Agenda and minutes

            The minutes of the meetings of 17th and 23rd 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.

            Apologies were reported from Alderman Stoker and Councillor Webb.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Chairman welcomed Councillors Beattie and Verner to their first meeting of the Committee and congratulated Councillor Spence on his appointment as Deputy Chairman.  

            The Committee agreed that Councillor Verner be appointed to the Committee of the Woodvale Community Centre.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Background Information

         Members will be aware that the Destination Belfast project is an EU funded initiative to improve the quantity and quality of the local tourism offer across the city.  The project has three elements, viz., Tourism Development Programme; Tourism Champions and WorldHost.

1.2    The first element of Destination Belfast is the Tourism Development Programme designed to increase sales, growth and innovation of established tourism businesses across the city.  14 businesses have completed the first wave of the programme; a further 15 businesses have been recruited and will commence the programme in October 2013 and applications for participation in wave 3 will open in December 2013.  By the end of March 2014, 44 tourism businesses will have been provided with assistance through this element of the programme.

1.3    The Tourism Champion element of Destination Belfast was designed to create local tourism ambassadors to enhance and promote the tourism offer in their locality.  20 Champions were engaged on the programme through an open application process.  The programme content included industry workshops, product development mentoring, an ILM level 5 accreditation and a bursary of up to £1000 for product development.  16 champions have completed the workshops and mentoring, five have completed ILM Level accreditation and three have drawn down the product development bursary.

1.4    The final element of Destination Belfast is the rollout of WorldHost.  This is an internationally recognised customer service standard.  Through this element of the programme, we are encouraging businesses to become ‘WorldHost Recognised Businesses’.  We also want the ten tourism destinations to become WorldHost Recognised and we want Belfast as a city to become the first WorldHost Destination in Northern Ireland. 

2       Key Issues

2.1    WorldHost

         We have recently completed an audit to identify the level of uptake by local businesses and to subsequently point to the scale of the challenge if we are to achieve WorldHost destination status for the city. 

2.2    Progress to date includes:

-        2989 individuals trained

-        112 businesses trained or in training

-        29 companies have gained recognition as WorldHost businesses (i.e. 50% of their frontline staff have been trained). 

2.3    If Belfast is to achieve WorldHost Destination Status, 450 businesses from the sectors of Tourism, Hospitality, Leisure, Passenger Transport & Travel, Support Services and retail must have achieved “Recognised Business” status.  We have set a target of achieving that figure by April 2014. 

2.4    It is our intention that we will take a targeted approach to achieving this 450 figure.  This will mean ensuring that all ten tourism destinations (namely City Centre, North Belfast Cultural Corridor, Cathedral Quarter, Gaeltacht Quarter, Shankill Quarter, Lisburn Road, Queen’s Quarter, Belfast Hills, Connswater – East Belfast, Titanic Quarter) are actively engaged.  In practical terms, it means that 25% of businesses in the relevant sectors in these locations must undertake the training and that the 25% target must be achieved across each of the sectors (i.e. all recognised businesses cannot be in one or two specific sectors).  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

            The Committee agreed that a report in respect of a number of proposed best practice visits be referred for consideration to the South Belfast Area Based Working Group.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report and endorsed the associated response to the Department of the Environment’s ‘Draft Living Places - An Urban Stewardship and Design Guide for Northern Ireland’, a copy of the report and the response are set out hereunder:  

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    The Department of the Environment (DOE) published Draft Living Places - An Urban Stewardship and Design Guide for Northern Ireland in August 2013 for public consultation.  The Department has requested comments on the guide before the closing date on the 31st October.

1.2    The Urban Stewardship and Design Guide identifies ten key principles behind good place making:

-        Visionary

-        Collaborative

-               Contextual

-        Responsible

-               Accessible

-        Hospitable

-               Vibrant & Diverse

-        Crafted

-               Viable

-               Enduring

1.3    The document seeks to inform and inspire all those involved in the process of managing (stewardship) and making (design) urban places, with a view to raising standards across Northern Ireland. The focus of the guide is urban areas, including cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

1.4    The document will be a Material Consideration in the determination of planning applications and planning appeals for development affecting all urban places.

2       Key Issues

2.1    A proposed draft response is attached for consideration by committee as a suggested submission to the Department and a summary of the issues is outlined below:

2.2    While the Urban Stewardship and Design Guide for Northern Ireland is welcomed, the Council would argue that there is limited guidance within the document.  The concepts generally seem sound and are a good starting point however, the key issue is how the guide will be implemented as the purpose and standing of the document is unclear. 

2.3    The DOE is currently preparing a single Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) in order to consolidate the existing suite of Planning Policy Statements.   Clarification is required in terms of the relationship between the Living Places Guide and the proposed SPPS.    

2.4    The document appears to overlook a number of the key issues which contribute to good urban spaces in many cities including parks (such as Botanic Gardens) and the availability of green urban space, sustainable transport (e.g. cycle lanes), climate change adaptation in buildings (green roofs/walls etc) and adaptation to flooding, and food markets or allotments/urban space used for growing food.  It also fails to identify what makes people want to go to meet up in these spaces.

2.5    If the guide is being promoted for use by “everyone”, it may be helpful to provide a little more context about what the document may mean in practice, clarify roles and responsibilities in terms of who will be responsible for applying the principles and who will ‘enforce’ them.   From a Council perspective, it is unclear what the document will mean for the Council in practice. 

2.6    It is difficult to ascertain what this will mean in practice and how the qualities will be assessed and weighted. 

2.7    There appears to be a greater emphasis on planning and design principles in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee agreed to receive, at its meeting on 19th November, a presentation from Atkins’ Consultants in respect of the development of the second stage of the Belfast City Access Strategy.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 19th April, it had approved the ‘Patterns of the City Belfast City Dressing Plan’. The Director reminded the Committee that that Plan was a cross-community tourism initiative which sought to enhance the City’s appearance through the dressing of lampposts in the city centre and on main access routes. The Committee was advised that it was anticipated that any further development of the Plan would address City branding and development and would be in line with the implementation of a new tourism strategy. A review of City dressing would be integral to any new strategic direction and he reported that an adapted City dressing policy would be submitted for the Committee’s approval.

            Accordingly, the Committee noted the information which had been provided and endorsed the contents of the updated City Dressing Policy as set out hereunder: 

         “City Dressing Policy

         Objectives of the City Dressing Steering Group

         The role of the Belfast City Dressing Steering Group is to oversee the implementation of City Dressing across Belfast and ensure that it creates a sense of welcome and builds the Belfast Brand.  The Group will also monitor city dressing usage and needs across the city. The City Dressing plan includes generic patterns of the city that communicate a sense of energy, innovation and vibrancy.   In addition the city dressing plan includes supporting the promotion of key international events and giving events and festivals access to agreed hire sites for promotions and marketing purposes. 

         City Dressing Steering Group Members

·         Belfast City Centre Management

·         Belfast City Council: Building Control, Tourism, Culture and Arts, Events, Corporate Communications

·         Department for Regional Development

·         Department for Social Development

·         Visit Belfast

         Remit of City Dressing

·         ensure that city dressing provides sense of welcome;

·         ensure that city dressing provides information in a stimulating way;

·         ensure that city dressing creates a feel of a special occasion across the city or one of the destinations;

·         ensure that city dressing arouses curiosity in an appealing way;

         Organisation Roles

         Belfast City Council

         Belfast City Council (BCC) will manage and implement the generic city patterns and winter pattern campaign across the existing locations and tourism place destinations.

         Belfast City Centre Management

         Belfast City Centre Management will manage commercial campaigns and these will only be permitted in the areas managed by Belfast City Centre Management.  Commercial campaigns must follow template/ design guidelines agreed by BCC and the City Dressing Steering Group.

         BCCM will manage city wide event campaigns under a legal contract and SLA with BCC which ensure:

·         Campaigns must be formally shared with the City Dressing Steering Group in advance of the campaign start date.

·         BCCM must ensure that all proposed commercial dressing artwork has been equality checked, shared and approved by the Department of Regional Development and approved by the City Dressing steering Group.

         This city dressing policy acknowledges and includes the BCCM Banner Policy agreed with DRD.

         Department for Social Development

         The department owns a number of sites within the city centre and permission will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Director reported that a delegation from Heifei would visit the City in January to prepare for a collaborative art exhibition entitled ‘Crossroads’, which would be taking place in Heifei, Belfast, Cork and Dublin in June, 2014. He reminded the Committee of the long-standing Sister City association with Heifei and indicated that the visit would provide an opportunity for the Council to explore areas of mutual benefit in both economic and cultural terms.

The Committee agreed that a sum of £500 be allocated towards the provision of hospitality at a reception to mark the visit of the deputation from Heifei.

The Director reported that, as part of the series of events which would coincide with the hosting by Londonderry of the 2013 Turner Prize, a group of 18 international curators would be visiting Belfast in December. A detailed itinerary had been formulated to coincide with that visit and he indicated that a reception had been arranged to take place at the City Hall. The Director outlined the networking opportunities which would be afforded to promote the visual arts in Belfast at the reception and, in particular, the Council’s role in this regard.

The Committee agreed that a sum of £1,000 be allocated towards the provision of hospitality to mark the visit to the City Hall of the international curators.

The Committee was advised that the Lord Mayor would be undertaking a visit to Washington on 6th and 7th November in support of a sales mission which would be led by Visit Belfast and the Waterfront Hall. The Director indicated that the visit would present an opportunity to highlight the plans to establish new convention facilities at the Waterfront Hall and he outlined the extensive range of meetings which the Lord Mayor had arranged to promote the City’s business potential. He reported also that the Lord Mayor would be attending a meeting in Toronto with representatives of the American Ireland Fund in respect of an inward investment mission to Belfast which would take place in February, 2014. 

The Committee agreed that the Director (or his nominee) be authorised to accompany the Lord Mayor on the North American visit at a cost not to exceed £2,500. It was noted that the Lord Mayor would undertake the visit at no cost to the Council.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report

            “1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    There are 3 Revenue funded community groups in the Clarawood estate:

         Clarawood Community Association - £9,440.97

         Clara Park Tenants and Residents - £7,579.02

         Oak Partnership - £1,917.89

1.2    The Clarawood Community Association operated out of the BELB Anne Napier Centre with a licence agreement in place between BELB and BCC and a sub licence agreement in place between BCC and Clarawood Community Association. As of the 1st July 2013 this arrangement ended with the BELB taking a more direct involvement in the provision of youth work in the Anne Napier centre.

1.3    The Clara Park Tenants and Residents operate out of their own hall in Clarawood Park. They have a small and ageing membership.

1.4    The Oak Partnership is the smallest of the estate’s 3 groups but it has increasingly taken on a co-ordination and leadership role in regards to the community work within the Clarawood estate, working with BELB on its youth work programme and giving guidance and worker and programme support to the Tenants Association.    

2       Key Issues

2.1    The Community Development Revenue Grant (£9,440.97) for the Clarawood Community Association will not be released in 2013/14 as the BELB are directly organizing Youth Work out of the Anne Napier Centre.

2.2    The Clara Park Tenants and Residents group and the Oak Partnership are working together to ensure that the services previously available at the Anne Napier Centre are available within their own centres.

2.3    To help support and facilitate a partnership and integrated approach to programme development, volunteer training and community consultation between the Oak Partnership and Clara Park Tenants and Residents, it is proposed that the Clarawood Community Association 2013/14 Revenue Grant be re allocated between the two remaining groups on the estate.

         Officers will work with the groups to assess and support their programme plans.  Any reallocated grant will be support to the same compliance and monitoring requirements.

3       Resource Implications

3.1    Available within existing budget

4       Equality and Good Relations Considerations

4.1    There are no specific equality and good relations considerations attached to this report.

5       Recommendations

5.1    It is recommended that the Clarawood Community Association Revenue grant allocation for 2013/14 be reallocated equally between the Oak Partnership and Clara Park Tenants & Residents in order to secure the continuation and future expansion of services to residents of the Clarawood Estate.”

            After discussion, during which the Community Services Manager clarified a number of issues, the Committee adopted the recommendation. 

            The Committee agreed to defer, until its meeting on 19th November, consideration of a report on the Council’s options regarding the future provision of community services in the Village area to enable briefings to be provided to those parties who so wished to receive them. In addition, it was agreed that the Committee would, at the meeting on 19th November, receive a deputation from the Olympia Community Centre Support Group in respect of its concerns regarding the future provision of community services in that area.  

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    BCC have an annual grant contract with DSD for £1.57m under their regional Community Support Programme. The contract is conditional on our making contribution to the CSP overall aim defined as:

         ‘To strengthen local communities, increase community participation and promotesocial inclusion through the stimulation and support of community groups, community activity and local advice services’.

1.2    A series of four outcomes, or impacts have been set for the CSP

                              i.        an active and organised community,

                            ii.        an influential community,

                           iii.        an informed community,

                           iv.        a sustainable community,

1.3 The Voluntary and Community Unit (DSD) has offered Belfast City Council an additional in-year allocation of approximately £467,000 towards general revenue expenditure and subject to the same conditions of grant offer.

1.4    It should be noted that the additional allocation is conditional on the utilisation of the full fund by 31 March 2014. There is no requirement on BCC to provide match funding.  All of the additional grant allocation will be subject to the normal DSD monitoring and compliance requirements.

1.5    The purpose of this report is to seek committee approval to accept the offer of additional in year CSP grant and to agree expenditure options.

2       Key Issues

2.1    The limited timeframe attached to the additional funding will not allow for monies to be administered competitively so it is crucial to find a prompt but robust way in which to allocate the funds in support of projects and service providers for community benefit.

2.2    Given this requirement (to allocate and fully expend the additional monies within the current financial year), officers have identified a number of potential in-year funding opportunities. In doing so, we have also considered the following;

·         DSD Community Support Programme funding criteria and target Outcomes

·         The objectives, supporting actions and logic model presented in the DSD’s Urban Regeneration and Community Development Policy Framework (July 2013)

·         The opportunity presented to significantly contribute to the council’s Service Convergence and Assets & Liabilities work streams in relation to Urban Regeneration and Community Development.

·         The opportunity presented to enhance the community impact of  corporate initiatives, for example, Super Connected City and Advice Tribunal Service   

·         Priority needs related to current financial climate

·         Feasibility of proposal to support compliant assessment, committal and expenditure of funds by 31st March 2014

·         Efficiency considerations to ensure related officer resources

2.3    The DSD’s Urban Regeneration and Community Development Policy Framework (July 2013) sets out the proposed strategic direction for the delivery of urban regeneration and community development policies and programmes in Northern Ireland both before and after the Reform of Local Government.  It also contains a set of four supporting actions which will help develop a more conducive policy and financial environment in which the Policy Framework will operate.  In addition the Framework contains DSD’s commitment to adopt an outcomes-focused approach (‘the Logic Model’) to operational activity on urban regeneration and community development. This approach will focus on results ahead of process, using evidence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

            The Director sought the Committee’s permission to undertake a tendering exercise for the provision of café and bar services at the Ulster Hall for a two-year period, commencing in March, 2014, with a discretionary option to extend that contract for a further one-year period if deemed necessary.

            The Committee granted the approval sought and delegated authority to the Director to appoint a suitably-qualified contractor at the conclusion of the tendering exercise.