Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1   Purpose

 

      The purpose of this report is to regularise the availability and use of containers and multi-sectional facilities by external organisations and groups on land managed by the Parks.

 

      Excluded from the report are containers and multi-sectional facilities that are owned and used by Belfast City Council only, or are used by Belfast City Council to provide changing or other accommodation and charged for as part of the service.  Sheds erected by allotment holders on their allotments are not included in this report.

 

2    Relevant Background Information

 

      The Committee is reminded that our Parks and Open Spaces are used to accommodate and support a wide and varied range of recreational and leisure activities; many of these are sporting oriented and require access to equipment.  However owing to the lack of internal space for storage of equipment and materials in yards, pavilions and bothies it has been necessary in the past to provide containers and multi-sectional facilities [the containers] to resolve this issue.

 

      In some instances the containers may be provided by and owned by the Council, in others the ownership will rest with an external organisation or group.  Appendix 1 provides a list of those containers owned by the Council and which have been provided for storage purposes for all users of the facilities. Appendix 2 relates to those containers owned by the Council but which are used exclusively by a single group or organisation and which require an appropriate legal agreement.  Appendix 3 provides a list of all those containers which are currently located on Council land, but which are owned by an external organisation or group for their own storage purposes and for which retrospective approval is required.  Appendix 4 provides a list of recent requests for containers for storage purposes which also require Committee approval, 2 of which are to be purchased by the Council, one will be bought by the Club and the fourth will be funded by Peace 111.

 

3    Key Issues

 

      The key issue for the Committee is to establish a consistent and regulated approach to the provision and use of containers.  

 

      It is proposed that for the purposes of this report that a container is defined in terms of its use and in this regard it is suggested that a container be viewed as a storage medium, and that that storage may be for sporting or other authorised equipment and materials , or for merchandise or appropriate food stock as necessary.

 

      It is further suggested that containers are usually inappropriate for use as meeting places, office accommodation, changing facilities etc.  In these latter cases, a more appropriate form of accommodation, temporary or permanent, would be considered and where necessary the appropriate statutory approvals sought together with an appropriate legal agreement. 

 

      It is also proposed that as a legal agreement is required when the owner is not the Council then Committee approval will be sought.

 

      Committee approval is not required as these are provided and owned by Belfast City Council for storage purposes for all staff and all users.

 

4    Resource Implications

     

      Financial

 

      The provision of two additional containers at a cost of £2,000 each which will be met from the revenue budget.

 

      Human Resources

 

      There are no additional human resource implications. 

 

      Asset and Other Implications

 

      The provision of containers for storage will support the delivery of services on sites.  However, given the temporary nature of the containers it will be necessary to keep the situation under review.

 

5    Equality and Good Relations Implications

 

      There are no identified equality or good relations matters associated with this issue.

 

6    Recommendations

 

      It is recommended that:

 

1.      The Committee adopt the working definition of a container as outlined in the report above;

 

2.      Agree to Officers undertaking a review of storage and other facilities within the Parks estate;

 

3.      The Committee conveys retrospective approvals in respect to the sites listed in Appendix 2 and 3 and authorise Officers to prepare an appropriate legal agreement in conjunction with Legal Services;

 

4.      A policy is developed regarding the regulation, provision and usage of containers to include:

 

(i)      delegated authority for the Director of Parks and Leisure to permit installation, purchase and usage of containers on Parks and Leisure lands.

 

(ii)     consideration of cost recovery/funding regarding containers where appropriate.

 

(iii)    supply of containers.

 

5.      The Committee conveys consent to the provision of containers as listed in Appendix 4 and to enter into an appropriate legal agreement in conjunction with Legal Services;

 

6.      The Committee agree that requests relating to the provision of accommodation other than for storage, such as for changing facilities or the provision of hospitality be brought as separate issues for consideration by Committee as appropriate.

 

7    Decision Tracking

 

      Officer responsible: Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Manager.

 

      Access to new containers to be arranged by the end of March.  Legal agreements to be put in place by April 2011.  A facility review to be undertaken by July 2011, and a policy review by August 2011.

 

Appendix 1  Containers owned and used by Belfast City Council for Storage

Site	Owner	User	Use
Ald Tommy Patton	BCC	BCC	Machinery
Ald Tommy Patton	BCC	BCC	Petrol etc
Andersonstown Leisure Centre	BCC	BCC	Equipment.
Ballysillan	BCC	BCC	Store
Ballysillan Leisure Centre	BCC	BCC	Grassroots soccer prog. Equip
BarnettsDemense	BCC	BCC	Machinery
BarnettsDemense	BCC	BCC	Machinery
Beechvale	BCC	BCC	Store
Beechvale	BCC	BCC	Store
Beechvale	BCC	BCC	Store
BelfastCastle	BCC	BCC	Equipment
BelfastCastle	BCC	BCC	Equipment
BelfastCastle	BCC	BCC	Tools
Blanchflower	BCC	BCC	Store
Blanchflower	BCC	BCC	Store
Botanic Gardens	BCC	BCC	Store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Equipment store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Equipment store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Equipment store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Chemical Store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Machinery Store

 

Site	Owner	User	Use
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Store
CityCemetery	BCC	BCC	Parts store
City of Belfast Playing Fields	BCC	BCC	Store
City of Belfast Playing Fields	BCC	BCC	Store
Cherryvale Playing Fields	BCC	BCC	Store
Crematorium	BCC	BCC	Store
Crematorium	BCC	BCC	Non-perishable items
Duncrue	BCC	BCC	Store
Duncrue	BCC	BCC	Store
Duncrue	BCC	BCC	Store
Duncrue	BCC	BCC	Store
DundonaldCemetery	BCC	BCC	General storage
DundonaldCemetery	BCC	BCC	Small - Cement store
FallsPark	BCC	BCC	Equipment
FallsPark	BCC	BCC	Equipment
Gasworks	BCC	BCC	Store
Grovelands	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Store
Musgrave	BCC	BCC	Storage sensory equipment

 

Site	Owner	User	Use
Musgrave Allotments	BCC	Allotment users	Store
Olympia Leisure Centre	BCC	BCC	Store
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Store
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Machinery
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Equipment
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Equipment
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Equipment
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Store
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Chemicals
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Machinery
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Machinery
Ormeau	BCC	BCC	Storage ,chairs
Victoria	BCC	BCC	Lockers
Victoria	BCC	BCC	Playground teams
Victoria	BCC	BCC	Store
Victoria	BCC	BCC	Store
Waterworks	BCC	BCC	Storage
Waterworks	BCC	BCC	Storage

 

Appendix 2	Containers for storage owned by Belfast City Council, used exclusively by a groups or organisation requiring a legal agreement
Site	Owner	User	Use
Ald Tommy Patton	BCC	East Belfast FC	Storage
Mary Peters' Track	BCC	Athletics NI	Track & sport equipment
Mary Peters' Track	BCC	Athletics NI	Track & sport equipment
Mary Peters' Track	BCC	Athletics NI	Track & sport equipment
Mary Peters' Track	BCC	Athletics NI	Track & sport equipment
Blythfield	BCC	Allotment holders	Store
Cherryvale Playing Fields	BCC	Bredagh GAC	Store
Appendix 3	Containers for storage owned and used by clubs and organisations, requiring retrospective approval.
Site	Owner	User	Use
Ald Tommy Patton	East Belfast FC	East Belfast FC	Storage
Ald Tommy Patton	East Belfast Junior FC	East Belfast Junior FC	Storage
City of Belfast Golf Course	City of Belfast Golf Club	City of Belfast Golf Club	Storage
Clarendon Playing Fields	Clarendon Development Association	Clarendon Development Association	Storage
Hammer	Lower Shankill FC	Lower Shankill FC	Storage
Loughside Playing Fields	Loughside FC	Loughside FC	Storage
Orangefield Playing Fields	Bloomfield FC	Bloomfield FC	Storage
Ulidia Playing Fields	Rosario FC	Rosario FC	Storage
Waterworks	North Belfast play forum	North Belfast play forum	Storage
Waterworks	Friends of the W	Fishing Club	Storage
Willowbank	WillowbankMultisports Facility	WillowbankMultisports Facility	Equipment
Woodlands	The Gaelic Athletic Association	The Gaelic Athletic Association	Equipment

 

Site	Owner	User	Use
Woodlands	The Gaelic Athletic Association	The Gaelic Athletic Association	Equipment
Woodlands	The Gaelic Athletic Association	The Gaelic Athletic Association	Equipment
Boucher Road **	The City of Belfast Archery Club	The City of Belfast Archery Club	Store
City of Belfast Playing Fields	Cliftonville Cricket Club	Cliftonville	Store
Olympia Leisure Centre	SouthCity	SouthCity	Bike storage
Orangefield Playing Fields	Cycling Ulster	Cycling Ulster	Bikes & kit
Orangefield Playing Fields**	BCC	Water Service/BCC	Sand Bags
Waterworks **	BCC	GROW	Store
Appendix 4	Current requests for further containers for storage for exclusive use by a group or organisation, requiring Committee approval
Site	Owner	User	Use
Ald Tommy Patton	BCC	NI Aeromodelling	Store
Cherryvale	BCC	Bredagh GAC	Store
City of Belfast Playing Fields	Mallusk Archery Club	Mallusk Archery Club	Store
GlenbankCommunityGarden	BCC	GlenbankCommunityGarden Committee	Store”
** These Containers have already been granted Committee Approval

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.