Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors D. Dodds, Lavery, P. Maskey and McCarthy

            The minutes of the meeting of 10th December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th January, subject to:

(i)   the omission of the minute under the heading “Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre” which, at the request of Councillor Stoker, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration;

(ii)  the omission of that portion of the minute under the heading “Economic Development” referring to the World Trade Centre Belfast which, at the request of Councillor McCarthy, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and

(iii)the omission of the minute under the heading “Tender for the Provision of Café and Bar Services at the Ulster Hall” which, at the request of Councillor B. Kelly, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 12th November, it had agreed to receive a presentation from representatives of the Nomadic Trust to allow them to update the Committee concerning the progress of the project and to consider the release of the penultimate £50,000 of Council funding.  Accordingly, the Committee was advised that Ms. L. Cowan and Messrs Ian Savage and Ronan Corrigan were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            With the assistance of visual aids, Mr. Savage informed the Committee that the objectives of the Nomadic Trust were to:

(i)   effect a sensitive and sustainable restoration of the vessel;

(ii)  develop a highly entertaining, competitive and collaborative attraction;

(iii)focus on the wider social, heritage, educational and economic impact of the ship and to maximise access to it;

(iv)create a legacy for Belfast; and

(v)  be a well-governed Trust.

            He informed the Members further that the intention was that the refurbished Nomadic would become a museum where various artefacts from the period would be displayed and tours of the ship would be available in order to provide visitors with an in?depth understanding of its history and heritage.  In addition, the vessel would contain an exhibition and events area. 

            He pointed out that in the five months following the opening of the Nomadic to the public in 2007, the ship had attracted over 18,000 visitors and that an economic appraisal had ascertained that the refurbishment and associated costs would be in the region of £5 million.  He indicated that the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Titanic Quarter Limited had agreed to restore the Hamilton Dock to enable the Nomadic to be permanently located thereat and, in September 2008, the Nomadic had been accepted onto the Core Collection of Historic Ships, which included other high profile vessels such as the Cutty Sark. 

            He advised the Committee that later in the month a public appeal for funds would be launched and that the Institute of Directors had nominated the Trust as the charity which it would support during 2009.  In addition, once a Conservation Management Plan had been completed, an application for assistance would be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Also, the Nomadic Trust had been shortlisted to receive funding under the Peace III Shared Space Initiative and the outcome of the final deliberations would be known in the coming weeks.  This, if successful, would result in the project receiving funding of £2 million.  He pointed out that, if the Trust received all the monies which it had applied for, it would have sufficient funding to complete the project to refurbish the vessel.

            Mr. Savage informed the Members that the Trust was grateful for the £150,000 which it had received in recent years from the Council and that this had been used to undertake a wide range of works, including the preparation of the ship for its opening in 2007, movement of the ship to the Odyssey, marketing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            (Mr. T. Salmon, Director of Corporate Services, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered a report which had been prepared by the Director of Corporate Services in respect of the estimates of revenue expenditure for the year 2009/2010.  A copy of that section of the report, in so far as it applies specifically to the Development Committee, is set out hereunder:

      “A spending limit of £24,226,210 is recommended for the Development Department in respect of the financial year 2009/10.  Excluding capital charges of £1,326,950 this represents an increase of £429,760 or 1.91% over last year.

      The main budgetary intentions of the Department for 2009/10 are set out below:

      The Department’s increased budget of £429,760 provides for increased employer’s superannuation and utility costs of £75,180 and £207,470 respectively.

      The Department will also incur increased costs with the opening of the Ulster Hall  and the new funding arrangements with DETI for Local Economic Development.

      The Ulster Hall will be fully operational in 2009/10. This will increase the Department’s expenditure by £751,150 but will be mostly offset with income of £574,300.

      The first phase of the European Development Funding for Local Economic Development is complete. Under this arrangement 50% funding was from the European Union through DETI with the remaining 50% funding being provided by the Council. Under the new programme, with the change in priority areas, it is anticipated that income from DETI will fall to 40% leaving the Council bearing 60% of the cost of the programme. This funding change will result in additional costs of £180,000 in 2009/10 and may lead to further additional costs in subsequent years. 

      Members will recall that a budget of £400,000 was included in the 2008/09 estimates to support the Tall Ships event. A budget of £200,000 has been included in the 2009/10 estimates resulting in a reduction of £200,000.

      Approval was also granted in 2008/09 to support the World Irish Dancing Championships. This budget will not be required in 2009/10 resulting in cost reductions of £100,000.

      Costs associated with Interreg and BERI projects of £59,660 and £66,780 respectively have not been included in this year’s estimate. These three year European funded projects, aimed at promoting best practice across Europe, are now complete.

      Cost reductions have also been made in the Policy and Research Unit. As a result of work carried out by Business Improvement, the Policy and Research Unit is now structured to allow much of its work to be carried out internally. This will reduce it’s reliance on external consultants and as a result savings of £60,940 have been included in the 2009/10 estimates.

      The Department will make a contribution of £163,840 to the efficiency programme in 2009/10.  Efficiency savings will be made as follows:

      Departmental efficiencies will be made in employee costs as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of 10^th December under the heading “Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre” which, at the request of Councillor Stoker, was referred  back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 5^th January.

            (Mr. C. Quigley, Director of Legal Services, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter to enable a special meeting to be held to which representatives from the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre would be invited.

To consider further that portion of the minute of 10^th December under the heading “Economic Development” relating to the World Trade Centre Belfast which, at the request of Councillor McCarthy, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 5^th January.

            The Committee considered further that portion of the minute of the meeting of 10th December under the heading “Economic Development” which referred to the World Trade Centre Belfast which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 5th January at the request of Councillor McCarthy.  An extract of the meeting in this regard is set out hereunder:

      “The Committee considered the undernoted report:

‘Relevant Background Information

      World Trade Centre Belfast Business Plan

      BelfastCity Council acquired the World Trade Centre Belfast licence in 2002 in partnership with Multi Development. In 2007, the Council purchased back Multi Development’s 50% of the licence. Since the appointment of the WTC Officer in March 2007, work has been undertaken to develop WTC Belfast activities. This has included a WTC Belfast Export Excellence Seminar Series for local companies this year as well as managing inward investment activities. To determine the longer term plans for WTC Belfast services, a business plan has been developed.

Key Issues

      World Trade Centre Belfast

      The strategies outlined by Programme for Government, DETI and Invest NI emphasise the need to support more companies to become exporters.  Invest NI currently supports approximately only 5% of local companies and one of their priorities is to attract more client companies.  The WTC business plan highlights the trade barriers and needs of local companies, the current assistance available and gaps in provision which WTC Belfast can fill.  The business plan also details the commercial opportunities for WTC Belfast to secure income in order to secure the sustainability and growth of the service activities.

      It proposes the following services:

-     WTC Belfast Membership – target of 200 member companies established

-     WTC Global Skills Workshops – introducing companies to the practicalities of trading internationally

-     WTC Belfast Trade Missions – linking in with current providers (NICCI, Invest NI), we will undertake a small number of trade missions to target markets

-     WTC Global Supply Chain Management Programmes – helping companies improve their global supply chain management by looking at how they buy, sell or make products internationally

-     WTC Belfast Local Networking Events – series of breakfast events on key topics of interest to local businesses

-     WTC Belfast Investor Gateway Service – promoting Belfast as a city in which to invest and do business, linking with the key public and private sector agencies that can support potential investors.

      WTC Belfast will adopt the following principles in terms of service delivery:

-     Commercial approach: Services will be charged and income generated

-     Regional approach:  Membership and services will be offered to companies both regionally and internationally in cases where income can be generated or potential investment can be brought to the City. A regional approach also serves to attract co-funding for projects delivered on behalf of other organisations such as Invest NI. Participation costs by companies located outside of Belfast will be higher than those for Belfast businesses.

-     Partnership approach: WTC Belfast will work in partnership with other local delivery organisations as well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider further the minute of 10^th December under the heading “Tender for the Provision of Café and Bar Services at the Ulster Hall” which, at the request of Councillor B. Kelly, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 5^th January.

            The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 10th December under the heading “Tender for the Provision of Café and Bar Services at the Ulster Hall” which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 5th January at the request of Councillor B. Kelly.  An extract of the minute in this regard is set out hereunder:

      “The Director informed the Committee that, in order to improve upon the range of services which would be offered to customers at the re?opened Ulster Hall, it was intended that a café be located in the main foyer during Monday to Saturday, which would operate in line with the box office opening hours and that a bar service would be available during each event.  Accordingly, tenders had been sought for the provision of café and bar services at the facility.  She pointed out that catering functions taking place within the Ulster Hall would not be considered as part of the catering franchise.  She reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 10th September, concern had been expressed regarding a proposal to restrict the Ulster Hall catering outlet to provide only one brand of coffee.  She informed the Members that this restriction had been removed from the tender documentation.

      The Director recommended, in order to ensure that the franchisee could be appointed as quickly as possible, that authority be delegated to herself and the Chairman to accept the most advantageous tender received.

      After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation.”

            Having been advised that the tendering process had been undertaken in accordance with the Council’s normal procurement procedures, Councillor B. Kelly indicated that she was content for the minute to be agreed.  Accordingly, the Committee agreed to adhere to its decision of 10th December regarding the tender for the provision of café and bar services at the Ulster Hall.

            In view of the foregoing decision, the Manager of the Waterfront and Ulster Halls circulated a report regarding the result of the tendering process.  This indicated that five submissions had been received and that, after evaluation, the three highest scoring tenderers had been interviewed.  Following the interview and final evaluation, it had been ascertained that the tender, in the sum of £15,000 per annum, submitted by Shine Productions Limited, had scored the highest marks and represented the most advantageous financial offer to the Council.  Accordingly, he recommended that the tender be awarded to Shine Productions Limited, Bankmore Square, Belfast, on a three-year basis commencing 1st March, 2009, with the potential to extend on the Council’s part for a further period of two years.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      This report provides an update on the general progress of the Renewing the Routes programme and seeks endorsement of proposed amendments to identified projects within the agreed action plans.

      The modification to the projects programme relates to the proposed reallocation of approved funding as a response to changed circumstances in respect of an environmental improvement project and a built heritage project. The projects at Wilton’s Funeral Parlour and for tree planting, which were approved as part of the Crumlin Road Integrated Development Fund (IDF) plan, are no longer feasible within the funding timescales.

Key Issues

      Shankill Road

      The main emphasis for the regeneration on Shankill Road remains the commercial frontage improvements. Over sixty premises have now taken part in the scheme, with a further fifty businesses in line to benefit in the New Year. The block-by-block approach means that businesses and residents can immediately see a significant impact from the improvements works along on the road, with enhanced, bright and attractive places to work and shop.

      The ongoing complementary activity has seen the completion of additional public realm improvements, funded by Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO), at the Agnes Street and Lanark Way key junctions. This work, coordinated by the Unit on behalf of BRO, is continuing in the Woodvale Park area with improved pedestrian crossings and additional resurfacing. The project will also include feature embellishments to street lighting alongside the installation of several pedestrian benches, with the work being completed by February 2009.

      Completed IDF funded projects include bespoke railings and granite entrance features at West Belfast Orange Hall, floodlighting to Woodvale MethodistChurch and high quality railings at West Kirk Presbyterian Church.  Projects delivered in partnership with other Council Departments include floral baskets, tourism signage and lighting to the Woodvale Park ‘Family Tree’ sculpture.

      Early 2009 will see works on site to restore Shankill RestGarden’s listed perimeter wall, the cleaning of the stonework to Shankill Library and landscaping at Woodvale Presbyterian Church. Once restored it is proposed that the ShankillRest Garden wall will be lit by recessed up-lighting, this project is currently at the design stage.

      Upper Springfield Road

      The designs are now being finalised for an environmental project to improve the road frontage and reclaim an area of green space from anti-social behaviour and misuse at Springhill Park ‘funnel’. Renewing the Routes, Parks & Leisure and Groundwork NI have worked with the local community over the last year and works are scheduled to begin on site in January 2009. New railings, paths, landscaping, planting and future artworks from the community will bring this green space back into use in time for the summer.

      Commercial improvements have now been designed to complement previous schemes in the area and will be presented to owners/occupiers for final approval in February 2009 with work scheduled to commence in March 2009. DRD Roads Service has approved the installation of street lighting embellishments for installation in the new year.

      An artist  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware that the European Unit brings regular progress reports to Members.  The purpose of this report is to advise Members of progress with respect to:

-     OPENCities project

-     Interreg IVA programme

-     Comet Brussels visit

-     Opportunity Europe 2008

-     European Year of Intercultural Dialogue: Closing Conference

Key Issues

      1.   OPENCities Project

      Members will recall their decision on 21 March 2007 to allow BelfastCity Council’s European Unit to develop a proposal to secure funding within the European Urbact II programme.  Members will also recall that a proposal was successfully developed to address the issues around economic migration in Belfast and to identify best practise economic migration tools in cities elsewhere in Europe.  The project was granted €75,000 for a development phase to recruit partner cities and their respective managing authorities and plan the 30 month phase II programme.

      At this stage the project was awarded a new EU Commission Fast Track label, this means that the EU Commission views the project as a flagship project and will assign Commission staff from relevant departments to work with the project and ensure that any findings are considered when developing future European policies relating to economic migration.

      On 24 November 2008, Belfast City Council as lead partner was informed that the Stage II application had been successful, securing a further €635,000 funding.

      The programme funding under Urbact II is provided at 70% and will mean in practice that Belfast City Council will contribute approximately €30,000 over the 30 month period but will in turn secure two full time posts to manage the project.

      The OPENCities project involves the following partners; Dublin, Sofia, Bilbao, Vienna, Düsseldorf, Bucharest, Gdansk, Nitra, Cardiff, Madrid and the British Council Madrid.

      The OPENCities project will produce a number of outputs including an openness index, best practice exchanges and reports, local action plans and toolkits.

      2.   Interreg IVA

      Members will be aware that on 14 December 2007 the Comet Interreg partnership submitted a multi-annual plan for funding to the Special EU Programmes Body.  The plan was developed over 14 months following extensive awareness raising, promotion and project development throughout the metropolitan area.  The plan contained 18 (out of an original 54) projects across the themes of enterprise, tourism and public sector collaboration totalling £18 million.  At the same time the other four Interreg Partnerships

across NI and the border region submitted competing bids for the Interreg IVA funding of €258 million.  Although Comet has not received a formal letter of offer, the partnership board has been told that, to date, it has secured €5.5 million to deliver seven projects across the border and Comet regions.

      Details of the seven projects are available on Modern.gov. Members should however note that Belfast City Council and its stakeholders will benefit in particular from:

A business development programme led by the NITC

A NI Chamber of Commerce collaboration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      In January 2007 the former Development (Arts) Sub-Committee agreed a proposal for the use of a database system and digital sound recorders to facilitate groups involved in the community archive process. This was to be used as a mechanism to capture the value of Belfast’s heritage and deliver benefit to citizens.

      Community archives is an established and still developing methodology which enables communities to capture, preserve, communicate and retain ownership of  their heritage.  Material collected as part of the scheme includes oral histories, photographs and connections to other archives. Further advantages of Community Archives are the application of professional standards in a voluntary context, skills development and social cohesion.

      Since the report in January 2007 a number of key activities have taken place which have validated the Community Archive approach.

      An initial £50,000 from the Department of Finance and Personnel has enabled the design and set-up of the overall NI Community Archive website.  Resources in kind have also been provided by the BBC, the CausewayMuseum Service and BelfastCity Council.  This new NI Community Archive website is locally specific to conditions in Northern Ireland and is of the highest international quality standard.

Key Issues

      The NI Community Archive website has been developed to the highest standards which will ensure that material, once collected, will be preserved and available, including audio, video, photographs and written records. The project will provide technical services, specialist training and support. 

      The Community Archive process supports Aim 2.2 of the Integrated Cultural Strategy to ‘provide support and creative responses to the social and political challenges in the City’, and Objective G to ‘build capacity through work with arts and heritage organizations and practitioners’.

      The project answers a real need for a joined-up approach and delivers on key strategic goals, including:

-     enabling as many people as possible to experience and appreciate the excellence of our cultural assets

-     promoting creativity and innovation and lifelong learning

-     encouraging respect for and celebration of diversity

-     ensuring the sustainable management of our cultural infrastructure

-     develop and deliver quality cultural products and services

-     reform and modernise service delivery.

      To ensure continuity, a steering group is actively seeking Central Government support.  The Public Record Office is very positive about the process and, as well as providing limited support from revenue budgets in the new year, may facilitate a development worker.

      The quality, practical support and cross-cutting nature of the NI Community Archive means that it has the potential to deliver cost?effectively on a wide range of heritage objectives within Belfast, especially when certain core costs are carried externally.

      The Heritage Lottery Fund has suggested that it would be acceptable to include costs associated with community archive service provision in projects they fund, and they would welcome the opportunity to support such projects, given that the process provides some guarantee of proper procedure.

      It is therefore proposed that Members agree to continued involvement in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework

            The Director advised the Committee that TTC International, the company which had been awarded the tender to develop, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, an Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework for Belfast was keen to undertake in February a workshop for Members in order to hear their views on the matter.

            She informed the Members that the Tourist Board had indicated that it wished to be allocated two seats on the Steering Group which would be established to manage the implementation of the Framework and that it was considered that the Committee should have equal representation on the Group.  Accordingly, she recommended that the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman be appointed to represent the Committee on the Steering Group.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation and agreed that those Members of the Committee who so wished be authorised to attend the workshop which TTC International would be holding in February.

Fourth AnnualAll Island Infrastructure

Investment Conference

            The Committee agreed, under the terms of the Council’s Subvention Policy, that £1,500 be allocated to assist with the costs of the holding of the Fourth Annual All Island Infrastructure Investment Conference to be held in March.

Human Security in the 21st Century Conference

            The Committee agreed, under the terms of the Council’s Subvention Policy, that £1,500 be allocated to assist with the costs of the organisation of the Human Security in the 21st Century Conference to be held in April.

Retail Conference 2009

            The Director informed the Members that Belfast City Centre Management intended to organise in the Spring a Conference to discuss the current state of the retail sector in Belfast and its immediate and mid to long term future.  Since the Company intended to keep the conference fee to a minimum in order to encourage delegates to attend, it had requested that the Committee provide a sum of £5,000 towards the cost of organising the Conference.

            She reminded the Committee that the Council was supporting and developing actively the retail sector in the City.  The Conference would, therefore, provide the Council with an opportunity to highlight the work which it was undertaking currently in this regard and to work with the retail sector to develop a response plan to the current economic crisis.  Accordingly, she recommended that the Committee provide £5,000 to Belfast City Centre Management in connection with its Retail Conference 2009.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation.

Nashville Sister Cities Event

            The Director reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 10th December, it had agreed to participate in a Sister Cities celebration event scheduled to be held in Nashville on 17th March.

            She informed the Committee that the Queen’s University of Belfast had advised the Council recently that, since it had a strategic relationship with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, it would be keen to be represented at the event.  She pointed out that, as the Council was responsible for organising the event, it would be necessary for the Committee to agree  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Committee considered the following requests for assistance which had been received under the Support for Sport Scheme in relation to events and promotions:

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

            The Managing Director of the Waterfront and Ulster Halls reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 10th December, it had agreed that tenders be invited for the provision of event and deep cleaning services at the refurbished Ulster Hall.  However, it would now be necessary for the Committee to agree the criteria which would be used to evaluate the various tenders received.  Accordingly, he recommended that the following tender evaluation criteria be used:

·         price;

·         methodology;

·         previous experience;

·         calibre of the Project Manager and specific team members, including the reliability of the service team;

·         health and safety implementation;

·         quality of products, service, processes and controls; and

·         financial standing.

            In answer to a Member’s question, the Managing Director informed the Committee that the cleaning company would only be used as and when required and that the successful company would be subject to performance management criteria which should ensure that satisfactory work was undertaken.

            Following further discussion, the Committee agreed that the foregoing tender evaluation criteria be used to assess the tenders for the event and deep cleaning at the Ulster Hall.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of a report concerning the lease which Connswater Community and Leisure Limited held for the Ballymacarrett Leisure Centre to enable further information to be obtained.