Belfast City Council
Report to: Parks and Leisure Committee
Subject: Botanic Gardens and Ormeau Park Concerts 2010
Date: 12 November 2009
Reporting Officer: Andrew Hassard, Director of Parks and Leisure
Contact Officer: Reg Maxwell, Area Manager East
Relevant Background Information
The Committee is asked to note that a request has been received from CDC Leisure of 17a Ormeau Avenue to hold an open air concert for under 18s in Botanic Gardens lower playing fields sometime during the period 27 April to 4 May 2010. It will be alcohol free with only soft drinks and food concessions available for purchase and it is anticipated that it will attract in the region of 5,000 people.
A request has also been received from MDC for a 2 day music concert in Ormeau Park on the football pitch area sometime between 14 - 26 August 2010. The concert will feature international artists and have a capacity of 20,000- 30,000 per day. There will be alcohol and food concessions on site. The concert package will attract a wide age group over the course of the two days.
Key Issues
The key issues for the Committee to note are: These are two important events in two of our key parks in the city; the proposed concert at Ormeau due to its size is a major event. They will attract a large number of visitors to the parks and to the city and will generate income within the city;
As with all such events, health and safety issues with regard to the holding of the events will be addressed in the event management plan by the organisers and to the satisfaction of council officers.
It is important that companies involved in holding concerts are required to carry out proper reinstatement of the grounds. In Ormeau Park the timing of the concert would result in three pitches being out of use for summer soccer for the last week of August. Officers will reassign the bookings to an alternative site. If the weather was bad during the Concert period, there may be a need for major restoration work on the pitches ensuring that they are ready for use at the start of the summer soccer season on 1 May 2010. Resource Implications
Financial Both organisers will be required to provide: a fee for the use of the site which will be negotiated and agreed by the Director of Parks and Leisure based on the numbers attending the event; a bond of intent to be paid to the council which would be retained in the event of a concert being cancelled; and full ground reinstatement cost to be met by the promoter, subject to a bond.
Human Resources Environmental Health staff will be on duty at the site. If any Parks staff are required the organisers will be required to pay for their costs.
Assets and other implications These are important events and will add to the profile of the parks and the city. However there is a need to ensure that the grounds used for these concerts are reinstated within specified timescales.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Committee grant authority to: CDC Leisure to hold a concert in Botanic Gardens sometime between 27 April to 4 May 2010; and MDC to hold a 2 day music concert in Ormeau Park sometime between 14 - 26 August 2010. Subject to satisfactory terms in line with the above being agreed with the Director of Parks and Leisure and on condition that: (i) the event organisers resolve all operational issue to the Council’s satisfaction; (ii) an appropriate legal agreement is completed, to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services; and (iii) the event organisers meet all statutory requirements including entertainment licensing.
Decision Tracking
A further report will be brought back to Committee by the Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Manager in February 2010 to provide an update on developments in respect of these major events.
Key to Abbreviations None. Documents Attached None.