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ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL 29 August 2019 Dear Sir/Madam You are hereby invited to attend a meeting of the Regeneration and Development Committee of the Ards and North Down Borough Council which will be held in the Council Chamber, 2 Church Street, Newtownards on Thursday 5 September 2019 commencing at 7.00pm. Tea, coffee and sandwiches will be available from 6.00pm. Yours faithfully Stephen Reid Chief Executive Ards and North Down Borough Council A G E N D A 1. Apologies 2. Declarations of Interest 3. Pickie Funpark Quarter 1 2019/20 (Report attached) 4. Bangor Marina Quarter 1 (Report attached) 5. Gifted Craft Fair 2019 (Report attached) 6. GAP Programme 2019-2020 – The Growth Achievement Programme (Report attached) 7. Economic Development Performance Report Q1 2019/20 (Report attached) 8. Regeneration and Development Budgetary Control Report – July 2019 (Copy attached) 9. Regeneration Unit Performance Report Q1 2018/19 (Report attached) 10. Tourism Service Unit Performance Quarter 1, 2019/20 (Report attached) 11. Ards and Bangor Business Awards (Report attached) 12. Women in Business Awards 7 Nov 2019 – Crowne Plaza Hotel – Attendance & Support (Report attached) 13. Food and Drink Development Update (Report attached) 14. Tourism Development Update (Report attached) 15. Notice of Motion Update on North Channel Swim Interpretive Panel and Commemorative Medal (Copy attached) 16. Economic Impact of Pipe Band Championship in Newtownards 2019 (Report attached) 17. Visit Belfast End of Year Report 2018/19 (Report attached) 18. Exploris Car Park Development (Report attached) 19. Village Renewal – RDP Capital Application – Village Signage Scheme (Report attached) 20. Rural Development Programme – Village Renewal Update (Report attached) 21. Village Renewal – SEAFLAG Application – Portavogie Environmental Improvement Scheme (Report attached) 22. Portaferry Steering Group Committee Minutes- 5 August 2019 (Copy attached) 23. Ward Park 3 Review (Report attached) 24. Queen’s Parade – Verbal Report 25. Belfast Region City Deal – Verbal Report ITEMS 26-27 ***IN CONFIDENCE*** 26. Exploris Quarter 1 2019/20 (Report attached) 27. Tender for Ards Villages – Environmental Improvement Works to Carrowdore, Cloughey & Kircubbin (Report attached) ***NOT IN CONFIDENCE*** 28.Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Walker and Alderman McDowell That this Council acknowledges the decision not to pass down Regeneration Powers and Budgets as part of the Review of Local Government (RPA) prevents us from effective long-term planning and agrees to write to the Secretary of State requesting that he urgently reverse the decision and allow Councils the opportunity to create long-term, costed and effective plans to regenerate every town and village in their Borough or District. And further agrees to write to every Council Chief Executive requesting that they support this Motion. 2 28. Any Other Notified Business ***IN CONFIDENCE*** Bangor to Belfast – Potential Water Taxi – Verbal Update MEMBERSHIP OF REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Alderman Menagh Councillor Douglas Alderman McDowell Councillor Dunlop Alderman Smith Councillor Gilmour Councillor Adair Councillor Kennedy Councillor Armstrong-Cotter Councillor McClean Councillor Blaney Councillor McKimm Councillor Brooks Councillor Walker Councillor Cummings Councillor Wilson 3 Unclassified ITEM 3 Ards and North Down Borough Council Report Classification Unclassified Council/Committee Regeneration and Development Committee Date of Meeting 05 September 2019 Responsible Director Director of Regeneration, Development and Planning Responsible Head of Head of Economic Development Service Date of Report 02 August 2019 File Reference 171006 Legislation None Section 75 Compliant Yes ☒ No ☐ Not Applicable ☐ Subject Pickie Funpark Quarter 1 (April - June 2019) Attachments None Following the redevelopment of Pickie Fun Park and re-opening in April 2012 the park is now in its eighth year of trading. As members are aware, the new Operator, Pickie Limited, took over the management of the Fun Park in January 2019. The Quarter 1 review meeting between the new operator Pickie Ltd and officers from Ards and North Down Borough Council was held on Thursday 1 August 2019. Visitor Numbers/Spend – Quarter 1 The visitor numbers to the park in the first quarter totalled 112,136 which is 4% higher than the same period last year. Status The Park is awaiting a re-grading for the 2019-20 season for the Tourism NI Star Grading Award. This will be reported on at a later date following the re-grading process. The Park has received a five-star Food Hygiene Rating. Page 1 of 3 Unclassified Marketing Pickie Ltd presented a comprehensive marketing report for the upcoming months with the following elements being delivered: Printed, Outdoor and Online Advertising have included: Print • Print - NI Kids; Belfast Telegraph; Sails and Sounds Programme; Local Women; In Your Pocket; The Big List Outdoor Advertising • Impact Wrap Campaign (Bus Stops) • Bus Back Campaign Online • Social media paid for targeted advertising campaign. • New website launch • Continued use of all social media platforms. Competitions • Facebook • Pickie Café Pickie Ltd has been encouraged by the visitor numbers following its campaigns although is conscious that the weather, which in general has been fair, greatly influences visits. Going forward Pickie Ltd also is planning additional joint marketing with Exploris to encourage longer stays within the borough and to make best use of both an indoor and outdoor attraction. Complaint and Accidents In the first Quarter no complaints were received. One accident report received. A summary of the areas reviewed is noted below: Weekly Checks and Reports – Quarter 1 Accident One accident reported – 1 Minor report Log Complaints No complaints received Activity Usage breakdown – Quarter 1 Adults Children Grand Total Swans 5,415 5,415 Train 3,830 4,458 8,288 Golf 1,692 1,970 3,662 Page 2 of 3 Unclassified Cars 1,406 1,406 Ducks 2,614 2,614 Zorbs 1,907 1,907 Total 5,522 12,355 23,292 Family Passes – Quarter 1 Family Pass Option Number of Passes Sold All day wrist band 89 Family Golf 1,396 Combo Pass 3 Family Train 1,956 Grand Total 3,444 The percentage of visitors using the paid for attractions, including family passes but excluding the café in Quarter 1 is 24%. Pickie Ltd plans to install new ticketing kiosks to make the process for customers less time consuming. The next meeting will take place with Pickie Limited in November 2019 to assess the second quarter figures after which a further report will be brought to Council. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Council notes this report. Page 3 of 3 Unclassified ITEM 4 Ards and North Down Borough Council Report Classification Unclassified Council/Committee Regeneration and Development Committee Date of Meeting 05 September 2019 Responsible Director Director of Regeneration, Development and Planning Responsible Head of Head of Economic Development Service Date of Report 13 August 2019 File Reference 141671 Legislation Section 75 Compliant Yes ☒ No ☐ Other ☐ If other, please add comment below: Subject Bangor Marina Quarterly Report April - June 2019 Attachments Appendix 1: Quarterly Report April - June 2019 Report Members will be aware that Quay Marinas operate Bangor Marina on behalf of Council. As part of the agreement, Quay Marinas provide a quarterly report which is presented to Committee as received. Attached is the first quarter report for 2019/20. The report covers the entire range of activities that are undertaken in the Marina. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Council notes this report. Page 1 of 1 ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BOROUGH COUNCIL – QUAY MARINAS LIMITED BANGOR MARINA AND HARBOUR FIRST QUARTER REPORT APRIL – JUNE 2019 GENERAL The period of settled weather during the latter part of Quarter enabled many boat owners to enjoy time afloat. Our year to date operating profit of £46,707 is £15,179 up on budget and £15,617 up on last year. The main improvement in this first quarter relates to contract income which is £13k up on budget and £19k up on last year. All other income categories are in line with the budgeted figures and whilst costs are running slightly ahead of budget it would appear to be a very strong start to the year. General UK Economy Our economy is the relationship between the production and consumption of goods and services, and the supply of money. Our UK economy is the second biggest in Europe and has been growing, however it suffered its first quarterly contraction in seven years, a closely watched survey suggests, as the looming threat of a no-deal Brexit subdues business activity. Growth in the UK’s dominant services sector came to a near standstill in June, confirming a gloomy outlook for a month in which the manufacturing and construction industries plunged into reverse. The figures indicate that the British economy contracted by about 0.1% in the three months to June, according to IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Sounding alarm bells over the health of the economy before Britain is scheduled to leave the EU by 31 October, failure to rebound in the third quarter would mean the country sliding into a recession before Brexit. Unfortunately, our economy is carrying high levels of public and private debt, which means that it could be more vulnerable to a shock. The last time GDP shrank for one quarter was in the final three months of 2012. Two consecutive negative quarters constitute a recession. The Northern Ireland Economy The Northern Ireland economy didn’t pick up much underlying momentum in the first quarter of 2019. Services output fell over the quarter, and while production activity increased, this was likely related to stockpiling in anticipation of the original Brexit deadline. The outlook for economic growth in Northern Ireland remains subdued, as Brexit, local political uncertainty and weaker global growth are continuing to take a toll on the economy. Despite the recent fall in overall services output, the information & communication, administrative & support and professional services sectors are expected to be the fastest growing over the next two years.