Agenda item

            (Mr. R. Cregan, Director of Finance and Resources, attended in connection with this item).

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that requests had been received from the New Lodge Arts seeking support for its annual Spring Festivals event and also from the Families at the Waterworks Fishing Club to support the fourth year of the Celtic World Spey Casting Invitational Challenge Event at the Waterworks Park.

            The Director advised that the Spring Festival, which had been successfully held for the last five years, was a cross community event with activities held throughout the park.  New Lodge Arts had obtained funding for the event but it was seeking up to £3,000 financial support from the Council to assist with the overall cost of the event.

            The World Spey Casting event would bring world class fishermen from all over the globe to Belfast, with over fifty competitors and 250 spectators estimated daily. The group had requested a funding contribution of £12,500. 

            The Committee noted that both events would greatly enhance cross community relations and promote the City as a shared space. 

            Following a query as to whether some level of funding could be allocated to support the two events, the Strategic Director of Neighbourhood Services referred to the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting held on 23rd November 2018, where it had been agreed that no discretionary payments would be considered and no further re-allocation of money permitted until the year-end position had been considered by that Committee in June.  Therefore, he advised that the request for financial support for both events fell outside the available funding within the existing revenue budgets.

            Detailed discussion ensued, following which the Director of Finance provided the Committee with a detailed overview of the Council’s current financial position and reiterated that there could be no further discretionary payments or re-allocation of money until the year-end position had been considered in June.

            Following discussion, it was suggested that officers from the Council would, if possible, provide assistance to the organisations in identifying other funding streams.

            The Committee:

·        granted authority for the free use of Alexandra Park on 30th March to hold a Spring Festival, subject to completion of the appropriate Event Management Plans and on condition that the Event Organisers meet all statutory requirements, including Public Liability Insurance and provide the relevant Health and Safety documentation and Risk Assessments;

·        granted authority for the free use of the Waterworks Park from 17th – 19th May to hold the World Celtic Spey Casting Event, subject to completion of the appropriate Event Management Plans and on condition that the Event Organisers meet all statutory requirements, including Public Liability Insurance and provided relevant Health and Safety documentation and Risk Assessments; and

·        agreed that, as the request for financial support for both events fell outside of available funding within the existing revenue budgets, and as per the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee decision of 23rd November 2018, there would be no further discretionary payments considered at this time or no further re-allocation of money until the year end position had been considered in June.