Meeting Pack Derry City and Strabane District Council
Dear Member of Business and Culture Committee
You are hereby summoned to attend the Monthly Meeting of the Business and Culture Committee to be held remotely on Tuesday 13 April 2021 at 4.00 pm.
Yours faithfully
John Kelpie Chief Executive
AGENDA
1 Notice and Summons of Meeting
2 Member Attendance and Apologies
3 Statement for Remote Meetings
4 Declarations of Members' Interests
Open for Decision
5 Chairperson's Business
6 Matters Arising from the Open Minutes of the Business and Culture Committee held on Tuesday 9 March 2021 (Pages 1 - 14)
7 Collaborative Resilience Programme Update (Pages 15 - 16)
8 Access and Inclusion Programme Update (Pages 17 - 20)
9 Faughan Valley Woodlands Sculpture (Pages 21 - 22)
10 Colmcille 1500 Update (Pages 23 - 28)
11 Cultural Grant Aid Results 2020/21- (Appendix 2 to Follow) (Pages 29 - 46)
12 Future Delivery Options for Parking Services (Pages 47 - 50)
13 Strabane Business Improvement District (BID) (Pages 51 - 52)
14 ESF Match Funded Projects- End of Year 3 Report (Pages 53 - 58)
Open for Information
15 Museum Service Programme 2021-2022 (Pages 59 - 72)
16 TIDE Project Progress Report (Pages 73 - 74)
17 PEACE IV Independent Evaluation Appointment (Pages 75 - 78)
18 Business Innovation and Growth Programme (Pages 79 - 86)
19 Enterprise Week 2021- LevelUP (Pages 87 - 92)
Confidential for Decision
20 Matters arising from the Confidential Minutes of the Business and Culture Committee held on Tuesday 9 March 2021 (Pages 93 - 94)
8 April 2021
Agenda Item 6
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Open Minutes of the Business and Culture Committee Meeting held remotely, on Tuesday 9 March 2021 at 4.00pm.
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Present: Councillor Farrell (Chairperson); Alderman Guy, Ramsey, Warke; Councillor’s R Barr, M Boyle, Cooper, Cusack, Doyle, Durkan, Farrell, Ferguson and Mellon.
Non-Committee Members: Alderman Hussey, Kerrigan; Councillor’s Donnelly, and Kelly.
In Attendance: Director of Business and Culture (Mr S Gillespie), Head of Business (Mr K O’Connor), Head of Culture (Ms A McCarter) PA to Director of Business & Culture (Ms J Galloway-Doherty) and Committee Services Assistant (Mrs J Short).
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BC41/21 Notice and Summons of Meeting
The Director of Business and Culture read the Notice and Summons for the meeting.
BC42/21 Member Attendance and Apologies
The Director of Business and Culture took the roll call recorded apologies from Councillor Logue.
BC43/21 Statement for Remote Meetings
The Chair read the Statement for Remote Meetings.
BC44/21 Declarations of Members’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest from Members.
Page 1 Open for Decision
BC45/21 Update re. Non-Attendance by Department for Economy
The Director of Business and Culture explained that Mr Wilkinson, Director of Skills, Department for Economy (DfE) had been willing to attend the meeting today, however, as Mr Wilkinson was responsible for skills within DfE, it was felt that the update given at the meeting held on 13 October 2021 had not changed. He however, had suggested that, based on the questions raised by Members at the meeting, it might be more useful for a Senior Official from the Policy Section of DfE to present to Committee at a future meeting. The Director agreed to liaise with the Department to attempt to get a DfE Policy Officer to attend a future meeting and he would report back to Committee on the outcome.
BC46/21 Presentation: Update by Invest NI on the actions and proposals being developed to achieve a regional balance in terms of job opportunities.
The Chair welcomed the following representatives from Invest NI to the meeting. He invited them to provide an update to Members regarding efforts by Invest NI to achieve a regional balance in terms of job opportunities within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. (A copy of the presentation was previously circulated to Members).
Mr Alan McKeown, Executive Director, Regional Business, Invest NI Mr Des Gartland, NW Regional Office Manager, Invest NI Ms Elaine Curran, Investment Manager (NI Based) Ms A Mallaghan, Business Development Manager (US Based)
The Chair thanked the representatives for the update. He referred to the fact that Derry City and Strabane District Council area had the highest unemployment rate, economic inactivity and second lowest wage level in the North. He said that Council believed that the Department for Economy (DfE) was responsible for the introduction of sub-regional targets to tackle the economic issues and promote regional balance. He referred to various statistics that demonstrated the scale of the problem. He stated that in the previous 3 financial years there was 687 investor visits to Belfast and only 15 visits to Derry. He referred to the number of job announcements during the period January to September 2020, that resulted in 1176 in Belfast and only 29 in Derry. He stated that these statistics in his opinion was a definition
Page 2 of regional imbalance. He further stated that whilst external factors impacted upon investment opportunities in Derry, the various innovation projects and the Strategic Growth Plan enhanced the economic offering for this Council area.
The Chair reiterated the necessity for a change of approach from the Department in relation to a sub-regional balance and for targets to be developed through the implementation of a strategy plan and allocation of funding resources from Government departments. He said that whilst he was mindful of Invest NI’s current business strategy that envisaged the creation of 30-40k additional new jobs in Northern Ireland, the absence of sub-regional targets for the North West region increased the focus of employment opportunities towards Belfast City and this was fundamentally unfair for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
Mr McKeown in response to the Chair, stressed the point that Invest NI focused heavily on marketing opportunities that existed in the North West and the strength of performance available locally was impressive. He added that Invest NI would certainly welcome additional resources from government, because of the financial constraints due to the one-year budget allocation and additional competition from the wider public sector.
He said that Invest NI heavily invested in the City Growth Deals and Officials continued to work in partnership with Council to develop projects and offer strategic support. He added that Council had an ongoing commitment from Invest NI to ensure the maximisation of every opportunity that the City and Growth Deal provided to this region, however the budgetary challenges faced had to be addressed at a political level in going forward.
Councillor Cooper thanked the representatives for attending the meeting to provide an Update to Members. He expressed disappointment that Officials from the policy section within DfE had not attended the meeting today and said that this spoke volumes in terms of the lack of response to the provision of a specific bespoke sub- regional strategy for the North West. He referred to the wider issue around skills development and said that it was essential for those students that moved from NVQ’s level one to four were trained in the correct field of expertise. He welcomed the collaborative approach adopted by Invest NI to work with the Universities and Colleges to
Page 3 continue with the development of the skills agenda which was pivotal in terms of graduates applying for relevant jobs.
Councillor Cooper in conclusion, recognised that Invest NI continued to work closely with Council despite the added pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic and he looked forward in anticipation to more progress being achieved in the future.
Mr McKeown assured Members that they continued to work across the Department in terms of skills development and recognised that the good working relationship with Council and Universities/Colleges was key in moving forward.
Councillor Gallagher stated that it was unfortunate that the DfE Official was not present at the meeting today, however he was not surprised. He referred to statistical information in relation to pay scales, investment and living conditions and comparative figures between the East and West of the province which were stark. He stated that the employment rate in the West was 13% lower than the Northern Ireland average. He referred to the lack of infrastructure in the West and stated that there was 3 times more financial investment in the Eastern region in comparison to the West. He further stated that the evidence was available to prove disparity in employment, wages and living conditions in the North West and it must be addressed immediately.
Mr McKeown in response to the previous speaker, advised that some of the concern raised were not within the policy remit of Invest NI. He said that Invest NI shared the ambition for growth and hopefully the presentation today, provided reassurance to Members that Invest NI Officials continued to work in partnership with Council Officials and the Colleges to meet ongoing employment opportunities.
Mr Gartland stated that it was imperative that the partnership approach between the various stakeholders continued. He added that whilst the fragmentation scenario existed throughout the region, it was important to retain the good working relationship that existed. He referred to the recent City Deal announcement and said this was fantastic news for the whole area. He added that with the funding opportunities they wanted to see curves turning with the reduction in unemployment figures and improved wages. He agreed that skills development was a key priority for this region.
Page 4 Councillor Durkan echoed the sentiments expressed by the previous speakers. She added that everyone was familiar with the commitments made to address the regional balance, however without a specific strategy outlining targets, then the approach was meaningless. She stated that in terms of the City Deal announcement it was important to capitalise for opportunity. She referred to health and life sciences that currently featured in the Belfast City Deal and queried the protection and promotion of health and life sciences in the Derry City and District Council area. She further expressed support of the commitment towards green energy and renewable energy, however stated that it was essential for a strategy outlining relevant targets to be achieved. She queried what strategies were in place in terms of maximising opportunities for the dual market process.
Mr Gartland clarified for the previous speaker that he was beginning to see a proposition in this Council area and the reason was due to the Medical School, Health and Life Sciences and the THRIVE project proposed for Magee College. He explained that the proposition itself was becoming stronger with the creation of opportunities in entrepreneurship and start-up businesses for the region.
Mr McKeown further added that in relation to the dual market access for Northern Ireland, the team based in he USA continued to get the message out to inward investors, regarding the unique selling proposition that existed, particularly amongst the engineering sector and there was a significant degree of interest.
Councillor M Boyle referred to the Strabane Business Park and queried what action Invest NI had taken in relation to the promotion of the Business Park to attract potential businesses. She referred to the impressive initiatives, however expressed concern in relation to the availability of bank loans particularly during this period of the pandemic crisis, when local businesses continued to struggle. She also referred to poor broadband connectivity, particularly within the rural areas that impinged on business productivity. She also queried the support offered by Invest NI to encourage people to return to their roots to set- up businesses locally.
Mr Gartland in response to Councillor M Boyle’s comments confirmed that regular discussions continued with key partners and political representatives in relation to businesses relocating to the Strabane Business Park and he was confident that at least 2 of the units would be occupied in the near future. He referred to issues in relation to poor
Page 5 broadband connectivity in the rural areas throughout the District Council area and advised that the recent announcement of the launch of Project Stratum initiated by DfE in the Mid Ulster area, would undoubtedly be fast-tracked to the smaller towns and rural areas throughout the whole of the North West in the future.
Alderman Hussey concurred with the previous speakers in relation to sub-regional targets in respect to job opportunities for the North West. He also expressed disappointment that the Official from DfE had not attended the meeting today. He said there was a feeling of déjá-vu as he can recall similar discussions that took place in 1989, regarding the issue of regional disparity with key economic issues that desired to be addressed by the relevant Government Departments. He stated that he wanted to see more action, rather than just words.
Mr Gartland stated that he continued to engage with the various business partners in the Strabane area and he was content to do further engage if necessary. In terms of the rural businesses, he clarified that Officials continued to work closely with Council on the delivery of the Rural Development Programmes.
Councillor Donnelly expressed concern that there was a lot of buzz words being used, however no concrete evidence that provided assurances to the people that the communities would benefit from the funding announcements and to discourage young people from emigrating.
The Director of Business and Culture assured Members that this Council wanted to ensure a good outcome for all citizens. He said that the City Deal provided the opportunity to develop projects to benefit everyone from all walks of society and would provide a wide range of skills and they would continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders to deliver on the various initiatives.
Alderman Ramsey welcomed the update from the representatives. He concurred with Councillor Gallagher’s previous reference to statistics in relation to unemployment and wages and whilst he did not want to sound negative, they had to be acknowledged. He however refused to ignore the fact that some Members from Council were most critical of Invest NI and whilst he agreed that Invest NI had a responsibility, they were not entirely to blame, and the finger should also be pointed to the political leadership not only in the former Derry City Council but also in Government during the 20 year period. He stated that whilst the City
Page 6 Deal was delayed, funding was now available, and he wanted to see prosperity for all citizens from the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
Councillor Doyle referred to the public review of economic policy that was carried out in 2009. He stated that the Economic Advisory Group made recommendations during that period to the DETI Minister that the sub-regional economic growth be ruled out altogether. He said that the reason for Derry lagging behind was due to the lack of change of the fundamental policies by the Executive. He said there was a massive mismatch of people employed in jobs that they were overqualified in. He queried how Invest NI promoted Derry from an economic perspective.
Mr Gartland advised that Invest NI’s approach towards the promotion of Derry to international investors was based on 3 incentives: talent, competitive cost and lifestyle. He added that despite the economic downturn in 2008, the City was progressing and there was an impression of prosperity in terms of infrastructure and industry.
The discussion concluded and the Chair thanked the representatives for their attendance at the meeting.
The representatives left the meeting at this stage.
Chairperson’s Business
BC47/21 Call for Sub-Regional Targets to be introduced by the Department for Economy
The Chair referred to the previous presentation by Invest NI and the dismay expressed by Members over the non-attendance by DfE. He said that the clear message from the discussion was the need for sub- regional targets and that it was a political issue.
The Chair proposed that Council call on the Economy Minister to introduce sub-regional targets for job creation, economic inactivity, wage levels and investor visits in Derry and Strabane and invites the Economy Minister to present to Council on this pressing issue. Alderman Guy seconded the proposal.
Page 7
Councillor Doyle proposed the following amendment to the proposal:
that Council call on the Economy Minister to introduce sub-regional targets for job creation, economic inactivity, wage levels and investor visits in Derry and Strabane and calls for a renewed review of economic policy and invites the Economy Minister to present to Council on this pressing issue.
The Members expressed unanimous support of the amended proposal and the Committee:
Recommended that Council call on the Economy Minister to introduce sub-regional targets for job creation, economic inactivity, wage levels and investor visits in Derry and Strabane and calls for a renewed review of economic policy and invites the Economy Minister to present to Council on this pressing issue.
BC48/21 River Radio – DAB Licence
The Chair proposed, seconded by Alderman Guy that a letter of congratulations be sent to River Radio, to acknowledge their recent success in securing the DAB Licence for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
The Committee Recommended that a letter of congratulations be sent to River Radio to acknowledge their recent achievement in securing a DAB Licence.
Page 8
BC49/21 Proposed Meeting with the Arts Council re. Allocation of Funding towards Flagship Projects
The Chair referred to a response received from the Arts Council in acceptance of Council’s request to engage with Members to discuss the above issue. He suggested that Council accepted the offer from the Arts Council to meet and he also felt it was important that Cultural partners be included in the discussion.
Councillor Cooper referred to a separate meeting with elected Members and the relevant Minister that was already co-ordinated and suggested that the issue be included on the agenda, so to avoid any duplication. He said that it was anticipated that this meeting would happen shortly, and a progress report was expected to be issued within the next few weeks.
Discussion ensued, after which the Chair proposed, seconded by Councillor Doyle that Members meet with the Arts Council and Cultural partners from the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
Alderman Warke proposed an amendment to the proposal and for the relevant Minister to be invited to the meeting. Alderman Ramsey seconded the proposal.
The amendment to the proposal was agreed.
The Committee
Recommended that Members meet with the Arts Council Senior Officials, the relevant Minister and Cultural partners to discuss the allocation of funding towards flagship projects.
Page 9
BC50/21 Heads of Terms – City Deal
The Chair referred to the recent signing of the Heads of Terms for the City Deal for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. He said that one of the key aspects was the enhancement of the tourism offer and the key element was the development of the Maritime Museum. He asked the Director of Business and Culture to provide an update to Members.
The Director of Business and Culture said that because the Heads of Terms was now signed off, the Maritime Museum Project development would advance in comparison to other key projects. He stated that the next stage was to agree a timetable with the Department for Economy in moving forward. He said this was a good news story and he looked forward to presenting a detailed paper to Committee in the coming months.
Councillor Cooper referred to various discussions his party representatives and Officials had in relation to getting the project over the line to allow funding to be drawn down. He said that it was essential for DfE to come forward to manage the project. He added that he was delighted that Council had reached this stage as it was a massive game changer and an early indication of what City Deal can offer and he looked forward to seeing further progression in the coming months.
Matters Arising from the Open Minutes of the Business and Culture Committee held on Tuesday 9 February 2021
BC51/21 Minute Reference: BC32/21 – Festivals and Events Strategy 2021
Councillor Doyle referred to the above item and sought an update on actions by Officers to ensure local talent involvement in the various programme of events.
The Head of Culture clarified that a Members’ Working Group meeting had taken place which Councillor Doyle had attended. She advised that a full update on the prioritisation of procurement processes and policy to attract local artist participation was provided and one of the actions from the discussion was the provision of specific training to support local artists.
Page 10 BC52/21 Minute Reference: BC31/21 – Plans for the Centenary of Northern Ireland 2021
The Head of Culture clarified for Councillor Durkan that a report outlining the plans for the Centenary celebrations in relation to the 1500th Anniversary of Colmcille would be provided at the next Committee Meeting.
BC53/21 National Events
The Head of Culture presented the above report a copy of which was previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to secure Members approval for the allocation of funding for the National Events Fund 2020/21.
The Committee
Recommended that Council approves funding to Event A for the full £35,000 allocated to the National Events fund from the Festival and Events budget for the financial year 2021- 2022.
BC54/21 Covid Recovery - Digital Transformation ERDF
The Head of Business presented the above report, details of which were previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to seek Members approval for the progression with an 11 Council collaborative application to Invest NI for the delivery of a Digital Transformation Business Support Programme.
Councillor Mellon welcomed the report. She said that it was refreshing to see a positive collaborative approach and it was important to support smaller businesses to connect online during the pandemic crisis period.
The Committee
Recommended that Council seeks Members approval to proceed with the collaborative funding application
Page 11 and the contribution of £31,109 towards total project costs. Open for Information
BC55/21 Marketing Update
The Head of Culture provided the above report, a copy of which was previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to update Members on the range of marketing activities undertaken by the Council’s marketing team.
Councillor Doyle welcomed the report. He referred to the Marketing Campaign and suggested the inclusion of a website and for the Bogside location to be added to the list of sites.
The Head of Culture noted Councillor Doyle’s suggestion of a website to promote the various initiatives. She also agreed to forward an update on the Shop Local Derry/Strabane website. She also clarified for Alderman Hussey that the budget allocation traditionally covered the locations for the dressing which were predominantly Derry City and Strabane Town focused.
Members noted the contents of the above report.
BC56/21 Strabane Business Improvement District (BID) Update
The Head of Business presented the above report, a copy of which was previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to provide an update on the Strabane BID activity.
Members noted the contents of the above report.
BC57/21 Business Innovation Growth Programme
The Head of Business provided the above report, a copy of which was previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to update Members on progress of the Business Innovation and Growth Programme (BIG) up to 21 February 2021.
Members noted the contents of the above report.
Page 12
BC58/21 Covid Recovery and Revitalisation Business Start Up Grants
The Head of Business presented the above report, a copy of which was previously circulated to Members. The purpose of the report was to update Members on the above programme launched on 27 November 2020, to support new businesses in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
Members noted the contents of the above report.
The meeting went into confidential business.
Page 13 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 7 Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Culture
Collaborative Resilience Programme Update Author: Arts & Culture Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
To update Members on the status of the proposed Collaborative Resilience Programme and to seek approval for the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from the Arts Council Northern Ireland enabling the transfer of funds to initiate this project.
2 Background
2.1 Members received an information paper on this proposed programme in October 2020 (BC138/20). Since this time Council Officers have been in liaison with the ACNI and the proposed 26 participant organisations in the refinement of the programme specification. This consultation exercise was critical in order to ensure that the programme design would meet the needs of the sector. As a result, the original draft of the programme specification has been adjusted and subsequently approved by the ACNI.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The significant adjustment to the programme specification included the removal of the capacity building components detailed in the original draft. Cultural Officers are in discussions with the Business Support service within Council with regards to an alternative delivery model for building capacity within the cultural sector. The ACNI funding of £50,000 will directly support the revised Collaborative Resilience Programme with Councils match contribution of £50,000 utilised in a separate standalone and bespoke capacity building programme for cultural organisations.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 There are no significant implications. In order for the ACNI to transfer the money directly to councils to procure this resilience programme directly they require the adoption of an MoU outlining the programme commitments as detailed in the original terms of reference for the resilience programme.
4.2 Officers will issue a tender for the delivery of this programme in line with councils procurement policy.
V1.3 Effective 21 May 2019 Page 15 5 Recommendations
5.1 For Members to approve the adjustment to the proposed Collaborative Resilience Programme and to accept in principle the signing of an MoU with ACNI.
Background Papers
V1.3 Effective 21 May 2019 Page 16 Agenda Item 8 Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Culture
Access & Inclusion Programme Update Author: Arts & Culture Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To update Members on the status of the Department of Communities (DfC) 2020/21 Letter of Offer (LOO) relating to Council led access projects.
1.2 To seek Member approval for the Access and Inclusion Coordinator role to be mainstreamed within Council.
2 Background
2.1 At this committee in February members approved the acceptance of the LOO from DfC as detailed in the report BC29/21. Given the short time available and procurement challenges faced by a number of the projects Council Officers sought an extension to the LOO from DfC. Unfortunately, this request was denied with DfC stating ‘…there is no scope to allow 2020/21 funding to be carried over into the next financial year unless projects are contractually committed.’ However, DfC did indicate that there would be an opportunity to resubmit to their 2021/22 Access funding programme those projects that were not initiated in the 2020/21 financial year.
3 Key Issues
3.1 Of the projects detailed in the report BC29/21 the following due to their deliverability challenges will now not be able to proceed under the 2020/21 DfC LOO.
Inclusive Park Seating @ £30,000 (accessible seating in rural and urban settings throughout DCSDC)
Alley Theatre @ £30,000 (developing an outdoor accessible hub for accessible cultural programming during and beyond Covid)
Strathfoyle Play Park @ £30,000 (accessible play park equipment)
Castlederg Changing Place toilet provision standard @ £20,000 (additional contribution to meet the Changing Place Standard for this project)
V1.3 Effective 21 May 2019 Page 17 The Next Stage: Mobile Outdoor Shelter, Performance Stage and Learning space @ £25,000 (to better enable outdoor performances on flexible basis and fully accessible to the pan disability community)
St Columb's Park Walled Garden @ £30,000 (accessible seating for pan disability community)
3.2 DfC have issued a revised 2020/21 LOO of offer of £54,885 to reflect the value of those remaining projects that have made sufficient progress to meet their deadline. These are:
The Tower Museum (The story of our city) @ £16,260 as amended in letter of 26/02/21
Guildhall Portable accessible staging @ £10,000
Regional Project (Toolkit for Council Accessibility Audits) @ £28,625
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 It would be the intention of Council Officers to resubmit the projects detailed above under the DfC 2021/22 in year call in addition to those external projects identified through Councils own Access Programme grant aid call.
4.2 In the interim, Officers would like to proceed with the accessible outdoor hub project at the Alley Theatre utilising previously held external funding from the PHA. The original project for which the PHA funding had been earmarked no longer requires support from this source. The proposed re-profile of this existing LOO will require the approval of the PHA.
4.3 From its inception, the Access & Inclusion Coordinator role has been fully funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA). From year end 2020/21 this direct salary support will cease. In order to retain this role, it is proposed that Council repurpose a portion of the cultural capital budget to meet the salary requirements. The mainstreamed role will support the functions of the Business and Culture Directorate. The PHA will continue to fund some programming activity and the focus of the role will be to secure and manage external funding for the Business and Culture Directorate.
5 Recommendations
5.1 For Members accept the revised LOO of offer from DfC.
V1.3 Effective 21 May 2019 Page 18 5.2 For Members to approve the re-profile of the existing PHA LOO to enable the accessible outdoor hub project at the Alley Theatre to proceed subject to PHA approval.
5.3 For Members to approve the proposed mainstreaming of the Access & Inclusion Coordinator role within Council.
Background Papers
V1.3 Effective 21 May 2019 Page 19 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 9 Title of Report: Faughan Valley Woodlands Officer Presenting: Head of Culture Sculpture Author: Tourism Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To update members on the proposed ‘Faughan Valley Woodlands Sculpture Spectacular’ project being delivered by Woodlands Trust and to seek consent for Council to be the co-applicant on the project.
2 Background
2.1 The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. In March 2019, the Woodland Trust commissioned an Access & Interpretation Strategy which recommended the development of the Faughan Valley as a ‘woodland hub’
2.2 Project elements include an Iconic Sculpture Trail – comprising multiple, small, medium and large sculptures, the creation of multi-use trails network, a bridge to cross River Faughan and a Visitor Car Park in Red Brae Woods
2.3 The Woodland Trust have successfully secured funds from The National Heritage Lottery Fund (NHLF) and are preparing an application to DAERA’s Rural Tourism Scheme.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The Woodland Trust have requested that Council become co-applicant on the project as the scheme is only open to projects in which Council are at least a co- applicant. This is subject to a partnership agreement where Woodland Trust agree to the terms of the RDP grant and to bear the risk associated with the project.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 The total RDP project value is £636,000, of which the Woodland Trust is requesting £477,000.00. The remaining project costs will be met by the applicant (Woodland Trust). Combining the NLHF and RDP project the total project value is £1.6million. As co-applicant Council would be expected to provide 5% match funding to the project, however there are currently no confirmed DCSDC budgets available to meet this requirement
Page 21 4.2 In order to ensure that the RDP grant is secured, theWoodland Trust (as key project partner) have confirmed that they are willing to provide directly the 5% match funding requirement that Council would usually be expected to pay. There are no additional funds therefore required from council.
5 Recommendations
5.1 Members are asked to note the content of the report and to approve Council’s to be the co-applicant with Woodland Trust on the Faughan Valley Woodlands RDP Application subject to a partnership agreement.
Background Papers
Page 22 Agenda Item 10 Title of Report: Officer Presenting:
Colmcille 1500 Update Head of Culture
Author: Colmcille 1500 Project Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Colmcille 1500 commemorative programme currently being delivered by Derry City & Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council, supported by the North West Development Fund.
2 Background
2.1 Colmcille 1500 is a year-long commemoration marking the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Colmcille, also known as Columba. The year recognises the importance and legacy of the 6th-century saint, not only for Derry and Donegal but for the island of Ireland, Scotland and across the world. The year-long celebrations will last from the 7th December 2020 to 7th December 2021.
2.2 Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council are co- ordinating a programme for the year which is primarily funded through the North West Development Fund, in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government. The programme builds on an Audit of Columban Heritage undertaken in 2018 and aims to raise knowledge and understanding of Colmcille as well as establish a lasting legacy.
2.3 The programme for the year includes a range of projects, events and activities including a community grants scheme. It is being co-ordinated by a dedicated Colmcille 1500 Project Manager who following a recruitment process led by Donegal County Council across both Councils took up post on 14th December 2020 formally as a secondment from DCSDC to Donegal County Council until March 2022.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The initial phase of the programme since appointment of a Project Manager has focused on mapping planned events/activities relating to Colmcille 1500, engagement with key stakeholders, development of online platforms to promote the commemorations and setting up a Colmcille 1500 community grants scheme.
Page 23 3.2 The Colmcille 1500 Grant Scheme opened on 27th January 2021 and 71 applications were received by the deadline on 19th February 2021. This included 48 from Donegal and 23 from Derry-Strabane. The breakdown by project theme included: 20 heritage; 13 music; 11 art; 9 history; 5 spirituality; 5 drama/dance; 3 environmental; 2 education; 2 literary/language; and 1 sport.
3.3 There is currently a programme grants budget of £16,000 which is sufficient to fund 4 in each Council area with grants of £1,800/ €2,000. In Donegal, an additional number will be supported by Creative Ireland funding and Údarás na Gaeltachta. A reserve list is in place if additional funding becomes available.
3.4 The mapping exercise has identified approximately 45 planned events or activities to date relating to Colmcille 1500, mostly at a local/regional level but also virtual events taking place at a national/international level or in other areas with Colmcille links. Appendix 1 includes a list of activities being co-ordinated specifically by the two Councils. Engagement is also underway with stakeholders at a national and international level – for example, national institutions with Colmcille artefacts, and to develop links in Scotland and Nova Scotia.
3.5 A website was commissioned by DCSDC and is now live at www.colmcille1500.com. Its purpose is to provide a central platform to collectively promote activities for the 1500th anniversary. COVID has provided unique challenges to commemorating Colmcille this year but there is an opportunity to bring our celebrations to an international audience through virtual events promoted via the website as well as providing an opportunity for local audiences to participate in events in other areas.
3.6 The website includes a number of confirmed events with others to be added from the mapping as dates and activities have been confirmed over the rest of the year. There is also a function on the website to allow groups and organisations to submit their own event to ensure it is as inclusive as possible. Social medial accounts have also been set up and will become active when the website has been launched. This will include a Facebook account (Colmcille1500NW) and an Instagram account (Colmcille1500).
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
Page 24 4.1 The Colmcille 1500 Programme is funded by the North West Development Fund, supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government. The funding of £190,000 covers staffing, operating and programme costs. Additional events and activities relating to Colmcille 1500 are funded through other sources such as the Arts Council and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for projects being led by Donegal County Council. Should additional funding be available from savings within the DCSDC business and culture budgets or from the wider project it is proposed to fund additional events from the reserve grant aid application.
5 Recommendations
5.1 Members are asked to note the contents of the report and approve the allocation of additional funding to the reserve applicants from the grant aid applications.
Background Papers
Appendix 1: Colmcille 1500 Activities Led by DCC & DCSDC
Page 25 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 1: Colmcille 1500 Activities Led by DCC & DCSDC
SECTION/LEAD ACTIVITY/PROJECT MUSEUMS: Joint Council exhibition & events programme ‘Colmcille – Man and Myths’ – to be launched virtually on 15/4/21 with exhibition to be in place as follows: o Tower Museum: April 2021 to September 2021 o Donegal County Museum: September 2021 to February 2022
DCC HERITAGE: Works at Kilmacrennan Abbey & St Colmcille's Chapel Gartan Colmcille Audio Heritage Guide of Donegal Sites Colmcille Colouring Book Colmcille Photogrammetry of Turas Cholm Cille
DCC LIBRARIES/ ARCHIVES Colmcille Education Pack/Resources for Primary Schools Colmcille Digital Schools Folklore Project (5 schools in Donegal, 5 schools in Derry, in partnership with Libraries NI, delivered by Nerve Centre) Book of Kells and Colum Cille the Scribe Exhibition Exhibition of Tim Stampton Colmcille Paintings
DCC/DCSDC ARTS/EVENTS: ‘Inside Out’ DCSDC animation programme (Colmcille themed in June 2021) & events around 7 December 2021 Colmcille N56 Public Art Commission (Kilmacrennan) Colmcille 1500 Orchestral Commission (Donegal Youth Orchestra) Turas Contemporary Visual Arts Exhibition (4 Donegal venues) The Enemy Within (Brian Friel play) An Grianan Theatre Contemporary music commission based on Benjamin Briton Colmcille piece
Page 27 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 11
Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Culture
Cultural Grant Aid Results 2020/21 Author: Arts & Culture Manager, Tourism Manager, Festivals & Events Manager, Curator
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To secure member approval for the allocation of funding for Culture Grant Aid programmes including Cultural Organisations, Heritage Animation, Access Programme for Cultural Organisations, Headline Events, Community Festivals, Artist & Cultural Practitioner Award and Decade of Centenaries Fund 2021/22.
2 Background
2.1 Members will recall previous reports to this committee approving the roll out of Cultural Grant Aid programmes. These funds were all extensively promoted including by public notice. Council Officers hosted two online information sessions to provide detail on the available funds.
2.2 The Cultural Organisation Fund sought applications from those organisations engaged in Arts & Culture or Museum & Heritage activity. It is designed to support the professional and high capacity organisations within the arts and cultural sector.
2.3 The Heritage Animation Programme was focused on the delivery of an animation and visitor servicing programme specifically targeting the participation of heritage venues within the Council area. This fund was established to develop the visitor experience among the heritage venues.
2.4 The Access Programme focused on cultural organisations, supporting capital improvements directly related to the findings detailed within an independent access audit. The programme was designed to meet the community planning action of "…promoting accessible cultural experiences".
2.5 The Headline Events Fund programme is suitable for strategic cultural and sporting events of significant scale.
2.6 The Community Festivals Fund is a two tiered programme enabling communities to deliver events and activities at a local level.
Page 29
2.7 The Artist & Practitioner fund was created to fulfil action '2k' under Aim 2 of the Arts & Culture Strategy to 'Deliver quality programme, product and practice'. The action within the Strategy states the requirement to 'Create a dedicated fund in Derry City and Strabane District to support independent Artists, theatre makers and arts organisations in the creation and dissemination of new artistic work. Commission quality local and international artists to create artworks linked to learning opportunities for programmes and events with the aim of inspiring audiences and practitioners.'
2.8 The Decade of Centenaries Fund 2021-22 was open to local groups to apply for grant support for projects and events to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland. A Council motion was passed in July 2015 to mark the Decade of Centenaries anniversaries from 1913-1923 and a Working Group was also established. The key role of the working group is to lead the development of the DCSDC Decade of Centenaries Programme. Events and initiatives delivered by groups must:
Remember in context Remember the whole Decade Remember the Future Remember Ethically Remember together
3 Key Issues
3.1 Seventeen applications were received to the Cultural Organisation Fund with all meeting the minimum threshold score of 50%. The maximum award for both the Cultural Organisation Fund and the Heritage Animation Fund cannot exceed £17,000 in in any one year. The 2021/22 award will be the first in a three-year award cycle. Of the seventeen eligible applications two were from the Museum & Heritage sector and fifteen were from the Arts & Culture sector. The successful applicants are outlined in Appendix 1 of the report. The total value of eligible Arts Organisation applications to the Cultural Organisation fund was £195,303 against an available grant aid budget of £192,000. At present this means that one organisation will not receive any support (Organisation I) and another will receive a reduction in eligible support (Organisation K). The total value of funding contribution for Heritage Organisations sought from the Tourism Development budget is £13,405.75 against an available grant aid budget of £83,600. The remaining £70,194.25 of the Tourism Development budget was allocated to the Heritage & Animation Fund.
Page 30 3.2 The total budget for the Heritage Animation Fund was £83,600 for 2021/22 minus the £13,405.75 allocated to the heritage venues through the Cultural Organisation Fund detailed above. In 2021/22, a total of 5 applications were received through the Heritage Animation Fund all of which reached the eligibility threshold. The total funds that have been allocated under this programme are £65,340.60. A summary of the applicants is outlined in Appendix 2 of this report. The remaining budget will be used to further support the capacity of heritage venues.
3.3 The total value of eligible applications to the capital based Access Programme was £213,492 received from 8 venues who had completed independent access audits. A summary of the applicants is outlined in Appendix 3 of this report. Council retains sufficient resources to meet the eligible cost associated with the 2021/22 Access Programme. However, as in previous years, Council Officers will seek financial support from the Department of Communities (DfC) to meet the costs associated with these projects.
3.4 The total value of eligible applications to the Headline Events Fund was £223,620. This total consists of all Arts and Culture Events, there were no Sporting event applications this year. There were 12 applications, all of which reached the threshold mark in order to be eligible and are included in the figures above. With existing budgets of £205,000, 11 of the 12 applications would receive funding. A full summary of applicants is outlined in Appendix 4 of this report.
3.5 The total value of eligible applications to the Community Festivals Fund was £141,819. There were 11 applicants to the upper fund with 10 meeting the threshold mark and 9 applicants to the lower fund with 7 meeting the threshold. With the existing DCSDC budget of £86,000, 6 applicants would receive funding on the Upper level and 7 applicants at the lower level. A full summary of the applicants is outlined in Appendix 5 of this report. If any further funding becomes available through events being withdrawn this will be allocated to those who passed the threshold but not allocated funding. Council Officers await confirmation from Department for Communities (DfC) with regards to a financial contribution towards these costs. Members would be aware that no funding was received from DfC in 2020/21, in the previous year they contributed £30,200 to the Community Festival Fund.
Page 31 3.6 The total value of 24 eligible applications to the Artist & Practitioner Fund was £24,000. Members previously approved the allocation of £16,000 from existing budgets to this funding programme. Based on this budget there will be an award made to the top 16 applicants. It is proposed that additional budget from 2020/21 identified cost savings be allocated to the remaining eligible artists also receive awards. This then would equate to a total fund award of £24,000 to 24 local artists and cultural practitioners. A summary of the applicants is outlined in Appendix 6 of this report.
3.7 There were 16 applications received for the Decade of Centenaries Fund. Based on allocated scores, the available fund of £20,000 will allow for 10 eligible applications to be supported in full, with Project K receiving a partial award of £1,000. Project L received the same score as Project K. However, Project L was one of two applications submitted by the same organisation. The other application from this organisation, Project I, scored higher and is recommended for support. A list of all applicants and associated scores is detailed in Appendix 7. Members should note that a wider report on the centenary work will be brought to a future meeting of this committee following a further meeting with the Decade of Centenaries working group but members are asked to approve the allocation of this grant aid to allow for letter of offer to be issued to the relevant groups in line with the other funds.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 The proposed Cultural Grant Aid programmes will be drawn from member approved rates based budgets across the Culture department. Council Officers will seek external financial resources for the Community Festival Fund and the Access Programme as outlined above.
5 Recommendations
5.1 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for Cultural Organisations including an increase in the total award to Arts Organisations from £192,000 to £195,303 for each of the three years of this funding cycle, to be drawn from Member approved budgets.
5.2 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for the Heritage Animation programme.
5.3 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for Access Programme.
Page 32 5.4 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for Headline Events.
5.5 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for Community Festivals Events.
5.6 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for the Artist & Practitioner Fund including an increase in the total award to from £16,000 to £24,000, to be drawn from Member approved budgets.
5.7 To approve the proposed award allocation outlined in this report for the Decade of Centenaries Fund.
Background Papers
Cultural Grant Aid Programme Awards
Appendix 1 Cultural Organisations
Appendix 2 Heritage Animation
Appendix 3 Access Programme
Appendix 4 Headline Events
Appendix 5 Community Festivals
Appendix 6 Artist and Practitioner Awards
Appendix 7 Decade of Centenaries
Page 33 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 1 Cultural Organisation Fund Derry City & StrabaneTotal District Available Council Arts Organisation Funding = £192,000
Amount % Eligible Award Arts Organisation score Awarded score (£) Within Budget Arts Organisation A 35 88% £9,261 £9,261 Arts Organisation B 33 83% £7,928 £7,928 Arts Organisation C 38 95% £12,619 £12,619 Arts Organisation D 38 95% £8,047 £8,047 Arts Organisation E 37 93% £17,000 £17,000 Arts Organisation F 33 83% £17,000 £17,000 Arts Organisation G 38 95% £17,000 £17,000 Arts Organisation H 32 80% £12,046 £12,046 Arts Organisation I 25 63% £1,507 £0 Arts Organisation J 34 85% £14,300 £14,300 Arts Organisation K 31 78% £13,073 £11,276 Arts Organisation L 37 93% £17,000 £17,000 Arts Organisation M 34 85% £14,524 £14,524
Page 35 Page Arts Organisation N 36 90% £17,000 £17,000 Arts Organisation O 32 80% £17,000 £17,000 TOTAL £195,303 £192,000
Amount % Application Heritage Organisation score Awarded score Request (£) Within Budget Heritage Organisation A 29 73% £8,457 £8,457 Heritage Organisation B 26 65% £4,948 £4,948 TOTAL £13,405 £13,405
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Initial Difference: % FINAL Organisation score Confirmed Initial vs score AWARD Award (£) Confirmed Organisation A 63 63% £22,300 £0 £22,300 Organisation B 94 94% £30,000 £0 £30,000 Organisation C 99 99% £29,960 £0 £29,960 Organisation D 99 99% £30,000 £0 £30,000 Organisation E 89 89% £19,670 £0 £19,670 Organisation F 73 73% £30,000 £0 £30,000 Organisation G 82 82% £30,000 £0 £30,000 Organisation H 74 74% £21,562 £0 £21,562 Page 37 Page
C:\moderngov\Data\AgendaItemDocs\8\6\8\AI00026868\$k3gr3a1h This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 4 Confidential Headline Events FundTotal Available Funding £205000 Derry City & Strabane District Council 2021-2022 Amount Amount Weighted based Amount Awarded Festival OrganiserScore % Applied on score Current DCSDC Funding Within Budget For 21/22 achieved (% of 110 marks) Event A 89.07 80.97% £20,000.00 £16,194.55 £16,194.55 £16,194.55 Event B 88.74 80.67% £30,000.00 £24,201.82 £24,201.82 £24,201.82 Event C 85.69 77.90% £30,000.00 £23,370.00 £23,370.00 £23,370.00 Event D 83.90 76.27% £30,000.00 £22,881.82 £22,881.82 £22,881.82 Event E 80.35 73.05% £25,000.00 £18,261.36 £18,261.36 £18,261.36 Event F 79.92 72.65% £22,000.00 £15,984.00 £15,984.00 £15,984.00 Event G 75.16 68.33% £30,000.00 £20,498.18 £20,498.18 £20,498.18 Event H 72.85 66.23% £20,000.00 £13,245.45 £13,245.45 £13,245.45 Event I 71.88 65.35% £30,000.00 £19,603.64 £19,603.64 £19,603.64 Event J 63.30 57.55% £30,000.00 £17,263.64 £17,263.64 £17,263.64 Event K 59.31 53.92% £30,000.00 £16,175.45 £16,175.45 £13,469.00 Event L 58.45 53.14% £30,000.00 £15,940.91 £15,940.91 £327,000.00 £223,620.82 £223,620.82 £204,973
Page 39 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 5 Total Community Festivals Fund Grant Aid Programme Budget DfC DCSDC Derry City & Strabane District Council Community Festivals Fund £116,200.00 £30,200.00 £86,000.00 2021 - 2022 40% of Budget allocated to Lower Level £46,480.00 £12,080.00 £34,400.00 60% of Budget allocated to Upper Level £69,720.00 £18,120.00 £51,600.00 Lower Level Applications Submitted Total Marks Available 82
CFF 2021/22 c Link to Revised Funding Pre Eligible Amount Applicatio Ref No. Group / Event Score Amount Level Assessment YES/NO Applied For n Awarded CFF50.doc CFF50 Event A LOWER YES YES x 77.50 £4,950.00 £4,950.00 CFF56.doc 41 Page CFF56 Event B LOWER YES YES x 74.90 £5,000.00 £5,000.00 CFF54.doc CFF54 Event C LOWER YES YES x 71.88 £4,989.00 £4,989.00 CFF61.doc CFF61 Event D LOWER YES YES x 66.77 £5,000.00 £5,000.00 CFF46.doc CFF46 Event E LOWER YES YES x 63.00 £5,000.00 £5,000.00 CFF42.doc CFF42 Event F LOWER YES YES x 59.00 £3,040.00 £3,040.00 CFF53.doc CFF53 Event G LOWER YES YES x 50.81 £5,000.00 £5,000.00 CFF63.doc CFF63 Event H LOWER YES NO x 36.93 -£0.10 £0.00 CFF51.doc CFF51 Event I LOWER YES NO x 0.00 £5,000.00 £0.00 £37,978.90 £32,979.00 Total Community Festivals Fund Grant Aid ProgrammeBudget DfC DCSDC Derry City & Strabane District Council Community Festivals Fund£116,200.00 £30,200.00 £86,000.00 2021 - 2022 40% of Budget allocated to Lower£46,480.00 Level £12,080.00 £34,400.00 60% of Budget allocated to Upper£69,720.00 Level £18,120.00 £51,600.00 Upper Level Applications Submitted Total Marks Available 82 Surplus from CFF £32,979.00 TOTAL DCSDC £84,579.00 CFF 2021/22 Funding Pre Eligible Amount Ref No. Group / Event c Score DFC Level Assessment YES/NO Applied For Event A UPPER YES YES 76.80 £9,940.00 £0.00 Event B UPPER YES YES 74.00 £10,000.00 £0.00 Event C UPPER YES YES 72.88 £10,000.00 £0.00
Page 42 Page Event D UPPER YES YES 71.44 £10,000.00 £0.00 Event E UPPER YES YES 70.32 £9,985.70 £0.00 Event F UPPER YES YES 66.40 £9,950.00 £6,854.70 Event G UPPER YES YES 60.46 £10,000.00 £10,000.00 Event H UPPER YES YES 58.00 £10,000.00 £10,000.00 Event I UPPER YES YES 53.80 £8,250.00 £3,345.30 Event J UPPER YES YES 49.33 £9,455.00 £0.00 Event K UPPER YES NO 0.00 £6,260.00 £0.00 £103,840.70 £30,200.00 Appendix 6 Artist and Cultural Practitioner Award Derry City & Strabane District Council Total Availbale Funding = £16,000 2021-2022 Initial Amount % Artist score Eligible Award Awarded score (£) Within Budget Artist 1 49 98% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 2 48 96% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 3 48 96% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 4 48 96% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 5 48 96% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 6 47 94% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 7 46 92% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 8 45 90% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 9 44 88% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 10 44 88% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 11 44 88% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 12 43 86% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 13 42 84% £1,000 £1,000
Page 43 Page Artist 14 42 84% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 15 42 84% £1,000 £1,000 Artist 16 39 78% £1,000 £333 Artist 17 39 78% £1,000 £333 Artist 18 39 78% £1,000 £333 Artist 19 38 76% £1,000 0 Artist 20 38 76% £1,000 0 Artist 21 37 74% £1,000 0 Artist 22 37 74% £1,000 0 Artist 23 32 64% £1,000 0 Artist 24 28 56% £1,000 0 Artist 25 17 34% £0 0 TOTAL £24,000 £16,000
C:\moderngov\Data\AgendaItemDocs\8\6\8\AI00026868\$py0qfu5l This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 7 Decade of Centenaries Fund Derry City & StrabaneTotal District Available Council Funding = £20,000 2021-2022 Amount % Application Project score Awarded score Request (£) Within Budget Project A 16 80% £2,000 £2,000 Project B 16 80% £2,000 £2,000 Project C 16 80% £2,000 £2,000 Project D 16 80% £1,900 £1,900 Project E 15 75% £2,000 £2,000 Project F 15 75% £2,000 £2,000 Project G 15 75% £2,000 £2,000 Project H 15 75% £2,000 £2,000 Project I 15 75% £1,100 £1,100 Project J 15 75% £2,000 £2,000 Project K 14 70% £2,000 £1,000 Project L 14 70% £2,000 £0 Project M 12 60% £811 £0
Page 45 Page Project N 11 55% £1,200 £0 Project O 9 45% £2,000 £0 Project P 9 45% £2,000 £0 TOTAL £29,011 £20,000
C:\moderngov\Data\AgendaItemDocs\8\6\8\AI00026868\$vrajjsdq This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 12 Title of Report: Future Delivery Options for Officer Presenting: Head of Business Parking Services Author: Investment Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To seek Members approval to advise the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) of the intention to progress options outside of the current Agency Agreement with regards to the future service delivery of the Off-Street Parking Enforcement Contract and in doing so provide authority for DCSDC to jointly engage in the collaborative appointment and shared costs of an appropriate consultant to assist the Regional Off-Street Parking Group (ROSPG).
2 Background
2.1 Members will be aware that in 2015 the Off-Street Parking Function was transferred from DfI to local Councils under Local Government Reform. At the time of the transfer, DfI had 18-months remaining on the existing enforcement contract with the service provider, NSL Ltd. To ensure continuity of service all eleven Councils extended this Agency Agreement with DfI for a three-year period from 2016-2019, with nine of the eleven Councils agreeing to a further three-year extension from 2019 to 31st October 2022.
2.2 The functions for which Councils are responsible in relation to off-street car parking include the management and maintenance of over 330 car parks along with the regulation of their use including payment of parking fees, cash collection, cashless payments, enforcement activity and administration and debt collection.
2.3 The Regional Off-Street Parking Group (ROSPG), which consist of a representative from all eleven Councils and DfI, was established to oversee and ensure a consistent approach of the function and the existing Agency Agreement, reporting directly to the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), via an appointed Liaison Officer.
Page 47 2.4 DfI had initially advised the ROSPG, that post 2022, an extension of the current Agency Agreement would not be an available option as this course of action would not stand up to the scrutiny of the NI Audit Office. The DfI position has since changed having sought advice, that a further Agency Agreement may be an option. In response, DfI has requested Councils to inform them of their future intentions with regards to service provision by the end of April 2021 as DfI intend to commence a tendering exercise for their Enforcement Services in April 2021. Currently 9 of the 11 local councils have an Agency Agreement with DfI.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The current service provision contract for Off-Street Parking consists of three distinct elements:
a) Enforcement Services – sub-contracted to NSL by DfI and consists of recruitment, training, employment and management of Traffic Attendants (TAs) to patrol and deal with any identified contraventions. This also incorporates maintenance of the Pay & Display ticket machines, cash collection and reconciliation tasks and the installation of appropriate signage to meet legal requirements.
b) Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Processing – this is undertaken by DfI Parking Enforcement Unit in Omagh to process issued PCNs, receive fine payments, pursue non-payment of PCNs via the Enforcement of Judgement Office, progress any relevant matters of PCN Appeals to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and reconcile fine payments for Off-Street parking contraventions to respective Councils.
c) IT services – this is the back-office IT contract which links TAs’ hand-held devices to the PCN Processing Unit and the cashless payment provider (currently JustPark)
3.2 It is acknowledged that the Agency Agreement with DfI has worked extremely well over the years and greatly assisted the Councils find their feet with this newly transferred function with their experience and expertise of managing off-street and on-street parking functions. There are areas which require further review such as PCN processing fees, debt collection, improving revenues per space as well as use of digital technology to improve the service delivery and cost efficiencies.
3.3 Under the present arrangements Councils would not be party to the DfI tendering process nor how the services would be provided in the future. DfI has indicated it would want Council to agree to enter into a new agreement prior to tendering for the services and before any estimate of future costs from the new Agreement and Page 48 without allowing the Councils to independently test the market.
3.4 The ROSPG established a working group to conduct a cursory research into future service delivery options. The ROSPG and SOLACE representatives met with DfI and a final options paper was presented to SOLACE on 5 March 2021. The three options open to councils are option A remain with DfI post 2022; option B collaborative tender for provision of services and option C to bring enforcement services in-house
3.5 The recommended option is a collaborative tender with participating councils for the provision of services with one council acting as lead council for the procurement process. Once the contract is awarded, each Council would enter into a contract with the preferred supplier and run their own services directly. Currently 9 councils have indicated that they are in favour of this collaborative approach.
3.6 The only viable means to demonstrate transparency and value for money is to test the market. By doing so in a collaborative the Councils can also explore the service delivery models available and improving the service and cost effectiveness.
3.7 The ROSPG is to meet week beginning 29 March and Procurement Officers from participating Councils are being involved in the drawing up the tender and spec. It is estimated that the tender process may take up to 1 year from commencement of tender preparation to awarding of contract. Each Council is to nominate a designated Senior Officer as the link for this projects and provide appropriate support for the ROSPG.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 There will be financial implications in developing a joint tender including technical assistance and legal advice. These costs have not yet been quantified however it is considered that each participating Council make provision for costs of approximately £6,000. The costs will be met within existing budgets.
4.2 No other implications identified.
5 Recommendations
5.1 It is recommended that the Council officially informs DfI of its intention to test the market and seek service delivery options outside of the current Agency Agreement for Off-Street Parking services contract post October 2022.
5.2 It is recommended that the Council informs the ROSPG that as a sitting member of the Group it has the authority to collaboratively engage in the appointment and
Page 49 shared costs of professional services to inform the specification, necessary legal advice and tender documentation processes, to invite tenders from service delivery providers for all aspects of the Off-Street Parking Services contract.
Background Papers
None
Page 50 Agenda Item 13
Title of Report: Strabane Business Officer Presenting: Head of Business Improvement District (BID) Author: Strabane Town Centre Development Manager (BID)
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 The purpose of this report is to recommend members approve Council’s consent to holding a renewal ballot with the purpose of securing a second five year term for Strabane BID.
2 Background
2.1 Strabane BID are in the final year of a five year mandate resulting in a new Strabane BID ballot being planned for 23rd September in order to secure a second five year term. The regulations state that the ballot must be held prior to the end of the current five year term which is 31st October 2021.
3 Key Issues
3.1 Strabane BID Second Term - Strabane BID Chairman, Kieran Kennedy, has officially written to Chief Executive, John Kelpie, to formally request Derry City and Strabane District Council to hold a renewal ballot with the aim to successfully undertake a second term for Strabane BID as required by the Business Improvement District (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014.
Strabane BID are currently serving the final year of a five year mandate and require Council to approve the request above to move forward.
A full member consultation will take place to assess the needs of the businesses and inform the new BID business plan and a full proposal, including the new business plan, will then be submitted to Council for approval in June.
Currently there are only two providers who are able to act as ballot holder, the local authority or CIVICA. All other UK BIDs currently undertaking a renewal ballot have opted to go with CIVICA including the NI BIDs in Ballymena, Belfast and Newry.
Page 51 The Business Improvement District (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 state the requirement of the local authority to hold the ballot on the BID’s behalf but that the BID must pay for the ballot out of their own account.
Strabane BID have adequate funds contained within their account to pay for the ballot which is estimated to cost in the region of £3,000. The BID Board have set aside these funds in their agreed 2020-2021 budget to cover these costs.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 Costs for the re ballot are covered within the BID Company budgets.
5 Recommendations
5.1 It is recommended that members approve Council to hold a renewal ballot on behalf of Strabane BID and to agree that the body to be used is CIVICA.
Background Papers
None
Page 52 Agenda Item 14 Title of Report: Officer Presenting:
ESF Match Funded Projects – End of Year 3 Author: Tina Gillespie Report Skills Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To provide members with an end of year 3 report (April 2020- March 2021) on five ESF projects, match funded by council to deliver services to those who are unemployed/economically inactive.
1.2 To agree match funding at the same rate for the existing five projects for year 4.
1.3 To note the possible extension of ESF into year 5 and thereafter a further match funding request to Council.
2 Background
2.1 Members will recall from previous Business & Culture Committee reports that five projects were successful in securing match funding towards their ESF projects in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The overall aim of ESF is to combat poverty and enhance social inclusion by reducing economic inactivity and increase the skills base of those currently in work and future potential participants in the workforce.
2.2 A match funding pot of £200,000.00 had been agreed for each year. This match funding has been allocated to five successful ESF applicants to the value of £198,593.14 as outlined below.
Provider Budget allocation The Women’s Centre £ 15,000.00 Triax Skills 2020 £109.000.00 Conservation Volunteers £ 30,000.00 USEL £ 30,000.00 Job Directions £ 14.593.14 Total £198,593.14
Page 53 2.3 Each of the five projects funded by Council, have a focus on assisting individuals move closer to employment through capacity building, personal development, mentoring and employment initiatives, to overcome barriers in order for them to acquire the appropriate skills to access, achieve and sustain employment.
3 Key Issues
3.1 Match funding is paid as outlined in the Letter of offer (LoO) subject to the achievement of various targets i.e.: Recruitment, achievement of qualifications, progression into employment and/or progression onto other education and training programmes.
3.2 The Council has supported five organizations to recruit a total of 1,010 participants in year 3. Collectively the overall recruitment target for year 3 has been achieved, with a total of 1038 (102.7%) participants recruited. As year 3 draws to a close it should be noted that it has not been an easy year due to the impact of Covid-19 and the moving of service delivery virtually. It has been particularly difficult for those organisations who offer a more specialised service to those dealing with individuals with disabilities and multiple barriers.
Provider Y3 Target Year 3 % Target recruitment Actual achievement The Women’s 190 187 98.4% Centre Triax Skills 2020 720 780 108.4% Conservation 50 39 78% Volunteers USEL 20 17 85% Job Directions 30 15 50%
Total 1010 1038 102.7%
Page 54 3.3 The Department of Economy recognises the challenges encountered by promoters in 2020 and issued guidance on how to address the current challenges.
The DfE ESF Programme Delivery Branch (PDB) began Year 3 by gifting the Projects a 25% performance enhancement on their targets. This was with the intention of continuing the performance monitoring of targets against actual achievements. In quarter 2 the performance enhancement was reviewed and projects were given the opportunity to profile their remaining annual targets into realistic quarterly targets. In quarter 3, as full restrictions were re-imposed, it was decided that Year 3 would be a standalone year and performance against targets would be suspended.
3.4 All match funded projects normally have specified targets to achieve as outlined in their Loo, and we have continued to request that these are measured and monitored quarterly and on a yearly basis. In year 3 a collective total of 1614 qualifications were delivered at Level 1 achieving 132.5% of overall target. A total of 429 qualifications, below Level 1 or non-accredited qualifications were delivered achieving a collective target of 85% of the annual target:
Provider Qualifications (L1) Non accredited Employment & below L1 Outcomes Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual The 155 117 0 26 LTU 8 22 Women’s EI 21 12 Centre Skills 2020 968 1447 504 403 LTU 69 113 EI 40 36 Conservation 40 L1 32 0 0 LTU 6 5 Volunteers 35 short EI 3 0 USEL 10 L1 12 0 6 4 10 short Job 0 6 0 8 5 Directions Combined 1218 1614 504 429 161 197 totals LTU = Long term Unemployed EI = Economically Inactive
Page 55 3.5 At the end of year 3 a number of the projects funded, have either achieved or exceeded their target for into employment. The overall into employment target collectively achieved was 122.3%.
3.6 The target for economically inactive participants to progress into education or training has made some progress. However, targets have not been achieved due to the suspension of face to face learning and on line learning not being a suitable learning method for a high number of participants.
Provider Target Actual Education or Training Skills 2020 37 16 Womens Centre 42 33 USEL 3 0 TCV 5 1 Job Directions 5 3
3.7 To support and maximise the contribution ESF can make to the economy, the council has also offered to fund L2 employment academies. During 2020 it was not possible to pursue the implementation of any academies. Going forward in 2021 this is an objective that will be pursued further in order to link the supply to the demand side of the labour market in terms of vacancies.
3.8 In order to assist upskilling the council provided additional funding to fund a number of L2 and above training opportunities. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions only one provider was in a position to avail of this funding, training 10 individuals at L3.
3.9 A total of £149,990.00 has been drawn in match funding to date from the year 3 budget of £198,593.14. As year 3 of the programme is not yet ended, some claims are still to be processed by DfE, once these have been finalised we will close off our year end.
Provider Claimed to Date Remaining MF Skills NW 86,700.56 22,299.44 Womens Centre 11,122.60 3,877.40 USEL 22,441.16 7,558.84 TCV 18,940.56 11,059.45 Job directions 10,785.92 3,807.22
Page 56
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 A total of £149,990.00 has been drawn to date from a year 3 budget of £198,593.14.
4.2 Year 4 match funding is requested at the same rate of intervention and totals £198,593.14.
4.3 DfE ESF PDB have been successful in a bid for COVID-19 national funds. These funds will be used to fund Year 3 and the banked EU Year 3 funding will be used to fund a Year 5. In essence this has allowed the flexibility to remove year 3 data from the programme and measure projects against year’s 1, 2 and 4 and potentially Year 5.
5 Recommendations
5.1 Members approve the continuation of match funding into year 4, the final year to support Skills NW, Women’s Centre, USEL, TCV & Job Directions.
5.2 To note the contents of the report.
Background Papers
None
Page 57 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 15
Title of Report: Museum Service Programme Officer Presenting: Head of Culture 2021-22 Author: Curator
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To update Members on the work of the Museum Service during 2020-21 and present the programme for the Museum Service for 2021-22.
2 Background
2.1 During 2020-21 the Museum Service has delivered a varied and detailed programme of digital exhibitions and events. This report provides a summary of key work carried out during 2020-21 and current work and plans for 2021-22.
2.2 The Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has presented a significant challenge to all. Against this back drop the Museum Service has delivered an exciting and engaging digital Museum Programme during 2020-21.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The Museum team delivered two major exhibitions during 2020-21.
Dividing Ireland: The Origins Impact & Legacy of Partition - Tower Museum
This exhibition examined the early part of the 20th century and a significant time in our history including partition and the formation of Northern Ireland. Events at home and around Europe from 1912 to 1922 saw monumental changes to the political and social structures on the island of Ireland.
Access to the exhibition was created by focusing on those events through objects and documents in our collection made available online. The online exhibition included animated exhibition overviews, staff voiceovers on collections in detail and behind the scenes closer looks at collections in storage which are guided by staff. The Exhibition is part of the Understanding the Decade of Commemorations project, supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). A successful conference and programme was also delivered online.
Page 59 The engagement programme was also transferred online and developed with the Nerve Centre, it included a range of events focusing on archive collections, historical themes and conversations with invited guests. Events included a History Ireland Hedge School, a partnership with History Ireland that has been ongoing since 2007. ‘A Conversation with Diarmaid Ferriter and Garret Carr’ on the legacy of the border, with the historian and artist commenting on the thoughtful nature of the programme encompassing collections, art and writers.
‘Exploring the Archives’, an online panel discussion included Archivists from PRONI, National Archive Ireland and the Military Archives Dublin with writer and broadcaster Caitriona Crowe as the moderator. The final event was the online conference which took place over two afternoons in February 2021, with Susan McKay as the moderator. The conference attracted nearly 500 live audience members with one of the speakers live from the United States. All events will be available for viewing on the Museums website, alongside video and images from the exhibition.
The Fair River Valley/If Stones Could Speak – Alley Theatre
There is a rich archaeological heritage in the Strabane area and this exhibition showcased prehistoric artefacts which were on loan from the Department for Communities/Historic Environment Division. The Museum team produced guided video insights into never seen before Neolithic collections from Co. Tyrone. Content from the exhibition was uploaded onto Social Media and the Tower Museum website. The exhibition won an award in the Heritage Council National Heritage Awards in October 2020.
3.2 The Events Programme highlights included Workers Rights & Social Justice Week, Mayor's Virtual Tea Dance, HED/European Heritage Open Days and Culture Night.
The Worker’s Rights & Social Justice Week Programme was delivered from 27 April - 1 May 2020. This was the first event delivered digitally for the service and involved keynote speakers delivering a series of talks through the setup of online webinars. Trade Union Collections were also digitised & uploaded onto the Tower Museum Learning website.
Page 60 The Love to Move Programme was a 6 week funded initiative by Northern Ireland Museums Council using ZOOM. It was aimed at the older population in our community and based on the British Gymnastics Foundation programme of gentle exercise. 20 minutes is spent for the exercises and 20 minutes for reminiscing delivered by Education and Access Assistant. This was an opportunity to widen the museum’s Learning & Engagement Programme and raise its profile through NI.
3.2 A Day in the Life - Curating the Contemporary/Covid19 is a major project which was initiated by the Museum Service on contemporary collecting during 2020. This was aimed at the public to describe what their lives were like during Covid-19. All content will be used to build a contemporary virtual gallery. Phase 2 of the initiative was begun and involved direct engagement with local communities in partnership with the Nerve Centre. This phase produced a lot of rich collections content for social media.
3.3 The Museum Service has also linked up with House of European History project. My House of European History is a unique collection of personal testimonies on Europe as told and lived by people from all around the world. It is a collaborative platform, managed by the European Parliament, which brings together people’s stories, in the 24 EU official languages, on what Europe means to them and how they have contributed to its history. The website will share submissions from ‘A Day in the Life’ project. The project is still open for submissions. https://towermuseumcollections.com/a-day-in-the-life/
3.4 During 2020 the museum service created a new Tower Museum Collections Website www.towermuseumcollections.com. The website highlights the collection focused work and engagement the museum team have been carrying out. On it is information about temporary exhibitions, searchable collections, artefact galleries, oral history recordings, animations and events.
Page 61 3.5 In March 2020 the Tower Museum was successful in an application to the National Archives UK Covid-19 Archive Grant. The grant programme was focused on securing vulnerable archive collections. The grant was a partnership with Northland Broadcast and the Museum of Free Derry and focused on the substantial audio visual collection gathered by Northland Broadcast since the 1960s. The material includes a range of themes from sporting and music heritage, celebrations and commemorations such as Halloween events and parades, and uncut interviews and oral history testimonies from all sectors of the city’s society linked to civil rights, the Troubles and documentaries (much of the material has not been seen in public). The funding, for a one year conservation and digitisation programme, will allow the Museum to purchase equipment to digitise the vulnerable analogue material (over 3,000 items) and make it accessible to researchers, visitors and broadcasters. The grant announcement was made on 18 March and work will begin in April 2021.
3.6 The Museum Service will continue to provide a digital offer for the public within existing resources for 2021-2022 (Appendix 1). It is a creative and engaging programme focused on promoting our heritage through collections.
3.7 The following Exhibitions will take place this year:
Colmcille 1500 Man & Myths – Tower Museum (April 2021 – Sept 2021)
Colmcille – Man & Myths forms part of a wider programme of events to commemorate Colmcille’s birth both within the Council and organised by external organisations. We have little historical evidence on the saint and many stories and have ensured his status as a hero and legend driven by what could possibly be propaganda. What we do know is that he was a real historical person. This exhibition explores the ‘Fact from the Fiction’. Accompanying the exhibition will be a programme of talks, workshops and printed information as well as audio/visual elements to complement the visitor experience. Activities for schools and families will also be included.
An Introduction to Flann O’Brien – A Man of Mystery – Alley Theatre (May 2021 – Feb 2022)
This exhibition is an introduction to the famous literary writer, Strabane man, Brian O’Nolan. The display will showcase items from the Museum collection as well as digital content from Boston College which holds the largest Flann O’Brien collection. There will be a programme of talks delivered by the following speakers:
Page 62 o Frank McNally, Irish Times o Eddie O’ Kane, Cavanacor Gallery o Michael Kennedy, Strabane History Society o Lonze C Holger, Sculptor o Christian Dupont, Boston College
Shirt Factory Exhibition – Tower Museum/Fashion & Textile Design Centre
This exhibition will profile the story of the shirt factories in the city and region. Other themes explored will be:
People – an overview of the main people associated with the development the industry Museum Collections – an insight into some of the objects and archives in the collection Today – overview of recent and current projects such as the Shirt Factory Horn, ‘Factory Girls’ song, mural in Craft Village, Fashion Design Hub etc The exhibition will also profile work with a Queens University researcher who is currently gathering oral history testimonies from shirt factory workers. Discussions are also underway with the Friends of the Factories Group to also participate in the programme. The exhibition will be available to travel to interested and suitable community and heritage sites later in the year.
Borderlands – Alley Theatre (May 2021)
The creation of an exhibition for display in 2021 to coincide with the anniversary of the formation of Northern Ireland. A community exhibition featuring audio visual interviews, portrait photographs and quotes regarding living on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Taking excerpts from over 35 interviews recorded in 2020, the Borderlands exhibition will take place in the main gallery of the Alley theatre. Featuring former police officers, customs officers, shopkeepers, farmers, factory workers and local and national politicians, the exhibition will offer visitors a realistic, refreshing and relatable insight into life on the border. It will highlight how crossing the border daily impacts our lives financially, socially and culturally, while also referring to its historical significance and foundation. The exhibition will also specifically reference the centenary of the creation of Northern Ireland.
Page 63
The gallery space will feature excerpts from all interviewees on multiple screens, and they will be profiled through portraiture and quotations on the wall spaces. A mobile version of the exhibition will be created for community travel and it will then move online permanently and the recordings will be held in the Museum and Heritage Service Archive.
The Battle of Knockavoe – Alley Theatre (June/July 2022)
The Battle of Knockavoe (Cnoc-Buidhbh), was fought in 15 June 1522 between the O'Donnells, led by Hugh Dubh O'Donnell and Manus O’Donnell, against the O'Neills, in which the O'Neills and their supporters were surprised and routed. The battle was one of the bloodiest ever fought between the O'Donnells and O'Neills. Officers are scoping out the content for an exhibition to be displayed in the Alley Theatre during the 500th anniversary year.
3.8 The following Events have also been planned: Workers Rights and Social Justice Battle of the Atlantic International Museums Day International Archives Day European Heritage Open Days
3.9 Officers have also sought partnership working with organisations such as: Northern Ireland Museums Council, University of Ulster, National Heritage Lottery Fund and PRONI. They continue to explore potential partnerships for alignment of resources and programmes.
3.10 There has been input into this museum programme from other DCSDC officers within Arts & Culture, Festivals & Events, Marketing, Regeneration and Environmental Health.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
Page 64
4.1 There is no additional financial cost for the Museum Service programme all proposals are provided within current museum programming budgets.
5 Recommendations
5.1 To update Members on the work of the Museum & Visitor Service and present the Museum programme for 2021-22.
Background Papers
Page 65 This page is intentionally left blank Appendix 1 Summary - Museum & Visitor Service Programme 2021 - 2022
Category Date April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Colmcille 1500 - Man & Myths April 2021 – Sept 2021 TM TM TM TM TM TM Flann O'Brien April 2021 - 25 Feb 2022 AT AT AT AT AT AT AT AT AT AT AT AT Borderlands 19 April - 14 May 2021 AT AT EXHIBITIONS Shirt Factory May - August 2021 Fashion Fashion Fashion Fashion Hub Hub Hub Hub A Day in the Life Nov 2021 - Apr 2022 TM TM TM TM TM
Divided Past Design Futures tbc Page 67 Page
Workers Rights & Social Justice Week 26 April - 1 May 2021
Battle of the Atlantic/VE 75 14 -16 May 2021
Archive & Genealogy Awareness tbc Sessions National Drawing Day 15-May-21 Online
International Museum Day 18-May-21 Online
International Archives Day 09-Jun-21 Online
Foyle Maritime Collections July - Aug 2021 Online Online EVENTS Tide July - Aug 2021 Online Online
Festival of Archaeology 17 July - 1 August 2021 Online Online EVENTS
National Heritage Week Saturday 14th August - Sunday 22nd August 2021. Community Relations Week Sep-21 tbc
HED/European Heritage Open Days Saturday 11 & Sunday MS 12 Sept 2021 Culture Night Friday 17 Sept 2021 TM (tbc) A Day in the Life - Curating the Ongoing Contemporary/Covid19 & 'A House of European History' Museums, Crisis and Covid19 Jan 2021 - June 2022
Mindfulness @the Museum Sep-21 TM Page 68 Page (Mindfulness Mondays) PROGRAMMES Memories that Matter Reminiscence Ongoing Programme
Collections in Focus (Digital) Ongoing Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online
Your Collections Your Heritage Ongoing
Learning For Life Ongoing
*NB: Delivery of MS Programme on site will be subject to Covid restrictions Museum & Visitor Service Programme 2021 - 22 Partner Category Date Description Lead Organisation/s Links Colmcille 1500 Man & Myths April 2021 – Sept 2021 An exhibition based on the legendary figure of St Colmcille. RD Donegal County Accompanying the exhibition will be a programme of talks, workshops and printed information as well as audio/visual elements to Museum/Nerve complement the visitor experience. Activities for schools and families will also be included. Centre It has been said by a noted historian that ‘we have little historical evidence on the saint and many stories and have ensured his status as a hero and legend driven by what could possibly be propaganda. What we do know is that he was a real historical person.’ This exhibition explores the ‘Fact from the Fiction’.
Colmcille – Man & Myths forms part of a wider programme of events to commemorate Colmcille’s birth both within the Council and organised by external organisations. Flann O'Brien 29 March 2021 - 25th Display of items associated with Flann O'Brien Creation of A/V RD/RMcC Strabane History Feb 2022 voiceovers to be shared on Social Media. Supported by online talks programme. Society
Borderlands 19 April - 14 May 2021 To coincide with NI Centenary - A community exhibition featuring A/V interviews, portrait photographs and quotes regarding living on RMcC/RD DCSDC Community the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Taking excerpts from over 35 interviews recorded in 2020, the Relations Borderlands exhibition will take place in the main gallery of the Alley theatre. Featuring former police officers, customs officers, shopkeepers, farmers, factory workers and local and national politicians, the exhibition will offer visitors a realistic, refreshing and relatable insight into life on the border. It will highlight how crossing the border daily impacts our lives financially, socially and culturally, while also referring to its historical significance and foundation. Shirt Factory May-August 2021 A partnership project with the Fashion & Textile Hub will showcase a number of objects / archives and a series of graphic panels looking BW/TB Fashion & Design at the collection and history of the shirt factories in the North West region, and current developments in the design and fashion sector. Textile Hub/ICT Page 69 Page The exhibition will, restrictions permitting, go on display in the Hub from c.May-August 2021. The graphic panels will be designed to
ensure they can travel to further venues. An engagement programme will also be developed of a monthly event ( 4 x online or onsite). EXHIBITIONS A Day in the Life Oct 2021 - Exhibition on our contemporary collecting project. Focusing on why we are collecting during a pandemic and links to House of BW/RD European European History and UU/NLHF/MA Covid19 Project Parliament UU/NLHF/MA
Divided Past Design Futures - tbc This travelling exhibition has been researched and designed by Dr Adrian Grant of the University of Ulster, in partnership with the BW Placing Community Heritage at the Archivist, using the archive collections. The focus is research from the Corporation minute books and development reports for the Centre of Urban Design Exhibition period 1960-70s, focusing on housing and social and economic climate, and the development of a new landscape across the city. The exhibition is complete and will be installed into the learning space in the Tower Museum, restrictions permitting, in 2021 and can subsequently travel to other venues. A funding application to the Royal Irish Academy, await decision, may allow the project to develop into a further analysis of the Corporation archives for the 1945-1970 period and a digitsation project.
Feis Cup Display tbc A display of of 6-8 Feis cups from the Feis Collection at Sion Mills with interpretation. AB Sion Mills Stables
Workers Rights & Social Justice 26 April - 1 May 2021 Programme will build on event in 2020. Tower Museum talks through the setup of online webinars/Trade Union Collections digitised & RD/BW/RMCDerry Trade Unions Week uploaded onto TM Learning website.
Battle of the Atlantic 14 - 16 May 2021 Proposed activity from 14-16 May 2021) to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Lead by the RNA and partners. Museum RNA/UU Team Archive & Genealogy Awareness tbc The Archivist and Genealogist will continue to promote the collections through a number of mediums (inital focus will be digital whilst BW/BM PRONI Sessions sites remain closed): (1) Social media posts (specific themes for example we ran a Genealogy theme for Dec 2020), (2) collaboration Roots Ireland with sector partners like PRONI, RootsIreland, Archive & Record Association, RootsTech to promote themes and collections through ARA Roots engaging with their audiences and potentially (4) Ireland Reaching Out. A number of online tools will Tech also be developed including (1) a powerpoint talk on 'Using Genealogical Records', (2) 'Whats in the Archives?' and making various
guides available on the towermuseumcollections website. EVENTS National Drawing Day Saturday 15 May 2021 A National event run annually by the National Gallery of Ireland. To celebrate this day the Tower Museum will set up a number of BD National Gallery of https://www.nationalgallery.ie/ sketching areas for visitors to contribute drawings to the collection. Await theme for the day. Ireland
International Museum Day Tues 18 May 2021 Theme - “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine”, International Museum Day 2021 invites museums, their professionals and BW ICOM European http://imd.icom.museum/internation communities to create, imagine and share new practices of (co-)creation of value, new business models for cultural institutions and Parliament al-museum-day-2021/the-future-of- innovative solutions for the social, economic and environmental challenges of the present. Online Social Media Initiative led museums/ by ICOM. As part of this campaign we will continue to highlight our Contemporary Collecting Initiative – ‘A Day in the Life’, and the partnership with the European Parliament's 'My House of European History' . We will request further submissions (this will be based on the current restrictions in place which may have changed), promote those already received and guide peple to the website. Maximum marketing reach through linking to this campaign and NIMC Social Media.
International Archives Day 9 June 2021 Social Media campaign #AnArchiveIs #IAW2021. We can participate in profiles of our collection on the Irish Society of Archives site and BW ARA About the International Archives Day the Archive and Record Association site. Await details of campaign theme for 2021. | International Council on Archives
Foyle Maritime Collections July - Aug 2021 Promotion of the John Noah Gossett collection of watercolours which will be digitised and will become available on the Art UK website. RMcC Art UK The collection shows a series of unique views of the river Foyle from the nineteenth century.
EVENTS Tide July - Aug 2021 Sharing of concept for TIDE pilot design as well as digitisation and photogrammetry of WW2 collections - to be made available on RMcC ERNACT http://www.tide-atlantic.eu/ collections website.
Festival of Archaeology 17 July - 1 August 2021 Week long digital events - promoting our archaeological collections. Theme a day. Post images on Social Media linked to Museum RD CBA/HED https://festival.archaeologyuk.org/bl Service Collections (Awaiting confirmation of theme.) og/see-you-2021-1604233615
National Heritage Week Saturday, 14th August National Heritage Week celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, RD Heritage Council https://www.heritageweek.ie/news/s
Page 70 Page to Sunday, 22nd academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. National Heritage Week is ave-the-date-national-heritage-week- August 2021. supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and run in association with Fáilte Ireland. (Awaiting confirmation 2021 of theme.)
Community Relations Week Sep-21 Good Relations Week is a fantastic platform to showcase the good work that organisations are doing in our local area in the field of Museum CRC community relations and cultural awareness. Team This week will celebrate all aspects of our culture and heritage, promoting cultural diversity and tackling sectarianism and racism. It is about inspiring news projects, promoting understanding, respect and engagement between all sections of our community (Awaiting confirmation of theme).
HED/European Heritage Open Days Saturday 11 & Sunday This year European Heritage Days are celebrating Inclusive and Diverse Heritage. The Northern Ireland theme is 'Inclusion- Exploring RMcC https://www.communities- 12 Sept 2021 our hidden history'. The Museum Service will provide a tour of the Museum Stores with a focus on diverse collections. There will be a ni.gov.uk/articles/european-heritage- focus on Volunteers Role in cataloging collections. open-days Positive Ageing Month Oct-21 Each year, during the month of October, Positive Ageing Month is held, which offers opportunities for a range of events, activities and BD programmes to be held which celebrate the contribution older people make to their communities. The Museum team will provide (Awaiting confirmation of theme).
Culture Night Friday 17 Sept 2021 It is a night to celebrate the cultural, artistic and creative communities of our city and region by inviting existing and new audiences to BD/AB (tbc) view our galleries, museums, workshops and studios. (Awaiting confirmation of theme )
A Day in the Life - Curating the Ongoing The contemporary collecting initiative launched in Spring 2020 will continue to promite new submissions and content via the BW/RD/RMCEuropean Contemporary/Covid19 & towermuseumcollections website and the 'My House of European History' website. Depending on the current restrictions / lockdown Parliament European Parliament's 'A House of situation the theme of collecting may develop. European History' Museums, Crisis and Covid19 Jan 2021 - June 2022 This UKRI Rapid Response project focuses on how museums can contribute to community resilience and wellbeing in a time of crisis. RD University of Ulster https://www.ulster.ac.uk/museu Research Aim is to - identify and recommend how the Northern Ireland museum sector can drive best practice in adapting its audience NLHF mscovid19
engagement in response to Covid-19. MA PROGRAMMES Mindfulness @the Museum Sep-21 We are incorporating mindfulness into our collections & learning programmes. An opportunity to learn some relaxation techniques and RD (Mindfulness Mondays) to engage with our art collections in a new and meaningful way. Our Curator will lead a mindulness session followed by a fresh look at paintings from our art collections. There will be an opportunity for discussion and reflection.
Memories that Matter Ongoing To continue our successful Memories that Matter Programme the Education & Access Assistant will continue to share the Loan Boxes BD (Reminiscence Programme) content on the Tower Museum Facebook site. This will involve displaying an image each week of one of the Loan Boxes supplemented
with a memory to encourage people to share their memories. PROGRAMMES Collections In Focus (Digital) Ongoing A series of videos produced by Museum Team highlighting favourite items within the collections Museum Team Your Collections Your Heritage Ongoing Creating access to Collections - The digitisation of new and past collection content and uploading onto the RMcC (towermuseumcollections.com) towermuseumcollections.com website. Collections - www.towermuseumcollections.co Laurentic, William Darlow and Strabane Slides Image Banks m Learning for Life (Digital) Ongoing Using our museum collections to provide learning opportunities for schools. Profile on existing resources BD/AB Page 71 Page This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 16 Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Culture
TIDE Project Progress Report Author: TIDE Project Officer
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform members of the progress of the TIDE project funded by Interreg Europe.
2 Background
2.2 TIDE, or 'Atlantic Network for Developing Historical Maritime Tourism' project, which began in May 2019, focuses on the sustainable development of onshore and underwater sites of historical interest on the Atlantic Area coastline. The project outputs will aid organisations & practitioners in the Atlantic region tourism development sector to develop new tourism products.
2.3 With a focus on maritime history in the Atlantic regions, the sites can relate to shipwrecks, ports, battles, emigration, trade, forts, migrations, castles and invasions. A key aspect of the project is creation of new networked tourism products based on rediscovering historical connections between regions on the Atlantic.
2.4 Organisations, regional and local public institutions, virtual reality companies, universities, tourism boards and development associations from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada and Donegal, Sligo, Derry & Strabane, Devon, Loire, Cantabria, Cadiz and Madeira in Europe, are participating in the project.
3 Key Issues
3.1 There has been a significant delay in the project due to the onset of the COIVD 19 pandemic, resulting in outputs being delayed by over six months, as well as the cancellation of partnership meetings. The additional funding to cover this extension period, including staff costs, must be born from the project budget and no additional funding will be provided from the Interreg Europe Atlantic Area.
3.2 Stakeholders in the ‘Derry & Strabane’ region include Visit Derry, the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster University, LYIT and local underwater diving and archaeology specialists.
Page 73 3.3 Two major themes that have emerged for a VR experience here include the Recreation of an Emigration Story from the 19th century port of Derry and the recreation of the U-boat surrender and war time dance in the Guildhall. The final VR experience will be decided with all project partners during the Summer of 2021. The timeline of this will depend on the rollout of the main online platform by the lead project partner (Ernact).
3.4 The museum service is drawing from current and newly acquired collections to inform the visitor experience, including the Patrick Maxwell Immigration Diaries. The experience will likely be located in either the Guildhall or the new DNA museum once completed. Designers for the VR experience will be invited to tender for the project creation.
3.5 An additional new collaborative VR experience is currently being designed for the TIDE project by DCSDC in partnership with Donegal County Council, Devon County Council and CLARTE (France). This VR experience, which will likely be located in both the Guildhall and the Greencastle Maritime Museum, Co. Donegal, will recreate a convoy escort experience via inflatable virtual ‘kite balloon’ from Lough Swilly to Lough Foyle, allowing visitors to obtain a birds eye view of the coastal landscape and sea traffic during the early 20th century, via VR headsets and virtual controls.
3.6 The TIDE partners are also working to ensure that similar VR systems and experiences are used by all partners allowing interchangeability between different VR experience, thus widening the options available to visitors. This will be especially relevant between DCSDC and Donegal County Council.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 Due to the project extension the budget for the creation of the VR experience is currently €80,000, which also allows for the additional extension costs.
4.2 There are no expected changes to the project funding due to BREXIT.
4.3 The project benefits to rural committees will be addressed in the upcoming capitalisation plan.
5 Recommendations
5.1 This is an information paper only. Any members who require any further information are encouraged to contact the TIDE project officer for more details.
Background Papers
Page 74 Agenda Item 17
Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Business
PEACE IV Independent Evaluation Author: Programme Manager (PEACE IV) Appointment
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To update members on the PEACE IV Programme and the PEACE Plus Programme.
2 Background
2.1 The PEACE IV Programme is entering an intensive closing down phase. Only a highly limited number of projects in exceptional circumstances are extended beyond the end of March 2021. The programme management and reporting officially ends on 31st September 2021 (although there may be a final option to extend to 31st December 2021 should Covid Restrictions further impact capital projects and/or ongoing furloughed projects.)
2.2 SEUPB have opened a public consultation process on the new PEACE Plus programme. Responses can be submitted up until 5pm Wednesday 12th May.
3 Key Issues
3.1 The PEACE IV Programme is on track to meet all its participation targets. This is particularly significant because over 5000 local residents have taken part in sustained (minimum 6 month / 26 hours) cross-community reconciliation programmes.
Theme Start (23-2-21) End (10-3-21) Overall Target
C&YP 2956 (143%) 2182 (101%) 2060
SS&S 1683 (133%) 1434 (114%) 1260
BPR 2284 (147%) 1524 (98%) 1548 TOTAL: 6923 (142%) 5140 (105%) 4868
Page 75 3.2 The independent evaluation by Rubicon Consulting will be holding feedback meetings in May with funded project delivery agents and the Board and staff.
3.3 The final communications elements to be delivered include a closing event and press release and the possible issue of a final bi-monthly magazine. The magazine will summarise in infographics and simple format, the impact and achievement of the programme as a whole and pave the way for PEACE Plus. The final closure event has been agreed by the Board to be held in late May or early June. It will be a live online event with pre-recorded video input from SEUPB Chief Executive, airing of the three thematic videos (which are already publicly available on www.derrystrabane/Peace-IV), a presentation from Rubicon on the Independent Evaluation and information on Peace Plus.
3.4 In the region of 80 contractual changes were required to be completed and approved by SEUPB and the Board to get the programme over the line due to impact of Covid. In January – March 2021 community projects were particularly impacted by the second wave as many had hoped the final three months would allow socially distanced work to be undertaken to complete projects.
3.5 Project delivery under the three themes has been completed apart from exceptional circumstances agreed with the Board and SEUPB. These include:
Castlederg Capital Project (All programming elements however are complete by 31st March). SEUPB and the project team are currently exploring alternative solutions in relation to Land.
St.Columb’s Walled Garden Phase 2 (All programming elements however are complete by 31st March). This was from a small capital underspend after successful completion and launch of the Walled Garden.
A limited number of projects under Children and Young People’s theme led by Derry City and Strabane District Council (These are extended for completion by end July 21 with salary to end Aug 21 to finalise claims and evaluation). These are projects which were only at recruitment or early delivery phase when the first lockdown hit, so were worst impacted by Covid.
Two projects under Building Positive Relations theme which have ongoing impacts from either key workers or providers still being on furlough. Ie. Impossible to deliver until restrictions relax. They include the Identity: Sport programme under SLA with DCSDC Sports Development and ‘Epilogues’ the Small Grant with Gaslight Media Productions.
Page 76 3.6 A forecasting and underspend exercise was conducted across the three themes to identify budget likely to remain unclaimed after 31st March 21. An estimated underspend was identified as follows:
Children and Young Shared Spaces and Services Building Positive Relations People £57,639.45 £9,402.11 £75,173.62
Underspend was less likely from Tenders due to the procurement and claims process being based on reaching outputs. Underspend was more likely from Council Led SLA projects and Small Grants projects because procurement and claims are based on itemized expenditure – some of which was simply not possible under Covid, even if the projects were ultimately successful in meeting all their targets. The PEACE IV team worked with individual projects since last March to restructure and seek approvals to resolve as many Covid related issues as possible on project delivery, but it was not possible to resolve everything. The second wave is also ultimately the cause of much of the underspend.
3.7 In terms of reallocating underspend, SEUPB have strict parameters around what is eligible for proposals for underspend. In brief, they should be under existing project headings, be strongly linked to original project and contribute to the agreed outcomes for the project already in place.
3.8 The PEACE IV Board met on 9th March and agreed the following proposals should be submitted to SEUPB for consideration for underspend:
Children and Young People – Extension of Salary to August 2021, extension of three externally delivered programmes to end June 2021 (Love the Life You Live, Changing Forms, Youth Street Art), proposal for £44,000 for three new DCSDC led projects (Mind Body Soul, Reimaging Derry, Be The Voice) under existing overall projects around Wellbeing and Citizenship.
Building Positive Relations – For a proposal from the Riverine Environmental Project (NB. Separate but complementary to Riverine Capital Project) in the region of £40,000 which would add additional sustainability and legacy to the existing successful project, given that the officer will still be in place until August 2021.
Shared Space and remaining funds under CYP and BPR – to be calculated for
Page 77 PEACE IV Team staffing as required for the successful overall closure of the programme and possible need for overall programme extension to December 2021 dependent on capital and furlough impacted projects.
3.9 PEACE Plus Consultation - The PEACE Plus plans indicate a strong link to community plans and structures. Specifically theme one is similar in content to the PEACE IV council led programme but the approach to delivery will be radically different. The PEACE IV Board will consider the opportunity to respond to the next phase of SEUPB consultation.
.
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 Costs for successful conclusion of PEACE IV delivery are covered within the PEACE IV existing budget.
4.2 SEUPB have recently indicated that costs of a maximum of £100,000 towards the development of PEACE Plus Action plans will be eligible for inclusion retrospectively from 1 January 2021 for councils. This could include staff costs and/or consultancy support. SEUPB will also provide non-financial support. This is to be welcomed.
5 Recommendations
5.1 That members note the progress on moving to close PEACE IV and the update on PEACE Plus with the public opportunity for anyone who wishes to input into the SEUPB next phase of consultation.
Background Papers
None
Page 78 Agenda Item 18 Title of Report: Business Innovation and Officer Presenting: Head of Business Growth Programme Author: Business Development Manager
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide members with a progress update on the Business Innovation and Growth Programme (BIG) up to 24th March 2021.
2 Background
2.1 Members will previously be aware of the October 2019 paper (Ref BC143/19 Business Innovation and Growth), advising members of secured funding application from Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund under the EU Investment for Growth & Jobs Programme (2014-2020) to deliver the BIG Programme. A letter of offer was received on 2nd April 2019.
2.2 BIG seeks to drive innovation and productivity of local businesses in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area through a series of interventions that aim to assist companies to become more competitive in both indigenous and export markets.
2.3 The programme will provide local businesses with the fundamental building blocks to transform customer experience, operational processes and business model ultimately resulting in commercial success and the ability to create new jobs. The BIG programme aims to:
Support creation of new sustainable jobs in the council area
Act as a pipeline to Invest NI Client financial support for entrepreneurs and businesses with high growth potential
Promote business growth and innovation
Provide support for priority sectors
Provide accessible, need driven business support that is tailored to business requirements
Page 79 Engage with key business support stakeholders to develop a portfolio approach to business support in the council area, ensuring that there is no duplication of effort
2.4 Appendix 1 highlights BIG programme targets and progress update to achieving these targets on a monthly basis from October to March 2021.
2.5 The table below provides a cumulative summary of achievements up to March 2021
Number of Progress Update (as per 24th March 2021) Mentoring Days/ Workshops delivered (Per Month)
Recruit No. 840 158 Participants
Reasonable 550 307 jobs projected from the 158 endeavours to participants recruited thus far create No. Jobs Quality referrals to 30 2 to date Invest NI Deliver No. 1935 286 days allocated to date mentoring days (121.7 mentoring days delivered up to end Feb) Deliver No. Digital 450 72 completed to date Action Plans No. Workshops 15 1 complete in 2020 re. Brexit,
9 scheduled for 2021 (see list below in section 2.6) Thematic 3 Procurement Programme workshops Programmes complete/mentoring nearing completion
Procurement Social Enterprise Programme to commence in April 21 – marketing for this Social Enterprise commenced in March. and Exporting Export Development to commence in May
Page 80 21
Procurement (Tranche II) to commence October 21
Export Development (Tranche II) to commence in November 21 No. 4 None as yet Networking/Launch Events
2.6 Workshop Schedule 2021
Workshop Topic Date Time Business Resilience Monday 19th 10am April Introduction to Social Media for Business Tuesday 20th 10am Users April Beginners guide to Online Advertising Friday 23rd April 10am
(Facebook and Instagram Ads Workshop) Self Management Tuesday 18th 10am May Perfect Pitch Selling Skills Thursday 17th 10am June Selling Online (e.g. YouTube, Amazon, eBay, Tuesday 17th 10am Etsy etc.) August Introduction to Tendering Wednesday 10am 22nd September Market identification/Route to market (taster Thursday 21st 10am session for export programme) October Going Digital /'Simplifying Digitalising' Wednesday 17th 10am (breaks down and addresses digital / November innovation fears not just in terms of what's involved, but the cost, the know how or support and the (human) time / resources required.)
3 Key Issues
Page 81 3.1 The BIG project will run to 9th June 2023. The key deliverables will take place from September 2020 to 31st December 2022 (28 Months).
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 The total value of the BIG Programme is £821,250 broken down as follows
Grant £657,000, (80%)
DCSDC match funding £164,250 (20%)
5 Recommendations
Members note the content of this report
Page 82 Appendix 1 – Monthly Programme Outputs: Business Innovation and Growth Programme (up to 24th March 2021)
Number of Progress Update Progress Update Progress Progress Progress Update Progress Update Mentoring (as of 16th (as of 23rd Update (as of Update (as per 19th (as per 24th March Days/ October) November) 15thDecember) (as per February 2021) 2021) Workshops 21st January delivered (Per 2021) Month)
Recruit No. 840 54 71 (This 97 (This 117 (an 134 (increase of 17 158 (increase of 24 Participants represents an represents an increase of 20 since January) since February) Page 83 Page increase of 17 increase of 26 since the since Oct.) since Nov.) December Report) Reasonable 550 66.5 jobs 90.5 jobs 145.5 jobs 181.5 jobs 243 jobs projected 307 jobs projected endeavours to projected from projected from projected from projected from from the 134 from the 158 create No. Jobs the 54 recruited the 71 recruited the 97 the 117 participants participants participants thus participants thus participants participants recruited thus far – recruited thus far far far (This recruited thus far recruited thus increase of (61.5 (increase of 64 since represents an (This represents far since January) February) increase of 24 an increase of 55 jobs since Oct.) jobs since Nov.) (Increase of 36 since December) Quality referrals to 30 None to date – None to Date None to Date None to Date – 2 to date 2 to date Invest NI too early however some clients will be ready to submit upon completion of mentoring (mid/ late March) Deliver No. 1935 77 days allocated 105 days 178 days 206 days 239 days allocated 286 days allocated mentoring days to date allocated to date allocated to date allocated to to date – (increase to date (increase of (This represents (This represents date (increase of 33 since January) 47 since February) an increase of 28 an increase of 73 of 28 since since Oct.) since Nov) December) (105.3 mentoring (121.7 mentoring days Delivered up to days delivered up to end January) end Feb)
Deliver No. Digital 450 29 42 completed to 46 completed to 49 completed 63 completed to 72 completed to Action Plans date (This date (This to date date (increase of 14 date (increase of 9 Page 84 Page represents an represents an (Increase of 3 since January since February) increase of 13 increase of 4 since Report) since Oct.) since Nov.) December) No. Workshops 15 Brexit Brexit Workshop 9 Workshops in the 1 complete in 2020 on 9th November process of being (Brexit) – Target of 12 scheduled for 2021 attendees – 15 – 9 scheduled for clients attended + This is to include a 2021 (see table 2 Council Staff few for Enterprise below) Week and more spread throughout the year. Thematic 3 20 Businesses 2nd Workshop Procurement Procurement Programmes registered to the on Programme – Programme – 1.Procurement Procurement Procurement complete/mentoring complete/mentoring 2.Social Enterprise Programme. First Programme underway. nearing completion 3.Export workshop took took place 19th place 9th January – 13 4 further thematic 4 further thematic December with attendees. Progs planned Progs planned 15 attendees. 2021: 2021: Further thematic 1.Social Enterprise 1.Social Enterprise - programmes to to April 21 – Marketing be mapped out commence in April for this has for 2021 in late 21 commenced in January March.
2.Export 2.Export Development to Development to commence in May commence in May 21 21
3.Procurement II to 3.Procurement II to commence October commence October Page 85 Page 21 21
4.Export 4.Export Development II to Development II to commence in commence in November 21 November 21 No. 4 None as yet None as yet. None as yet None as yet None as yet Networking/Launch Events
Workshop Topic Date Time Trainer Business Resilience Monday 19th April 10am Leah McStravick Introduction to Social Media for Business Users Tuesday 20th April 10am Rachel Gallagher - ENW Beginners guide to Online Advertising Friday 23rd April (Facebook and Instagram Ads Workshop) 10am Danielle Wilson – ENW Self Management Tuesday 18th May 10am Martin Magennis Perfect Pitch Selling Skills Thursday 17th June 10am Garrett Harty Selling Online (e.g. youtube, amazon, ebay, etsy Tuesday 17th August etc.) 10am Patricia Owens Introduction to Tendering Wednesday 22nd September 10am David McComb Market identification/Route to market (taster Thursday 21st October session for export programme) 10am Ruth Robinson
Page 86 Page Going Digital /'Simplifying Digitalising' (breaks Wednesday 17th November down and addresses digital / innovation fears not just in terms of what's involved, but the cost, the know how or support and the (human) time / resources required.)
10am Patricia Owens
Agenda Item 19 Title of Report: Officer Presenting: Head of Business
Enterprise Week 2021 - LevelUP Author: Business Development Manger
1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations
1.1 To provide members with an update on the LevelUP Event to take place during Enterprise Week 2021.
2 Background
2.1 As part of EW2020 Startacus delivered the inaugural LINEUP 2020 Conference, this was a one-day event which took place in NWRC, Strand Road Theatre, on 5th March and was followed by an evening entrepreneurship networking event.
2.2 The event featured bite-sized keynote talks, panel discussions and start-up pitches, with a key ambition of audience involvement, inclusion, networking and entrepreneurial development – see speaker and subject overview in section 2.4 below). The event also focused on women in tech, tech inclusion, the future of work, the future of education, and ’The 20’ an all-Ireland women in tech pitching competition.
Some outputs from the LINEUP 2020 event include
246 signups for the day and evening events 120 in attendance for the day based on manual headcount Evening 65 in attendance based on manual headcount
Facebook - pre-event promotion (paid and organic) and social media sharing after (organic) - Audience reach - 26,459; Engagement – 1705
LinkedIn - post event social sharing after the event (all organic) - Audience reach - 14,462; Engagement – 270
Twitter - the evening before and the day of the event (all organic): Audience reach - 38,800; Engagement - 1032
Page 87 2.3 The proposal for EW2021 which was approved in January 2021 is for a 2-day blended digital and real-life event, drawing on and looking at best practice from around the World, that can help at a local level to drive real change, community involvement, social inclusion, entrepreneurship and innovation.
3 Key Issues
3.1 Dates have been confirmed for the LevelUP event which will take place on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd April 2021
3.2 The programme will cover 6 core themes across 2 days, incorporating key note speaker and panel discussions for each theme.
3.3 The sessions for the event are
Session 1 - What's so smart about Smart Cities, Places and Rural Innovation? Drawing on & looking at innovation from around the world, we find out about the benefits of smart tech to the city, the home & the land.
Session 2 - Future of Retail & the High St: Last chance saloon or a new Renaissance? Drawing on & looking at innovation both locally and from around the globe, we discuss the future of the high street and the retail sector.
Session 3 - What's the Big Deal about Innovation and Entrepreneurship? Drawing on inspiration both locally and from around the globe, how can people, places and businesses become and stay entrepreneurial?
Session 4 - Health and Wellness post-pandemic. Drawing on inspiration both locally and from around the globe, how can we use technology to offer fairer healthcare for all
Session 5 - Social Purpose - how can you find yours? Drawing on inspiration both locally and from around the globe, we look at the global movement to balance business purpose and profit.
Session 6 - Diversity and Inclusion - From Talk to Action Drawing on inspiration both locally and from around the globe, we look at initiatives and programmes aiming to make an impact on diversity and inclusion across various industries and sectors, highlighting why we ALL need to be part of the process.
Page 88 3.4 Speakers and Panellists confirmed for the event to date include:
Keynote Speakers
Ben Scott Robinson, co-founder of Small Robot Company! Using Robots to farm. Small robots, not big tractors John Hoyle, a Proptech Founder, Real Estate Professional, & founder of Sook, a company that reactivates empty spaces, maximises footfall and income for landlords whilst making it simple for occupiers to reach the right audience, at the right time, at the right price. Joe Richardson and Venetia Hulse - Corporate Innovation Consultancy L Marks, ‘Do you want to become a post-pandemic Blockbusters?’ Liz Choonara, Head of Entrepreneurship at leading UK Charity CRISIS Devika Woods, Leading UK entrepreneur and founder of I am Arla Lizzy Obeng - entrepreneur, business coach and professional speaker leading Foundervine
Speakers
Philip McLaughlin - ESRI Ireland, ‘How location-based intelligence will help society post-pandemic, as much is it did during’ Christine White - Diversity Mark NI - Things you can do from tomorrow to improve your company’s diversity and inclusion
Panellists
Irene McAleese, Co-founder of SeeSense Stephen McPeake, Founder of Civic Dollars Saverio Romeo, Lead Expert for Derry/Londonderry in the EU Intelligent Cities Challenge project Emma Marshall, Accelerator Programme Lead at Connected Places Catapult Micheál McLaughlin, CSO and co-founder of CropSafe Terry Canning, Co-founder of CattleEye Peter McCaul - founder of Péarlaí Cormac Quinn - founder of loyalBe Jemma Duffy - founder of Independent Derry Samantha Pool – CEO and Founder of The Love Local Hub startup Ciaran Murray - founder of the Pure Derry Market Gary Davidson, Investment Lead - Entrepreneur Engagement @ Tech Nation Jenny Ervine, Co-Founder of Raise Ventures and an Angel Investor Natalie Novick, European startup ecosystem expert and mentor Tim Brundle, Director of Research & Impact at Ulster University Adam Goodall, Investment Officer at Derry City and Strabane District Council
Page 89 Deva Senevirathne, Founder of Sonrai Analytics Chief Executive Officer at Respiratory Analytics Chris English, Elemental Software Sinead Welsh, Informed Mind App Lisa Chadwick, Young Planet Ahmad Mu'azzam, Founder, Evvocco Gaz Rutherford - ARC Fitness Darrell Coker, Founder, Flair Impact Eileen Chan, Craic NI Michael Blakley, Founder, Equitas AI Shana Guijral, Founder, Think Lila Anne Orr, Founder Boards 123
3.5 The event will also include a start up pitching competition in which 12-14no NI early-stage innovation digital/tech startups can be in with a chance to win a £2k cash prize. The judging panel will consist of:
Dave Graham, Dell Technologies Naomi Timperley, Tech North Advocates Audrey Osbourne, Techstart VC Beth Glenfield, Scout for Ada Ventures Shaun Sharkey, Equity Fundraising Manager, Crowdcube Nico Albanese, Ascension Ventures
3.6 Also featured will be Anne Lawlor, CEO and Founder of Dublin based Journey protector and winner of the Start Up Competition at LineUp 2020. Anne will be talking about her journey since winning last year’s award which includes setting up a presence in Derry at Catalyst.
3.7 A virtual speed networking event will also take place on the evening of the 21st April from 6pm-7.15pm. Facilitated by NetMinds, this event will allow attendees to take part in 7 networking sessions which will each last 7 minutes.
3.8 Corporate sponsors which have been confirmed for the event to date include:
Ulster University North West Regional College Allstate NI ESRI Ireland Raise Ventures Realtime Recruitment
Page 90
4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement, Rural Needs and other Implications
4.1 None.
5 Recommendations
5.1 Members note the contents of the report.
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Document is Restricted
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