Agenda and minutes

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

            The minutes of the meetings of 8th and 16th September were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st October, subject to:

(i)   the omission of the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “London 2012 Cultural Olympiad – Live Sites Screen” which, at the request of Councillor Convery, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration;

(ii)  the omission of the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “Community Centres – Conditions of Hire” which, at the request of Councillor Crozier, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration;

(iii)the omission of that portion of the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “Sister City Nashville” in so far as it related to the outward Civic Visit to Nashville in 2010 which, at the request of Councillor Stalford, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and

(iv)the omission of the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “United Kingdom City of Culture 2013” which, at the request of Councillor Bernie Kelly, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

In pursuance of the Committee’s decision of 16^th September, to receive a presentation from Friends of the Earth regarding its Belfast Cycle City Vision 2020.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 16th September, it had agreed to receive from Friends of the Earth a presentation regarding its Belfast Cycle City Vision for 2020.  It was reported that Mr. Andrew McMurray, Belfast Friends of the Earth, Mr. Steven Patterson, Sustrans, and Mr. Roy White, Northern Ireland Cycling Initiative, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            Mr. McMurray indicated that in the recent years there had been a visible increase in the number of cyclists in Belfast.  However, the growth in cycling was being hampered by the limited size and inadequate quality of the cycle network, insufficient promotion and the lack of an agreed strategic vision.  Accordingly, Belfast Friends of the Earth, together with Sustrans and the Northern Ireland Cycling Initiative, had produced the Belfast Cycle City Vision for 2020.  This aimed to ensure that cycle use in Belfast was equivalent to a number of cities in the United Kingdom, with an ambitious but realisable target of 10% of all trips in the City being undertaken by bicycle, to increase funding for cycling projects and to ensure the production of a comprehensive Cycling Strategy for Belfast.

            He reminded the Members of the environmental and health benefits of cycling and pointed out that the Comber Greenway had received international recognition the previous week when it had been awarded first prize in the European Greenway Awards, which promoted routes in Europe which were designed for non-motorised traffic.  He pointed out further that in Belfast the quality of cycle routes varied, there was a disjointed cycle infrastructure, cars were permitted to park in cycle routes and the Streets Ahead Project, involving the planned pedestrianisation of more areas within the City centre and the introduction of a number of one-way streets, might make cycling more difficult.  He advised the Committee that the Travel Survey for Northern Ireland had indicated that during the period 2005-2007  3% of people had commuted to work by bike, compared to 1% in 2003-2005, and that the high quality National Cycle Network route along the River Lagan had resulted in an increase in usage of 166% since 2000.

            Mr. Patterson informed the Committee that Sustrans was operating currently a Bike It Campaign in ten schools in Belfast.  This aimed to give children the skills and information which they needed in order to cycle to school and to create a positive cycling culture which would, hopefully, continue for many years.  He pointed out that, following the introduction of Bike It Campaigns in other parts of the United Kingdom, there had been an increase in the number of children showing an interest in cycling to school.

            At the conclusion of the presentation, Mr. McMurray requested that the Council endorse the Belfast Cycle City Vision for 2020, which set a target of 10% of all trips in the City being undertaken by bicycle, requested that at least £15 per person per year be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            The Committee was reminded that the Lord Mayor, at the meeting of the Council on 1st October, in accordance with Standing Order 11(e), had referred to the Development Committee the undernoted Notice of Motion which had been proposed by Councillor Attwood and seconded by Councillor Hartley:

      “Belfast City Council notes the introduction recently of the Dublinbikes scheme in Dublin which seeks to encourage cycling and which makes available bicycles for public use at a negligible cost to the user; notes also that this scheme has been developed with a commercial sponsor thereby minimising the cost to the public purse and that similar schemes have been introduced successfully in Blackpool, Copenhagen and Paris.

      The Council’s recently adopted Transport Policy encourages a shift away from private car use towards more sustainable forms of travel such as walking, cycling and greater use of public transport and includes a provision which commits the Council to use its influence with Statutory Agencies to seek to further these aims.  The Council agrees therefore to engage with the Department for Regional Development, and other relevant agencies, in relation to the possibility of the introduction of such a cycling scheme in Belfast.”

            Councillor N. Kelly informed the meeting that Councillor Attwood was unable to attend the meeting and had asked him to address the Committee on his behalf regarding the Notice of Motion.  He pointed out that 10,000 persons had registered to use the Dublinbikes Scheme in its first week of operation and, bearing in mind the information which had been provided earlier in the meeting regarding the Belfast Cycle City Vision 2020, he believed that the Council should work with the Department for Regional Development and other relevant agencies to investigate the possibility of introducing a similar scheme in Belfast.

            Following discussion in the matter, the Committee agreed that Council officers discuss the matter with Belfast City Centre Management and the Department for Regional Development and submit a report to the Committee in due course.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of 16^th September under the heading “London 2012 Cultural Olympiad – Live Sites Screen” which, at the request of Councillor Pat Convery, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 1^st September.

            The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “London 2012 Cultural Olympiad - Live Sites Screen” which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 1st October at the request of Councillor Convery.  An extract of the minute in this regard is set out hereunder:

      “The Committee considered the undernoted report:

‘Relevant Background Information

      In May, August and December 2008 the Development Committee received details of plans for the Cultural Olympiad to be staged leading up to and during the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.  As part of the original ethos, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, mirrored the classical Greeks in maintaining that the purpose of the Olympic Games was to celebrate mind, body and spirit.  From this a Cultural Olympiad was established to include all cultural events of the Olympic Movement.  This Olympiad was a period when artists from around the world showcased their work in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Up until 1948 medals were awarded for sculpture, music, literature and art.  The modern Cultural Olympiad, which will be part of the 2012 Games, will focus on the following themes:

-     Bringing together culture and sport

-     Encouraging audiences to take part

-     Animating public spaces – through street theatre, public art, circus skills and live big screen sites

-     Using culture and sport to raise issues of environmental sustainability, health and wellbeing

-     Honouring and sharing the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

-     Encouraging collaborations and innovation between communities and cultural sectors

-     Enhancing the learning, skills and personal development of young people by linking with education programmes

      The key to this process for the 2012 Games has been the development of a series of “live sites” which involve large LED screens being installed within public performance space across the United Kingdom.  In December 2008 the Development Committee received formal details on the costs for such a project.  They agreed this information be

subsequently referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for formal consideration in January 2009.  At this point the report was withdrawn due to a lack of financial resources being made available.

Key Issues

      London 2012 Cultural Olympiad –

      “Live Sites” Public Screen

      In August and December, 2008 the Council received details on the “Live Sites” public screens from LOCOG 2012.  The proposal would see a permanent 25sq m screen, valued by the BBC and LOCOG 2012 at £500,000, positioned in the heart of the City centre.  The initial proposal was for the screen to be located in Donegall Place but this has been rejected by LOCOG on the basis that the screen would not be in position until after the 2012 Olympics had been staged.  Therefore LOCOG, along with DSD, are proposing that the screen be located within the grounds of City Hall – facing into the lawn from Donegall Square East.  The concept would mean that the BBC, LOCOG  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of 16^th September under the heading “Community Centres – Conditions of Hire” which, at the request of Councillor Crozier, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 1^st October.

            The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “Community Centres – Conditions of Hire” which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 1st October at the request of Councillor Crozier.  An extract of the minute in this regard is set out hereunder:

      “The Committee noted that the current conditions of hire in respect of directly?managed Community Centres stated that ‘the facility will only be used for the purposes stated in the application and shall not be used for party political or religious activities’ and that this clause appeared to have been based on the prevailing practice in the Leisure Services Department in the mid-1980s.  Following a request from an Elected Member as to whether the ban on religious activity use could be removed from the conditions, advice had been sought from Legal Services.  Essentially this advice indicated that there was nothing within current legislation to prevent the use of Council property for religious activity, so long as there was no breach of Section 76 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.  It was pointed out that, if this condition in connection with the hiring of Community Centres were to be removed there might be implications for other Council assets.

      The Director informed the Committee that, subsequent to the papers for the meeting having been distributed, the matter had been discussed by the Chief Officers’ Management Team where it had been ascertained that there were inconsistencies across the Council regarding conditions of hire.  Accordingly, the Team had agreed that officers from the Development, Parks and Leisure and Legal Services Departments meet as a matter of urgency to discuss the situation and submit a report to a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.  She requested therefore that the Committee defer consideration of the report to enable the group appointed by the Management Team to investigate conditions of hire across the Council and to submit its report to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

      During discussion in the matter, several Members pointed out that the legal advice indicated clearly that Community Centres could be used for religious purposes and that, therefore, the Committee should agree to amend the conditions of hire for such buildings. 

      Following further discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor Rodgers,

Seconded by Councillor McCausland,

      That, in view of the advice provided by Legal Services, the Committee agrees to amend the conditions of hire for Community Centres to enable religious groups to use such premises, on the understanding that there would be no breach of Section 76 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

      On a vote by show of hands six Members voted in favour of the proposal and one against and it was accordingly declared carried.”

            During discussion in the matter, the Community Services Manager informed the Committee that religious organisations could and did use community centres but that the standard conditions of hire did not permit the use of such centres for religious purposes.  She pointed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider further the minute of the meeting of 16^th September under the heading “United Kingdom City of Culture 2013” which, at the request of Councillor Bernie Kelly, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 1^st October.

            The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 16th September under the heading “United Kingdom City of Culture 2013” which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 1st September at the request of Councillor Bernie Kelly.  An extract of the minute in this regard is set out hereunder:

      “The Committee considered the undernoted report:

‘Relevant Background Information

      The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a UK-wide contest for areas to be designated as UK City of Culture 2013. Thereafter the competition will be staged every four years. 

      The overall aim is to encourage the use of culture as a catalyst for a “step change”.

      The successful city will need to: 

-     Deliver a high quality cultural programme (similar standard to that delivered by Liverpool Capital of Culture) that spans the course of the year and reaches a wide variety of audiences

-     Deliver a programme that uses culture to lead to lasting social regeneration

-     Demonstrate economic impact from the programme

-     Maximise the legacy of UK City of Culture

      Bids must be distinctive, ambitious, demonstrate cultural and artistic excellence, reflect a broad partnership, reach out to wide range of audiences and participants (especially under representative groups), be realistic and achievable.  The assessment criteria have been published as part of the guidance notes.

Key Issues

      Outline proposals for 2013 can be submitted by 15 October 2009 for initial feedback from expert assessors.  This part of the process is optional.  An initial bid must then be submitted by 11 December 2009 and, if shortlisted, areas will be asked to submit a second full and final bid by the 28 May 2010.

      Belfast has the opportunity to bid for UK City of Culture 2013 either on behalf of the City or a wider area.  There has been some discussion that there could be a regional bid from Northern Ireland incorporating Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.  Both cities have registered an initial expression of interest.  The guidance notes state that the location bidding should have a clear identity for visitors; a city and its hinterland; or a closely linked set of urban areas; or be a cohesive area capable of sustaining a concentred programme of cultural activities.

      Officers have met with the regional and city stakeholders, including Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Department of Social Development, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and Belfast City Centre Management. The purpose of the meeting was to update stakeholders on the UK City of Culture initiative and gauge support. The initiative was met with a positive response; the general view is that the timing is right for Belfast to submit a bid given the level of investment in culture related infrastructure including the opening of the Titanic SignatureBuilding in 2012.  

      Regional agencies expressed the desire to see the strongest bid coming from Northern Ireland which may be one collective bid based on a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider further that portion of the minute of the meeting of 16^th September under the heading “Sister City Nashville” which referred to the outward Civic Visit to Nashville in 2010 which, at the request of Councillor Stalford, was referred back to the Committee by the Council at its meeting on 1^st October.

            The Committee considered further that portion of the minute of 16th September under the heading “Sister City Nashville” in so far as it related to the outward Civic Visit to Nashville in 2010, which had been taken back at the Council meeting on 1st October at the request of Councillor Stalford.  An extract of that portion of the minute is set out hereunder:

      “The Committee considered the undernoted report:

‘Relevant Background Information

      Outward Civic Visit To Nashville 2010

      Approval is sought for an inward Civic Visit from Mayor Dean and delegation and an outward Civic Visit by the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee or their nominees, plus 3 officers on 11–14 March 2010

 (no additional financial commitment is required from Committee).  Music tourism events are scheduled for Nashville in March 2010.  Delivered by the BelfastNashville Songwriters’ Festival and supported by Arts Council NI, this will feature Belfast musicians who will perform with high profile singer?songwriters from Nashville.  It is a unique opportunity to launch Belfast’s music tourism initiatives internationally and this will be endorsed by the Nashville Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Nashville Sister City representatives. 

      The BelfastCity Council delegation would be accompanied by Tourism Ireland, Ulster Historical Foundation, BBC, Songwriters’ Festival and musicians.  On 11 and 12 March, the Members would attend a programme of civic meetings scheduled by the Nashville Sister Cities Committee in relation to the 2010 Action Plan and also the:

-     Media launch of the Belfast Titanic Exhibition

-     Media launch of new Belfast Tourism Products

-     Media launch of Genealogy Tourism Workshops

      The BelfastNashville Songwriters’ Music Industry Showcases will culminate in a high profile public concert with Nashville and Belfast musicians on Saturday 13 March and broadcast on BBC and Nashville Public Television.

Resource Implications

      £51,150 which has been provided within the Tourism, Culture and Arts Unit budget for implementation of the action plan.

Recommendations

      It is recommended that Members approve an outward Civic Visit by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Development Committee, or their nominees, plus 3 officers on 11?14 March 2010 (no additional financial commitment is required from Committee)

Decision Tracking

      Further to approval of the outward Civic Visit, an update report in relation to planning and preparation will be brought to Committee.

Timeframe:  December 2009

Reporting Officer:  Shirley McCay’

      The Head of Economic Initiatives drew the Committee’s attention to various aspects of the report and indicated that, subsequent to the papers having been issued, it had been considered that it would be beneficial for the Lord Mayor to be included in the visit to Nashville in March, 2010.

      During discussion in the matter, several Members expressed concern at the size of the delegation which it was proposed would visit Nashville next year and suggested that only two officers should attend.  Other Members indicated that, given the importance of the visit to the City and Belfast-based musicians and businesses and due to the level of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Principal Solicitor reminded the Committee that on 14th June, 2004 two editions of the magazine “The Vacuum” had been published by an arts organisation known as Factotum, which had been awarded a grant by the Council.  Those publications had contained offensive material and inappropriate images and, in order that it should not be associated with the publication of such material, the Council, at its meeting on 1st September, 2004, adopted a Committee recommendation that no further funding be provided to Factotum until an apology had been received.

            The editor of the publication had instigated a Judicial Review of the Council’s decision alleging that the decision had amounted to censorship and was contrary to the Human Rights Act 1998.  This application had been dismissed and the Judge had found that there had been no infringements of the editor’s rights and that the Council’s decision was within the range of appropriate responses open to local authorities.  However, the editor had subsequently initiated an appeal to the Court of Appeal in this matter.

            The Principal Solicitor informed the Committee that the Court of Appeal had found that the Council was entitled to make its own judgement in respect of the application for funding.  In addition, the Council had been entitled to take the view that the publications had been disrespectful of religion and had been further entitled to take that into account in reaching a decision on whether to provide funding.  In respect of the human rights arguments, it had been found that, whilst there had been a requirement not to interfere with the Applicant’s rights, there had been no requirement to facilitate them.  Therefore, a decision not to provide funding had not equated to interference.  In connection with the alleged unreasonableness of the decision, the Court had found that, whilst everyone might not have shared the same view as the Council, the decision had not been unintelligible.

            He pointed out that the decision reaffirmed the Council’s view that, whilst it had a duty to be fair in how it assessed applications for grants, there was no right for an individual or organisation to be funded to produce material which was offensive or with which the Council would otherwise not wish to be associated.  In addition, the decision emphasised the extent of the relevant discretion and was important because it had established that a refusal to provide funding for reasons such as those in this case did not equate to interference with the right of freedom of expression or the right to hold and manifest a religious view.

            The Principal Solicitor informed the Committee that the Council had incurred costs of £44,641 in connection with the use of Senior and Junior Counsel in respect of both sets of proceedings.  However, as Factotum had received legal aid from the Legal Services Commission, these costs were not recoverable.

Noted.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      The Council commissioned a Masterplan for Belfast in 2003 to provide a framework for the development of Belfast for the period to 2020. The BelfastMasterplan was published in April 2004 and provided a strategic development framework for Belfast, based on the consideration of the economic, social and environmental issues in the City.

      The adopted BelfastMasterplan provides the Council with a strategic vision for the future regeneration and growth of the City. The Masterplan also provided the basis for Council engagement in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan, strategic development sites such as Titanic Quarter and the various regeneration strategies published by the Department for Social Development. The analysis also supported the Council’s regeneration initiatives such as ‘Renewing the Routes’ and has been adopted by a number of external organisations and consultants in the development of strategies and proposals for the continued development of the City.

Key Issues

      In the period since the formulation of the Masterplan in 2003/04, there has been considerable change to the economic, social and environmental context for the development of Belfast and the wider region exacerbated by the current economic downturn. In addition, the proposed Review of Public Administration and the transfer of responsibilities, including local land use planning and regeneration functions, provide new opportunities for the Council to shape the longer term development of Belfast. 

      The five years since adoption have also seen the development of a number of new strategies, including the City Centre Masterplans and the Strategic Regeneration Frameworks which the Department for Social Development commissioned for each of the five Partnership Board areas. These strategic documents have been commissioned to focus on specific initiatives or areas of the City and do not provide the coherence that would harness the potential synergies and contribute to the sustainable development of Belfast. This changing economic context and the emerging competing strategies for different parts of the City have highlighted the need for the Council to have a coherent and up-to-date vision for the future development of Belfast to inform ongoing work and provide the critical strategic basis to prepare for the transfer of the new statutory planning functions outlined in the recent Planning Reform consultation.

      The review of the current Belfast Masterplan offers the opportunity to establish the strategic vision for the City. This review and updated strategic position would facilitate continued Council engagement with the strategies, such as the proposed Strategic Regeneration Frameworks, and provide a mechanism for influencing the strategic regeneration/development initiatives planned for the City.  The development of a robust strategic spatial plan for the future development of the City will be a critical component of both the community planning and statutory land use planning functions that will be required to be developed under the Review of Public Administration processes.

      Following the consideration of the proposal by Committee, the approach to the Masterplan Review has been modified to reduce the scope of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Committee that, as part of the Falls Road Integrated Development Plan, the Friends of Bog Meadows group had intended to undertake an environmental improvement scheme at the entrance to the Meadows and to erect a sign to highlight the attraction to tourists.  Whilst the signage had been erected using Integrated Development Fund resources, the group had been unable to reach agreement with the owners of the land which was needed for the environmental improvement scheme.  This would mean that the project could not be implemented within the timescales of the Renewing the Routes Programme.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the sum of £25,155, which had been set aside for the environmental improvement scheme at the entrance to the Bog Meadows, be reallocated in order to supplement the final phase of the improvement work which would be undertaken to shop fronts on the Falls Road in the vicinity of the entrance to the Bog Meadows.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are currently finalising the Belfast Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework which identifies the priority areas for tourism investment over the next 5–10 years.  Ambitious targets have been set which will require BelfastCity Council to focus on areas of highest return; the further development and enhancement of Belfast as a conference destination is one of these areas.

      Members will be aware that the key purpose of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau is to attract leisure and business visitors to the City.  Of the 1.2 million overnight visitors who stayed in Belfast during 2008, some 432,000 have been identified as business visitors by the Belfast Tourism Monitor.  This figure includes the conference market, estimated at almost 81,000 visitors.

      Whilst the economic downturn has impacted on business trips in general, the discretionary business visitor continues to spend significantly more than leisure visitors (based on the delegate Expenditure Survey 2006, an international association delegate spends £364 per day) and due to the high volume of delegates that conferences bring to the City, this segment sustains the tourism industry throughout the year, especially during off-peak periods.  In 2008, 84% of business visitors to Belfast also stated that they would be interested in returning to the City for a leisure break.

      Two studies have recently been undertaken to explore the furtherdevelopment of Belfast as a conference destination.  These address the immediate need for Belfast to increase its Conference Subvention Fund to attract conferences to the City and second is the longer term need for a new or extended convention centre with integrated exhibition facilities.

Key Issues

      The market for conferences and meetings is highly competitive. Belfast is one of 70 destinations within the UK aiming to attract attendees of conferences and events to their town or city.  Outside the UK there are new emerging destinations across Asia and Europe as well as existing cities that are enhancing their product offer significantly, such as Dublin with its new Convention Centre opening in the summer of 2010.

      All the top cities use subvention to attract not for profit conferences.

      At present Belfast City Council has a Conference Subvention Fund of £29,580.

      During 2004-2006 NITB provided £561,627 (funded by the International Fund for Ireland) towards conference support across Northern Ireland.  Belfast was the main benefactor as this fund allowed BVCB to successfully bid for large scale conferences, such as the Inner Wheel, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the World Toilet Summit and the Annual Rotary Conference.  The overall impact of the Fund resulted in a total value of £6.8  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to defer for one month consideration of a report regarding Belfast hosting a round of the Cycling Tour Series to enable discussions to be held with various bodies to ascertain whether they could contribute financially towards the costs of the event.  It was agreed also that the report to be submitted next month include a detailed financial breakdown of the costs of the event.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware that a report went to Committee on 10th June 2009, describing the Departmental Grants Review and a proposal for the Department’s grants to be split into three tranches (Community Access Fund, Annual and Multiannual).

The Departmental Grants Review included recommendations on how to streamline and standardise the Departmental grants system by implementing:

-     A standard grants administration process and

-     Standard grants assessment criteria.

      Based on these recommendations, a grants review implementation plan has been developed and a number of Party Briefings took place to present the plan and discuss the main aspects of the grants review implementation process. The grants review implementation plan was welcomed. The recommendations received from Members have been integrated into this report and the wider plan.

      A number of workshops were also held with the staff currently involved in the grant making process to discuss the grant review implementation and explore the most effective option of implementation and grant administration process.

      This report covers the main aspects of the new grant process.

Key Issues

      This new Departmental grant making system would provide many benefits to the Department and the Council:

-     It would improve governance and simplify the process;

-     It would also allow the Council to be more transparent with the impact of grants  better recorded and reported, this would allow improved contribution to the corporate performance management system;

-     Separation between the assessment process and financial monitoring would make the whole process more effective and would allow more time for the current staff to work on community, culture, arts and sports development.

      The implementation of this new grants making system would last 18 months and a few issues need highlighted:

-     Current year 2009/10 is a transition year when the new grant making process would be finalised and the grant making system set up;

-     In the year 2009/10 all grant making units would administer their grants as planned, this means that Community Services, Culture and Arts and Support for Sport Grants will open some of their grants this year using the existing system;

-     Grants would be transferred into the new system gradually and in phases over the course of the year 2010/11 and April 2011 would mark the beginning of a unified Departmental grant system.

      Departmental grants would be split into three tranches:

      1)   Community Access Fund with a total of £323,000 and individual grants of under £10,000 combines:

-     Community Development Projects – would be combined with a current Community Chest Grant into a single fund with a maximum £750 per grant.

-     Community Festivals Fund

-     Rolling Programme

-     Seasonal Play Scheme and

-     Support for Sport

      2)   Annual Fund totalling £477,000 with individual grants averaging £10,000 consists of:

-     Culture and Arts Core Annual Funding

-     Culture and Arts Development and Outreach Funding and

-     Community Services Revenue

      3)   Multi-annual Funding with a total of £2.6m and individual grants averaging £25,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

            The Director pointed out that, normally, there were a large number of items on the agenda for each monthly meeting and that many of those items required no decision since they were being submitted for update or notation purposes only.  This meant that, on occasions, Members had less time than was desirable to discuss those important items which required decisions. 

            She indicated that, in an attempt to rectify this situation and, having discussed the matter with Committee Services, she was recommending that items for notation and those which required no decision be no longer included on the agenda for Committee meetings.  Instead, those items would be collated into a Departmental Briefing Document which would be issued by the Director to all Members of Council every two months, commencing in mid-December.  Members of the Committee would be able to request, by contacting the Director, that any item contained in the Briefing Document be placed on the agenda for discussion at the following monthly meeting.  This change would enable the Members to keep up-to-date with the work which the Department was undertaking whilst, at the same time, allowing time to be made available at Committee meetings to enable issues which required decisions to be discussed more fully.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will recall that Belfast City Council had agreed to coordinate the further design of the Broadway Junction Art Piece, including management of the contract and the partnership agreements, as part of the improvement of the M1/Westlink.

      The Broadway Junction Art Piece project has been taken forward since 2005 through the Broadway Project Board, 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.  The Development (Arts) Sub-Committee was advised on 5 October 2005 that Ed Carpenter's proposal, Trillian, had been selected by the judging panel (which included invited community representatives) to carry out the commission.  The artist eventually submitted a financial offer which was significantly in excess of the available budget and the Broadway Project Board regrettably but unanimously agreed to abandon the Trillian proposal and to re-launch the project as a new open competition.  Through the selection process a new artist, Wolfgang Buttress, was appointed with his sculpture called Rise. This is a globe shaped white and silver aluminum sculpture – a representation of a new sun rising to celebrate a new chapter in the history of Belfast.  Rise will be visible from several miles away when it is constructed.

      Consultation with the community has been noted as an important aspect of the programme and has been an ongoing development of the project.  A public meeting took place in Spring 2009 in the Greater Village Regeneration Trust, which was attended by a Belfast City Council officer and the artist and members of the general public. 

      A positive response was received and it is intended to develop a structured programme of events in communities located near the roundabout.  In addition, specialised workshops ‘Rise up and Write’ have been included into the City Hall reopening programme.  These are open to all schools in Belfast wishing to take part in poetry and visual art workshops facilitated by Wolfgang Buttress and New Belfast Community Arts Initiative.

      Projected Budget

      The following budget has been agreed as the basis for the project in 2007 - 2009.

Key Issues

      Project Update

      Planning permission was granted for the sculpture to be placed at Broadway Roundabout  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Council’s Local Economic

Development Plan

            The Head of Economic Initiatives reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 16th September, it had been advised that, in view of the economic downturn and the future transfer of local economic functions to councils following the Review of Public Administration, it would be necessary to update the Council’s Local Economic Development Plan.  Accordingly, it was proposed that a range of key organisations and individuals, including Councillors, be consulted regarding the updating of the Plan.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided regarding the proposed consultation process for the Council’s Local Economic Development Plan and agreed that briefings be held for each of the Political Parties represented on the Council.

Tender for the Management of the Advanced

Industrial Materials Savings Programme

            The Committee was advised that, following a public advertisement, three tenders had been received for the management for a two-year period of the Advanced Industrial Materials Savings Programme, an initiative to support process improvements in small manufacturing companies, which was being organised in conjunction with Lisburn City Council. 

            The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Committee that the tenders had been evaluated using the undernoted criteria:

·         proposed approach and methodology

·         project plan and ability to deliver to schedule

·         calibre and experience of project team

·         relevant experience of working on similar initiatives

·         ability to work in partnership

·         quality and environmental management systems

            As a result of this process, she recommended that the second lowest tender, that submitted by Ortus Business Development Agency, Northumberland Street, Belfast, in the sum of £112,998, be accepted as it was the most economically advantageous tender and the one which met most closely the set criteria.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to the completion of an appropriate form of contract to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware the Council in February 2009 agreed a number of actions in response to the global economic downturn. The actions were taken across the Council and the Development Committee subsequently agreed to the setting up of a cross-party Economic Downturn Steering Group, which has been meeting monthly since May 2009. This is the update.

Key Issues

      The Economic Downturn Steering Group last met on the 18th September 2009. They received an update in relation to the continuing work of the Department in relation to economic development, job training, employability, business development and tourism  events. The general update indicated that, although Belfast had been significantly affected by the downturn, it has not been as affected as many other cities in the UK or in Ireland. The continuing strength of the euro was a particular element in that result. The Group however agreed that, despite a relatively less bleak impact, the situation was still serious and Belfast required a clear path forward if it was to achieve a sustainable long term successful economy.

      Members felt in particular that the next phase required serious leadership from the Council to ensure Belfast’s future. This led to a discussion on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report which the Committee commissioned in August 2007.

      The report was completed in November 2008. In addition, recent research by Oxford Economics for the Council has been added to the information provided by OECD. Both of the reports draw major conclusions about Belfast and its possibilities and make relevant recommendations.

      The OECD Report offers the following conclusions:

-     Public sector overbalance – Belfast and Northern Ireland need to shift the economic dominance of the public sector in favour of a healthy balance between public and private sectors.

-     Coherence and scale – Belfast has to focus on coherent and comprehensive planning, which emphasises its role as an iconic core location in Northern Ireland as a centre of R&D or of high value functions

-     Investment readiness and investor confidence – Belfast must be a city that is known as an enterprising location with ‘can-do’ leadership where new ideas and knowledge can be translated into business opportunities and business formation

-     The ingredients for success – Belfast needs to raise its relative economic competitiveness by enhancing the quality of its workforce, ensuring a good supply of accessible land and premises to accommodate growth and to upgrade key infrastructure to enable good quality access, communication, service delivery and a high standard of public realm. Belfast must also find innovative ways to attract and retain talent and ensure that more people come to live and work in the City. Belfast also needs to find new ways of working that bring together change agents from across Government, business and the community and voluntary sectors.

      Given these challenges, the report considered what policy actions and possible delivery mechanism would, in their opinion, be needed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

            The Chairman informed the Committee that the recent refurbishment work to the Ulster Hall had resulted in the building being awarded the Construction Excellence Award by the Federation of Construction Employers at its recent awards ceremony.  On behalf of the Committee, he congratulated the staff and outside companies which had been involved in the work to refurbish the Ulster Hall. 

            The Chairman reminded the Committee that this would be the last Committee meeting which the Director of Development, Ms. M. T. McGivern, would be attending following her appointment as the Chief Executive and Director of the Belfast Metropolitan College.  He and other Members paid tribute to the work which she had undertaken during her ten years in post and wished her well in the future.

            Ms. McGivern thanked the Chairman and the Members for their kind remarks and encouraged the Committee to continue its good work to improve the City for the benefit of all its citizens.