Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were reported.

After discussion, during which the representatives from the Arts Council answered a range of Members’ questions it was noted that a report in respect of the future working arrangements between the Council and the Arts Council would be considered in due course.

A Member reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th January, it had received a presentation from representatives of the University of Ulster regarding its plans to redevelop its existing campus in York Street. He pointed out that the Committee had expressed concern that a delay had been encountered in the processing of the University’s planning application by the Planning Service and it had been agreed that a letter be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Alex Attwood M.L.A., highlighting the Committee’s concerns and requesting that any issues outstanding be resolved at the earliest opportunity to enable the application to be to be considered by the Council’s Town Planning Committee. He suggested that, in addition to the letter to the Minister, a press release be issued by the Council to highlight the concerns which had been expressed regarding the delay.

The Committee agreed to this course of action. 

The Committee agreed that the Council should seek to provide the service on an internal basis and that an Economic Development Officer, which the Council was in the process of appointing, would be tasked to undertake the stakeholder engagement work as outlined.

After discussion, the Committee agreed to accede to the funding request for £25,000 to assist in the undertaking of a targeted campaign in the east of the City and noted that a further report would be submitted in due course which would outline the options available to the Council to address requests which might be submitted from traders affected by disruption in other parts of the City. 

The Committee endorsed the Action Plan for the campaign and authorised the expenditure as outlined. 

The Director outlined the Council’s role in the next stage of the redevelopment and consultation process and indicated that the concerns which had been raised previously in terms of air quality, future residential development, together with connectivity to other areas of the City, would be addressed in due course.

The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

The Committee endorsed the contents of the Brownfield Pledge.

The Committee noted the contents of a report which outlined the proposals for the holding of a City Development Conference at the end of March, 2013, and which had been approved by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 13th December, 2012.  

The Director reported that the Council had, in early 2011, invited tenders for the provision of large-scale civic event production services viz., public address, staging and lighting. However, he pointed out that no suitable tender had been submitted in this regard. Accordingly, a new contract specification would be drafted and a revised tender issued for the service.  Accordingly, the Director sought the Committee’s authority to extend, for a period of four months, ending 30th April, 2013, the Council’s existing arrangement with Production House Group to deliver the service, and that this would be reviewed on a month-to-month basis until the tendering exercise had been completed and a suitable contractor appointed.

The Committee granted the authority sought.

After discussion, it was

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations within the report and to provide funding in the sum of £190,000 to Belfast City Centre Management for the financial year 2013/2014.  In addition, the Committee agrees that officers would submit a detailed report to the Committee on Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the near future.

The Committee considered the following requests for assistance which had been received under the Support for Sport Scheme in relation to events and promotions and adopted the recommendations in relation thereto:

The Committee adopted the following recommendations: 

·        agreed the draft outcomes framework and note the further work required on the associated indicator set.

·        noted the plans for continued Member engagement on BCIP and consider the proposal that the Community Planning Reference Group act as the reference group for BCIP during its development stages.

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The Committee approved the attendance at the conference of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (or their nominees), together with two officers, and approved also the associated travel, accommodation, subsistence and conference fees, the cost of which was approximately £500 per delegate.

Resolved – That, in accordance with Standing Order 12, the foregoing minutes be submitted to the Council for adoption at its meeting on 4th February.