Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 27th April, it had been advised that correspondence had been received indicating that discussions had been taking place between various community organisations and some Members regarding the possibility of developing a number of larger scale area-based diversionary and educational activities associated with July and August bonfires this year by way of proof of concept.  It had been reported that, at that stage, the proposals were not sufficiently worked up to present to the Committee for agreement.  The Committee had agreed that the groups be requested to submit a proposal, which provided a balanced cross-city programme, in time for today’s meeting.

            The Committee considered an update on the available details submitted in relation to the original proposals which had been discussed on 27th April and a list of additional financial requests which had been received in the last number of days.  The Committee was advised that requests were still being submitted and hence it had not been possible to carry out due diligence of any kind.  In addition, the submissions had a wide variation in detail.  Whilst the original Committee discussion focused on diversionary and educational activities associated with July and August bonfires, the additional proposals covered a wide range of activities.  The Committee was reminded further that there was no budget to allocate to the requests at this point and that no firm recommendation was being put in front of the Committee.  If the Committee was minded to provide any funding then legal funding agreements would be required. 

            It was

Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

Seconded by Councillor Craig,

      That the Committee:

·        Agrees to fund the following summer diversionary events and programmes:

o   Féile (Féile -  £100,000; Northern Ireland Alternatives Community Festivals Summary – East Belfast Community Festival - £50,000; New Lodge - £40,000; Market - £10,000; Belfast South Community Resources - £26,521);

·        That the funding be allocated from General Reserves - £226,521; and

·        £180,000 to be taken from the European City of Culture (ECoC)  Budget to fund a new July festival:

o   £100,000 – Twaddell Woodvale Residents’ Association – major event on 11th July in Woodvale Park

o   £80,000 – Ulster-Scotch Heirskip Cooncil/Ulster-Scots Community Network – community education programme, community visualisation programme and 3 year strategic planning process for new festival;

·        That the General Reserves  be replenished  in full and the ECoC reserve be replenished as much as possible from the year-end underspend which is due to be considered by the Committee in June;

·        That the funding applications be subject to due diligence, appropriate legal agreements and to evaluations being undertaken;

·        To ensure transparency in future years, to establish an open call diversionary programme with an agreed budget; and

·        That Council officers engage with the groups that were not allocated support to discuss alternative funding opportunities.

·        That, due to the urgency of the matter, the above decisions would not be subject to call-in.

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