Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the request from Crumlin Star FC to upgrade facilities at Strangford Avenue Playing Fields to meet Intermediate League Ground Requirements and to seek preferential use of the facility for the Club.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The committee is asked to;

·        Note the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Committee will recall that it has received several reports relating to the provision of Intermediate League facilities for Crumlin Star between October 2016 and March 2017.  While the focus of the reports was in respect of Strangford Avenue, Officers have met with the Club and is also pursuing the possibility of using Cliftonville Playing Fields as an interim measure pending a more permanent physical solution at Marrowbone Millennium Park as part of the Urban Villages Programme. 

3.2       At a meeting with representatives from GAA Clubs using the facility under the terms of the Joint Management Board Agreement with the Ulster Council it was agreed that the Clubs would accommodate where possible the needs of Crumlin Star.  In addition, following representation from Council Officers the IFA Intermediate Committee has agreed to accommodate time changes to fixtures to accommodate Crumlin where possible, providing floodlighting can be provided. 

3.3       Officers have now contacted the IFA Grounds Criteria Team to request a site visit and to seek approval to use the Cliftonville pitch.  

3.4       Financial & Resource Implications

            Following the site inspection it may be necessary to undertake works, however at this time it is not known whether there will be a financial cost.  However, the costs if needed are anticipated to be small and can be accommodated within existing revenue budgets.   

3.5       Equality or Good Relations Implications

            There are no equality implications.”

            A Member stated that, whilst he had no specific objection to the previous proposal regarding the future management arrangements at the Clarendon Playing Fields and the preferential use agreement, he did feel that it highlighted the lack of progress made, to date, in terms of reaching a compromise regarding the request from Crumlin Star Football Club.

            The Assistant Director acknowledged the Member’s point but explained that this mini pitch muga investment had been progressing through the capital programme since 2014 and was only now coming to fruition.  She detailed that the Clarendon Development Association had over the years undertaken significant maintenance and investment in order to bring the facility up to Intermediate Standard.  It had also provided storage facilities and purchased equipment to undertake the maintenance of the pitches at a cost of £20,000.  In addition to this, the Association had undertaken to meet the cost of providing and equipping the building which was estimated to be approximately £117,000 and they also had submitted an application for Alpha Funding to provide a wet room and kitchen area within the Pavilion.  All of which clearly demonstrated the Association’s ongoing commitment to the proposal.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services referred to the range of issues around football within North Belfast and he stressed that officers had undertaken extensive work to try and progress the matter.  He advised that officers had met with Crumlin Star and were perusing the possibility of using Cliftonville Playing Fields as an interim measure, pending a more permanent physical solution at Marrowbone Millennium Park.  The Director advised that officers were also in discussions with representatives from Urban Villages to try and secure investment for the Marrowbone Millennium Park as part of the Urban Villages Programme. 

            A further Member stated that he had previously requested additional information in respect of the estimated £50,000 cost of the required works to bring the facility up to intermediate standard and he asked that this be submitted to a future meeting.

            Following a query from a Member regarding the lack of input from the Irish Football Association (IFA), the Director of City and Neighbourhood Services advised that officers were scheduled to meet with representatives from the IFA towards the end of May and these concerns would be raised. 

            The Assistant Director confirmed that an invitation had been extended to the IFA to attend a meeting of the People and Communities Committee but they had yet to respond. 

            Detailed discussion ensued, following which it was:

            Proposed by Councillor Beattie; and

            Seconded by Councillor McCabe:

      That officers engage with Urban Villages requesting that it progresses designs for Marrowbone Millennium Park which would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

            On a vote by a show of hands eleven Members voted for the proposal and two against and it was declared carried.