Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The purpose of the report is to update Members in relation to the Pride of Place Awards in 2018 and to present options regarding BCC participation. 

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

                                            i.   Consider the options put forward for the Pride of Place Awards 2018 and agree their preferred option.

                                           ii.   Approve the entry costs of the proposed groups based on the preferred option.

                                         iii.   Approve the accommodation allowance for the Judges’ Assessment Visit to Belfast in August 2018.

                                         iv.   Approve the attendance of the Chair, or their nominee, and the project officer, together with a maximum of two persons per external project at the 2018 awards ceremony and approve the payment of corresponding entrant fees, travel, attendance and subsistence allowances.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       The Pride of Place competition has been supported by Belfast City Council for a number of years with Community Service Officers taking the organisational lead in the selection and preparation of entrant groups since 2009.  It is run by Co-operation Ireland in partnership with the All Island Local Authority Steering forum, which encourages strategic and sustainable approaches to cross-border co-operation by Local Authorities.

 

3.2       The competition recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that community partnerships make to society. The focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their local area.

 

3.3       Each year, several categories are defined and entries invited: all entrants must be nominated by their local authority.  Each Council can nominate up to 5 groups in for separate categories. The 2018 categories are;

 

·        Urban Neighbourhoods under 1,000

·        Urban Neighbourhoods between 1,000-2,000

·        Urban neighbourhoods over 2,000

·        Creative Place Initiative

·        Community Wellbeing Initiative

·        Communities Reaching Out Initiative

 

3.4       Winners are announced at a high-profile awards ceremony which is hosted by a previous winning council.  The 2017 Gala Event was hosted by Donegal County Council.  This year the event will be held in Cork City Hall on 17th November.

 

3.5       In previous years, entrants nominated and sponsored by Belfast City Council have enjoyed considerable success. Since 2009, 38 Organisations have been nominated.

 

3.6       Last year Council nominated:

 

·        The Hanwood Project in the Urban Neighbourhood Over 2,000 category

·        Lower Oldpark Community Association in the Urban Neighbourhood Under 3,000 category

·        College Park Avenue Residents’ Association in the Community Environmental Initiative category

·        Upper Springfield Youth Team in the Community Based Youth Initiative category.

 

3.7       Both Lower Oldpark Community Association and the Upper Springfield Youth Team were the overall winners in their respective categories.

 

3.8       All the groups nominated to date have given positive feedback and have experienced tangible benefits from their association with the competition. These include an increased sense of pride, motivation to continue their commitment to provide excellent community facilities and programmes and increased recognition for their interventions from their local community.

 

            Key Issues

 

3.9       We received notification of the Pride Place Awards at the end of March with a closing date for applications in May 2018.  Normally the process would be a month longer and this shortened time-frame has presented challenges in terms of our engagement, selection and nomination process. To support our participation, Co-operation have extended their deadline for nominations.  We have approached organisations across the city which have not been proposed previously for the award, who have significant capacity to engage in the selection process and who have good governance, community involvement and level of service provision to ensure that they would have a reasonable chance of competing positively in the PoP assessment process. 

 

3.10     The five groups we have initially approached and who have agreed in principle to participate in the Awards process are:

 

·        Bloomfield Community Association - Urban Neighbourhoods under 1,000

·        Markets Development Association-  Urban Neighbourhoods between 1,000-2,000

·        Benview Community Centre- Urban neighbourhoods over 2,000

·        The Maureen Sheehan Centre- Community Wellbeing Initiative-

·        The Three Faiths Initiative- Communities Reaching Out Initiative

 

3.11     If endorsed by committee, officers will work with these organisations to support their involvement, however, we are requesting authority to approach other similar organisations should any of the 5 nominees withdraw from the process.

 

3.12     The 2018 Awards Ceremony for Pride of Place will be held in Cork City Hall on the 17 November.  Due to the distance, it is expected that this will require 3 days including travel, accommodation, additional meals and attendance at the gala event.  In previous years only one night accommodation was required however it is proposed that in order to encourage participation this is extended to 2 overnights.  Thus the costs for participation at the event this year exceeds the current service budget allocated.

 

3.13     The normal budget allocation contained in the service estimate is £4,200. As noted, due to the location of this year’s event, this will be inadequate.  Given the profile of the awards, our historical participation which allows BCC to showcase vibrant community development in the city and the positive benefit to participating groups, officers have reviewed participation to reduce costs.  Co-operation Ireland have also agreed to reduce entrance fees to support BCC attendance.

 

3.14     Members will be aware that consideration of attendance at the Pride of Place Awards is a matter for the People and Communities Committee.  However, given the timeframe for nominations and the selection process, it was not possible to submit a report to that Committee on 5th June and the next meeting will not be held until August, which will be too late for the Council to submit nominations.  Therefore, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee is being asked to approve the Council’s participation, with any decision being reported subsequently to the People and Communities Committee.

 

3.15     Options for Consideration- Financial

 

Option	Description	Cost
Option 1 Do not participate in this year’s award	Council do not nominate organisations for this year’s competition.	0
Option 2 Maximum participation in Award- 5 Nominated Groups plus Council representation	5 Nominated Groups x 2 Representatives P&C Chair (or nominated representative) Officer Bus Driver	£6,631

 

 

            Financial & Resource Implications

 

Item	Unit Cost	Option 2
Award Entry Fee	£     250.00	£    1,250.00
3 Day Judges Visit
Accommodation	£     144.00	£       576.00
Lunch	£        20.00	£         40.00
Gala Presentation
Transport	£  1,330.00	£    1,330.00
Accommodation (max of 2 nights)	£     184.00	£    2,392.00
Evening Meal	£        31.00	£       403.00
2 Lunches	£        30.00	£       390.00
Commemorative presentation brochure advert	£     250.00	£       250.00
Total		£    6,631.00

 

 

3.16     The additional £2,400 required to support participation will be met from identified service underspend in 2018/19.

 

3.17     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

Organisations nominated for the Pride of Place awards reflect the diversity of the city and will promote equality of opportunity and good relations amongst nominees.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations and agreed to Option 2, that is, maximum participation in  the awards - five nominated groups plus Council representation.