Agenda item

            The Assistant Director reported that, during June, the Department had launched, in partnership with the Belfast Healthy Cities, the Public Health Agency and the Belfast Health Development Unit, the draft Growing Communities Strategy.  That Strategy aimed to ensure that there were greater opportunities for Belfast residents to participate in community growing and to identify and support the development of sustainable growing sites. She reminded the Committee that the Connswater Community Greenway Scheme was a £32 million investment within the east of the City, which had been developed by the East Belfast Partnership Board and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the Council, the Rivers Agency, the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department for Social Development.  Since the initial proposals for the Greenway had been developed, a key element of the project had been the proposal for the provision of a number of community gardens along the route of the Greenway, which could be used by local community groups.

            She reported that, since March, officers from the Parks and Leisure Department had had a series of meetings with the Connswater Community Greenway team in order to discuss the delivery of those community gardens.  The team had sought and had received expressions of interest in respect of the development and operation of the gardens from various community groups, including the East Belfast Counselling Services, the East Belfast Mission, the Lower Castlereagh Community Group, the Bloomfield Community Association and the Oasis Caring in Action.  Accordingly, the Connswater Community Greenway team had submitted a request for approval to use vacant land within the grounds of the Avoniel Leisure Centre in order to pilot a community gardens scheme.

            She pointed out that the following two options for the project had been explored:

Option 1

            This option involved working with the community as much as possible in relation to the design, construction and planting of the garden with the assistance of Council officers, the Community Greenway team, the community organisations and appropriate contractors.  It was proposed that this approach could:

·        develop local community skills in areas such as garden construction and horticulture;

·        ensure inclusiveness and local ownership of the project;

·        ensure community engagement with the Connswater Community Greenway; and

·        allow for lower installations costs.

Option 2

            This option involved Council officers, the Community Greenway team and the community organisations in the design and planting of the community garden, with appropriate contractors carrying out the majority of the required construction work.  It was likely that this approach would provide less opportunity for community engagement, skills development and ownership, with higher construction costs, but may result in a greater lifespan for the garden with a lower maintenance requirement.

            The Assistant Director pointed out that, in order to assess the level of community commitment and to build confidence, a pilot approach was considered to be appropriate and, given that community engagement was essential to ensuring that the site was maintained to an appropriate standard and to prove that the scheme was viable, Option 1 would be the preferred option.

            She reported that officers had carried out a desktop contamination survey of the disused gravel pitch and that the ground was not suitable for planting, therefore, the majority of cultivation associated with either option would be in raised beds.  For either option it was proposed that the majority of the work would be sourced from external contractors within existing contracts and quotations sought for the remainder of the works.

            The estimated cost for Options 1 and 2 was approximately £15,000 and £58,000 respectively.  The project would form part of the Connswater Community Greenway Programme of Works and costs would be incurred by the Council for additional electricity and water which could be met from within the Parks and Leisure operational budgets.

            The Assistant Director recommended that the Committee agree to adopt Option 1 in respect of the development of a community garden, subject to satisfactory terms being agreed by the Director of Parks and Leisure and on the condition:

·        that those groups involved resolve all operational and health and safety measures to the Council’s satisfaction; and

·        that an appropriate legal agreement be prepared by the Assistant Chief Executive/Town Solicitor.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.