Venue: Lavery Room (Room G05), City Hall
Contact: Mr. Barry Flynn Tel: 028 9027 0610
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were reported from Alderman Ekin and Councillor Austin.
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: No declarations of interest were reported.
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Dublin Bike Hire Scheme PDF 63 KB Minutes: The Committee was reminded that, in August, 2012, the Council had secured funding in the sum of £698,700 from the Department for Regional Development towards the provision of a Belfast Public Bike Hire Scheme. It was anticipated that the first phase of the project would see the establishment of a number of stations at key locations in the City and that the scheme would be extended to additional areas following an initial evaluation. In accordance with its decision of 4th June, the Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. J. Frehill, Project Manager of Dublin City Council’s bike hire scheme, who was in attendance to provide an overview of that project.
Mr. Frehill explained that the Dublin scheme, known as ‘dublinbikes ’, had been established in 2009 as part of a joint partnership between Dublin City Council and the French company JC Decaux. The initiative was considered to have been a success, with each bike undertaking an average of 2,200 journeys during the first year. He suggested that three factors had contributed to that success, namely, the demand for the service which had been created by the general public in Dublin; the extensive research which had been undertaken in choosing the locations for the bike stations; and the cost effectiveness and quality of the service which was provided.In terms of the plans for the Belfast Bike Hire Scheme, the Planning and Transport Officer reported that procurement documents were being drafted for the design, build, operation and maintenance contract for the project and that work was ongoing on sponsorship and advertising options which would be associated with the scheme. She added that it was anticipated that a tendering exercise would be initiated in November and a report on its outcome would in due course be submitted for consideration by both the Strategic Policy and Resources and Development Committees. She indicated that companies submitting a ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Forum for an Alternative Belfast Minutes: The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 17th September, it had agreed to extend an invitation to representatives of the Forum for an Alternative Belfast to provide an overview of the findings of its 2013 Summer School. Accordingly, the Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. D. Hill and Mr. P. Mullin and they provided an overview for the Committee in this regard. Mr. Hill indicated that the event, which had taken place in the City Hall in August, had examined the implications arising from the lack of trees within the inner city of Belfast. He pointed out that, whilst there existed many well-established and mature trees on Belfast’s traditional arterial routes, housing estates, which had been built particularly since the 1960s, had been notable for their lack of trees. He added that the absence of trees, which, he suggested, could be considered as a contributory factor towards health inequalities, was most acute within the Lower Shankill and Falls areas, Carlisle Circus and the Tigers Bay and New Lodge areas. He suggested that that one of the challenges for Belfast’s future town planners would be to address the issues raised and to establish schemes which would enhance connectivity between the inner City and Belfast’s outlying greenbelt. The deputation then answered a range of Members’ questions and the Chairman thanked the representatives for attending. The Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Chairman
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