Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       Members are advised that a number of requests have been received seeking use of our Parks and Open Spaces to host specific events, namely.  

     

	Park	Dates	Event
I	Cathedral Gardens & Jubilee Gardens	20th Sep – 21st Sep 2019	Culture Night
II	Falls Park	3rd Aug – 10th Aug 2019	Feile an Phobail
III	Botanic Gardens	28th August 2021	City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter
IV	Woodvale Park	9th – 11th July 2019	Woodvale festival

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       Members are recommended to approve the use of our parks, as detailed below, for the hosting of specific named events;

 

	Park	Dates	Event
I	Cathedral Gardens & Jubilee Gardens	20th Sep – 21st Sep 2019	Culture Night
II	Falls Park	3rd Aug – 10th Aug 2019	Feile an Phobail
III	Botanic Gardens	28th Aug 2021	City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter
IV	Woodvale Park	9th – 11th July 2019	Woodvale festival

 

            Members are asked to note that the agreement to host these events will be subject to the completion of the appropriate event management plan, satisfying all statutory licensing responsibilities, relevant consultation and agreement of satisfactory terms by the Strategic Director City & Neighbourhood Services

 

3.0       Main report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       Culture Night, Cathedral Gardens and Jubilee Gardens, 20th – 21st September 2019. Cathedral Quarter Trust plan to host Culture Night Belfast at Cathedral Gardens and at Jubilee Gardens on Friday 20 to Saturday 21 September 2019.

 

·        The event will result in the closure of Cathedral Gardens and Jubilee Gardens for 3 days.

·        Set-up will be from 3pm on Thursday 19 September and dismantle will be completed by 11pm on Saturday 21 September.

            Culture Night Belfast is a free, family-friendly event based in the city centre, with the Cathedral Quarter as its primary hub. The event serves as a high-profile platform for artists and cultural organisations to showcase their work, and offer audiences the opportunity to explore new art forms and activities.

 

            The organisers intend to bring a stage, marquees, food vendors, arts and crafts, live music and face painters at Cathedral Gardens and will provide live music and street entertainment at Jubilee Gardens. Organisers estimate that 10,000 people will attend the event. Organisers will provide toilets, first aid cover and stewards at Cathedral Gardens and first aid cover at Jubilee Gardens.

 

            Set up will commence at 3pm on Thursday 19 September, with the main event taking place on Friday 20 September from 1pm to 9pm, and Saturday 21 September from 10am to 5pm. The event will be dismantled and the site will be clear by 11pm on Saturday 21 September.

 

            Previously, this event was delivered over one day however this year the request has been extended to provide for a longer and enhanced programme.  The proposed event in 2019 will result in the closure of Cathedral Gardens and Jubilee Gardens for 3 days.

 

3.2       Feile an Phobail, Falls Park, 3rd -10th August 2019.

 

            Feile an Phobail have requested the use of Falls Park to host the West Belfast Festival, which is due to take place from 3 - 10August 2018.  Set up for the event will begin on 29 July 2018, with take down planned for the 19 August 2018.

 

            Since August 2006, Feile an Phobail has organised a number of West Belfast Festival events at Belfast City Council venues.

            The events would be similar to previous years which included:

 

·        Carnival parade through Falls Park

·        International Boxing event

·        Teddy Bears picnic in  Falls Park

·        Feile family entertainment day in the park, music events and family entertainment.

·        An occasional licence will be applied for by the organisers for the sale of alcohol and an entertainment licence for the period of the event.

·        Guided historical tours in the City Cemetery which would be charged for appropriately by the tour provider.

 

            The event will require the closure of all or a substantial proportion of the facility and will have alcohol on sale during some of the events.

 

            Organisers will be reminded that the current ground conditions and location of this event may have to change due to adverse weather conditions.

 

3.3       City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter, Botanic Gardens, 28th August 2019.

 

            City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter have requested the use of Botanic Gardens to facilitate passing through of a parade from City Hall to Mark the Centenary of the Formation of Northern Ireland.

 

            The demonstration will take place on Saturday 28 August 2021 and will commence at 10am from City Hall and pass through Botanic gardens at approximately 12 noon, exiting through the Stranmillis embankment gate by 2.00pm and will board buses parked on Stranmillis embankment. There will be no return parade from Botanic Gardens.

 

            The route proposed will include passing buildings with a significant relevance to the Centenary including City Hall, Ulster Hall and Union Theological College, Botanic Avenue, which was the building used for the newly formed Northern Ireland Parliament between 1921 – 1932 while Stormont was being built. 

 

3.4       Woodvale Festival, Woodvale Park, 9th – 11th August 2019

 

            A request has been received from Twaddell and Woodvale Residents Association seeking use and hire of the facilities at Woodvale Park for the staging of the Woodvale Festival:

 

            Since 2008, Twaddell and Woodvale Residents Association has organised a number of events in Woodvale Park.  The 2019 event will be similar to last year which included:

 

-       Education and arts programme

-       Family and childrens concert

-       Main concert

-       Community live music and performance showcase

-       Marching band event

-       Family fun day

-       Creative arts arena

-       Main Live concert (2)

-       Traditional bonfire

 

            Organisers will be reminded that the current ground conditions and location of this event may have to change due to adverse weather conditions.

 

3.5       Financial & Resource Implications

 

                                         II.          Falls Park for Feile an Phobail &

                                         IV.        Woodvale Park for Woodvale Festival

 

Staff may be required to work additional hours to cover the events outside normal hours and there may be other operational costs to the Council.  These will be charged to the hirer, in the form of an agreed charge for the use of Council facilities.

 

Council officers will liaise with organisers in relation to the potential environmental impact of this event.  A reinstatement bond will be required to be paid to the council before the event to cover any reinstatement of grounds after the event; this bond will be £10,000.

 

3.5       Equality or Good Relations Implications /Rural Needs Assessment

 

            No Equality or Good Relations implications have been identified, however, this is being monitored on an ongoing basis.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.