Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that anyone wishing to operate a market or car boot sale within Belfast must apply to Belfast City Council for permission to do so and, depending on the scale and nature of the event, it might need authorisation from the Committee to take place.

            The Director of Economic Development advised that applications of this scale had recently been received on behalf of three proposed markets, namely:

·         Weekly (Saturday morning) car boot sale in Makro car park, Kingsway, Dunmurry;

·         Monthly food and produce market in CS Lewis Square; and

·         Trade Local market in the run-up to Christmas at ‘We are Vertigo’ building, Queen’s Road, Titanic Quarter.

            However, since the report had been published, the application for a licence from Trade Local market at the ‘We are Vertigo’ building had been withdrawn.

            He explained that, in keeping with the current NI Executive regulations, external markets were currently permitted to operate, subject to appropriate risk assessments being in place. As part of the approval process for any market, as a condition of granting a licence, officers requested evidence of support from the land owner, considered the implications on adjacent properties and activities and ensured compliance with all relevant regulations and statutory requirements. For these markets, this would include consideration of guidelines and additional restrictions in place as a result of COVID-19.

            He reported that the Weekly car boot sale, at Makro Car Park, Dunmurry was proposing to start at 8am each Saturday and be off site for 13.45pm. Officers had already received confirmation from the car park owners of their permission for the event to take place. At this stage, the event organisers were working on the basis of having around 50 spaces at the event, potentially attracting up to 100 cars as the market developed.

            In relation to the monthly food and local produce market, CS Lewis Square, he advised that, as part of their proposals to animate Connswater Community Greenway and CS Lewis Square, Eastside Partnership was proposing to organise a monthly market featuring local food and produce. Indicative operating hours were 2pm-5pm (original request was 1pm to 5pm but officers considered that the earlier start could have a negative impact on St George’s Market). Organisers had proposed the first market for Saturday, 21st November, with the next being a two day market proposed for Saturday, 12th and Sunday, 13th December. Organisers were currently working on the basis of attracting 30-40 traders at each monthly market.

            During discussion, the Director of Economic Development answered Members’ questions in relation to the application process and the impact of Covid-19 restrictions.

After discussion, the Committee:

·         Agreed to grant the licence for the running of a weekly (Saturday) car boot sale within the grounds of the Makro car park in Dunmurry, subject to compliance with all relevant legal and statutory requirements;

·         Agreed to grant a licence to EastSide Greenways for the running of a monthly market in C.S. Lewis Square, subject to compliance with all relevant legal and statutory requirements, and due to the time-frame of the proposed market, agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 47 (2) (b), that the decision would not be subject to call-in, on the basis that the decision was deemed to be a case of special urgency; and

·         Noted that, since the report had been published, the application for a licence from Trade Local market at the ‘We are Vertigo’ building had been withdrawn.