Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported on behalf of Councillor Cobain.

            The minutes of the meeting of 8th December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 7th January with the following addition - “the City Solicitor agreed that the briefing paper which was to be submitted to a future meeting in respect of the legislation that existed around bats and their habitats, would also include:

·        a legal opinion outlining whether the Council, having asked one promotor to carry out an environmental assessment for the use of Botanic Gardens, had set a precedent to require all future promotors to do the same; and

·        any relevant legal considerations which the Committee should be aware of in relation to the potential 24 hour opening of the Council’s Parks.”

Councillor McAteer declared an interest in relation to item 2(b) on the agenda, Partnerships in Parks and Open Spaces. – Belfast MELA 2021, in that a family member was an employee of ArtsEkta. Councillor Newton declared an interest in relation to item 4(d), Response to the Food Standards Agency Consultation, as he was an employee of an organisation which provided support to the Food Standards Agency.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following 2 items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the Members of the Press and public from the Committee meeting during discussion on the following 3 items as, due to their nature, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Committee was reminded that the Strategic Policy and Resources, at its meeting on 31st July, had received an update on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Council’s financial position and a strategy to address the forecast deficit and the mitigation measures, which had and would be taken as the situation evolved.  It had agreed to continue to provide Members with a monthly update on the financial position and that the same report would be presented to the subsequent standing Committees for noting and to provide further information on ongoing work.

            The Director of City Services provided a verbal update to the Committee to highlight the ongoing difficulties that staff within the City and Neighbourhood Services Department were experiencing due to the impacts of Covid on capacity and resilience to try to ensure the continued delivery of essential services.

            The Members discussed the ongoing response to the tightened restrictions, including recent announcements in respect of working from home, the closure of schools, shielding advice and increased infection rates and the impact that this was having on the continuity of services.  The Members were asked to note that the main focus for the organisation at present and in the immediate future was sustaining and maintaining operations for critical and vital services.

            The Director also highlighted that some of the Motions and Issues Raised and being brought forward might take more time to progress and asked that the Members note the increasing pressure on staff and the organisation at this time.

            Several Members commended the officers for their ongoing work and commitment during the pandemic and asked that their thanks be conveyed to all the staff for their continued dedication to ensure the delivery of vital Council services.  The Members unanimously agreed with the proposed more balanced approach in regard to Motions and Issues being raised to try and help alleviate some of the pressure on staff. 

            The Committee noted the December 2020 financial update and verbal update from the Director.

The Committee considered a report which sought permission from ArtsEkta seeking to use Botanic Gardens to deliver the Belfast Mela in Botanic Gardens on 28th and 29th August 2021 and also seeking financial support for the event.

The Committee approved the use of Botanic Gardens for the above event and to provide £20,000 financial support, subject to the following:

·        that Officers consider how the financial investment strands for this event could be streamlined and aligned under the Cultural Strategy, via the Economic Development Unit and the Core Multi Annual Grant (CMAG).

·        that the appropriate legal agreements for the events, including bond arrangements be prepared to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor;

·        that the Event Organisers meet all statutory requirements and responsibilities, including Public Liability Insurance cover, Health and Safety, Food Safety and licensing and adhere to any Covid 19 regulations;

·        the timely payment of the bond as required in the legal agreements; and

·        that Event Organisers consult with public bodies and local communities as necessary.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 7th January, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Donnelly and seconded by Councillor Garrett, had, in accordance with Standing Order 13(f), been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“As a City, one of Belfast’s best natural attributes is its surrounding hills and landscape. The Cavehill and Divis mountains offer spectacular views of the city that visitors and Belfast residents flock to all year around to enjoy.

More so now than ever before, locations like Divis mountain offers space for outdoor recreation and essential health and well-being. As a city council we must work with partners to develop a plan which is respectful of the natural environment and surrounding area but also supports the increased demand for parking and user facilities at Divis Mountain.

Therefore, we call on this Council, working alongside partners in the Department of Infrastructure, The National Trust and the Belfast Hills Partnership, to develop and implement a resourced plan for enhanced user facilities, including parking at the Divis Mountain walk site on Divis Road, Hannahstown, as well as cyclist parking and to explore the creation of further access points into the hills from different locations across the city which in itself will take pressure of the car park and allow residents to access the hills on foot from their neighbouring communities.”

            Councillor Garrett addressed the Committee and outlined the context of the motion.  He stated that, whilst he was keen to see the initiative progressed, he was aware of the ongoing pressures that the Council officers were currently experiencing as a result of the ongoing pandemic.  He highlighted that he was keen that the Council remained involved in discussions around the further opening up of the hills and whilst he did not wish to Council to take the lead in progressing the initiative, he was keen for it to continue to link in and engage with the various other stakeholders.

            The Committee:

·        adopted the motion seeking for the Council to continue to be involved with the work to create better access to the Belfast Hills and agreed that an update report on the progress of the various stakeholders be submitted to a future meeting; and

·        noted the pressure that officers were experiencing to ensure the continued delivery of services during the ongoing pandemic and that, as liaison would have to take place with external stakeholders, there was likely be a delay in the report coming back. 

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 7th January, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Smyth and seconded by Councillor M. Kelly, had, in accordance with Standing Order 13(f), been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“This Council recognises the positive steps made during this term to improve its environmental commitments. It is also aware of the 30 by 30 pledge made by 64 Nations at the UN Biodiversity Summit in September 2020, to return 30% of land and sea to nature by 2030, and signals an ambition to reverse biodiversity loss within the next 10 years. This Council also notes the increasing awareness of the citizens of this city to the climate crisis and their willingness to play their part, no matter how small and, in this context, welcomes progress on the Council working with others to assist residents in transforming their alleyways and open spaces”

Building on this, the Council will develop and put together a 30 by 30 biodiversity campaign in collaboration with its partners that will educate, inform and support our citizens and communities to maximise the green spaces they have around their homes to support urban biodiversity throughout the city.

We believe that a 30 by 30 Biodiversity campaign can deliver positive benefits and can help meet this Council’s legal obligations under ‘The Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011’ to further and strengthen biodiversity in this city for the decades to come.”

            Councillors Smyth and M. Kelly addressed the Committee and outlined the context of the motion.  Both acknowledged that they whilst they were keen and excited to see the creation of a biodiversity campaign being progressed and for liaison to take place with other stakeholders they were mindful of the current pressures.

            A Member highlighted his concern at the recent announcement that a neonicotinoid pesticide for use on crops that was believed to kill bees had recently been re-authorised for use in England, despite an EU-wide ban on its use outdoors two years ago and a government pledge to keep the restrictions.

            A number of Members also spoke in support of the motion and stated that they were keen to see the rewilding and further enhancement of existing green spaces throughout the City. 

            The Committee:

·        adopted the motion for the Council to develop and put together a 30 by 30 biodiversity campaign in collaboration with  partners and agreed that a report on how this would be facilitated, resourced and managed be submitted to future meeting; and

·        noted that, as liaison would have to take place with external stakeholders,  there was likely be a delay in the report coming back due to current departmental pressures. 

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to provide Members with details of the Multi-Agency Support Hub concept and to seek a decision on Council’s participation.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

·        Agree to Council’s participation as outlined in the report below and to support Botanic DEA as the pilot area.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       The Multi Agency Support Hub concept brings key professionals together to facilitate early, better quality information sharing and decision making to work together to improve a vulnerable person’s situation.  Support hubs are designed to help vulnerable people get access to the right support, at the right time, from the right organisation in their local area in keeping with the following principles:

3.2

·        Accurately assessing and meeting need. (Information sharing)

·        Enabling agencies to cooperate in order to prevent ‘persons of concern’ from suffering significant harm. (Coordinated intervention)

·        Promoting sound decision making. (Collaborative decision making)

·        Ensuring the provision of appropriate services – and the integration of these into a coherent plan.

·        Avoiding duplication of assessments and service provision.

·        Ensuring compliance with statutory duties.

·        Preventing ‘persons of concern’ from having to repeat their ‘stories’.

·        Reducing the impact of harm and promoting good outcomes for ‘persons of concern’.

·        Preventing or managing risk with respect to ‘persons of concern’,

3.3       All partners are equal within the Multi-Agency Support Hub with a chairing organisation/individual identified from within the group.  Administrative support is normally provided by the Community Safety Team within each local authority but this has yet to be discussed for Belfast (with a small amount of additional financial support available from Department of Justice to cover costs).

3.4       The Support Hubs can help people who may be experiencing a range of problems. This can include being a victim of ongoing antisocial behaviour or crime. Other people may need support in order to avoid being drawn into behaviour which may lead to offending.  Others may find themselves in difficult situations which can affect their personal safety, physical or mental health.  The person seeking help will be asked for their consent to be supported by the hub as the individual's opinions and welfare are at the centre of any decision and action taken.  Support Hubs firmly focus on reducing the vulnerability for individuals.

3.5       With specific focus on early intervention, the work of those in the support hub also includes identifying concerns about individuals who as yet may not have been referred to the hub.  In these cases, agencies will work together to provide early intervention with individuals in order to reduce vulnerability and improve wellbeing.

3.6       To date, Belfast is the only local authority area in Northern Ireland without an operating Multi-Agency Support Hub.

            Belfast Support Hub Proposal

3.7       The proposal for the Belfast Support Hub was discussed with partner agencies (detailed below) at a collective meeting on 17/01/2020.

3.8       Proposed Partners:

·        PSNI

·        Health and Social Care Trust

·        Local Council

·        Northern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Committee will be aware that a number of ambient air quality initiatives and projects have been progressed by officers within the City and Neighbourhood Services Department during 2020. Including the development of new Air Quality Action Plan for the city, procurement of consultancy services to deliver a detailed assessment for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and the provision of local site operator and technical project support to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to enable research into the chemical composition of particulate matter within the city, to include the role of ammonia (NH₃) in formation of local particulate matter.  An update report on these initiatives and projects was provided to the Committee at its meeting of 8th September 2020.

1.2       This report serves to provide a further ‘year-end’ update to Committee and to provide an overview of the how these projects are to be progressed during 2021.

2.0       Recommendations.

2.1       The Committee is asked to

·        Note contents of this report.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues.

3.1       Air Quality Action Plan

            Committee Members will be aware that the current Belfast City Air Quality Action Plan is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2020. Accordingly, officers have already engaged with a range of government Departments, the Public Health Agency, local public transport providers, the Port of Belfast and sustainable environment and transport organisations in order to develop a new Air Quality Action Plan for the city. In accordance with government policy guidance, a Steering Group, comprising representatives from the above-mentioned organisations, has been convened in order to oversee development, implementation and delivery of the new Air Quality Action Plan.

3.2       Organisations represented on the Steering Group have recently provided the transport and related actions that each organisation proposes to implement throughout the anticipated 5-year duration of the Air Quality Action Plan in order to address any remaining nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) hot spots and to improve ambient air quality generally across the city. In addition, it is anticipated that the new Action Plan will also reflect actions to address fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) once the detailed assessment for nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter has been concluded and reported by December 2022.   

3.3       The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has provided a standardised Action Plan template for local authorities and Steering Group partners to populate with their actions, under the headings of public health, planning and policy context, source apportionment, the required reduction in emissions, key priorities and action plan measures. It is for council officers, working alongside their Steering Group counterparts to now populate this Defra template in order to create a draft Air Quality Action Plan for the city. It is anticipated that the key components of the draft Action Plan will be presented to the People and Communities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

The Director of Neighbourhood Services provided the Committee with an update in regard to the progress of the ‘Amazing Spaces Smart Places’, Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) challenge.     

            He reminded the Members that funding had previously been secured from the Department of Economy (via the Department of Justice) to facilitate fully funded innovation contracts with a small number of SMEs to support the following objectives:

-        to ensure that open spaces were more welcoming environments to be enjoyed by everyone;

-        to increase the positive usage and animation of open spaces;

-        to empower and involve communities;

-        to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in open spaces in the City; and

-        to reduce maintenance and security costs.

            The Committee noted that the SBRI process was a ‘pre-procurement’ exercise, designed to enable SMEs with funding for research/design and prototyping to stimulate innovative solutions, services and products to meet public sector needs, it was used widely across both the UK and Ireland.  Belfast City Council had previous experience leading on a successful SBIR project - the Rates Maximisation challenge in conjunction with Land and Property Services (LPS).

            The Director advised that the Council had been successful in securing funding at both Phase 1 (£120K) and Phase 2 (£225K) to support the work and there was no cost to the Council.  He reminded the Members that the Committee had previously identified the implementation of Phase 2 as a priority action in the 20/21 Committee Plan.  The number of organisations in receipt of funding had reduced as the feasibility (technical and operational) and commercial viability (condition of the DfE funding) of proposed solutions had been worked through at each stage and Council was now working with two SMEs as part of Phase 2.

            The Director then drew the Members’ attention to two technological solutions that remained as potentially feasible and commercially viable, SparoWatch and Civic Dollar.  He advised that both solutions had been fully developed and tested in a lab/office environment and on site testing was required for the prototypes in Quarter 4 2020/21 to determine effectiveness against the programme objectives and the technical robustness of the solutions.

            SparroWatch was developing a range of technology to be used in Belfast’s parks and open spaces. They were developing a combination of hardware and software that would be used to improve safety and park management and also designing battery-powered cameras that would provide a simple and low cost installation option to monitor parks. The cameras would be located at Ormeau, Falls Park/City Cemetery and Dunville Park.   It was anticipated that the prototype would help to address the ongoing issues of vandalism and antisocial behaviour problems at these locations. SparroWatch would send a weekly statistical report to the Council (this would not contain any information that would enable the identification of individuals) but would analyse park usage in Belfast through insights generated by Google Maps.

            The Civic Dollar prototype platform would be a unique product which would use a mixture  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report and draft response available here  to the Food Standards Agency consultation on the review of the Food Law Code of Practice, Food Law Practice Guidance and implementation of the competency framework.

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Food Standards Agency (FSA) as the central competent authority for food and feed regulation in the UK, is responsible in overseeing the official (food law) controls undertaken by district councils. As part of this role the FSA provide a Food Law Code of Practice (FLCOP) and Practice Guidance (FLPG) for all district councils. The Food Law Code of Practice is statutory and gives instructions that district councils must consider when enforcing food law. Local authorities need to follow and implement the relevant sections of the Code that apply. The Practice Guidance is non-statutory and is offered as a complement to the statutory Code of Practice. The Practice Guidance gives general advice on the approach to enforcement of the law.

1.2       The most significant change to the FLCOP is the removal of the baseline qualifications previously required by Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) to work in the Food Safety and Port Health functions of a district council. This will instead be replaced with a Competency Framework to be assessed by the Lead Food Officers within the food safety and port health units of each district council.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the consultation and the draft consultation response.

·        Note the draft response was submitted in line with December deadline, subject to final response being submitted following committee consideration.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Under the current Food Law Code of Practice (Northern Ireland), officers authorised to carry out Food Safety official controls and other interventions to verify compliance with food law are required to have a baseline qualification issued by the Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB) / Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). This baseline qualification requires a period of practical training to have been completed prior to the officers’ certification, and authorities are not permitted to authorise officers to carry out food safety official controls without that EHRB certification.

3.2       The proposed changes to the Food Law Code of Practice remove the necessity for the full certification from EHRB/CIEH. This change has been introduced as a result of the CIEH ceasing the provision of the baseline qualification assessment and the need to urgently recruit EHO’s and Technical Officers (TO’s) to the port health function ahead of EU exit.

3.3       Belfast City Council have already had to avail of this proposed change in the qualifications in order to recruit staff to the Port Health section, in preparation for EU exit. A derogation from the FSA was given to Belfast City Council in advance of the FLCOP consultation. In the consultation response the Lead Food Officer in Port Health has asked that the FSA give  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 10th September, 2019, it had agreed the Council’s response to the pre-consultation exercise for the development of the new substance use strategy for Northern Ireland.  Following the pre-consultation exercise, the Department of Health had now developed its draft strategy which it was consulting on. The consultation had opened on 30th October, 2020 and was scheduled to close on 5th February, 2021 at 5.00 p.m.

            Several Members of the Committee welcomed the draft Council response that had been prepared by Council officers, available here. They referred to the importance of addressing substance misuse and mental health issues and noted that the pressures of the ongoing pandemic had further exasperated many of these problems.

            The Director concurred and advised that, as with the pre-consultation response, the Council had made the case within its response that the new strategy, and the structures associated with it, needed to integrate and align with community planning structures to ensure that both regional and local impact could be maximised.

            A Member requested a specific addendum in relation to question 2 (d) and it was subsequently agreed that the Committee approved the draft consultation response and for it to be submitted to the Department of Health by the deadline of 5th February, 2021,  subject to the following addition: at question 2 (d) ‘that a citizens assembly is commissioned for NI to explore radical harm reduction’.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is for Members to consider a request from Belfast City Airport (BCA) to gain access to Victoria Park to carry out works to mitigate against perceived risk of bird strike from rooks.  The request is as a result of the BCA reporting an increased frequency of rook occurrence around the airport and their plan to manage any associated risk, in line with their Wildlife Hazzard Assessment and the Civil Aviation Authority licensing requirements.

            The requests seeks permission from the Council, via an agreement, to carry out works such as;

1.     The removal of old rook nests by Mid-January 2021;

2.     Thinning of sheltering pines, structural pruning of preferred nesting trees, and reducing shelter from high level ivy;

3.     Potential removal of nest foundations in late February/ March, should nest building resume.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members views are sought on the request from Belfast City Airport to grant them access under licence to Victoria Park to facilitate;

1.     The removal of old rook nests by Mid-January 2021;

2.     Any necessary thinning of sheltering pines, structural pruning of preferred nesting trees, and reducing shelter from high level ivy;

3.     Potential removal of rook nest foundations in late February / March 2021, should nest building resume.

            Members are advised that any agreement would be developed by the Councils Legal Services Department and will include a requirement to ensure that any works are permissible, the required licences are in place, an effective communication plan is agreed and the needs of the park users are taken into consideration.   

            Any licence would be progressed under the Directors delegated authority, taking into consideration Members views.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       In line with Belfast City Airport’s national aerodrome license requirements and associated guidance material presented in CAP772:  Wildlife Hazard Management at Aerodromes, the airport have a concern regarding the recent establishment of a rookery at Victoria Park. 

3.2       In spring 2020, rooks formed a small colony containing 20 nests in the northern corner of the park - 300 metres from the airport’s southern approach.  As the habitat currently selected for nesting is prevalent throughout the park, the airport is concerned of the potential for this rookery to expand unless some level of intervention can be explored.

3.3       In response to officer request for more detailed supporting information, BCA submitted a report.  The report outlines George Best City Airport’s Wildlife Hazard Assessment.  The assessment identifies the source of the risk, assesses the relative severity of the risk, and outlines the recommended action in order to reduce and maintain the risk to an acceptable level in compliance with the Civil Aviation Authority licensing requirements.

3.4       In the interest of public safety and to meet their obligations to act with due diligence, the airport have identified the potential threat presented by the small rookery (circa. 20 nests) which became established at the northern corner of Victoria Park  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Committee approved the application for naming a new street in the City as set out below:

Councillor Newton addressed the Committee and requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would further consider the erection of CCTV equipment at CS Lewis Square and along the Greenway.

            A Member raised concern in regard to ongoing antisocial behaviour in Council parks and open spaces.  Discussion ensued in regard to role of CCTV, lighting and the animation of parks and open spaces and a request was made for an update report in respect of recent vandalism to parks and the associated remedial costs.  

            A further Member raised concern at the lack of gritting of the Greenways which were dangerous as people were falling and injuring themselves.  The Members also discussed the lack of gritting of minor roads.

            The Committee agreed:

·        that reports in respect the erection of CCTV equipment at CS Lewis Square and along the Greenway, along with a update report in regard to the vandalism and the associated remedial costs to Council’s parks, be submitted to a future meeting;

·        Members noted that there was likely to be a delay in the reports coming back due to current departmental pressures; and

·        agreed to write to the DfI Minister and the Chief Executive of Transport NI seeking the gritting of Greenways and more minor roads in the network. 

Councillor Beattie addressed the Committee and requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would try and progress the use of the school’s sports facilities by the community when not being used by the school.  

            The Director of Neighborhood Services advised that a Service Level Agreement had been developed some time ago which had included arrangements for community use of the facilities.  Officers were currently reviewing the agreement, in conjunction with Colaiste Feirste, and a further update report would be submitted in due course.