Agenda item

(The Deputy Chairperson, Alderman McCoubrey, in the Chair.)

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided details of the assessments undertaken by officers and seeking approval to award funding for the 2024 Summer Community Diversionary Festival Programme.

            August Programme

            The Committee was advised that 4 applications had been received for the August programme.  The Director provided details of the projects and officer assessment scores for stage 1 and stage 2.  Three applicants had passed both stages, with one applicant not having passed stage 1.

            Accordingly, the Committee agreed to award the funding as follows to the three groups which had passed stages 1 and 2:

            July Programme

            The Committee was advised that 10 applications had been received for the July programme.  The Director provided details of the projects and officer assessment scores for stage 1 and stage 2.  Four applicants had passed both stages; one applicant had passed stage 1 but did not meet the benchmark at stage 2; and the remaining five applicants had failed to pass stage 1.

            A Member referred to the proposed amount of funding to be allocated to each of the four successful applicants and made the point they should be allocated an equal percentage of the amount requested.

            The Committee concurred with this view and agreed to adjourn for a short period to afford officers the opportunity to reassess the proposed allocation on that basis.

(The Committee stood adjourned for 10 minutes.)

            Following reassessment of the proposed allocation of funding for the July programme, the Committee agreed to award the following to the 4 applicants which had passed stages 1 and 2:

            The Committee agreed further:

·        That any funding awarded would be subject to further engagement with groups and analysis of projects and associated budgets in line with Council due diligence procedures, this would include any outstanding financial and monitoring returns with regards to other Council funding.  Funding would not be awarded until approved contracts were issued and signed.

·        To approve those organisations seeking permission to use Belfast Parks for their event or activity and to delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to ensure the following:

o   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’ and take down’ periods, and booking amendments, subject to:

§  The completion of an appropriate management plan,

§  The promoter resolving any operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction; and

§  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.

            The Committee noted that the above recommendations were taken as a pre-policy position in advance of the Council agreeing a more structured framework and policy for ‘Events’, which was currently being taken forward in conjunction with the Councils Commercial team.

(The Chairperson, Councillor Black, in the Chair.)