Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Kyle and McVeigh.

            The minutes of the meetings of 15th and 27th June were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 4th July.

            The Chairman (Alderman Stalford) welcomed Councillor Lee Reynolds to his first meeting of the Committee and it was agreed that a letter be forwarded to the former Alderman, Mr. Ian Crozier, thanking him for his contribution to the work of the Committee and wishing him every success in his new position as Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency.

            The Democratic Services Officer reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 27th June, concern had been expressed by Members in relation to the management and regulation of bus tour operators within the City, especially in respect of the methods used to attract custom. Accordingly, it had been agreed that a letter be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Alex Attwood M.L.A., whose Department oversaw the licensing of the bus tour operators, requesting that he update the Committee on the steps which would be undertaken to address the concerns raised.

            The Committee was informed that a response had subsequently been received from the Minister’s Office which indicated that officials from within his Department would continue to monitor the activities of the bus tour companies and take appropriate action as and when necessary. The Minister indicated also that the concerns raised would be examined further in due course.  In addition, the Democratic Services Officer reported that the Council’s Licensing Committee would, at a special meeting to be held on 12th September, consider the Council’s future role in the monitoring and regulation of bus tour operators in the City and he suggested that it might be advisable for the Committee to note the contents of the Minister’s letter and he undertook to update the Members subsequent to the meeting of the Licensing Committee. 

Noted.

            The Senior Democratic Services Officer reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th June, it was agreed, given the extent of business which the Committee was required to consider, that it would meet twice monthly during the Council term, commencing at 5:15 p.m. He pointed out that the Committee had requested that a report, which would set out the nature of the business to be considered at each meeting, be submitted for consideration.  Accordingly, he outlined the principal aspects of a report which provided an overview of how future agendas would be formulated to enable the Committee to manage its business in a more effective manner.   He tabled also for the Committee’s information a list of dates which had been identified to enable the holding of two meetings each month and addressed also the issue of the receipt of deputations, which he recommended be considered at the second meeting of each month, unless it was felt necessary to hold a special meeting.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to meet at 5.15 p.m. on the undernoted dates during the remainder of 2011:

Tuesday 23rd August

Wednesday 14th September

Tuesday 27th September

Monday 10th October

Tuesday 25th October

Tuesday 8th November

Tuesday 22nd November

Tuesday 13th December

            In addition, the Committee agreed, commencing in January 2012, to meet, when feasible, on the first and third Tuesday of each month and that deputations be received at the second meeting of the month and limited to ten minutes in duration with discussion thereafter left to the Chairman’s discretion.

            The Committee agreed to receive, at its meeting on 23rd August, a presentation from the Forum for Alternative Belfast in respect of the Roads Service’s proposals on the York Street Interchange Scheme; and agreed also that Invest NI be invited to make a presentation at the Committee’s meeting scheduled for 27th September.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Relevant Background Information

The City Reformers Group is a learning network of active practitioners and policy-makers from 'weak market' de-fundustrialising cities across the EU and US. It also includes government, EU and non-governmental representatives.  The city reformers are all actively engaged in addressing the economic, physical, environmental and social problems facing their cities. The City Reformers Group gathers ideas on policy innovations and practical projects from European and American cities that are successfully pulling away from a recent history of industrial collapse.  It meets biannually at the London School of Economic, within the Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion.

1.2       Belfast City Council has been a key partner in this project since its inception in 2006 and was profiled, as a result of this work, in the book ‘Phoenix cities: the fall and rise of great industrial cities’. The project enabled Belfast to learn from the experiences of the other referenced cities, Leipzig, Bremen, Sheffield, Bilbao, Torino and Saint-Étienne.

2          Key Issues

2.1       Since 2010, Belfast has been involved in the second stage of the research. This phase has looked at the following research questions:

2.2       1) Economy and skills: Understanding how European weak market cities are faring in today’s difficult economic climate, and uncovering innovative approaches to developing new enterprise.

             - How are weak market cities coping with the economic crisis? How resilient are they? What makes them resilient?

            Coping with crisis:

 - Will some public programmes / organisations fold? Spell out which ones and why in each city. What impact will closure of public organisations / agencies have? Real impact of fiscal tightening / shortage of funds in the cities?

            Sign of resilience:

            - Role of wider regional / metropolitan areas / authorities – local, regional and national. Role of public infrastructure – capacity to foster private enterprise / entrepreneurship. Any new initiatives / enterprises / inward investment?

2.3       2) Environment and climate change: we want to understand the impact of the climate change agenda and resource constraints on the recovery trajectory of these cities.

             - To what extent are green technology innovations generating new skills, enterprises and jobs? Why? On what scale?

             - How much emphasis is there on energy saving and energy efficiency? What about density, anti-sprawl, public transport, cycling etc?

            - How big a priority is the environment in the cities?

            - What are the drivers and barriers for the greening of the cities’ urban economies? And their physical structures?

            - What role do parks and green spaces, traffic control, cycle and pedestrian schemes etc play in the cities?

            - What about fuel poverty? And energy shortages?

2.43) Social integration: We want to pin-point the impact of neighbourhood programmes on social integration, skills development and job access.

            - How are neighbourhoods with concentrations of minority residents faring?

            - What are the cities doing to remedy social inequalities?

            - How are they funding programmes? Which programmes are they funding?  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            The Committee agreed to defer to a future meeting consideration of a report in respect of the usage of St. George’s Market.

            (Alderman Humphrey declared an interest in that he was the Chairman of Shankill Tourism, which was a project overseen by the Greater Shankill Partnership Board.)

            The Committee considered a report in respect of the work of the Belfast Tourism Forum, together with an overview of the principal aspects of its Action Plan for 2011/2012. The Director reported that the Forum had identified a number of issues which it wished to raise with the Minister for Tourism, Mrs. Arlene Foster, M.L.A., in respect of tourism development in Belfast.

            During discussion, a Member referred to a list of members of the Tourism Forum and suggested that it was not representative of all areas of the City. He requested that the membership be re-examined by the Department to address his concerns. A further Member referred to statistics contained within the report which provided a total figure on the number of tourists which had visited the island of Ireland from Great Britain since 2007. He requested that the Director provide a percentage breakdown on the number of tourists who had travelled specifically to Northern Ireland from Great Britain as contained within the figures for the island of Ireland.

            After discussion, during which the Committee agreed that an integrated communications plan be developed to promote the Council’s tourism initiatives, it was agreed also that a letter be forwarded to the Minister for Tourism, Mrs. Arlene Foster, M.L.A., requesting that she receive an All-Party deputation from the Committee, which would be accompanied by a number of representatives from the Belfast Tourism Forum, to discuss issues pertinent to tourism within the City. 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       Young EnterpriseNorthern Ireland (YENI) is a not-for-profit organisation which delivers enterprise education to schools across Northern Ireland.  Since 2003, BelfastCity Council has supported YENI’s Primary Programme which provides economic literacy support to over 5000 primary school students on an annual basis. 

1.2       Since 2003, funding of £25,000 per annum has been provided to Young Enterprise Northern Ireland to deliver the programme in the Belfast City Council area.  This funding has been used to supplement core funding from the Department for Education (DE) which is responsible for the mainstream support to the organisation. 

1.3       The organisation also delivers additional programmes which are supported by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) as well as two other district councils.

2                    Key Issues

2.1       Belfast City Council has been asked to provide £25,000 support for the delivery of the primary programme to schools located within the council boundary in the 2011/2012 academic year.  This would allow the support programme to be delivered to 5,000 primary school pupils across the city.  The focus for coverage is on schools located within TSN (targeting social need) areas.  There are 20,000 primary school pupils in attendance at schools within the council boundary.

2.2       This activity is not suitable for match funding from DETI EU Programmes or Invest NI.  This means that the Council is liable for the full amount of funding allocated to the initiative.  Conversely, it means that the resources allocated to this programme are not available for match funding additional eligible activity, with the effect that our ability to draw in grant funding is reduced. 

2.3       The Primary Programme is also supported by Department for Education.  The funding available from the Department allows YENI to provide support to 2,500 pupils within the Belfast City Council area.  Traditionally, the council funding has been used to “top up” the numbers in the council area.  In this instance, the council funding would allow an additional 1,800 pupils to take part in the programme.

2.4       The programme is delivered by a number of 80 volunteers, many of who are employed by Belfast City Council and who undertake this work for one hour a week over a period of six weeks. 

2.5       In addition to the Primary Programme, Young Enterprise delivers a range of post-primary programmes as well as one-off events, master-classes and workshops for primary and secondary level students.

2.6       Successive economic strategies have pointed to the need to promote a more entrepreneurial culture in the city as a way of enhancing its longer-term competitiveness.  Equally, it is recognised that it is important to instil that culture from an early age.  In this regard, initiatives such as Young Enterprise can make a useful contribution to that objective.

2.7       At recent meetings of the Development Committee, Members have reiterated the need to focus resources on those activities which can deliver the greatest economic return for council.  In this regard, while the support for Young Enterprise is positive,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

      The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       As the economic downturn continues, there is increasing pressure to give consideration to integrating social clauses in all public contracts in order to extract the maximum value for investment and to address the current challenges in the labour market.   However, it is clear that there is significant ambiguity and lack of awareness about what can be done, how they can be implemented and managed and what the legal issues surrounding social clauses are likely to be.

1.2       It is clear from existing contracts which contain social clauses that there are lessons to be learned in order to ensure that the clauses are adhered to and the social benefits are fully realised. 

1.3    Taking account of these challenges, there has been a significant programme of work between DEL (Department for Employment and Learning) and the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) to agree terminology to tighten up future social clauses.  As a result of these discussions, and taking account of the political pressures to implement social clauses in public contracts, it has been agreed that the following

that the following clauses will be implemented for all new central government contracts emerging in the next six months, on a pilot basis:- 

-       For every £0.5m of contract value, the employer will recruit 1 x 26 week Steps to Work Placement or 2 x 13 week Steps to Work Placements.

-       At least 5% of the contractor’s workforce must be apprentices.

-       Work Placements – 1 x 40 week student placement for projects with a labour value of £2m-£5m and 2 placements for projects with a labour value of £5m or greater

-       For lower value contracts, there are opportunities to involve Programme Led Apprentices (PLAs).  These are apprentices that have lost their opportunities during the downturn and are therefore unable to complete their qualification.

There are also essential skills requirements built in around these clauses.

2          Key Issues

2.1       Local authorities’ remit in introducing social clauses is framed within the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.  Section 19 of the Order stipulates that councils cannot take account of non-commercial matters in their public supply or works contracts.  This includes “terms and conditions of employment by contractors of their workers or the composition of, the arrangements for the promotion, transfer or training of or the other opportunities afforded to, their workforces”. This effectively means that at this point in time councils cannot include social clauses within contracts.

2.2       It is understood that NILGA has been engaged in some work to address the legal framework.  However this may take some time before a change can be implemented.  While the current provisions may make it difficult to include social clauses in council-led schemes, it is likely that the council will engage in a number of partnership projects in coming years, particularly through the City Investment Fund.  For this reason, it is important to engage in further work to explore and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Director advised the Committee that the Council’s Improvements Through Environmental Solutions Programme, which was funded jointly by the Economic Development Unit and the Waste Management Unit, had won a Green Apple Award in the Sustainable Development Category. He reported that the Programme had been designed to assist local businesses to address their environmental impact, improve profitability and enhance competitiveness. From 2009 to 2010, the Programme had assisted 12 businesses in the City to identify annual savings of £250,000. It was reported that the awards ceremony would take place in the House of Commons on Monday, 14th November and that the cost of attending would be approximately £715 per delegate.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to authorise the attendance at the awards ceremony of the Chairman (Alderman Stalford), or his nominee, together with one officer from the Department. 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Relevant Background Information

The Renewing the Routes Programme is a regeneration intervention that targets arterial routes within Belfast. Since 2004 the Programme has facilitated the investment of approximately £6 million across the key routes.  This investment has acted as a catalyst for the delivery of a range of projects which were implemented over the programme period including: over 400 commercial frontage improvements; lighting schemes; environmental improvements; public realm work; public art projects;

community arts projects; landscaping; commercial alley gating schemes; installation of tourism signage; facade cleaning and improvements to site boundaries or enclosures.

1.2       In August 2010, Committee agreed to carry forward the proposed £300,000 budget as a specified reserve for arterial routes improvement projects into 2011/12 to supplement the £300,000 allocation proposed for that year. The deferring of the implementation works allowed for the detailed analysis and prioritisation of proposed activity across all 18 designated arterial routes.

1.3       Following Committee endorsement a methodology to prioritise the arterial routes was developed on the basis of securing a longer-term rolling programme of local regeneration across the city.

1.4       In April 2011, a three-year prioritisation plan identifying proposed target areas was presented to Committee, based upon the agreed methodology.  The Committee agreed to support Option 1 for the year 2011/2012 financial year along with the inclusion of the deferred resources from the allocation in the special reserves with a combined budget of £600,000.  Proposals for a programmme to continue the works beyond the current year will be subject of an additional report to be considered by the Committee at a future date.  The target areas for this financial year are the Antrim Road, Sandy Row, Castlereagh Street and the Grosvenor Road.

2          Key Issues

2.1       Since approval in May 2011, work has continued on the development of plans for the four target areas.  Scoping and engagement work has expanded, in conjunction with relevant statutory and community contacts, including elected representatives for the areas. This activity has informed the development of the range of priority local regeneration projects which are included with this report for endorsement by committee (Appendix 1) as extracts from a combined report covering the four target areas (Appendix 2).

2.2       The key common themes emerging from the scoping work were identified as:

      -     Environmental improvements - major issues facing the routes are dereliction or under used property and often poor general environments; requiring action to ensure improvements that can complement other developments;

      -     Built heritage - the roads contain elements of historical or cultural significance that offer the opportunity to develop these local assets through architectural lighting, interpretive signage and heritage projects;

      -     Commercial improvements - focus areas have been identified along the routes; the areas are hubs of activity with local shops, services and facilities serving the community.  The commercial improvements will focus on supporting these;

      -     Environmental works - Targeted and sustained clean-up and graffiti removal campaigns working with local groups;

      -     Collaborative work - essential in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

            (Mr G. Copeland, Events Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee was apprised of and noted the latest arrangements for the hosting by the City of the MTV Europe Awards in November.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council had for a number of years worked in partnership with the Belfast Education and Library Board to provide youth services and programmes at Council community centres. The Director provided an overview of the current projects operating within the community centres and outlined the principal aspects of a Memorandum of Understanding which had been drawn-up to formalise the arrangement between the Council and the Education and Library Board.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to endorse the undernoted Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the Belfast Education and Library Board:

“Belfast City Council

and

Belfast Education and Library Board Youth Service

The purpose of this memorandum is to formalise the relationship between BelfastCity Council and Belfast Education and Library Board to facilitate the enhancement of youth provision in Belfast

City Council Community Centres including, where appropriate, the involvement of voluntary groups and staff in the delivery of the programmes.

Roles and Responsibilities

Belfast Education and Library Board youth service will:

1.         Employ a cohort of part-time youth workers as follows:

2.         Provide line management for all staff employed by Belfast Education and Library Board

3.         Ensure that all staff and volunteers are vetted in line with legal requirements

4.         Ensure that staff work in accordance with Belfast Education and Library Board/Belfast City Council Health and Safety policies

5.         Ensure that all staff work in accordance with Belfast Education and Library Board Child Protection and Capability Procedures

6.         Oversee and manage the youth club bank accounts, ensuring that Belfast Education and Library Board’s financial accounting procedures are implemented

7.         Provide funding according to the youth service scheme of assistance including an agreed cost for room hire

8.         Encourage all staff and volunteers to avail of youth work training

9.         Provide additional programme support through auspices of                            Belfast Area Youth Projects

10.       Directly line manage the youth support worker-in-charge

11.       Quality assure youth work practice on monthly basis, producing an annual assessment/evaluation

Any Voluntary Youth Project will:

1.         Develop programmes for young people in line with the Northern Ireland Youth Service Curriculum (Model for Effective Practice)

2.         Operate the youth club on an agreed number of nights per week

3.         Devise and implement an annual youth work delivery plan

4.         Monitor the youth work delivery plan by completing a monthly report

5.         Complete an end of year evaluation report

6.         Co-ordinate if applicable, a summer programme in partnership with Belfast City Council and other providers within the area

7.         Set in place a membership registration scheme ensuring all nightly attendance is recorded

8.         Complete monthly time sheet, attendance sheet and financial returns

9.         Adhere to Belfast Education and Library Board and BCC Child Protection Procedures

10.       Through the youth support worker-in-charge, manage all youth work staff/volunteers and young people during the hours of opening

11.       Liaise with CDO (facilities) regarding building and CDO (Area Support) regarding programmes

12.       Manage and control all access to the Project, pertaining to club members

13.       Report any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

            At the request of Councillor Reynolds, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the above-mentioned report until its meeting on 23rd August.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       During 2008/09 the Shankill United Football Club (SUFC) had discussions with officers from Parks & Leisure and Community Services requesting a management lease of the HammerPavilionBuilding.

The Pavilion is a small community facility managed by Community Services and is adjacent to the Hammer Community Centre. The Club had an existing facilities management agreement with Parks & Leisure to manage a football pitch and a porta-cabin located within the Hammer Complex site.  The club also had independent access to part of the Hammer Pavilion for changing and shower facilities. 

1.2       To support the lease request, the Club asserted that its development was curtailed because the physical resources at its disposal did not meet senior league requirements, permit it to host visiting teams, allow it to expand its membership and permit access during busy weekend activities.

1.3       The Directors of Development and Parks & Leisure tabled a joint report at their respective Committees on 20 April 2009 and 14 May 2010 recommending a pilot facility management lease of the Pavilion to the SUFC from August 2009 until August 2010.

Furthermore it was recommended that pending a successful pilot phase, the lease and building would transfer to Parks & Leisure. 

Council agreed to these proposals in May and June 2009.

In 2008 BDO Stoy Hayward carried out a management options appraisal consulting with local stakeholders.  Its report recommended that the Council consider a pilot lease arrangement with SUFC to allow the group to demonstrate it possessed the necessary financial and management capability. It also recommended that pending a successful outcome of the pilot period, Community Services should transfer the Pavilion to Parks & Leisure in order to align it with a similar business model namely sport, leisure and recreation.

1.4       The Directors of Development and Parks & Leisure tabled a joint report at their respective Committees on 20 April 2009 and 14 May 2010 recommending a pilot facility management lease of the Pavilion to the SUFC from August 2009 until August 2010.

Furthermore it was recommended that pending a successful pilot phase, the lease and building would transfer to Parks & Leisure. 

Council agreed to these proposals in May and June 2009.

1.5       During the pilot phase, Community Services was specifically tasked to set up the legal agreement, monitor and support the clubs governance structures and pay the agreed management fee of £13,354 per annum.

Community Services through its designated officers has worked with the SUFC on a range of issues during 2009/10 including formal monitoring as per grants procedures. We are satisfied on the evidence presented to us that the SUFC has in place a strong volunteer base including structures and expertise to provide open and accountable management of the facility and resources.  SUCF most recent AGM took place in June 2010 with the presentation of reports, including recent financial statements and the open election of a committee.  All supporting documentation is held on file.

1.6       The Club have developed a range of policies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.