Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Maire Hendron, and Councillors Cunningham, Haire and Kyle.

The minutes of the meeting of 14th August 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 September.

            Alderman Robinson declared an interest in Item 4, that is, Summer Camps/Schools – OFMDFM Support.

            The Assistant Director of Parks and Leisure submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.      Relevant Background Information

            The Committee is reminded that at its meeting on 14th June 2014 it received a copy of a report regarding proposed construction of a 3rd generation artificial turf pitch at Falls Park as part of the implementation of the Pitches Strategy which was adopted in March 2012.   The report, a copy of which has been circulated, highlighted the concerns from some residents regarding the implications of the new facility.  To help address those concerns it was suggested that an engagement exercise be undertaken with residents to identify the issues and agree ways in which these might be mitigated.  The Committee Minute stated that:

            After discussion, during which the Committee expressed concern regarding the cost of hiring external consultants to undertake a consultation exercise on behalf of the Council, it was agreed that an invitation be extended to representatives of the residents’ group to attend the August monthly meeting in order to outline their concerns in respect of the proposed development, after which the Committee would give consideration to the best manner in which to undertake future consultation.

            The residents were unfortunately unable to attend the August meeting and asked that a deputation be received at the September meeting.

            At the Council’s meeting on 1st July, the matter was further discussed and minuted that

            the decision under the heading “Falls Park – Consultation Re: 3G Pitch” be amended to provide that an enhanced engagement process be undertaken between the Council and local residents in advance of the meeting of the Committee in August.

            In the interim, Officers from Parks and Leisure Department have met with a group of residents in August.  There has also been recent correspondence from one of the residents on behalf of the group. The most recent correspondence appended a draft proposal as to the extent of the consultation and engagement which those residents believe is necessary in relation to this project.  This is attached at Appendix B. 

            During the meeting it was evident that there was a difference of opinion in terms of the purpose of the consultation exercise.  Officers were of the view, in line with the committee report from June, that the consultation was to address mitigation measures around management of the new facility.  However, the residents expressed the view that they were opposed to the development and were essentially requesting that the Council undertake an exercise to determine whether the development should go ahead or not. 

            Further to the meeting with the resident’s group in August 2014 it was decided that in order to obtain a wider view from stakeholders that a further public meeting should take place and this has been scheduled for 23rd September 2014. 

2.         Key Issues

            The Committee is asked to note:

1.     The Council has adopted the pitches strategy in March 2012 and agreed that a 3rd generation pitch and changing pavilion and ancillary structures would be located in Falls  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1  Relevant Background Information

      Members will be aware that as part of the approach to cemetery and crematorium development we have been engaged in a process to identify a site for development as a new cemetery and that discussions have been ongoing around a potential site at Dundrod.  

            The site at Dundrod came to the Council through an expression of interest exercise which the Council initiated.  This site was put forward by an agent acting on behalf of a business man who holds an option on the site.  Officers from the Parks and Leisure Department, Legal Services and the Estates Management Unit have held a number of meetings with the party who holds an option on the site along with their agent.  The Council is aware of who the landowners are but at this point have had no direct dealings with them. 

            A company, Carston Undertakings Ltd, has now been established and has taken over the option on the site.  Carston Undertakings has commissioned a number of pieces of work around the development of the site and a delegation led by Strategic Planning made a presentation, on their behalf, to the Committee in June, outlining their proposals for the development of a cemetery on the site. 

2          Key Issues

            Members will be aware that in selecting a site for development as a potential cemetery there are several issues which need to be considered.  The report brought to the Committee in August outlined the work that has been undertaken to date in relation to the site and informed Members that URS, who have undertaken previous assessments for the Council in relation to our search for a new cemetery site have been commissioned to undertake an analysis of all the findings of the previous four studies around the viability of the site and to provide a concise view on the issues and constraints to developing the site to allow Members to make a decision on the options available.

1          Access

            As previously outlined to Members the proposed site is on the circuit of the Ulster Grand Prix which would result in the main access, onto the Quarterland Road, being closed for the duration of this event and therefore a secondary access would be required.  A potential secondary access has been investigated onto the Carnaghliss Road.  Two issues that have arisen relating to this secondary access are that additional land would be required from adjoining landowners and that due to the undulating topography of the road significant re-grading would be necessary.  

            The expert opinion is that secondary access from the Carnaghliss Road is not viable due to vertical alignment and that even if the access was viable the proposed site does not make adequate allowance for the 215m sightlines required.

2          Environmental

            The expert opinion assessed the works that had previously been undertaken in relation to the environmental issues associated with the site.  The site has a major watercourse (Coopers River) running through it and several  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

            The Committee was advised that the Council’s Good Relations Partnership had, on behalf of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), agreed to commission and oversee a regional pilot of a range of activities/projects which would inform the design of a summer schools/camps programme from 2015 onwards.  The proposed pilot programme was to run over the Hallowe’en period.  The Leisure Development Unit had responded to a call for submissions when the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had confirmed that further funding, in the amount of £50,000 had been made available, with that office agreeing to support the cost of the programme at 100% including an evaluation.  The Good Relations Partnership, at its meeting on 8th September, had noted a report in relation to the funding and the nature of the programme.

            The Committee was advised that, whilst the OFMDFM had recognised that the Council would be limited in terms of the timescale available for delivery, it had requested that the intervention be of a strategic nature and that it be aligned, as closely as possible, to the Ministerial vision of a summer schools/camps with a good relations input as that would facilitate the evaluation and future design of the programme for forthcoming years.

            The Leisure Development Unit would coordinate the intervention in the lead up to and during Hallowe’en.  The programme would be aimed at children and young people aged between 11 and 19 years of age and would use sports clubs as delivery partners in local neighbourhoods across all areas of the city, focusing on Council assets.  Programme planning was currently underway and it was anticipated to be a mix of sports activities and good relations workshops.  Recruitment to the programme would be through existing networks and would fulfil the objectives of a cross-community programme.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that funding be allocated as outlined.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.Relevant Background Information

      The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee of an emerging proposal from Groundwork NI to develop a National Centre of Food Education. 

      Appendix A to this report sets out the proposal.  The main points of the proposal are:

1.     The proposal is based on work to develop a healthy living centre at Colin Glen;

2.     The aim is to develop a social enterprise centre to provide a city wide resource to promote a health and well being agenda and to create opportunities to enhance multiculturalism and provide employment opportunities;

3.     There have been preliminary conversations with Queens University Belfast and with a number of community and voluntary organisations in the South of the City;

4.     The proposal includes a small sustainable building which would be an administrative base; an education and information centre; a facility to sell produce and potentially a café;

      In the context of the development of a healthy living centre at Colin Glen and their engagement with Queen’s University, Groundwork has approached the Council with a view to investigating potential sites in South Belfast and is seeking the Council’s consent to identify sites and undertake some preliminary site surveys to determine the suitability of the soil for growing and indeed for the building.  It is estimated that approximately an acre of land would be required. 

2.   Key Issues

      The Committee is asked to note the following:

1.     This project would fit with the Council’s own Growing Communities strategy;

2.     Identifying suitable sites in South Belfast is likely to be difficult, Botanic and Ormeau have been suggested during preliminary conversations;

3.     Whilst no discussion has taken place as to the nature of the legal arrangement should a suitable location be identified; it is anticipated that a lease agreement will be the preferred arrangement;

4.     As the site has not been identified no statutory approvals have been sought at this time;

5.     No funding has been secured for the project, there are no cost projections but Groundwork are optimistic that given the range of potential funding options they would be able to draw down the necessary grants;

      The key issues for the Committee are:

·        Is it supportive of the principle of the proposal?

·        Is it supportive of the proposal to potentially locate the centre on Council land in South Belfast?

3.   Resource Implications

      Financial Implications

      At this time there are no financial implications

      Human Resource Implications

      There are no additional human resource implications

4.   Equality Implications

      There are no equality implications.

5.   Recommendations

      The Committee is asked to consider the report and to

1.     Support the proposal in principle;

2.     Agree that officers meet with Groundwork to discuss potential sites;

3.     Agree  that appropriate tests be carried out to determine the suitability of the land subject to the necessary legal agreements being in place if necessary; and

4.     Agree to receive a further report at a later date to update the Committee on the proposal and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

            The Committee was informed that the Irish Football Association (IFA), was considering submitting a bid to UEFA to host its under 19 youth final tournaments in 2017 and was seeking approval, in principle, from the Committee to support the bid.

            The Committee was advised that Council officers had met with representatives from the IFA to discuss the proposal.  The Association was currently carrying out a scoping exercise to ascertain if there were any available training venues in the greater Belfast area.  In addition planning for the event was in an early stage and currently the costs were unknown.  The preliminary discussions with the IFA had identified a number of potential training venues, that is, the Blanchflower Stadium, the Ulidia Playing Fields, the Strangford Avenue Playing Fields, the Victoria Park and the Dixon Park Playing Fields.

            Three significant factors in reaching the preliminary list were:

·        the need for natural turf pitches only;

·        the ability of those venues to meet UEFA standard pitch requirements in terms of size; and

·        the ability to restrict access to the site or part of the site for a period of up to 17 days during June/July, 2017.

            At this stage the IFA had requested that the Council agree, in principle, to the use of those facilities during the period of the tournament, which had as yet to be confirmed.  The Association had submitted a reservation form in respect of each of the aforementioned sites and was requesting the Council to sign those agreements to meet the requirements of UEFA as part of the bidding process.

            The Assistant Director of Parks and Leisure explained that that there were a number of issues for the Members to consider, namely:

(1)     this was a significant tournament and would be a high profile event for the city;

(2)     similar competitions had been held in the past and had been successful;

(3)     if the bid were to be successful, there would be operational implications for the Council in providing training venues which would include:

a)     potential closure of the pitches before the end of the local football season, also pitches might require attention prior to the regular season and might not be available until after the start of the season;

b)     potential restricted access to each of the sites for members of the public;

c)     realignment of the pitches to meet the pitch size requirements;

d)     possible hire of equipment, such as marquees for refreshments pre and post training sessions;

(4)     further discussions were required in relation to points 3 (a) – 3 (d) and it was intended that a further report would be submitted to the Committee at a later date to inform the Members of the success or otherwise of the bid;

(5)     the cost implications had not yet been quantified, however, it was suggested that the Council agree to meet the costs of providing the marquees for hospitality purposes and to agree to the free use of the facilities by the squads; and

(6)     the Committee was asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1   At Parks and Leisure Committee in October 2012 Members approved the draft budget and workplan for the Amateur Boxing Strategy 2012-2022.

1.2   Members will be aware that within the Strategy, under the theme of Club support and development, an action of providing start-up funding to allow for the development of new clubs across the city was included.

1.3   At its meeting in June 2014 Committee agreed to revisions to the budget area with £10,000 per annum allocated to support and develop new clubs.  It was agreed that a further report would b brought to Committee to agree the mechanism and guidelines in providing this support.

2       Key Issues and Update

2.1   The support and development of new clubs complementing existing clubs especially in under-represented areas such as East and South Belfast will be an essential element in the successful legacy of the Amateur Boxing Strategy and key to providing a citywide service to all who may wish to enter the sport.

2.2   The programmes being delivered by our Boxing coaches and clubs citywide are increasing the demand for coaching provision and in-turn this will raise the demand for new clubs especially in areas of underrepresentation such as East and South Belfast. It is anticipated that a number of new club start-up requests for support will be received annually. The programme is actively promoting the sport through after schools activities across the city in liason with existing clubs in each area.

2.3   Recently we have received enquiries for new club start-up support from potential clubs in Oldpark and on the Upper Ormeau Rd. A further enquiry has been received from a Castlereagh Boxing club interested in relocating to the Braniel area. More enquiries are anticipated to be received as amateur boxing develops as a mainstream sport citywide and as such an adopted start-up club fund and criteria for funding is required.  A fund of £2500 per applicant has been allocated with £10,000 for new start-up grants in the current financial year.

2.4   The application form for funding has been developed by the Steering Group and has been attached as Appendix 1 for new club support funding. Funding will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. The Steering Group following the support of the Sports Development Officer will assess the applications received within the specified guidelines for funding. The Director of Parks and Leisure will approve the proposed grants to new clubs under delegated authority as is currently the process for Support for Sport grants.

2.5   The table below indicates the proposed breakdown of new club funding with some examples of anticipated application requests

            The Committee was reminded that work commissioned by the Department for Social Development, together with the Ballysillan/Upper Ardoyne Neighbourhood Partnership and the North Belfast Partnership, was ongoing in the preparation of a master plan, the aim of which was to regenerate the Ballysillan area in North Belfast.  Whilst the work on that was continuing no funding had been secured.  In the meantime, officers had been approached by elected representatives from the area to request that the Council, within the context of the master plan, undertake some preliminary work with the local community to explore options which would help regenerate the existing playing fields and bowling pavilion and bring it into wider use within the area.

            At this stage it was being proposed that a small steering group be established which would involve officers from the Council, elected representatives from the area and representatives of existing community and sports groups within the area, with a view to working up a series of options which could, in turn, inform a wider discussion within the area as part of the master planning process.

      After discussion, the Committee agreed:

(i)     that a steering group be established, with agreed terms of reference, with the aim of producing concept options for the potential reconfiguration of the Ballysillan Playing Fields;

(ii)    a report on the options and next steps be submitted to the Committee in due course; and

(iii)  the works on the understanding that it did not commit the Council to any expenditure.

            A Member requested that the Committee consider duplicating the above mentioned exercise on the Marrowbone Park site. 

            In response, the Director of Parks and Leisure stated that the proposal for the Ballysillan Playing Fields was being developed in the context of the Ballysillan master plan.  However, the Council had undertaken a similar exercise in relation to a development plan for the Falls Park and City Cemetery.  That plan had been developed through a number of workshops and meetings involving the Friends of Falls Park and key stakeholders to identify priorities for the site. The development proposals had been worked-up on the understanding that no funding was available.  However, if funding did become available, then any development proposals already had community buy in and he suggested that that option could be used in the Marrowbone Park area.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that the development proposal scheme which had been used in the Falls Park and City Cemetery be implemented within the Marrowbone Park and also the Dixon Park Playing Fields.

            The Committee was reminded that the Hazelwood Nature Reserve was located adjacent to the Belfast Zoo and formed part of the Cave Hill Country Park.  There had been sporadic landslides in the area as had been detailed in a previous report which had been submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 12th June.  At that meeting a decision had been taken to close the path on the advice from Legal Services, following receipt of an engineer’s report on the issue.  In the interim Parks Management had been investigating the options available and consulting with relevant stakeholders to inform a decision on the future of the path.

            The Assistant Director of Parks and Leisure reported that, at the site in question, there was an existing steep rock face which was generally covered with a thin mantle of overburdened material.  That overburden was approximately 0.5 – 0.7 metres deep and was heavily overgrown with trees and undergrowth.  The slips were occurring at various locations and at frequent intervals and were due to the instability of the overburdened material on the steep rock face of the escarpment.  The rock face itself appeared to be stable so the problem was with the overburden.  Due to the extent of the overburden material and the heavy undergrowth, it would be impractical to remove it in order to stabilise the slope above the path.  Slips would, in the engineer’s view, continue to occur and were more likely to occur during or after very wet periods or snowfall.  Those events would increase the weight of the overburden and trigger the slippage of the overburden down the rock face. 

            She reported further that, during subsequent investigations, a further engineer’s report had been commissioned on a pedestrian bridge that serviced the closed path.  That report had recommended the removal of the bridge due to structural defects and the bridge had subsequently been removed by a contractor and a suitable fence erected.  Due to the topography of the area, a suitable replacement path, to avoid the risk of landslides, was not feasible and, therefore, a replacement bridge would not be required.  An alternative route, avoiding the former bridge and the risk of slips, was available as part of the sites current infrastructure and would involve walking up through Hazelwood to link with caves path and descending down to the rear of the Zoo past the “Devils Punch Bowl”.  That had added an average of 30 minutes to the original journey time.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed to the permanent closure of the path.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

      “    Relevant Background Information

            Carr’s Glen Linear Park forms part of the wider Cave Hill Country Park. It fronts the Ballysillan Road for a distance of 30 metres incorporating a low level steel barrier and 1.2 metre high bow top fence.

            The need to improve the visual appearance of the entrance to Carr’s Glen Linear Park from the Ballysillan Road has been raised by DSD.  The entrance is located within the Greater Ballysillan Master plan area and commands a prominent location on a secondary arterial route.

            Currently, Belfast City Council does not have available funding to improve the visual appearance of the entrance as part of its capital programme and following discussions with local political representatives DSD put forward a proposal to upgrade and enhance the entrance.

            DSD have confirmed that no terms and conditions will apply to the completed scheme although they would anticipate the Council will wish to maintain the facility for the benefit of the local community.

            The works including the portion within Carr’s Glen Park will be carried out by DSD’s contractor.

            The contractor for the works will be procured by DSD using their own processes and governance arrangements. The scheme does not form part of the Councils capital programme.

            It is envisaged that the park entrance will remain open during the course of the works, with DSD’s contractor providing any necessary security arrangements and temporary fencing for the site compound, materials and equipment.

            Access for DSD’s contractor will be regulated by a Licence Agreement to be drawn up by the Town Solicitor. The licence will set out responsibilities for public liability insurance, reinstatement and any adjoining areas of the Park and provide time limits for completion of the works.

            Key Issues

            The scheme comprises a replacement boundary treatment; an estate railing, with new kissing gate and vehicle gate and feature stone wall and pillars with a new sign. The project also includes an area of resurfacing at the entrance and tree planting.

            The scheme also extends into adjacent Belfast Educational Library Board lands and continues the new estate railing, as a replacement boundary and some tree pruning.

            The Parks and Leisure Department were consulted on the project at design stage and some changes were made to the original design in terms of signage and the specification for railings.

            If approval is granted, works could be scheduled to commence on 15^th September 2014 with a timeframe of four - six weeks to complete.

            The proposed Licence Agreement will provide a regulatory framework for the works to be undertaken by DSD’s contractor including a requirement for the works to be completed to the Councils satisfaction.

            A 12 month defects liability period will be in place for the scheme with the council becoming responsible for the new structures upon satisfactory completion of the works.

            Planning approval was not required for the scheme as it falls under permitted development.

            Resource Implications

            Financial

            There are no financial implications to Belfast City Council other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Director of Parks and Leisure submitted to the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1   By a 999 year Lease dated 18 March 1998 and Supplemental Lease dated 5 March 1999 the Council disposed of the Gate Lodge at 670 Ravenhill Road.  The Gate Lodge is situated near the entrance to Cherryvale Playing Fields.  The Lease restricts use of the property to residential purposes and preserves the Council’s rights of drainage and sewerage across the Gate Lodge site from the remainder of Cherryvale Playing Fields.

1.2   The current owners of the Gate Lodge, Conor McGirr and Siobhan McGirr, have made representations to the Council seeking a variation of the Lease to allow the property to be used for office purposes.  A copy of a letter from Conor McGirr, dated 7 September 2012, has been circulated.

1.3   From investigations on site it also appears that a number of utilities which serve the Gate Lodge appear to cross the Council’s land at Cherryvale Playing Fields.  It appears the route of these utility services has not altered since the time of the 1998 Lease and that a general right to enjoy the utilities (then) installed, should reasonably have been included within the terms of the Lease. 

2       Key Issues

2.1   Use of the present building on the site, for residential and/or office purposes appears to be compatible with the use of the adjoining Park.  The 1998 Lease will continue to contain covenants which require the Leaseholder to seek Council consent to any external alteration to the property.  The Council will retain the power to object to any proposed future development on the site, if that development was of a scale which was incompatible with the Park.  The present Leaseholder obtained Planning Approval in September 2013 for a change of use to offices.

         In respect of a proposed variation of the terms of a Lease the Council would be entitled to seek a premium from the Leaseholder if the value of the Leaseholder’s interest is increased on account of the Council’s consent to the variation.  In this case the value of the property for office use is considered not to exceed its value for residential purposes and thus no premium would become payable by the Leaseholder to the Council in this instance.

2.2   At the time the property was sold by the Council it was not the Council’s intention that services, across the Council’s adjoining land to the Gate Lodge, would be disconnected or re-routed.  It is therefore considered the property should continue to enjoy the benefit of those services which pass through the Council’s adjoining property en route to the Leased property.  It is also considered the Council should seek to preserve entitlement to any similar services which pass through the Leased property en route to the Council’s adjoining land.  It would appear reasonable that both these provisions would also exclude the right to install any new services across the respective lands of the other party.

2.3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.     Relevant Background Information

           The BMX Track in Ormeau Park had been constructed in the 1980’s due to demands for facilities to accommodate what was then a ‘new’ sport.  Since that time no further upgrade of the track has taken place and the facility has not kept pace with changes in cyclists’ expectations and the developing sport’s standards. BMX, as a discipline within cycling, is now an Olympic sport with development plans and programmes at the Dublin track leading to Ireland’s first ever BMX world champion last year.

           Issues had been raised with the Department about the condition of the track, the need to modernise it and in particular the importance of improving the standard of the surface.

           Therefore as part of the parks routine maintenance programme the Community Park Manager proposed to improve the condition of the track during the 2013/2014 financial year to:

-       address concerns that the standard of the track needed to improve

-       ensure the continued safety of the existing track for users, addressing any identified risks (Risk Assessment from BMX Ireland 30/11/13 of the track.)

-       rectify public interference in the track surface e.g. making jumps.

-       meet the recommendation to improve the facility in the Green Flag action plan.

           After consultation with BMX Ireland and Property Services a plan was drawn up to undertake modifications to the track to upgrade it.  The plan was to remodel the track layout removing any hazards identified and reducing curve angles, this work was to enable the track to receive a governing body certificate for safe use. 

           The track was to be in the same footprint as before but pulled into a more appropriate shape.  The track was to be constructed of clay, (no drainage works were proposed) which when modelled was to be stone dressed with a digger and then dust placed on top.  In 2014-15 it was proposed to surface the corners in bitmac.

           Work began on site in January 2014 using parks staff and the existing hire of machinery contract. Costs were mainly inclusive of staff time and equipment hire within existing maintenance budgets. 

           It was estimated that most of this work would be undertaken by Parks staff as part of a winter development work programme. There was a substantial amount of additional work undertaken because of the following issues:

-       the amount of recyclable clay material on site for remodelling was  less than calculated.  To compensate therefore surplus free, material was sourced from other sites. 

-       wet weather resulted in material having to be deposited nearby and then transported into the site by digger.

-       due to poor weather some larger track machinery with operators had to be hired.

           Due to budgetary constraints the work was suspended in February 2014 and the site left in a safe condition.  It was planned to finish the track modelling work in April 2014, finally applying a top coat of stone and then dust which would be compacted. 

2.        Key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1   Following on from the success of the North Belfast Lantern Parade and Magical Evening in 2013 this report is seeking Committee approval for the free use of facilities at the Waterworks Park for this year’s event known as the North Belfast Magical Festival which is due to take place on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 October 2014.

1.2   T he event is a project of the Ashton Community Trust and is managed by New Lodge Arts, a voluntary arts organisation working across communities in North Belfast for the past 11 years. 

1.3   New Lodge Arts has established an inclusive advisory group that provides advice and guidance on the community outreach and event elements of the programme.  The group consists of representatives from a number of Community organisations in North Belfast.  Including groups from Tigers Bay, Mount Vernon, Skegoneill/Glandore, Rathcoole, Lower Shankill, Cliftonville, Lower Oldpark, Oldpark/Bone, Whitecity, Greencastle and New Lodge.

1.4   The event has grown over the past 5 years.  In 2012 the event attracted over 5000 participants and audience members, including people from across the city and further afield.

1.5   The event has received funding in the past provided by OFMDFM, Irish Government, Energy for Children and Belfast City Council.

2       Key Issues

2.1   This year the event organisers aim to have a two day festival called North Belfast Magical Festival.  This will take place on 29 & 30 October 2014.  On the 29 October the organisers aim to host a range of art workshops and street performers in the Waterworks park from 12noon – 5pm.  On the 30 October the organisers aim to provide more workshops and performances from 12 noon – 4pm with the main event taking place from 6.00pm until 9.30pm. 

2.2   The event will be ticketed again this year, however this year tickets will be sold at a cost of £1 each.  The event was ticketed for the first time in 2013 and proved an effective way to manage large numbers within the park.  It was decided this year to charge for the ticket for several reasons:

      1. Last year there were many people who took tickets and then didn’t attend the event whilst others remained ticketless and unable to attend the event.

      2.The £1 charge will cover the cost of purchasing the wristbands and any remaining monies will be put back in to the event by way of covering the cost of some of the performers. In order to manage audience numbers the organisers will distribute 4000 tickets/wristbands to members of the public.  Details on how these will be distributed are still to be confirmed.

2.3   The event is aimed at families and will consist of:

·        Art workshops and street performances over two days prior to the main event.

·        A lantern parade that makes its  way from Crumlin Road Gaol to the Waterworks Park.

·        A magicial evening event that will include outdoor performances.

·        Stage entertainment.

·        A fireworks display that will close  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.