Agenda and minutes

Venue: Lavery Room (Room G05), City Hall

Contact: Mr. Barry Flynn  Tel: 028 9027 0610

Items
No. Item

1a

Apologies

Minutes:

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors McCausland and Mhic Giolla Mhín.

 

1b

Minutes

Minutes:

            The minutes of the meeting of 11th March 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 April.

 

2.

Departmental Plan 2008/2009 - Quarterly Update pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which provided information on the current status of projects and initiatives which had been carried out by the Department during the period from 1st January till 31st March.  The Committee noted further that a report concerning the Departmental Plan for the 2009/2010 year would be submitted to its next monthly meeting.

 

3.

European Unit - Update pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Background

 

      Members will be aware of regular European Unit Progress reports.  Members are asked to consider progress on the following projects:

 

1.      Quartiers En Crise

2.      Interreg IVA programme

3.      Irish Sea Partnership

 

Key Issues

 

      1.   Quartiers En Crise

 

      Members will be aware that Belfast City Council is a member of the local Belfast Quartiers En Crise network and in February of last year the Committee agreed that the Council would take over co?ordination of the local network from the Belfast Health Trust.

 

      Members of the local Quartiers en Crise network are:

 

-     Belfast Health Trust

-     BelfastCity Council

-     Northern Ireland Housing Executive

-     Department of Education & Learning

-     Belfast Regeneration Office

-     Belfast Area Partnership Boards

 

      All members with the exception of BAPS pay an annual membership fee of £2,500.  From this €7,800 is paid to the Brussels secretariat as a membership fee which contributes to staff and running costs of the Brussels office. The balance is used to cover travel costs for local members to attend meetings and to provide match funding to support the development and implementation of new projects.

 

      This fee allows members to access information on funding and policy developments, to influence policy and to work in partnership with others to develop projects that assist people facing disadvantage.

 

      Since taking over responsibility for co-ordination of the local group in June last year, group members have reviewed their roles, improved how the network operates and renewed their commitment.  Information on projects sent out by the Brussels secretariat now reaches a wider local network and through this we have enabled local organisations to partner in two projects that are currently being considered for European funding.  These focus on migrant women and the poverty and health issues relating to third country nationals.  If successful these projects will start in autumn 2009.

 

      Belfast’s membership also currently includes holding the position of Treasurer on the Executive Bureau which oversees the work of the network.  The Bureau meets quarterly in different cities and there is an Annual General Meeting. All expenses relating to attendance at the Executive Bureau are paid for centrally by the Brussels secretariat.  Members of the Executive Bureau are usually officers acting by proxy for the leading politician in each city with a remit for European affairs, in Belfast that is the Council's Chairman of the Development Committee.

 

      As earlier indicated, since the transfer of responsibility locally to Belfast City Council for coordination of QEC, the partnership has reviewed its role and decided to widen the remit and names of organisations at a local level to become known as ‘Belfast in Europe -QEC-ERAN’.

 

      The rationale behind this is to highlight, promote and share the wealth of European policy dissemination, project development and networks that each of the local constituent member organisations engage in.  Given the growing importance that the Northern Ireland Assembly is now placing on Europe since the launch of the Northern Ireland Task Force on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Development and Outreach Initiative 2009/2010 pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            (Councillor Crozier declared an interest in this matter in that an organisation of which he was the Director had been awarded grant assistance under the Initiative and left the room while the matter was under discussion.)

 

            The Head of Economic Initiatives reminded the Committee that the Council’s Development and Outreach Initiative Grants were intended to build capacity and to boost cultural activity in communities with weak cultural and arts infrastructure in areas of multiple deprivation.  Groups which benefited must either have a disability focus or be based within one or more of the designated Super Output Areas in Belfast.

 

            She advised the Committee that a budget of £165,000 had been included in the 2009/10 Departmental Estimates.  However, twenty-three applications requesting funding of £388,712 had been received.  Due to the high standard of submissions, only those projects scoring over 60% had been recommended for assistance.

 

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the officers’ recommendations set out hereunder:

 

Applicant

Total

Percentage

 

Amount Requested

(£)

Recommendation

(£)

An Droichead

0%

10,300

0

ArtsEkta

67.8%

9,500

5,600

Beat Initiative

79.8%

20,000

15,000

Belfast Exposed Photography

73.6%

10,262

7,700

Belfast Print Workshop

56.2%

19,650

 

Beyond Skin

64.8%

18,000

10,800

Cinemagic

57.4%

18,000

 

Creative Writers' Network

0%

18,230

 

Face Inclusion Matters

46.6%

19,623

 

Golden Thread Gallery

69.8%

17,400

12,200

Greater Shankill Partnership

68.8%

20,000

14,000

Lower North Belfast Community Council

73.2%

19,954

15,000

New Lodge Arts

69%

19,425

13,600

Northern Visions

77%

12,518

9,400

OldMuseum Arts Centre

79.2%

19,985

15,000

Prime Cut Productions

68.8%

20,000

14,000

Queen's Film Theatre

56.8%

20,000

 

Streetwise Community Circus Workshops

69.6%

15,150

10,700

Tinderbox

0%

18,470

 

Trans Urban Arts

64.4%

16,500

5,100

Wheelworks

71.2%

8,850

6,700

Young at Art

58%

19,965

 

Youth Action Northern Ireland

64.4%

16,930

10,200

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

388,712

 

165,000

 

5.

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Members that the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure was undertaking an Inquiry into the funding of the Arts in Northern Ireland.  The Council had been requested to submit written evidence to the Inquiry and to provide a transcript of the recent Council?organised conference entitled “Harnessing Cultural Value in Tough Economic Times”.  In addition, the Assembly Committee had invited the Council to make an oral presentation to it on 28th May at a meeting in Enniskillen.

 

            During discussion, a Member pointed out that the Council’s response did not indicate the amount of money which it provided under the Multi-Annual Fund Scheme to the Ulster Orchestra and requested that this be amended.  The Head of Economic Initiatives apologised for the error and assured the Committee that the omission would be corrected.

 

            Following further discussion, the Committee agreed that:

 

(i)      the draft response, a copy of which is available on Modern.gov, be submitted as the Council’s official comments to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, subject to the amount of funding provided by the Council to the Ulster Orchestra being included within the document;

 

(ii)     a transcript of the proceedings of the “Harnessing Cultural Value in Tough Economic Times” conference be provided to the Assembly Committee; and

 

(iii)    the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (or their nominees), together with two officers, give the Council’s submission to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure at its meeting in Enniskillen on 28th May.

 

6.

Renewing the Routes Update pdf icon PDF 107 KB

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      This report provides ongoing updates on activity in respect of the following items:

 

1.   Proposed variations in the budget allocations towards a proposed environmental project within the agreed Springfield Road Action Plan; and

 

2.   Carlisle Circus.

 

Key Issues

 

      1.   Springfield Road Variation

 

      The proposal to develop a project for the site adjacent to the PSNI facility on the Springfield Road formed part of the Springfield Road Integrated Development Fund action plan. The potential for environmental improvements at the vacant and derelict site was identified as part of the open space improvements element of the plan. The initial scoping work for the project has identified a number of issues around the current site condition and ownership that make it unfeasible to pursue the proposed works within the programme timescales.

 

      During the detailed developmental activity it has been difficult to confirm ownership of the site and the potential for commitment to a viable proposal including future maintenance arrangements.  In addition, the presence of invasive vegetation species has been identified on the site which, in the absence of remedial works, further undermines the viability of the proposed environmental improvements.

 

      This potential open space project was located close to the Springhill Park where a separate environmental scheme was being developed for the area adjacent to the Springfield Road.

 

      The scheme for environmental improvement works at Springhill was at a development stage that allowed the scope of the activity to be increased to provide a more comprehensive scheme, encompassing an area for a new public art feature being developed by Groundwork.

 

      In order to progress the continued implementation of increased works at Springhill Park it is proposed that the identified budget of £25,000 be reallocated to support the more comprehensive scheme for the public park area.  The reallocation of resources would contribute to additional environmental improvement works on the Springhill Park site that would be in accordance with the overall objectives for the original budget allocation.

 

      There are no additional financial implications arising from the reallocation.

 

      Recommendation

 

      Members are recommended to approve the reallocation of £25,000 to support the increased works scheme at Springhill Park.

 

      2.   Carlisle Circus

 

      Committee agreed to the appointment of an artist to develop a new art piece for the Carlisle Circus roundabout on 18th October 2006. Following appointment, the artist (Iain McColl) carried out extensive community consultation in the area surrounding the roundabout and with schools and organisations from adjoining communities.

 

      On the basis of the completed consultations the artist developed a final art piece concept that was presented to the selection panel in 2007. Mr McColl was commissioned in summer 2007 and completed the substantive composition and assembly work of the ‘Pharus’ in late 2008. The Committee was updated with progress in October 2008 when it was reported that the artwork was complete and awaiting final inspections. The necessary statutory and owner consents for the proposed art piece have now been secured and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Re-Imaging Communities Update and Participation in a Proposed Event with Derry City Council pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      This report provides an update on the ongoing implementation phase of the activity in respect of the ‘Re-Imaging Communities’ initiative funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.  The initial project identification activity that formed the basis of the approval was carried out by consultants appointed by the Good Relations Unit to identify both the potential for a range of projects and the basic brief for the final form of art piece with associated budget costs.

 

      Following the Arts Council approval of the first phase of activity, the Development Department, through the Planning & Transport Unit, was tasked with the implementation of the twelve potential projects across the City.

 

      At a presentation to the Arts Council to update on the ongoing work and progress across the different projects, the potential for additional activity based on the exchange of experience was highlighted. Following the meeting the facilitator appointed to work with the different communities explored the potential for the exchange of experience and shared learning in relation to the re?imaging work. On the basis of this independent work and contact with other organisations an offer to participate in a joint event was received from DerryCity Council.

 

Key Issues

 

      Project Updates

 

      The ‘Re-Imaging Communities’ initiative focuses on both Council and ACNI corporate objectives in encouraging positive community relations through physical works to address visible signs of sectarianism and racism.  The objectives of the programme are to contribute to the creation of a welcoming local environment for all residents and visitors through direct works and a facilitated engagement process with local communities and artists.

 

      The project seeks to facilitate sustainable transformation of the physical environments with civic leadership and pride engendered within the local communities as they lead the change through a facilitated project development process.

 

      The ACNI approved an overall budget of £232,000 for the Council to deliver 12 projects covering North, South, East and West Belfast, subject to further approvals at the final design stage. In order to secure the involvement and continued engagement of the local communities the funding has enabled the appointment of two facilitators to work with Council staff on the development and final implementation.

 

      The individual projects have an artist appointed to work with the community on the development and delivery of high quality artwork which will either replace existing sectarian murals or target the re-imaging of local environments to enhance the space for the communities to enjoy and celebrate their culture in a more inclusive manner. The selection of the artist and the final artwork is carried out though local panels with the participation of the local groups, facilitators and Council officers.

 

      From the potential twelve projects identified through the initial work eleven projects are progressing towards final implementation having secured ACNI approval. This implementation will follow completion of the facilitated developmental work between the artists and the local groups.  A summary of the projects that are progressing to implementation is outlined below:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Extension of the Roden Street Community Development Group's Lease for Grosvenor Recreation Centre pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

            The Community Services Manager reminded the Committee that the former Client Services (Community and Leisure Services) Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 3rd November, 1998, had agreed to transfer control of Grosvenor Recreation Centre to the Roden Street Community Development Group for a period of ten years.  During this time the Group had been successful in its management of the Centre, had developed a programme of activities and had worked in partnership with the Council, local community organisations and a range of statutory agencies.

 

            She reported that, in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement, the Group had sought permission to extend its lease by a period of five years, with effect from 1st April, 2009.  Since the lease stipulated a rent review be undertaken when the renewal option was exercised, such a review had established that the rental be £17,350 per annum.  The Community Services Manager pointed out that the Development Group had not breached the terms of its existing lease and, accordingly, she recommended that the lease be extended by a period of five years, with effect from 1st April, 2009 and that the rent be increased to £17,350 per annum.

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

 

9.

Holding of Funfair pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

            The Community Development Manager advised the Committee that Ballymacarrett Leisure Centre, which was managed by Connswater Community and Leisure Limited, had received a request from Cullens Funfair to locate a funfair on an area of open ground next to the Centre.  She pointed out that, although the land was owned by the Council, it was managed by Connswater Community and Leisure Limited.  She pointed out further that Cullens had operated a funfair for a number of years on an all-weather pitch at Andersonstown Leisure Centre and that the Manager of that facility had indicated that, although the behaviour of a small number of persons attending the funfair in its early years had caused difficulties, generally there had not been any significant problems.

 

            The Community Development Manager reported that it was proposed that the funfair would be held from 28th till 31st May and Cullens had indicated that the music would cease at 9.30 p.m. and the site would close by 10.00 p.m. each day.  In addition, the Company had provided an undertaking that the site would be returned to its original condition at the conclusion of the funfair. 

 

            She pointed out that residents neighbouring the site had been informed by letter of the proposal and invited to attend a public meeting.  However, only a small number of people had attended the meeting and she was not convinced that this indicated that there was public support for the funfair.  She informed the Members that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had indicated that, given its previous experience of the promoter, it was not opposed to the event being held.

 

            During discussion in the matter, a Member informed the Committee that none of the Councillors representing the Victoria Electoral Area had been invited to the public meeting and that, although some 250 houses were located across the road from the area where it was proposed to locate the funfair, none of those residents had received letters concerning the public meeting and he understood that of the 20 houses to receive such letters, only five or six people had attended the meeting.  In addition, he was of the opinion that the area of land was not suitable for the funfair since it was considerably smaller than the all-weather pitch which had been used at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre.

 

            Following further discussion, the Committee agreed, since Connswater Community and Leisure Limited had failed to demonstrate sufficient community support for the funfair, to refuse the request from the group to permit Cullens Funfair to hold a funfair on an area of land beside Ballymacarrett Leisure Centre.

 

10.

Hammer Pavilion pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      Shankill Football Club is seeking a management lease for part of the Hammer Community Complex and has been involved in discussions with officers from the Community Services and Parks and Leisure Department since 2007-2008.  SFC currently has a facilities management agreement with Parks & Leisure to manage a football pitch and a Portakabin located within the Hammer Community Complex site.  SFC also has independent access to part of the Hammer Pavilion for changing and shower facilities.  The Pavilion is a small community facility managed by Community Services and adjacent to the Hammer Community Centre.  SFC asserts that its potential development is curtailed by current resources and specifically their ability to meet Senior League requirements, to host visiting teams, training and development for members, health & safety, fund raising, flexible weekend access and the general expansion of its membership.  Based on this, SFC has requested that the Council should devolve operational management of the Pavilion to the SFC.

 

      In 2008 BDO Stoy Hayward carried out a management options appraisal of the Hammer Community Complex, consulting with all local stakeholders.  The report recommended that the Council consider a pilot lease arrangement with SFC for the Pavilion.  Initially the pilot would be for six to twelve months, giving SFC an opportunity to demonstrate financial and management capability. The report highlighted the concerns of other users of the Pavilion who would potentially be displaced by a lease agreement but also acknowledged that there was other additional local capacity. BDO Stoy Hayward also recommended the transfer of the Pavilion from Community Services to Parks & Leisure in order to give SFC the specialist support for its prime activity, that is, sport and recreation.

 

Key Issues

 

      If a pilot management lease is agreed with SFC there are a number of issues requiring consideration:

 

1.   A temporary management lease between SFC and the Council setting out the responsibilities of the Club, including agreed performance outputs.  This will include a budget for running and maintenance costs;

 

2.   Monitoring of the agreement by the Outdoor Leisure Team;

 

3.   Parks & Leisure to support the Club to develop a Sports Development Plan, including pitch and facility management and accessing other sports funding opportunities;

 

4.   Community Services to support the Club to develop effective governance structures based on the open and accountable management of resources;

 

5.   On the completion of a successful pilot phase, it is proposed that the SFC's lease would transfer to the Parks & Leisure Department with any additional lease agreement to be negotiated with that Department;

 

6.   Community Services is currently supporting a programme of activities at the Pavilion, which in the event of a management lease to SFC would require relocation. Officers are currently exploring local options; and

 

7.   The current vacant Supervisor’s post at the Pavilion will not be recruited pending the outcome of the pilot.

 

Resource Implications

 

      Financial

 

      £13,354 pro rata annual fee assessment for utilities and small repairs which exists within current budget estimates.

 

      Human Resources

 

      Possible postponement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Neighbourhood Renewal Programme Funding - Voluntary Advice Provider Posts pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Community Development Manager informed the Members that, as a result of a review of the funding which the Belfast Regeneration Office provided under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, that organisation had identified that it was paying for voluntary advice provider posts.  The Voluntary Community Unit within the Department for Social Development, which was responsible for the administration of Community Support Plan funding to District Councils, had proposed that, in future, local authorities fund such posts through the Advice and Information strand of the Plan.  She reported that a number of voluntary advice provider posts in Belfast would be affected by this change.  The Voluntary Community Unit would be prepared to make the necessary changes in order to transfer the administration of the funding of these posts from the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme to the Community Support Plan, if the Council agreed to the change.

 

            She pointed out that, given the current economic situation, there was an increasing demand for these types of services provided by advice-giving organisations.  Therefore, the voluntary advice provider posts were of considerable importance to the City’s residents.  She explained that the funding for the posts would be provided to the Council by the Voluntary Community Unit and then ring-fenced within the Council’s Community Support Plan budget.  However, the posts would only be secured whilst the Council continued to receive funding for them under the Community Support Plan.

 

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the administration of the funding for the voluntary advice posts be transferred from the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme to the Community Support Plan.

 

12.

Waterfront and Ulster Halls Marketing Services Contract pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      In May 2006 a contract for the provision of marketing services to the Belfast Waterfront was awarded for an initial one year period, further renewable for a maximum of two additional years.  This option was taken up.

 

      The contract is now due to expire on 30 April 2009.

 

      With the reopening of the Ulster Hall and the strategy of joint promotion adopted for the two venues, a new contract arrangement is now required to cover marketing activities for both venues.

 

      Furthermore, with recent changes in the Council’s Branding Strategy and the expansion of the role of Corporate Communications, particularly in the field of advertising, there is a need to reassess the services required from a contractor.

 

Key Issues

 

      In order to progress the appointment of a new contractor, yet retain a relationship with the existing contractor in the interim period, the following course of action is proposed.

 

1.   Extension of the current contract for Belfast Waterfront Hall

 

      Extension of the current contract to cover the period up to 30 June 2009 would allow advertising and other promotional activity to continue, pending the appointment of a new contractor.

 

      As a new listings guide (the main element of expenditure) will not be required until August 2009 this is likely to involve only minimal work.

 

2.   Ulster Hall

 

      A large proportion of the design and advertising work required for the reopening of the Ulster Hall was carried out by the contractor appointed to design the interpretive displays within the venue.

 

      Some additional work was also awarded to this designer in order to retain continuity of design.

 

      It is proposed that this arrangement should continue until a new contractor is appointed.

 

3.   Appointment of New Contractor for the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls

 

      Approval is sought from Committee to seek tenders using the criteria detailed below.  Approval is also sought from Committee for delegated authority for the Director of Development to award the tender in line with the criteria.

 

      The new Marketing Services contract should relate to both Belfast Waterfront and the Ulster Hall.

 

      There will be some substantive changes from the previous contract, notably:

 

-     The opportunity to address how the Waterfront and Ulster Hall ‘brands’ work together;

-     A requirement to address the Belfast brand in all design work;

-     A reduction in the advertising brief for the contractor – design of advertising will remain within this brief, whereas the negotiation of advertising rates and placing of advertising will revert to Belfast City Council;

-     A requirement to consider the implications of all marketing activity in relation to digital marketing opportunities and to work with BelfastCity Council to ensure this is carried through.

 

      The core work covered by the contract will involve:

 

-     Design (and print management) of a listings guide for both venues;

-     Design of corporate advertising (conference and entertainments markets) for each venue individually but also together

-     Design of event related advertising for relevant entertainments events  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

12a

Ulster Hall

Minutes:

            Arising from discussion in the foregoing matter, a Member indicated that he had been concerned to see during a recent visit to the Ulster Hall that damp was visible on a number of the internal walls of the recently refurbished building.  He was concerned also that the only method of accessing seats on the ground floor was through the central aisle, which was resulting in congestion at concerts and events.  In response, the Head of City Events and Venues indicated that the dampness had resulted from lime plaster being applied to the walls during the refurbishment.  This product had been used in order to ensure that the work was undertaken in keeping with the manner in which the building had been constructed originally.  With the Hall being used once again for events, the heat in the building was drawing water which had seeped into the brickwork due to its poor state of repair prior to the refurbishment.  He informed the Members that, as part of the contract, the reinstatement work would be undertaken when the walls had dried out. 

 

            In connection with the seating issue, the Head of City Events and Venues indicated that, since the refurbishment of the Ulster Hall had reduced the number of seats which were available in the balcony, it had been decided, in order to maximise the revenue which the Hall could generate, to provide only a central aisle on the ground floor thereby allowing for additional seats to be provided.  He assured the Committee that this change was not in contravention of any health and safety legislation.  However, given the Member’s remarks, he undertook to examine the issue again.

 

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided by the Head of City Events and Venues.

 

13.

World Police and Firefighter Games 2013 pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Minutes:

            The Head of City Events and Venues reminded the Committee that the Council was one of the key bodies responsible for the organisation of the above?mentioned Games which would be held in Belfast.

 

            He reported that the Lord Mayor had been invited to participate in a delegation from Northern Ireland which would be attending the 2009 World Police and Firefighter Games in Vancouver, Canada, in order to view the facilities being used in that City and to promote the 2013 event.  The delegation would include the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and representatives from his Department, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Prison Service, the Fire and Rescue Service and Sport Northern Ireland.  The cost of sending one person on the trip had been estimated at £2,500.

 

            The Head of City Events and Venues recommended, given that Belfast would be hosting the 2013 Games, that the Lord Mayor and the Head of City Events and Venues (or their nominees), participate in the delegation to the 2009 World Police and Fire Fighter Games in Vancouver from 31st July till 3rd August.

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendation and authorised the payment of the necessary costs in connection therewith.

 

14.

Economic Development Unit - Update pdf icon PDF 119 KB

14a

European Social Fund Projects

Minutes:

            (Councillors Cunningham, Lavery and C. Maskey declared an interest in this matter, in that they sat on the Board of one of the organisations seeking assistance, Councillor Ekin declared an interest also in his capacity as landlord of one of the organisations and they left the meeting whilst the matter was under discussion.)

 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“Relevant Background Information

 

      Members will be aware that, at the March 2009 meeting of the Development Committee, it was agreed that a decision on the recommendation not to proceed with year two funding for three European Social Fund projects would be deferred and that officers should bring back a report to the April 2009 Committee exploring options for funding these projects.

 

Key Issues

 

      At the February 2008 meeting of the Development Committee Members agreed to three requests to match fund European Social Fund projects.

 

      The approval was for one years funding only and was subject to each of the parties meeting targets as indicated in their applications.

 

      The financial requests and targets were as follows (all figures from February 2009):

 

LEAP (Local Employment Action Programme):

 

Match-funding of £48,848 requested (but subsequently revised downwards to £41,615 due to a delay in the start date). 

Target: 44 clients registered and 18 people into employment.

Actual performance: 67 clients registered (152% of target) and four people into employment (22%) of target.

 

Stepping Stones Work 4 U:

 

Match-funding of £32,665 requested.

Target: 75 clients registered and 17 to find employment.

Actual performance: 28 clients registered (37% of target) and five clients found employment (29% of target).

 

Women into Business

 

Match-funding of £30,491 requested.

Targets included: 505 women to join the network over a three year period; 2,000 hits on the website and 200 women to receive mentoring.

Actual performance: the project start date was delayed and therefore the focus of year 1 activity has been on recruiting the coordinator and setting up the website therefore no targets have been met.

 

      Members should be aware that Belfast City Council did not launch a call for match-funding requests.  The project call for ESF applications was launched by the Department for Employment and Learning in October 2007 and it was the responsibility of the project promoter to ensure that they had match-funding in place.  At the project submission stage, we were only aware that two of these projects, LEAP and Stepping Stones Work 4 U, had intended to identify Belfast City Council as a possible match-funder.  Both projects were aware that this commitment was subject to Committee approval.

 

      All ESF projects are of three year duration.  Match-funding is requested on a year by year basis.  To date the projects have indicated that the BelfastCity Council match contribution spend by March 2009 is:

 

-     LEAP: £26,959.45 (underspend of £14,656)

-     Stepping Stones Work 4 U: £32,665 (no underspend)

-     Women into Business: £22,814 (underspend of £7,605)

 

      The three projects have now approached Belfast City Council to ask for continued match-funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14a

15.

Quarterly Media Report pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Committee noted a report which outlined the amount of media coverage and the extent of press and media enquiries received concerning the work of the Committee during the period from December, 2008 till February, 2009.

 

16.

Core Cities pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

            The Committee was informed that the Lord Mayor had received recently an invitation for Belfast to become an associate member of the Core Cities Group.  This organisation had been established in 2000 to assist Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Gateshead to work together on common issues and to lobby Central Government to re-direct funding for economic regeneration away from London and the South-East of England.  As a result, a number of joint initiatives had been undertaken on issues relating to transport, regeneration and employability.  The Head of Economic Initiatives indicated that Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow had also been invited to join this prestigious Group and that associate, rather than “full” membership, had been offered to the four cities since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had their own Regional Assemblies.

 

            She pointed out that joining the Core Cities Group would enable the Council to share information with and obtain information from the other cities which were members of the organisation which would be beneficial to Belfast.  She pointed out further that the Council had not been requested to make any financial contribution and that “full” membership could only be offered to English cities.

 

            Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the Lord Mayor decline the invitation for Belfast to become an associate member of the Core Cities Group.