Agenda item

            The Committee considered a report which detailed a proposal that had been received from the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) and County Antrim Boxing requesting £101,000 in funding per annum for the next 3-4 years.

            The Assistant Director reminded the Members that the Council had developed a 10 year amateur boxing strategy for the City in partnership with County Antrim Boxing, the Ulster Boxing Council (UBC), Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA).  The Council had previously committed £200,000 per annum for 3 years for the implementation of phase 1 of the strategy, which had included funding to put in place a Sports Development Officer (appointed in April 2014) and 2 Community Based Coaches.  She advised that due to the delay in appointing staff there had been a significant underspend in Year 1 and this had been used to finance the implementation of year 4.  The agreed financial support for the implementation of the strategy had come to an end on 31st March, 2017.    

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 7th March, it had agreed that 15% of the total Support for Sport Fund for 2017/18 (up to £24,000) would be allocated to support the delivery of the Strategy.  The Committee had also agreed to review resources to support the Boxing Strategy and to investigate short-term arrangements for the two Community based coaches for a temporary period of 3 months.  The officer advised that one of the coaches had now left the Council and the other’s contract had been extended to June, 2017.

            The Assistant Director reported that Council officers had been working with the IABA and County Antrim Boxing to try and identify potential funding sources but, to date, these had been limited to small funding streams.  The IABA and County Antrim Boxing had developed a proposal requesting £101,000 per annum additional financial support from the Council for the next 3-4 years.  The officer advised the Committee that there was currently no allocation in the department’s budget for this amount and added that the Director of Finance and Resources had further advised that due to the recurrent nature of this funding request it would have to be considered as part of the rate setting process for 2018/19.

            A Member outlined the achievements that the sport had delivered throughout the City and welcomed the proposal from the IABA and County Antrim Boxing which would enable the Boxing Strategy to continue.

            Another Member stated that, whilst he appreciated the contribution that boxing as a sport made, it was impossible for the Council to continue its support inevitably as there were many other sports not in receipt of Council funding support and which also did excellent work.

            Detailed discussion ensued, following which it was:

Moved by Councillor Garrett; and

Seconded by Councillor Magennis:

      That the Committee would support the proposal from the IABA and County Antrim Boxing for £101,000 of funding to continue with the implementation of the Amateur Boxing Strategy for a further year and that the matter be referred to the June meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for it to determine if the required £101,000 funding could be met from the 2016/17 year end underspend budget.

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