Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded of a recent successful application by the Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Heritage Grant programme for the restoration of the Tropical Ravine in the Botanic Gardens which had secured funding of £2.32 million.  The Heritage Lottery Fund had acknowledged the quality of that application and had reiterated its wish to receive further applications from the Council, particularly under its “Parks for People” programme which had funded many local authority projects across the United Kingdom, including projects in Lisburn, Larne, Derry and Armagh. 

            The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that the “Parks for People” programme provided grants from £100,000 to £5 million.  He pointed out that a project must contribute to a range of outcomes for heritage, people and communities through physical development and programming activities.  The programme, which previously only funded projects in parks, had recently been expanded to include cemeteries.  The Council, through the Parks and Leisure Department and in consultation with the Heritage Lottery Fund, had identified three potential suitable sites for the programme, that is, the City Cemetery, Alexandra Park and Victoria Park.  However, following feedback from visits with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund to each of the sites it was apparent that, whilst all three had potential, the City Cemetery currently presented the greatest opportunity.  Due to the significance of the Cemetery, its design, heritage features and current condition and widespread public interest in the site and its history, a City Cemetery project would appear to meet the following key strategic factors cited by the Heritage Lottery Fund:

·        There should be a definable heritage in design and history;

·        There should be a ‘heritage need’, that is, definable actions which would put the heritage in better condition; and

·        There should be a community/public appetite for the project.

            The Director reminded the Committee further that the City Cemetery was currently was currently an Emerging Project at Stage 1 on the Capital Programme under the wider Falls Park Masterplan project. 

            It was proposed that the Council apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant under the “Parks for People” programme for a project based at the City Cemetery, taking into account the context of the aforementioned Masterplan and with a view to developing a longer term plan for further applications for projects in other areas of the City.  The Director pointed out that the application would follow a similar route to the Tropical Ravine Heritage Grant application, that is, a two stage process, with a maximum of 24 months between the first round and final submission and with the opportunity to apply for development grant to fund the intervening planning work.  The next submission deadline was 31st August, with a decision anticipated in December, 2014.  The final level of grant to be requested would be identified during the development of a first round application.  The initial cost for the development for the first submission would be funded out of the Feasibility fund. 

            The Director explained that, if an application was successful, the principal cost to the Council would be in the form of a ‘partnership contribution’.  For grants of £1million or more the Heritage Lottery Fund required a minimum 10% contribution, however, it was likely that a higher level would be expected from the Council, would be determined through discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund.  He pointed out that the application would not constitute a final decision to invest in the project and that further information would be submitted to the committee in due course. 

            The Committee:

·        Agreed to the submission of a Stage 1 application for the restoration of the City Cemetery under the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Parks for People’ programme, in the context of the wider Falls Parks Master Plan which is already an Emerging Project on the Capital Programme; and

·        Noted that officers from the Parks and Leisure Department would look also at the development of a longer term plan for further applications for projects in other areas of the city.

            Vandalism of War Graves at the City Cemetery

            The Director of Parks and Leisure provided the Members with an update in relation to the damage caused to war graves at the City Cemetery earlier in the week.  He reported that 1 headstone had been damaged and 14 headstones had been pushed over and the cross of sacrifice was covered in graffiti.  He stated that the cross had now been cleaned and the 14 headstones re-erected and the one damaged required to be replaced.  He informed the Committee that the War Graves Commission was responsible for the maintenance of this section of the graveyard and that they were in the process of making the necessary arrangements for its replacement.

            During discussion, Members expressed concern in relation to the threats and intimidation of members of staff at the cemetery and the inaction of the Police Service.  It was pointed out that the local community and visitors to the cemetery had been appalled at the vandalism and had sought to assist in helping to clean up and repair the damage.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that a report on how to involve local communities in the clean up and maintenance of war graves be submitted to a future meeting of the Parks and Leisure Committee.