Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Cunningham, Ekin, Humphrey and Kyle.

Minutes of the meeting of  21^st February

            The minutes of the meeting of 21st February were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 3rd March, subject to the amendment of the decision under the heading “Draft Crumlin Road Gaol Masterplan” to provide that the Council’s response to the consultation exercise includes a reference to the requirement for an Equality Impact Assessment and policy proofing of the Masterplan in relation to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the “Shared Future” document and the new Targeting Social Needs to be undertaken.

            The Committee Administrator reported that notification had been received from the Sinn Fein Party Grouping that it wished Councillor O’Neill to replace Councillor McCann as its representative on the Employment Services Board.  He reported also that the Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping had indicated that it wished Councillor Attwood to replace Councillor Maginness as its representative on the Board. 

            The Committee approved the foregoing alterations to the membership of the Employment Services Board.

            The Director reminded the Committee that representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development had visited Belfast in September, 2007 and again in February of this year to meet with key decision-makers as part of the study which the Organisation was undertaking on behalf of the Council.  The aim of the study was to provide the Council with ideas as to how it could develop the economic and regional development agenda and would focus mainly on economic inclusion, quality of place and life and leadership and delivery arrangements.

            She informed the Members that one of the emerging recommendations from the study was the need to establish a City-wide development agency.  She indicated that a report on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s study would be submitted to a future meeting.

Noted.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware of regular reports to Committee outlining progress and new proposed activity from the European Unit.  Members are asked to consider the following:

1.   Irish Sea  Region Partnership

2.   European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

3.   Interreg Contracts

Key Issues

1.   Irish Sea Region Partnership

      Members will be aware that, since February 2006, BelfastCity Council, the Comet Councils and the Councils in Greater Dublin and Glasgow have been engaged in a Blueprint for cooperation.  An overarching framework of cooperation was agreed, which Glasgow has still to formally sign, seeking to work together on projects developed under 6 themes, a copy of the Blueprint is available from the European Unit.

      To this end, a number of projects have been developed for delivery in 2008 namely:

      -     4 World Trade Centre seminars open to Dublin and Glasgow businesses - January-March 2008

      -     European Day of Entrepreneurship pilot – November 2008

      -     Irish Sea Region Platform proposal

      The Irish Sea Region Platform is an informal partnership of stakeholders around the Irish Sea, including cities, academic institutions, marine institutions and regional governments.

      The interested parties have now met on four occasions to explore potential opportunities to collaborate and to work to the overall benefit of this geographical area. 

      In order to make a quick win, the partners have been developing a proposal to seek to secure funding for activities around the Irish Sea under the transnational European funding programme known as Interreg IVB – North WestEurope zone. 

      Through this programme the ISP project seeks to foster and sustain territorial cooperation between the regions around the Irish Sea and including a third EU Member State yet to be determined.

      This process has already begun and from the discussions that have taken place, four specific strands have been identified:

      1.   City-regions cooperation

                  -     Cruise marketing initiative

                  -     Carbon card incentive pilot

      2.   Transport/Trade logistics

      3.   Future challenges in coastal and marine management

      4.   Marine spatial planning

      The Interreg IVB route is ideal if the significant outcomes of this extensive project are to be achieved.  The programme funds up to 50% of project costs.  The anticipated cost of the entire project is 10 million euros over a minimum of 3 years.

      For Belfast it would involve working across departments and with other stakeholders including the BVCB, the Port Authority and others.  The partners would be expected to provide the other 50% match funding by cash payment and in kind contributions such as staff costs.  The exact amount for Belfast City Council has yet to be determined.

      From a NI perspective partners to date include BelfastCity Council via the EU unit, Economic Initiatives and Waste Management as well as interest from DFP and DOE.

      In order to progress the funding bid, strand partners are asked to contribute £2000 as a first annual subscription to the Irish Sea Region Partnership initiative.  This funding will be used to:

      -     Develop an ISP  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report regarding the Black Box performance space:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Cathedral Quarter continues to be developed as Belfast's historic heart and a major cultural centre. The development of a new city centre arts centre (the MAC - Metropolitan Arts Centre) within the Cathedral Quarter will address the need for a city centre performance and gallery space and will provide a focus for cultural activity in the area, although it is not envisaged that it will be completed until 2011.

      In the interim the Black Box performance space fulfils the need for a city centre performance venue in the Cathedral Quarter and as a temporary performance space to address in Belfast the need for a mid-scale performance venue. It provides a home for the many festivals and other cultural events within the City.

      The Black Box Performance space in the Cathedral Quarter was created by Belfast City Council as part of the Celebrate Belfast programme in 2006. This was made possible through a grant obtained by Belfast City Council under the Urban Cultural Programme. The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and Laganside Corporation also contributed to the project. In 2007/8 Black Box secured Annual Funding for Culture and Arts from Belfast City Council of £13,000. 

      The Black Box was envisaged as filling the gap in the physical cultural infrastructure pending the completion of major capital developments, and as such has had a strong commitment from DSD, DCAL and ACNI. The need for a temporary venue is now more valid than ever with the current refurbishment programme of the Ulster Hall, the temporary closure for the rebuild of the Lyric Theatre, the pending closure of the Crescent Arts Centre and for a short period the Old Museum Arts Centre.

Key Issues

      Belfast City Council has coordinated a group of key statutory stakeholders involving the Departments for Social Development and Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to address the continued need for venue provision in the Cathedral Quarter. There were concerns that the level of public sector investment has fallen below the level required to support the continued operation of a venue in the area.

      The Black Box business plan which was approved prior to its development, was based on an annual public sector financial support of at least £60,000. It was felt that this was an achievable level of support from public sector finances. This is a very low percentage of public sector funding and underlines the high level of earned income amounting to 75% of turn over. An independent review of the finances and management has taken place and this indicates that, while there is room for raising additional revenue and developing sponsorship opportunities, there is a need for continued public sector support of £70,000 per annum to secure the organisation. 

      With this in mind the statutory partners have proposed a funding plan to provide £150,000 of support over a 3 year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Annual Funding for the Arts was established by Council to assist arts and heritage organisations by providing financial support on an annual basis.  Multi-Annual Funding was established by Council to introduce a degree of longer term sustainability to some of the city’s flagship arts organisations. 

      This report provides the Development Committee with recommendations on applications made to Annual Funding for Culture and the Arts 2008/9 and Multi-Annual for Culture and the Arts 2008/2011. The closing date for applications under both schemes was Friday 14 December 2007. Assessments of applications received for Multi-Annual and Annual Funding in the next financial year 2008/09 can be found in Appendix D and E which are available on Modern.gov.

      Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts

      At the Development Committee meeting of 14 November 2007, Members agreed the selection of 14 Multi-Annual Funding clients.  Multi-Annual Funding incorporates a three year funding term, and an anticipated minimum annual funding level of £30,000. 

      These 14 successful clients were then invited to submit an application by the deadline of 12 noon on Friday 14 December 2007.  The total now requested by the 14 Multi-Annual Funding clients, for year one 2008/9 of their three year funding agreement, is £805,705.

      Annual Funding for Culture and Arts

      The 2008/9 deadline for applications was also 12 noon on 14 December 2007.  A total of 64 applications were received, compared to 54 (excluding those organisations who are now multi annually funded) in 2007/8. 

      The applications received requested a total of £996,585.08. In 2004/5, the total requested by organisations (excluding those organisations who are now multi-annually funded), is £1,415,287.00

      Criteria for Multi-Annual and Annual Funding for Culture and Arts 2005/6

      The Culture and Arts Eligibility Criteria, approved by Members at the Development (Arts) Sub-Committee of 20 September 2004, were devised in order to assist the Council to work in partnership with arts and heritage organisations in achieving its objectives.  They reflect the themes of the Development Department and the Integrated Cultural Strategy.

      Level of Applications

      Requests for grants this year has far outstripped available resources.  Taken together, the total request for multi annual and annual grants for the coming year equates to £2,167,220.16.  This is the equivalent of two and a quarter times the total projected budget of £960,000.

      With few exceptions, the level of applications has been strong and Annual Funding applicants have put considerable effort into demonstrating how they meet the criteria. 

      As expected and without exception, the multi-annually funded organisations submitted excellent applications each with dynamic plans for the next three years.

      Members are requested to note that income and expenditure is presented in this report as a summary of the information submitted.  As agreed previously by the Development (Arts) Sub Committee, officers have not returned to applicants to request any additional details in relation to their applications.  This includes clarification of budgets in some cases the budgets presented contain discrepancies.

      Principles  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Street Trading

      Members will be aware that since the 2001 Street Trading Act came into force, BCC has sought to eradicate illegal street trading to ensure the public’s health and safety, but has also sought to enhance the experience of shopping in the city centre and the standing of licensed street traders.  BCC has identified high quality independent retailing as a crucial asset to the competitive success of Belfast.  To complement and build on the significant contribution of our existing markets, BCC is now investigating opportunities for high quality ‘street trading’ in the city centre.  It is envisaged that this will bring colour, vibrancy and increased footfall levels to designated parts of Belfast’s retail centre.  On Friday 20 July 2007 BelfastCity Council launched a Statutory Consultation Period on its proposals to designate the streets.  Responses will be considered at the Licensing Committee Meeting in April 2008.

      Attached as Appendix 1 is a draft response from the Development Committee to the designation of the following Street Trading Pitches:

Street or part thereof to be considered:

-     Cotton Court (Waring Street)

-     Hill Street – All

-     Commercial Court – All

-     Writers’ Square 

-     Donegall Quay – part thereof beside Lagan Lookout building for six pitches; 

-     Lanyon Place – part thereof under the covered walkway for six pitches.

      Sister Cities International Conference 2009

      Belfast has been successful in securing the Sister Cities International annual conference at the Waterfront Hall 27 July – 1 August 2009.  This is the first time the event has been held outside of the United States and has the potential to make a contribution of at least £2.5million to the local economy.  Delegates will mostly come from the USA with large groups also expected from Africa, China, Japan and Europe. 

      The bid has been supported by the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, Tourism Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC, Armagh and Down Tourism Consortium, other Councils and the Regional Tourism Consortiums in Northern Ireland.  An organising committee has been set up to manage the conference in Belfast which includes Belfast City Council, Armagh and Down Tourism, North Down Borough Council, Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, US Consulate and Tourism Ireland.

      Northern Ireland is required to host a reception on Friday 18 July 2008 at the International Sister Cities conference in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. This is the largest opportunity to market the Belfast Sister Cities International Conference 2009. Tourism Ireland has agreed to fund a substantial part of the budget and local Councils have been asked to assist.  BelfastCity Council has been asked to contribute a sum of £5,000.  The event will also provide an opportunity to have promotional stands and literature to promote Belfast as a tourism destination.  Details of the Kansas conference can be found at www.sister-cities.org  

      Belfast Tourism Monitor 2007

      Members will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee was advised that a request for financial support had been received from the organisers of a cultural economy conference, entitled “Locality and Language”, due to be held in Belfast on 8th May, which was Europe Day.

            The Conference, which was being organised under the auspices of the Gaeltacht Quarter Steering Committee, would focus on exchanging best practice regarding methods of maximising the contribution which minority languages made to economic development.  It was expected to attract up to five hundred delegates from across Europe and would involve plenary and workshop sessions.  In addition, there would be exhibition space where the Council would be providing information regarding its work on economic development and European issues.

            The Head of Economic Initiatives pointed out that at least two hundred of the Conference delegates would be from overseas and that each would stay for a minimum of two nights in Belfast.  In addition to this economic benefit, the event would provide the Council with an opportunity to enhance its profile in the areas of tourism and economic development and its support for the development of the Gaeltacht Quarter.

            She reported that the Conference organisers had requested that the Council provide financial assistance not exceeding £2,000 towards the costs of an evening reception for those delegates who would be attending the Conference.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to allocate a maximum of £2,000 towards the event.

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of a report regarding the Christmas Lights Switch-on.

            The Director reminded the Committee that, since the refurbished St. George’s Market had re-opened in 1999, discussions had been held on a regular basis with the Roads Service, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the traders regarding car parking issues at the Market.  During the intervening years, various short-term solutions to enable the traders to park their vehicles had been put in place.  The most recent location for this temporary car park had been on Plot No. 2, Lanyon Place.  However, this had become unavailable on 4th February when building work on the site had commenced.

            She reported that, in order to facilitate traders, arrangements had been made to enable them to park their vehicles on Fridays at a vacant site on the northern fringe of the Gasworks and on Saturdays to use the Council staff car park at Raphael Street.  She pointed out that the cost to the Council of providing security cover at the sites was estimated at £170 per week.  She reported further that the Roads Service intended to provide extra parking bays in Oxford Street, East Bridge Street and Verner Street in the near future.

Noted.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People’s role is defined in the legislationsetting up the Office – The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. The Commissioner’s principal aim is described in the legislation as ‘to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young persons’. The Commissioner has to report to the Assembly and Parliament about his work and how the budget is spent. The Commissioner has three main responsibilities:

      Promoting children’s rights: The Commissioner is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

      Complaints and legal action: The Commissioner can deal with individual complaints from children and young people, or their parents/guardians about any government service that impacts on those under 18, and  those with a disability, and those leaving care, up to the age of 21.

      Research and inquiries: The Commissioner wants the Office to base all its work on helping children and young people on thorough research.

      The Commissioner aims to be more focused on strategic work that will help children and young people which is the purpose of this draft corporate plan that sets out the vision for the years 2008 -2011.

Key Issues

      The draft corporate plan identifies five main priority and action areas:

1)   Play and leisure which is about children and young people having places to go and things to do:

-     Safe places

-     Affordable activity

-     Accessible activity

-     Age

2)   Having your say which is about children and young people having a say about important decisions in their lives:

-     More of a say for children and young people

-     Being heard and making a difference

-     Marginalised voices sought and heard

-     Making policy a reality

3)   Wellbeing and mental health protection which is about the service children and young people receive to help their physical, emotional and mental health:

-     Getting the right mental health services

-     Improving wellbeing

-     Acceptance and understanding

-     Social inclusion

4)   Equal treatment is about making sure that children and young people are treated fairly:

-     Discrimination

-     Equal access to appropriate services

-     Stereotyping

-     And Government keeping its promises

5)   Protection is about making sure that children and young people are protected from risks:

-     Child abuse

-     Road safety

-     Community safety

-     Bullying

      The proposed Council Response indicates that Belfast City Council in general welcomes the proposal, but some specific comments are expressed.

Recommendations

      Members are asked to approve the content of the attached consultation response.”

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the following comments be submitted as the Council’s official response to the consultation regarding the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Draft Corporate Plan, subject to it being amended to include a reference to the reluctance displayed by certain Occupational Health Services within Health Trusts to provide soft play facilities for those families whose disabled children were unable to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

            The Director reminded the Committee that the Council supported a range of community-based Summer Play Schemes which offered a wide range of social, recreational and educational activities for young persons between the ages of five and fourteen.  She explained that Summer Schemes in directly-managed Community Centres were funded through the Revenue Budget.  In addition, grant assistance was made available to those organisations in the voluntary and community sector which met the relevant criteria.  She informed the Members that the Policy and the associated criteria had been agreed by the former Community and Leisure Services Sub?Committee at its meetings on 31st March, 2003 and 5th April, 2005.

            The Director stated that an amount of £97,850 was available within the Revenue Estimates for seasonal play schemes.  In addition, an amount of £175,050 had been included in the estimates in respect of grant-aid to be provided to Community Groups operating Summer Schemes.  Grants in this regard would be based on previously agreed criteria and would be at set amounts of either £1,000, £1,800 or £3,000.

            In response to a Member’s question regarding the Access Northern Ireland legislation, the Community Services Manager indicated that staff within the Section were examining the impact which the legislation would have on the proposed Summer Scheme.  She pointed out that the Council had in place a robust Child Protection Policy which was similar to the Access Northern Ireland legislation.

            After further discussion, the Committee agreed that a range of Summer Schemes would operate in directly-managed Community Centres and granted authority for grants not exceeding the amounts set out above be awarded to qualifying Community Groups on the understanding that the total amount of money available in this regard would not exceed £175,050.