Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor Ekin.

            The minutes of the meetings of 7th, 15th and 27th 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 3rd November, subject to the omission of that portion of the minute of 15th October under the heading “George Best Belfast City Airport Forum” which, at the request of Councillor Rodgers, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      At a meeting of the Development Committee on 16th January 2008, Members decided to core fund Belfast City Centre Management Company £190,000 per year for two years commencing April 2008, subject to a satisfactory performance report after the first six months.

      A copy of the BCCM Performance Report for the first two quarters of 2008/2009 is available on Modern.gov.

Key Issues

      The work of BCCM covers three areas:

·         Delivering direct City centre services:

·         BCCM will deliver its own services, which add value to the City centre, e.g. City Centre Representatives, City Beat Policing, Radio Link, City Safe Crimewatch scheme.

·         Facilitating and assisting in the delivery of its funders’ City centre initiatives:

·         BCCM will work ‘on the street’ (when requested and as directed) to assist with initiatives such as the Evening Economy, Independent Retail Training, retail benchmarking and gap analysis, Belfast in Bloom, Waste Management and Streets Ahead.

·         Direct liaison with City centre Businesses:

·         BCCM will provide strong communication links between the private sector businesses in the City centre and central and local government.

      The report which Members received in January 2008 detailed that, in order to fully implement the business and programme activity of the 2008/2009 Operational Plan, BCCM needed additional human and financial resources.  Specifically BCCM needed 3 additional City Centre Representatives for business liaison, 2 administrative assistants to support Board, Area Focus Group and Activity Group meetings and a suitably qualified accounts clerk.  It was also envisaged that the duties and responsibilities of the Office Manager would be increased to include a Project Management role. These additional resources were needed for two reasons:

1.      Existing operational staff were being utilised for administrative duties when they were sorely needed on operational business liaison duties.

2.      With the opening of Victoria Square on 6th March 2008 the retail floor plate of the City centre increased by over 30%, representing some 200 new retail businesses.

      As reported to the Committee in January 2008, BCCM’s funding for the City Centre Representatives through the Community Safety Partnership was cut from £20,000 to £12,000.

      The appointment of Administration Assistants, the Accounts Clerk and the extension to the Office Manager’s job description have now been made.

      A Finance and Audit Committee made up of representatives from the three BCCM shareholders, and including the Development Department’s Business Support Manager, now meets bi-monthly to inspect BCCM’s finances and financial systems and reports to the BCCM Board, which includes the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Development Committee.

      The Performance Report available on Modern.gov shows that BCCM is delivering on all Key Performance Indicators within its Operational Plan.

      With regard to funding:

·         In the first six months of this financial year BCCM has leveraged income of £151,500 from Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce for Membership, Radio Link, Retail Crimewatch and private sector core funding.  This compares to £96,000 for the whole of the previous year.

·         BCCM, working with BCTC, has levied Chamber Members an additional £130,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            The Community Development Manager reminded the Committee that the Council supported organisations which provided generalist advice through five area?based consortiums, on the understanding that all of the groups within the consortiums were affiliated to Advice Northern Ireland or Citizens Advice.

            She reminded the Committee further that, in February 2006, an application for advice funding from the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre had been rejected on the following grounds:

(i)   that the organisation was not a generalist provider since it provided specialist advice; and

(ii)  it was not affiliated to Advice Northern Ireland or Citizens Advice.

The Centre had submitted an appeal which had been rejected.  However, the former Community and Recreation Committee, which had responsibility for Community Services at that time had agreed, at its meeting on 17th October, 2006, due to extenuating circumstances, notably the withdrawal of Central Government funding, to provide the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre with funding of £14,600 during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years and to offer support in-kind to the Centre in order to assist it to overcome its administrative difficulties.  This support had been provided to enable the organisation to address concerns which had been raised by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety so that they might be able to re-apply for such funding from the Department.

            The Community Development Manager reported that in the intervening period Community Services Officers had met with the Centre staff to offer support and guidance.  However, the group had made little progress in addressing its administrative and financial difficulties and, in spite of the funding which had been provided by the Council, the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre was considered to be insolvent, since the group’s audited accounts for the period 2006/2007 noted that “the company incurred a net loss of £30,619 with the company’s current liabilities exceeding its total assets of £58,662”.  In addition, due to the inability to pay for an auditor, the accounts for the 2007/2008 year had not been prepared. 

            She advised the Committee that the Centre had requested the Council to provide financial assistance of £14,600 in the current financial year.  However, due to the Development Department’s Grant Review, Community Services Advice Funding Grants were not currently open for application.  Furthermore, the reasons why the Centre’s application had been rejected previously still applied, in that it offered specialist advice and was not affiliated to Advice Northern Ireland or Citizens Advice.  Accordingly, she recommended that the request from the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre be rejected. 

            Following a lengthy discussion in the matter, during which the Committee indicated that it was supportive of the important work which the Centre undertook, it was

Moved by Councillor Convery,

Seconded by Councillor B. Kelly,

      That the Committee agrees to defer consideration of the matter to enable legal and other advice to be obtained with a view to the matter being considered further at a special meeting of the Committee.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Crozier,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of 15^th October under the heading “George Best Belfast City Airport Forum” which, at the request of Councillor Rodgers, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 3^rd November.

Appointment of Council Representatives

            The Committee Administrator reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th October, it had agreed that it be represented on the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum by the Chairman (or his nominee), together with an appropriate Officer.  However, that decision had been taken back at the Council meeting on 3rd November at the request of Councillor Rodgers.

            He explained that it had been thought that the appointment of Members to the Forum was a matter for the Health and Environmental Services and Development Committees.  However, at the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2005, following the Local Elections, Members had been appointed using the d’Hondt system of proportionality to a number of outside bodies, including the Belfast City Airport Forum.  These positions were to be held until the date of the Local Government Elections in June 2009.  At that time, Councillor Newton had been appointed to the Forum.

            He stated that the Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 19th August, 2005, had authorised the Head of Committee and Members Services to continue the application of the d’Hondt process to determine the filling of appointments to outside bodies during the current Council term.  Accordingly, in June 2006 when the Council had been awarded an additional seat on the National Association of Councillors Northern Ireland Region it had been filled by Sinn Fein, which was the Party Grouping entitled to the next vacancy under the d’Hondt system.  Therefore, although the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum had indicated that it wished Councillors from the Health and Environmental Services and the Development Committees to sit on the body, the d’Hondt process would have to be followed.  Accordingly, Councillor Newton would remain as one of the Council’s representative on that body and the additional seat would be allocated under d’Hondt to the Social Democratic and Labour Party Grouping.  In light of this, it would be necessary for the Committee to rescind its decision of 15th October appointing the Chairman (or his nominee) to the Forum, although the decision regarding the Officer appointment would not require to be changed.

            The Committee noted the information provided and agreed to rescind its decision appointing the Chairman (or his nominee) to the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum.

Community Group Representation

            The Director of Development reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th October, it had requested information regarding the names of the representatives of the community groups which were represented currently on the Airport Forum and the process by which they had been appointed to the Forum.

            She informed the Committee that, under the original Airport Forum constitution, the undernoted representatives from community groups within the Council area had been appointed:

Fiona McKinley  –   Park Road and District Residents’ Association

Muriel Ellis          –   Sydenham Environmental Group

Lewis Lee           –   Inverary Environmental and Residents’ Group

            According to the Forum’s proposed revised constitution, community groups from East Belfast would be entitled to a maximum of three representatives and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(Report to follow)

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of an update report regarding the Economic Review of Belfast which had been undertaken recently by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development to enable further information to be obtained. 

            The Head of Economic Initiatives reminded the Committee that during the previous fifteen years the Council had developed an annual programme of events.  Each year these had attracted over 250,000 people to Belfast and had generated in the region of £6 million additional economic activity for the City.  She informed the Members that the proposed programme of events for the 2009/2010 financial year would be as follows:

            After discussion, the Committee approved the annual events programme for 2009/2010 and its associated funding.

(Report to follow)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The August Development Committee considered a report on a range of planning and transportation Issues that included information in respect of the Regional Development Strategy review and proposed areas or issues of focus for the Council.

      The Minister for Regional Development in his original announcement stated that this would be a ‘fundamental review of the regional development strategy’ and that the new strategy would be different ‘it will be relevant to key stakeholders and flexible enough to deal with changing circumstances, yet robust enough for decision-making; it will set priorities and list a selected number of key infrastructure projects that are essential for economic growth; it will take account of, and be relevant to, structures and functions that emerge from the review of public administration; and it will take account of the many changes that are happening around us’.

      The RDS is likely to become an increasingly important statutory document both for the continued development of Belfast within the wider region and in setting the strategic context for exercising local planning functions. Council engagement in the review process will be critical to ensure the document reflects the aspirations for the City and provides an appropriate context for the future development of local planning policy following the Review of Public Administration.

      As previously identified a range of consultation and engagement mechanisms were being developed by the Department for Regional Development including investigation of the potential for public consultation sessions.

Key Issues

      The RDS is proposed to become an increasingly important statutory document within the planning system in Northern Ireland. Council engagement in the review process will be critical to ensure that the importance and role of the City to the development of Northern Ireland continues to be recognised and that the potential remains for the development of local planning policies to support the sustainable development of the City. These two key aspects, associated local issues and trends were identified in the previous report as forming the basis for engagement in the process (Appendix 1).

      These issues and trends will need to be addressed as part of a detailed response to the 10 year review of the Regional Development Strategy and should form the basis for the development of a robust position in response to the ongoing consultations. There will be both informal and formal opportunities to respond to the proposals, in the period leading up to the publication of the proposed consultation draft early next year, through the ongoing participation in the established working groups and any proposed consultation events.

      A local consultation workshop to inform the 10 year review has been organised for 4th December 2008 at the Northern IrelandScience Park. The consultation workshop will form part of a series of eleven events across the Province and will be facilitated by Charles Landry. These events are intended to provide the opportunity to influence the direction and emphasis within the Regional Development Strategy.

      In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

(Report to follow)

            Councillors Crozier, Humphrey, B. Kelly, P. Maskey, McCarthy and McCausland declared an interest in this matter in that organisations with which they were involved had been awarded grant-assistance under this scheme and they left the room whilst the matter was under discussion.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Development Committee considered reports in January, April and August regarding the proposed transfer of Community Festivals Funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to Local Authorities. DCAL awarded a grant of £77,300 to BelfastCity Council. At the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in May, it was agreed to commit £120,000 to a Community Festivals Fund, with a request to DCAL that they consider increasing further their contribution to match that from the Council, whilst accepting the original award from DCAL to manage and distribute the Community Festivals Fund in the Belfast area.  The total Fund value therefore for Belfast is £197,300 within which an operating budget of 10% (£19,730) has been set aside, leaving an amount available for distribution of £177,570.

      At the Development Committee in August, Members agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Development to award grants under the Community Festival Fund. Members also agreed to engage an external consultant as lead assessor, to manage the fund evaluation and assessment process.  Through a tender process, Julianne McCormick Associates were appointed as Lead Assessors.  It was further agreed that minimum and maximum levels of financial offers from the Fund were £2,500 and £10,000 respectively.

      Due to the tight timescale for distribution of the funds, DCAL gave permission for Belfast to make a single call instead of the originally proposed quarterly tranches.  A single call was therefore made for festivals that were due to take place from 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009.  The scheme was opened from 2 to 19 September 2008.  Council launched a campaign to advertise and promote the scheme through public adverts placed in the three main newspapers.  In addition, posters were distributed to community centres as well as information posted on relevant websites and e-bulletins. The external evaluator and

Arts Development Officer attended 7 information sessions that took place throughout the City, attended by approximately 50 representatives from various community and arts organisations.  The Culture and Arts Unit fielded approximately 100 telephone calls and e-mails from organisations requiring further support and advice. 

Key Issues

      Twenty-four applications were received with twenty-one organisations awarded a grant. The remaining three organisations were considered ineligible against the established criteria. The total cost of funding the recommended festivals is £162,774 (approx 82%). £14,796 remains unspent and is held back as contingency for the appeals process.  Nineteen of the twenty-one applications have been recommended to be awarded the full grant requested.  The two remaining organisations, Upper Andersonstown Festival and Walkway Community Centre budgets contained unjustifiable costs, which were deducted from amount requested.

      It is notable that all succussful applicants met the criteria to a high degree.  Indeed,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Committee will be aware that, in line with the Laganside Corporation Dissolution Order (Northern Ireland) 2006, the Laganside Corporation ceased to exist from 1st April 2007 and responsibility for all of their assets passed to the DSD from this date.

      At a Special Meeting of the Development Committee on 16th May 2007 the Director of Development sought direction from the Committee on the approach the Council should adopt in considering taking responsibility for the management of the former Laganside Assets.

      The Committee agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding should be developed between the Council and DSD in relation to their potential roles and responsibilities, including funding arrangements.

Key Issues

      DSD are seeking the approval of BCC to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with them for an initial one year period.  During this period discussions will have been completed over complete transfer of the Assets to BCC in line with the Review of Public Administration implementation.

      BCC will be responsible for the implementation of five service level agreements with DSD.  The five proposed service level agreements are:

1.   The River Lagan to include the Lagan Weir also to include the operation of the river itself and looking after navigational issues. The management of the River Lagan and Weir will require the secondment of the River Manager and River Warden to BCC. A close working relationship has been established with the River Manager through the Development Department’s work on the Lagan Canal Project.

2.   The management and maintenance of Public Realm and Public Art.

      There is currently a Service Level Agreement (S.L.A.) in place, between Parks and Cemeteries Service Section, Belfast City Council and DSD for Public Realm sites and Laganside designated area. Once BCC is responsible for the management of the sites an S.L.A. would be put in place between Development Department and Parks and Cemeteries Service Section. All aspects of work currently requiring DSD approval would now be approved by Development Department who will step into the shoes of DSD.  Repairs and maintenance of the public art projects generally require individual contact with the art designers as repairs and maintenance can be unique to each individual piece. Details of the contractual agreements with artists for each piece can be managed within the Development Department.

3.   The management and maintenance of workspace buildings.

      BCC Development Department has taken part in a survey of the Cathedral Quarter Managed Workspaces as part of a review of the Managed Workspaces undertaken by BDO Stoy Hayward on behalf of DSD. DSD have a management agreement with Whelan Chartered Surveyors who provide a Property Management Service and are the link between DSD and the occupiers of the buildings. The Development Department’s Estates resource can again take on the DSD role of responsibility for the budget/policy and strategy for the workspace buildings.

4.   The management of the Lagan Lookout and Visitors Centre.

      The Lagan Lookout and Visitors Centre are currently not open to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      PEACE III - Belfast City Council’s Involvement to Date

      BelfastCity Council has been very proactive in seeking and securing funding across a range of areas from the PEACE III funding programme.  An opportunity to further enhance this position now exists with the opening of the priority 2.2 Institutional Capacity and European and International Networking. While other parts of the organisation including Good Relations have focussed on the 'peace building' aspects of the programme.  An opportunity now exists to focus on the more structural aspects of peace and in particular the issues around the economic rebuilding and restructuring.  Belfast has over ten years achieved significant economic success. This process has provoked great interest across the world.  Belfast provides a positive model which other cities could learn from.  The OECD in undertaking its study of Belfast's future, pointed this out and suggested that Belfast should seek to distribute its lessons and story to a much wider audience. The proposed project would seek to make this happen.

Key Issues

      The NI Peace Network

      The SEUPB is spearheading a Peace Network and programme to transfer and disseminate learning from Belfast in relation to emerging from conflict and undergoing an economic and social transformation.

      The Peace Network was announced at the annual Brussels Open Days at a workshop held on 8 October 2008 chaired by the SEUPB and attended by the European Commission and high level speakers from Cyprus and the Basque Country.

      The Network will be co-ordinated by the SEUPB as a Secretariat and will have a Steering Group made up of representatives from NI and the border counties, Cyprus and the Basque Country.  This Network would allow Belfast to share its practice and also seek further learning.

      It will be launched in Belfast early in 2009 with two further events being held in the other two founding member states over the course of the year.  Immediate themes of the network will be:

1.   Use of structuring funds in conflict areas.

2.   Contribution of local people to conflict resolution.

3.   Role of youth and children in conflict areas.

      Priority 2.2: The Power of Possibility

      Based on the comments and encouragement given by the OECD the EU Unit has given much thought to developing a proposal under priority 2.2 of the Peace III Programme and has looked at the economic changes in Belfast over ten years and how this can be of interest to other cities and regions in Europe and throughout the world. Places such as Nicosia and the Balkans could learn from Belfast but equally Belfast could learn from cities which are further down the line of economic re-growth such as Berlin. Key themes which the project would explore include the 8 competitive factors that measure a city’s success and how they interact with economic rebuilding and further exploration into:

-     How economic growth can be achieved after periods of instability

-     What assets are available within urban areas to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau

            The Committee agreed to receive at its monthly meeting in December a presentation from the Chief Executive of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau regarding that organisation’s proposed business plan for 2009/2010.

Tender for the Development of an Integrated

Strategic Tourism Framework for Belfast

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 10th September, it had agreed that tenders be sought for the development of an Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework for Belfast. 

            The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Members that in order to enable the successful company to be appointed without delay it would be necessary for the Committee to delegate authority to the Chairman of the Committee in conjunction with the Director of Development to accept the most advantageous tender received and she recommended accordingly.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

Belfast Tourism Development Analysis

            The Committee agreed to receive at its monthly meeting in December a presentation from representatives of TTC International regarding the research which it had carried out into the gaps in provision and opportunities for community tourism throughout the City. 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Broadway Junction Art Piece project has been taken forward, since 2005, through a partnership between the Department for Regional Development (Roads Service), Belfast City Centre Regeneration Directorate (Department for Social Development), the Arts Council for Northern Ireland (ACNI) and Belfast City Council (BCC).  The Roads Service is responsible for the ongoing structural work relating to the roundabout/junction which is part of the M1/Westlink improvement scheme, and the Arts Council and DSD are providing the majority of funding for the project. 

      The commission was awarded through an international competition and a two stage selection process.  Phase 1 involved an invitation of expressions of interest from potential artists, from which seven were selected and Phase 2 involved the short?listed artists responding with design concepts to a detailed project brief.  The BCC Artist-in-Residence consulted with Community groups in the formulation of this brief.

      The Development (Arts) Sub-Committee was advised on 5 October 2005 that Ed Carpenter, an American artist, had been selected by the judging panel (which included invited community representatives) to carry out the commission. 

      The Development Committee of 16 November 2005 agreed BelfastCity Council would take on responsibility for the future maintenance of the art piece and at the Development Committee meeting of Wednesday 14 February 2007 it was agreed:

-     That the Project Management Unit undertake the project management role up to a cost of £50K spread over the 07/08 and 08/09 financial years.

-     To commit to a contribution of £20K to the capital cost of the project during the 08/09 financial year.

      The construction of the Art Piece was to be co-ordinated within the programme for the construction of the roundabout over the M1/Westlink tunnel, which was initially due to be completed in Autumn 2009 but was subsequently brought forward to Spring 2009.

      In the period since the selection of the Artist, the roles and associated responsibilities and level of financial project commitments from the project partners has been clarified.

Also within this period:

-     BCC undertook an Economic Appraisal (funded by DSD) carried out by KPMG in June 2007 approved by DFP in October 2007;

-     The financial contribution from DSD was confirmed as £300k;

-     Further resources were secured from the ACNI to meet the shortfall in the projected budget of £400,000 (excluding in-kind costs);

-     Progression of the project was to include continued community engagement.

      The Development Committee of Wednesday 12 December 2007, approved the terms of reference for the Broadway Junction Public Art Board and Steering Panel and agreed that the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (or their nominees), together with one Councillor from each of the Balmoral and Lower Falls Electoral Areas, be appointed to the Project Board.  The Broadway Project Board met  on 17 June 2008 where it was confirmed that, due to a significant increase in the costs of construction materials (steel in particular) since the commission was originally awarded in 2005, the total estimated project cost for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

            The Director reminded the Members that eight of the ten most deprived electoral wards within Northern Ireland were located within Belfast and that 48% of the City’s population lived within the most deprived Super Output Areas in Northern Ireland.  She pointed out that recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation had indicated that across the United Kingdom child poverty represented 71% of Social Services expenditure. 

            She stated that, although the Council had no statutory requirement to alleviate poverty, it had civic responsibilities for the City as a whole.  Accordingly, in order to obtain information, the Development Department had commissioned Dr. Michael Morrissey, a former professor with the University of Ulster, to undertake research on poverty in Belfast with the aim of:

(i)   assessing the level of poverty in Belfast by comparing it with other cities;

(ii)  identifying ways in which the Council could help eradicate poverty within the City; and

(iii)recommending anti-poverty initiatives which the Council could promote in the short and medium terms.

            She reported that Dr. Morrissey had completed his report and that a summary version, which had been circulated previously to the Members, was available on modern.gov.  The full version of the report was available from the Development Department upon request.

            The Director indicated that Dr. Morrissey had devised a new method of measuring poverty based on the European Standard of Income measurement and poverty risk analysis which ascertained which types of households were most likely to be in poverty.  The report had identified that the main categories of households at the highest risk of poverty were:

·         the young and the elderly

·         the workless

·         lone parents

            She stated that, considering the importance of the poverty issue in Belfast, it was proposed that the Council develop an Anti-Poverty Policy.  As part of the process, the Department intended to hold on 30th January a half-day workshop to which all Members of the Council, Chief Officers and key external experts would be invited. 

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided, agreed to the holding of a workshop on 30th January and authorised the payment of all expenditure and allowances in connection with the event.

            The Committee agreed to a request from the Nomadic Trust to receive at its monthly meeting in January a presentation from its Chairman regarding the progress which had been achieved in connection with the restoration of the SS Nomadic.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Community & Leisure Services Sub-Committee of 11th May 2004 awarded seventy seven Revenue Grants for the period 2004?07.  Due to the timescale for the Department’s Grant Aid Review these awards were extended for the period 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively.

      In extending the contract period the Committee was aware of the potential risk of limiting equality of treatment and opportunity of those organisations which had not had the chance to apply for this

grant previously.  Subsequently the Development Committee of 12th December 2007 agreed a one-off additional allocation to the Revenue Grant budget of £50,000 to allow new applications from either

·         newly formed groups with premises, or

·         established groups who had acquired premises since the 2003-04 open call.

      Subsequent to public advertisement, a total of 10 Revenue Grant applications were received by the closing date.  The Development Committee of 11th June 2008 agreed the recommendation of 4 awards and 6 rejections of funding.

      Those applications rejected for funding were notified of the decision and their right to appeal.

Key Issues

      Revenue Grants are allocated under three categories or grades towards the running costs of community facilities.  Precedence is given to neighbourhood groups that can demonstrate a broad based programme of activity.

      The appeal process was agreed by the Community and Leisure Sub-Committee at its meeting on 10th January 2006.  Organisations who wish to dispute the Committee decision to reject their application for funding are invited to make a reasoned written submission.  The appeal submission can only be based on the information provided by the group with their application and in advance of the closing date.  No new or additional information will be considered.

      There are then three courses of action open to the Committee

1.      To accept the Community Development Manager’s recommendation

2.      To accept the reasoned written response of the group

3.      To defer a decision and ask for an oral presentation from both the group and the relevant officer at a future meeting of the Committee.

      One appeal was received from Annadale & Haywood Residents’ Association.  The group provided a supporting written submission outlining their reason for appeal.

      In line with our developmental approach, the group were subsequently invited to meet with Council officers where they were afforded the opportunity to discuss the appeal submission in detail.

      Upon review of the assessment process, the information provided by the group in the written appeal submission and the subsequent meeting were judged not to provide grounds to alter the original rejection of the application.

      The application does not comply with our grant-aid criteria which relates to ‘Broad Based Programme’ in that the organisation did not demonstrate or provide evidence of work with children and young people during the assessment process.  This position is further reinforced by the lack of a Child Protection Policy.

Resource Implications

Financial

      Within current agreed budget for Revenue Grants.

Human Resources

      There are no additional staff resources required other than those normally deployed in the administration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Entertainments Licence for St. George’s Market

            The Committee was advised that the current Entertainments Licence for St. George’s Market permitted a maximum of 2,000 persons to be in attendance at music and concert events.  However, hirers had enquired as to whether the capacity could be increased.  Accordingly, an investigation, which had involved staff from both the Building Control Service and the Health and Safety Team, had ascertained that the capacity of the venue could be increased to 3,000.

            The Director pointed out that, should the Council’s Licensing Committee approve of the variation of the Entertainments Licence to increase the capacity of the venue to 3,000, the increase in the number of tickets which could be sold for events at the Market would have financial benefits for the hirers.  It would be advisable, therefore, for the Council to increase by 50% the hire charge which would apply to those events utilising the 3,000 capacity.  Accordingly, she recommended that an application for the abovementioned variation of the Entertainments Licence be submitted and, if successful, the undernoted charges apply for events with a capacity of 3,000 persons:

Additional Charges

Partition Units                   £3.00 per unit

Electricity                         N.I.E. Rates + 5%

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Smithfield Market Letting

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 22nd September, 1999, it had granted authority for the Director, in consultation with the Chairman, to approve the terms of future lettings of Smithfield Market, subject to those terms being reported retrospectively to the Committee.  The Director reported that unit 13/14 had been let to

Matthew and Catherine Chambers, 62 Church Street, Antrim, at a cost of £900 per month for the purposes of the retailing of music merchandise, clothing, giftware, make?up and footwear.  The traders had previously been operating in unit 7.

            She reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 13th August, it had agreed that unit 13/14 could be used for display or showcase purposes by local arts and crafts students and community groups.  As this unit had now been let it could no longer be used for this purpose.

Noted.

            The Community Development Manager informed the Committee that at the recent Pride of Place Awards, which highlighted and rewarded the work of community groups, two organisations from Belfast, namely the Lower Ormeau Residents’ Action Group and Engage with Age, had won in the Cities category within their own section.

            The Committee expressed its satisfaction at this information and requested that its congratulations be conveyed to the groups concerned.