising above 1.5 degrees.

This Council agrees to reject all future fossil fuel extraction planning applications within the council boundary and promote sustainable development as enshrined in the Belfast Agenda.”

            Following advice from the Director of City Services, Councillors McMullan and O’Hara left the meeting in that there could potentially be a conflict of interest in the future given that they were Members of the Council’s Planning Committee. 

            Councillor Smyth outlined to the Committee a number of reasons why he felt that the Council should adopt a policy in relation to the rejection of all future fossil fuel extraction planning applications within the Council boundary.  He advised that he had been advised by the City Solicitor that the Council could not adopt such a position legally, due to the pre determination of planning applications and he sought a report which would provide some clarity regarding the matter. 

            It was agreed:

·        that advice would be sought from the City Solicitor as to what position, if any, the Council could adopt in relation to the Council agreeing to reject all future fossil fuel extraction planning applications within the Council boundary and that a report be submitted to a future meeting of the appropriate Committee; and

·        that the report would consider the position adopted by other Local Authorities in Northern Ireland.

In response to a request from the Councillor McMullan in respect of the cost to ratepayers in making complaints about high hedges, the Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting:

·        that would consider the current charge to submit a high hedge complaint and consider the feasibility of reducing this fee, taking into consideration the fee charged by other Local Authorities; and

·        that would provide greater clarity around the current assistance provided by the Council to its ratepayers in respect of mediation and advice and how this could be extended.

In response to a request from the Councillor Mullholland the Committee agreed that officers would submit a report to a future meeting which would consider the feasibility of the Council providing an additional cloth nappy kit for use by Belfast City Council ratepayers.