Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       The Committee is asked to note that Council has received several requests from event organisers to host events across several city park locations in 2024, including:

 

·        Paws for Cause – Ormeau Park

·        Belfast Memory Walk – Ormeau Park

·        Parkinson’s Walk – Botanic Gardens

·        Ulster University 5km Run Festival – Cathedral Gardens

·        ASG & Partners Concert – C.S. Lewis Square

·        Finaghy Cultural Festival - Wedderburn

·        EID Festival – Botanic Gardens

·        Darkness into Light - Ormeau Park

 

2.0       Recommendation

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to grant authority to the applicant for the proposed event on the dates noted and to delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to ensure the following:

 

i.       If appropriate, negotiate a fee which recognises the costs to Council, minimises negative impact on the immediate area and takes account of the potential wider benefit to the city economy, in conjunction with the Councils Commercial Manager.

ii.      Negotiate satisfactory terms and conditions of use via an appropriate legal agreement prepared by the City Solicitor, including managing final booking confirmation dates and flexibility around ‘set up’ & take down’ periods, and booking amendments, subject to:

iii.    The promoter resolving any operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction.

iv.    The promotor carrying out appropriate resident & community engagement

v.      The promoter meeting all the statutory requirements of the Planning and Building Control Service including the terms and conditions of the Park’s Entertainment Licence.

 

2.2       Please note that the above recommendations are taken as a pre-policy position in advance of the Council agreeing a more structured framework and policy for ‘Events’, which is currently being taken forward in conjunction with the Councils Commercial team.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       If agreed, the event organiser or promoters will be required in advance of the event to submit an event management plan for approval by the Council and all relevant statutory bodies. This will include an assessment of how the event will impact upon the surrounding area and measures to mitigate these impacts.

 

3.2       Street Soccer NI – Paws for Cause – Ormeau Park – Saturday 11 May 2024

 

            Street Soccer NI have requested the use of Ormeau Park for their Charity Dog Walk called Paws for Cause. The event is to raise money for Street Soccer NI who are a registered charity. Their charity number is 104007.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up -10.00am– Saturday 11 May

            Main Event – 11am to 1pm

            De-Rig – 1.15pm

 

3.3       The event organiser has requested that the council will allow them to have charity buckets on site to collect donations from the public throughout the event, They also wish to have traders and vendors on site to sell some merchandise along with supplying options for visitors to purchase food.

 

 

3.4       Belfast Memory Walk – Ormeau Saturday 12 October 2024

 

            The Alzheimer’s Society has requested the use of Ormeau Park for their Belfast Memory Walk charity event. Belfast Memory Walk is a family friendly fundraising walk, which will raise money to provide help and hope to everyone affected by dementia. Everyone is welcome to take part, and registration is free. Walkers can sign up on our website, and will receive a fundraising pack and t-shirt in the post.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set up – 7am to 10am

            Main Event – 10am to 3pm

            De-Rig 4.30pm

 

3.6       On the day there will be an event site, where there will be a food and drink caterer, an information stand, a merchandise stand, our Memory Tree and our stage with a Zumba warm up. There will be a long and short route around the park, meaning there will be something to suit everyone.

 

3.7       Donations are welcome on the day and will be collected in buckets across the stands. Their charity number is 296645.

 

3.8       Parkinson’s Walk – Botanic Gardens Saturday 6 July 2024

 

            Gladiator events have requested the use of Botanic Gardens to host a charity walk to raise money for Parkinson’s UK. The purpose of the event is to not only to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK but also to educate people on Parkinson’s along with connecting those who are affected by the disease. They have requested access to the site a day prior to set up the event village.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up – 1pm to 6pm Friday 5 July

            Main Event – 10am to 4pm

            De Rig – 6pm

 

3.9       Walk for Parkinson’s. A 2 or 6 mile walk for supporters of the charity, with all proceeds going to the charity. The two mile walk needs to be fully accessible, on paved footpaths or tracks, as it is designed to be suitable for those living with Parkinson’s.

 

 

3.10      Ulster University Belfast 5km Festival – Cathedral Garden Sunday 9 June 2024

 

            Ulster University is hosting the Belfast 5km & Mile event on Sunday 9 June and have requested the use of Cathedral Gardens as a hub for the event. The race portion of the event will feature world champion Joshua Cheptegei’s and is expected to bring in over 5000 attendees.

 

3.11      The Cathedral Gardens portion of the event will feature as a Pre & Post event meet and great area and will feature live music being performed by local artists along with food and drink vendors to supply food to the attendees. They also request to have an art display on show that has been created by the Ulster University students.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up – 6am

            Main Event 9am to 2pm

            De-Rig – 4pm

 

3.12      ASG Concert – C.S. Lewis Square Friday 19 July 2024

 

            ASG & Partners have requested the use of C.S. Lewis square to host a concert featuring Sophie Ellis – Bextor. The Event organiser is hoping to orchestrate an intimate disco house setting featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor as the headline artist and complemented by performances from local Northern Irish DJs.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up – Friday 19 July – 9am

            Main Event - 5pm to 11pm

            De-Rig Saturday 20 July – 11am

 

3.13      The event organiser has already tied in with Eastside Partnership who are in favour of the event and have offered to support it.

 

3.14      Finaghy Cultural Festival – Wedderburn Friday 16 August 2024

 

            Finaghy Cultural Festival is organised by a small group of local people from the community who started out through the first lockdown back in March 2020 as a foodbank helping the elderly and vulnerable through very difficult times. They then started up a residents group volunteering and organizing events for the community.

 

3.15      They will have a bar serving alcohol so a drinks license will be in place. The committee have had meetings with their local community, police and have been awarded funding to run the event. Activities throughout the day include – live music, food vendors, amusement & fairground rides. The group also plan on having a BBQ on site. This event has taken place in previous years with no issues.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up – 12pm – Thursday 15 August

            Main Event – 4pm to 6pm – Friday 16, Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 August 2024

            De-Rig – 1.30pm Monday 19 August

 

3.16      EID Festival – Botanic Gardens Saturday 27 July 2024

 

3.1       Belfast City Council has received a request from Zoreena Ahmed to host an EID festival in Botanic Gardens on Saturday 27 July. The event is aimed at celebrating the Muslim Community in Northern Ireland but is open to the wider public to promote diversity and integration.

 

3.17      The event will have number of food stalls providing hot and cold options with an ethnic flavour attached. There will be no charge for the event, and it will be free to attend. All children’s rides will be free to use. There will be a small cost if families wish to purchase food and other activities. The event is designed to help and support families who cannot afford days out with the events Motto being ‘How We Gather, Is How We Live’!

           

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set Up – 7am

            Main Event – 12am to 6pm

            De-Rig – 8pm

 

3.18      Darkness into Light – Ormeau Park – Saturday 11 May 2024

 

            Belfast City Council has received a request from PIPS Suicide prevention for the use of Ormeau Park to host their annual Darkness into Light Walk. Darkness into Light walk is a pre dawn walk around the 5 kilometre track in Ormeau Park. This event is in conjunction with a sister charity Pieta House based in ROI. Each year the walk provides an opportunity for people to connect with their local community and to bring hope to people who have been impacted by suicide. PIPS Charity the organiser and beneficiary of this walk are a local charity who provide support and counselling to people affected by mental unwellness, suicide and self-harm.

 

            Key dates for the event are:

 

            Set-up – Friday 10 May 2024 – 9am

            Main Event – Saturday 11 May – 4.15am to 9am

            De-Rig – Saturday 11 May – 9am

 

3.19      The event is due to take place out of hours and will use the main paths around the park for the 5km walk. No money will be collected on site as registration is completed online prior to the event. It is anticipated that there will be between 500 and 1000 people attending.

 

3.20      Financial and Resource Implications

 

            There are no known financial or resource implications with these requests.

 

3.21      Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

            There are no known implications.”

 

            A Member highlighted that the update report was still outstanding regarding the status of the ongoing review into the framework and policy for Events and asked officers to pursue this matter with the Council’s Commercial team. 

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations at paragraph 2.0 of the report.