Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Kyle, Lavery, Mhic Giolla Mhín and Mullaghan.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 12th May, it had agreed to receive from representatives of the Deramore Property Group a presentation in relation to the Royal Exchange Regeneration Project.

            Prior to the deputation being received, the Director of Development submitted the undernoted report which provided the background to the company’s proposed scheme:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware that at the meeting of 12 May, it was agreed to receive a presentation from Deramore Property Group (Deramore).  Deramore are the owners of 41-51 Royal Avenue and 27-31 Rosemary Street, Belfast.

      Deramore have submitted a planning application to Planning Service to redevelop their premises. The application is currently going through the consultation process. The application is to provide 20,000 sq ft of retail floor space over ground and three upper floors. The intention is to provide accommodation for a single multiple operator similar to the New Look operation in Donegall Place were a completely new shop was built behind the original front façade.

      The Deramore property has a double frontage on Royal Avenue and Rosemary Street and has been planned to compliment any future Royal Exchange Schemes.

Key Issues

      On 2 December 2009 Margaret Ritchie MP, then Minister for Social Development, announced the timetable for submitting the planning application to take forward the Royal Exchange Regeneration Project.

      The developer of the project, a consortium known as Royal Exchange (Belfast) Ltd comprising William Ewart Properties Ltd, Snodden’s Construction Ltd and ING, are to submit a planning application approved by Department for Social Development (DSD) to the Department of Environment Planning Service by 31 October 2010.

      On 25May 2010 DSD Minister Alex Attwood announced that £11 million allocated to the Royal Exchange Scheme had been surrendered by the Department to the Northern Ireland Assembly Executive. Uncertainty now remains as to when and if this money will be reallocated to the scheme.

      Councillor William Humphrey, then Chairman of the Development Committee, received a letter on 26May 2010 from Nick Reid of Leaside Investments Limited (William Ewart Properties Limited) regarding the press speculation and Ministerial announcement.

      DSD will not at this stage confirm to Deramore that their premises will be excluded from the development scheme for the Royal Exchange Project.

      Deramore are seeking confirmation from the developer and DSD that their premises will not be included in the scheme and therefore not at risk from vesting, giving them the security to attract quality tenants to their redeveloped premises.

      The leases in their existing premises all terminate by July 2012. Currently their tenants, who include Harry Corry, have all indicated they are unlikely to renew their leases due to the uncertainty surrounding the Royal Exchange development and the ongoing vacancy and dereliction in the area. Many landlords are not carrying out much needed refurbishments to their property and investment is largely deficient in the area.

      Deramore have advised BCC officers that they have the funding in place to carry out their development once planning permission is granted.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            (Councillor B. Kelly declared an interest in this matter in that her brother was a member of the Belfast Cultural Night Committee, which had submitted a request for funding, and took no part in the debate nor the subsequent vote.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware that at a meeting of the Development Committee on 12 May 2010, Committee agreed to defer the consideration of a report in relation to Culture Night 2010 to enable a special meeting to be held.  Culture Night organisers have been invited to provide details of how they intend to deliver the 2010 programme, particularly along the city’s arterial routes.

      Members will also be aware that at the Development Committee meeting on 13 May 2009, approval was given to provide match funding of £25,000 to support a pilot Belfast Culture Night 2009.

      Culture Night 2009 far surpassed expectations, with 100 galleries, artists studios, venues, cultural organisations, historic buildings, churches and creative businesses providing over 100 performances, talks, tours, presentations, films, exhibitions and workshops for audiences of all ages.  This promoted the Cathedral Quarter as a thriving cultural hub, giving the public the opportunity to meet artists and learn about what cultural organisations have to offer throughout the year.

      To complement the core activities programmed by participating organisations and businesses, and to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the Culture Night organisers animated the streets and public spaces of Cathedral Quarter with live music, walk-about performers, exhibitions, circus performances, giant puppets and more.  An estimated 15,000 people attended.

      The concept of Culture Night fits well within Belfast City Council’s current strategies.  Under the theme of Good Relations, the one-night event promotes a unique opportunity of shared cultural space within the city centre, attracting a broad mix of audiences (in 2009, the event attracted a large number of families with young children).  The final draft Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework for Belfast 2010–2014 identifies culture and arts as the ‘essence of Belfast’ and one of the main priorities is to explore ways in which to engage with the sector and develop greater visitor access to culture and arts activities.  Culture Night provides a unique opportunity to showcase Belfast’s culture and arts product not only to local citizens, but to visitors.  The current Integrated Cultural Strategy for Belfast, produced in partnership with the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, identifies that the culture and arts sector can often be fragmented.  However, key events such as Culture Night develop partnerships across the sector, promoting cross-selling and strengthening its overall capacity to deliver.  Culture Night also contributes to the general development of the City’s Evening Economy.

      Culture Night 2010 will promote Belfast as a vibrant cultural space, welcoming and accessible to all.  The event will coincide with a series of Culture Nights taking place in other European cities.

Key Issues

      Culture Night brings together arts and cultural organisations, the hospitality industry and local businesses to provide a free,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.