(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 01/06/2015 18:00

Public Document Pack

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

SUMMONS TO ATTEND THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

TO: THE LORD MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND THE COUNCILLORS OF THE COUNCIL

Notice is hereby given that the monthly meeting of the Council will be held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Belfast on Monday, 1st June, 2015 at 6.00 pm, for the transaction of the following business:

1. Summons

2. Apologies

3. Minutes of the Council of 5th May (Pages 1 - 8)

4. Official Announcements

5. Minutes of Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 22nd May (Pages 9 - 68)

6. Minutes of People and Communities Committee of 12th May (Pages 69 - 82)

7. Minutes of City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 13th May (Pages 83 -100)

8. Minutes of Licensing Committee of 20th May (Pages 101 - 114)

9. Minutes of Planning Committee of 19th May (Pages 115 - 132)

10. Motion re: Spending Cuts - Councillor Brown to move

“This Council recognises that cuts in spending on public services has a disproportionately negative impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society in general and in the most deprived areas of Belfast in particular; considers that the cap on rates payable on properties valued over £400,000 to be a regressive, unaffordable and unjustified perk for the very wealthiest in society and calls on the NI Executive to both abolish the cap on rates and to reinstate the Rates Deferral Scheme to afford appropriate protection to rate payers who are asset rich but income poor.

11. Motion re: Belfast Islamic Centre - Councillor Bradshaw to move

“This Council recognises the important contribution of the Islamic community to the overall vibrancy and diversity of the City; notes that this contribution comes about through its local residents working hard for the betterment of everyone; and further recognises that members of this community include temporary residents, in particular students from across the world who study at our local universities.

Further, to demonstrate political backing for this community, this Council supports the efforts made by all sides of the community, including non-Muslims, for the enhancement of the Belfast Islamic Centre, including its efforts to secure land within the Council boundary with a view to building a multi-purpose Islamic Cultural Centre, subject to the receipt of full planning approval; welcomes the fact that the previous City Council offered its support for the location of such a centre in the Belfast area; and recognises the importance of this venture as a means to promote awareness of Muslim traditions among all the City's citizens.”

12. Motion re: Impact of Austerity on the Community and Voluntary Sectors - Councillor Carroll to move

“This Council notes the deep and negative impact that austerity is having on the Community and Voluntary sector across our City and beyond. These cuts will lead to hundreds of job losses with a deep and potentially irreversible impact on our communities, including some of the most marginalised and vulnerable in society. The Council notes the vital impact that community and voluntary organisations have on our City, and commends them for their work. Accordingly, the Council condemns the cuts to the sector and calls for them to be reversed. The Council will seek to work with community and voluntary organisations in Belfast whose funding is under threat and to explore ways that we can keep those organisations from closing.”

13. Motion re: Mental Health Support in Belfast - Councillor Corr Johnston to move

“This Council expresses its deep concern at the lack of provision for mental health support in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland and calls upon the Minister for Health to redress this situation as a matter of extreme urgency.”

14. Motion re: Civil Marriage Provisions for Same Sex Couples - Councillor McDonough-Brown to move

“This Council believes that all couples in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, regardless of sexual orientation, should have the right to a civil marriage; that the rights of religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs should be given legal protection; that faith groups which wish to marry same sex couples should not be prevented by the state from doing so; that all married couples of the same sex should have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to introduce legislation to extend civil marriage provisions to same sex couples.”

The Members of Belfast City Council are hereby summoned to attend.

SUZANNE WYLIE

Chief Executive Agenda Item 3

Council

MONTHLY MEETING OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

Held in the City Hall on Tuesday, 5th May, 2015 at 6.00 o’clock p.m., pursuant to notice.

Members present: The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Carson) (Chairperson); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman Spence); the High Sheriff (Councillor McKee); Aldermen Browne, Convery, Kingston, McGimpsey, L. Patterson, Robinson, Rodgers and Stalford; Councillors Armitage, Attwood, Austin, Beattie, Bell, Boyle, Brown, Bunting, Campbell, Carroll, Clarke, Copeland, Corr, Corr Johnston, Craig, Dudgeon, Garrett, Graham, B. Groves, E. Groves, Haire, Hanna, Hargey, Heading, Howard, Hussey, Hutchinson, Johnston, Jones, Kyle, Long, Magee, Magennis, Mallon, McAteer, McCabe, McConville, McDonough-Brown, McNamee, McVeigh, Mullan, Newton, Ó Donnghaile, O’Hara and Sandford.

Summons

The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

Apologies

Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen McCoubrey and R. Patterson and Councillors Bradshaw and McAllister.

Minutes of the Council

Moved by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Carson), Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson and

Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the Council of 1st April be taken as read and signed as correct.

Disclosure of Family Relationship

The Chief Executive informed the Council that, in accordance with Section 50 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, she had been advised by Councillor Brown that his sister, Ms. Kathryn Brown, had been offered an appointment as a

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Community Worker at the Knocknagoney Community Centre within the Development Department. Noted.

Civic Reception – Request

In response to requests from two Members, the Lord Mayor agreed to consider hosting a reception to mark the achievements of both the Glentoran and Crusaders football clubs in winning the Marie Curie Irish Cup and the Danske Irish Premier League respectively.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Alderman Kingston referred to the recent birth of Her Royal Highness, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and requested that the Lord Mayor and the High Sherriff, on behalf of the City, convey congratulations to the Royal couple on the occasion.

Mr. Gerard Davison

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Carson) referred to the murder earlier that day of Mr. Gerard Davison and, on behalf of the Council, he extended condolences and deepest sympathy to Mr. Davison’s family circle.

Changes to Committee Membership

The Chief Executive reported that notification had been received from the Social Democratic and Labour Party that it wished to make the following changes to the membership of the Council’s Committees:

• Alderman Convery to replace Councillor Attwood on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee; • Councillor Attwood to replace Alderman Convery on the City Growth and Regeneration Committee; • Councillor Hanna to replace Councillor Mullan on the People and Communities Committee; and • Councillor Mullan to replace Councillor Hanna on the Licensing Committee.

The Council approved the aforementioned changes.

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

Moved by Councillor Boyle, Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson,

That the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th April be approved and adopted.

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Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel

At the request of Alderman Rodgers, and with the consent of the Council, the Chairperson (Councillor Boyle) agreed that the minute under the heading ‘Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel’ be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Social Clauses - Update

At the request of Councillor Carroll, and with the consent of the Council, the Chairperson (Councillor Boyle) agreed that the minute under the heading ‘Social Clauses - Update’ be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Building Successful Communities Programme

At the request of Alderman Kingston, and with the consent of the Council, the Chairperson (Councillor Boyle) agreed that the minute under the heading ‘Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme’ be taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Amendment

Bonfire Management Programme

Moved by Councillor Beattie, Seconded by Councillor B. Groves,

That the decision under the heading ‘Bonfire Management Programme’ be amended to provide that, in terms of the payment schedule, participating groups would be awarded 30% of their funding in advance and, upon satisfactory completion of the application process, the remaining 70% on completion of the programme.

On a recorded vote, nineteen Members voted for the amendment and thirty-six against and it was declared lost.

For 19 Against 36 The Lord Mayor (Councillor Carson) and The Deputy Lord Mayor (Alderman Councillors Austin, Beattie, Bell, Campbell, Spence) the High Sheriff (Alderman Carroll, Clarke, Corr, Garrett, B. Groves, E. McKee); Aldermen Browne, Convery, Groves, Hargey, Magee, Magennis, Kingston, McGimpsey, L. Patterson, McAteer, McCabe, McConville, Robinson, Rodgers and Stalford; Ó Donnghaile and O’ Hara. Councillors Armitage, Attwood, Boyle, Brown, Bunting, Copeland, Corr Johnston, Craig, Dudgeon, Graham, Haire, Hanna, Heading, Howard, Hussey, Hutchinson, Johnston, Jones, Kyle, Long, Mallon, McDonough-Brown, McNamee, Mullan, Newton and Sandford.

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Adoption of Minutes

Subject to the omission of the aforementioned matters, that is, ‘Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel’, ‘Social Clauses - Update’ and ‘Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme’ the minutes of the proceedings of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 24th April were approved and adopted.

People and Communities Committee

Moved by Councillor Corr Johnston, Seconded by Councillor B. Groves and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the People and Communities Committee of 21st April be approved and adopted.

City Growth and Regeneration Committee

Moved by Councillor Hargey, Seconded by Councillor O’ Hara and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee of 22nd April be approved and adopted.

Licensing Committee

Moved by Councillor Hussey, Seconded by Councillor Hutchinson and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Licensing Committee of 15th April, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Planning Committee

Moved by Councillor Garrett, Seconded by Councillor Armitage and

Resolved - That the minutes of the proceedings of the Planning Committee of 23rd April, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, be approved and adopted.

Notices of Motion

Deferred Items

The Lord Mayor indicated that he had been advised that, since three of the notices of motion on the agenda had been proposed by candidates who would be

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standing in the Parliamentary Elections on 7th May, it would be inappropriate under the Council’s Election Protocol to permit them to be proposed and debated that evening. Accordingly, he indicated that the following notices of motion had been referred to the meeting scheduled for 1st June:

• ‘Spending Cuts’ –moved by Councillor Brown; • ‘Belfast Islamic Centre’ – moved by Councillor Bradshaw; and • ‘Impact of Austerity on the Community and Voluntary Sector’’ – moved by Councillor Carroll.

Stained Glass Window – Sport

Moved by Alderman Rodgers, Seconded by Councillor Copeland,

“Over many years, the Council has worked closely with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Sport Northern Ireland; sports’ governing bodies and numerous clubs, teams and organisations to bring about many benefits to our capital City. Accordingly, the Council agrees to the installation of a stained glass window in the City Hall to celebrate the contribution which sport has made to Belfast and to Northern Ireland.”

In accordance with Standing Orders, the motion was referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

Anti-Racism Pledge

Moved by Councillor Campbell, Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

“This Council:

• in keeping with both the United Nation’s and the Council of Europe’s definition of racism; • recognising that it can take many different forms, including, but not limited to, xenophobia, anti-migrant racism, anti-Roma racism, Islamaphobia, anti-Traveller racism and anti- Semitism; • sensitive to the fact that the current economic climate of job losses and cutbacks in essential public services can be exploited by some to encourage anti-migrant sentiment and support protectionist labour market policies; and • committed to ensuring that Belfast City is a welcoming city, that treats all communities and people equally, that is constantly striving to improve access to our services, that values and celebrates diversity and that ensures that everyone shares in the City’s successes

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Commits to the following:

• to defend human rights and democratic principles and reject all forms of racist violence, incitement to racial hatred and harassment and any form of unlawful racial discrimination; • to represent the interests of all constituents, regardless of race, colour, religion, nationality or any other aspect of their identity; • to refuse to display, publish or to distribute or endorse in any way views or positions which stir-up or invite, or may reasonably be expected to stir-up or invite prejudices, hostility or hatred towards people of different ethnic or national origins, religious beliefs or linguistic communities and to deal resolutely with any racist sentiment and/or behaviour within our party; • to refrain from any form of political alliance or cooperation at all levels with any political party which incites or attempts to encourages racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic prejudices and hatred; • to commit to ensuring that as elected representatives we partake in anti-racism training so as to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the issue of racism and how to develop effective responses to it; • to work actively to prevent both direct and indirect discrimination against, and to promote equality in all areas of economic, social, cultural, linguistic and political life among and between persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities; • to support positive action if such is necessary to challenge racial inequality; and • To encourage responsible and unbiased media coverage of issues concerning minority ethnic communities and to challenge any negative stereotyping/stigmatisation of these communities by the media.”

In accordance with Standing Orders, the motion was referred to the Good Relations Partnership, prior to it being considered by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Belfast Blitz – 75th Anniversary Commemoration

Moved by Councillor Dudgeon Seconded by Councillor McGimpsey,

“The Belfast Blitz has been described as “the most disastrous event in the history of the City”. The two major German air raids of 1941 on Easter Tuesday (15 April) and three weeks later on the night of 4 May killed some 740 and 192 civilians respectively. The dead were from all over the City, the most affected areas being the north and east and the

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City centre, and of course the shipyards and aircraft factory. The 15th of April raid by 180 German aircraft predominantly involved 200 tonnes of high explosives, the second in May also involved 96,000 incendiary fire bombs. No other city, save London, lost so many of her citizens on one night as Belfast did on that Easter Tuesday raid or suffered more incendiaries being dropped as in May.

This Council therefore agrees to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1941 Belfast Blitz by organising appropriate commemorative events next year in the City Hall - itself a casualty of the May fire raid when the Great Hall was destroyed - and in the City itself. These should be taken forward in conjunction with interested groups such as the Northern Ireland War Memorial and PRONI, while utilising the expertise of local historians. This will be the last significant anniversary of the Blitz when eyewitnesses will still be available.

Belfast is unusual in that it has no large-scale outdoor memorial to those more than one thousand individuals including the military dead, nor has it anything to mark the shocking destruction and the unique devastation of our City, visible for decades afterwards.

The Council therefore considers it to be appropriate to also agree to construct a substantial memorial at the City Hall (perhaps on its west side) which could carry a map with the names of the streets and locations affected and of the known dead. In this way they will not be forgotten, as our own memories fade.”

In accordance with Standing Orders, the motion was referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Moved by Councillor Heading, Seconded by Councillor Convery,

“This Council, having taken note of the level of fuel poverty in the City, urges the Northern Ireland Executive to recognise the relationship which exists between fuel poverty and poor home insulation.

It notes further the core study and research carried out by the Mount Eagles Drive Action Group and the South Eastern Regional College into the health and financial impacts which the poor quality of the installation of cavity wall insulation can have.

Accordingly, the Council calls upon the Northern Ireland Executive to provide direction to civil servants to enter into a process with the industry to identify effective measures (legislative and other) to address the problem of failure in cavity wall insulation.”

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In accordance with Standing Orders, the motion was referred to the People and Communities Committee for consideration.

Lord Mayor Chairperson

Page 8 Agenda Item 5

Strategic Policy and Resources Committee

Friday, 22nd May, 2015

MEETING OF STRATEGIC POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Members present: Councillor Boyle (Chairperson); Aldermen Browne, Convery, Kingston, Rodgers and Stalford; Councillors Clarke, S. Corr, Ó Donnghaile, B. Groves, Haire, Hargey, Hutchinson, Jones, Long, McCabe, McNamee and McVeigh.

Also attended: Councillor Dudgeon.

In attendance: Mrs. S. Wylie, Chief Executive; Mr. R. Cregan, Director of Finance and Resources; Mr. G. Millar, Director of Property and Projects; Mrs. J. Minne, Director of Organisational Development; Mr. J. McGrillen, Director of Development; Mr. C. Campbell, Divisional Solicitor; Mr. S. McCrory, Democratic Services Manager; and Mr. J. Hanna, Senior Democratic Services Officer.

Apology

An apology for inability to attend was reported from Alderman R. Patterson.

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were reported.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 24th April were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May, subject to the omission of the following:

(i) the minute under the heading “Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel” which was taken back to the Committee for further consideration at the request of Alderman Rodgers;

(ii) the minute under the heading “Social Clauses Update” which, at the request of Councillor Carroll, was taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and

(iii) the minute under the heading “Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme” which was taken back to the Committee for further consideration at the request of Alderman Kingston.

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Restricted Items

The information contained in the following 3 reports is Restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014

Organisational Development Programme

(With the exception of the Chief Executive, the Director of Organisational Development and the Senior Democratic Services Officer, all members of staff left the meeting whilst this item was under discussion.)

The Committee considered a report which sought agreement on the next steps on the ongoing programme of work relating to organisational development (OD) for consultation with staff and Trade Unions. The Chief Executive reminded the Members that, at its meeting on 22nd April, it had agreed the functional model for the Council over the next couple of years and had agreed the Council’s change management programme and the areas of organisational development work on which it would concentrate.

The Chief Executive explained that, given the previously advised resignation of the Director of Development, the previously agreed organisational model, the ongoing work on decision-making on accountability and spans of control and the recommendations from the Peer Review, the Committee was being requested to agree the following proposals on organisational functions. She pointed out that the Members were being requested to confirm these in principle in order that they could be developed in detail; that meaningful and timely consultation with staff and Trade Unions could be conducted on detailed proposals; and that the Director of Organisational Development could lead organisational restructuring within the agreed framework in accordance with the Council’s policies and procedures:

1. Given the previously agreed model for the organisation, (i.e. the development of a City and Neighbourhood Services department to deliver integrated services in the community and the development of the model for Regeneration within BCC) and the potential links with the Development Department it is proposed to put in place interim arrangements for the management of the functions currently within the Development Department either through the use of a secondment from an appropriate partner organisation or an interim director secured through an agreed contract/framework.

2. Once the Director for City and Neighbourhood Services Department is recruited move the function of Community Services from the Development Department to the City and Neighbourhood Services Department and review the Community Services function within the context of the formation of this new department and to ensure improved integrated customer experience in the community.

3. The committee support element of Democratic Services to move from the Chief Executives Department to Legal Services (to be managed by the Town Solicitor), with the Lord Mayor’s Unit remaining in the Chief Executive’s department (to be managed by

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the Director of OD) and to be reviewed within the context of how resources within the Chief Executive’s department can best be organised to provide effective and efficient support to elected members and support the delivery of corporate priorities.

4. Move the Efficiency Unit from Finance and Resources into the Organisational Development function and align this function to work on business and service improvement role over the next 18 months/two years subject to further review of this function.

5. Director of Finance and Resources to develop a model for sourcing additional external sources of funding.

6. Develop a City centre regeneration team in the Chief Executives department, reporting to the Chief Executive and potentially comprising seconded staff from DSD, realigned existing BCC staff and some newly created posts.

7. Review how we can best organise our structures and people to effectively deliver neighbourhood regeneration.

8. Review resources to better support area working and area working groups.

9. Review how we organise and manage our people and resources to support elected members, the Chief Executive, directors and corporate management team to effectively develop and implement its city and Council strategy in a way that maximises benefits for the city and its neighbourhoods. As an immediate step it is proposed to move the city statistics function from the Development department to the Chief Executive’s Policy and Planning function.

The report outlined also the context in which the Organisational Development Strategy was being implemented and the priorities in that regard.

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Leisure Transformation: Assets – Next Steps and Resourcing

The Committee considered a report which outlined the next steps in the development and implementation of the Leisure Assets Capital Programme, legal engagement and the required resourcing. The report dealt with each of these areas in detail and accordingly it was recommended that the Committee agrees:

(i) to authorise officers to initiate the processes that would be required to facilitate the removal of asbestos and the demolition of the Robinson Centre, on the basis on the outcome of the investigation reports and value-for-money, subject to, extant legal proceedings;

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(ii) to approve the sequencing of the Investments;

(iii) to agree to a series of briefings for the Area Working Groups on the next stages of the Capital Programme;

(iv) to authorise officers to initiate the resourcing of the Programme, proportionate to an Investment Programme of this scale and complexity; and

(v) to undertake the actions as outlined in the report.

It was recommended also that the Committee agrees that these decisions be not subject to Call-in as they were deemed to be decisions where an unreasonable delay could be prejudicial to the Council’s or the public’s interest under Standing Order 47(a) 2(c).

After discussion, it was

Moved by Alderman Rodgers, Seconded by Councillor Haire,

That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Long, Seconded by Councillor McNamee,

That the Committee agrees to the removal of the asbestos and to the treatment of the Legionella at the Robinson Centre and that a report be submitted to the Committee providing details on the costs of refurbishing the Centre.

On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the amendment and thirteen against and it was declared lost.

The original proposal standing in the name of Alderman Rodgers and seconded by Councillor Haire was put to the meeting when thirteen Members voted for and three against and it was declared carried.

Asset Management Update

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

(i) Licence Agreements and Easement: Sally Gardens Pitch Development

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The Council acquired land at Sally Gardens, Poleglass, from Lisburn City Council (LCC) on 1 April 2015 as part of assets transferring to Belfast under Local Government Reform. As well as acquiring the land, Belfast City Council (BCC) also inherited a construction contract which had previously been awarded by LCC for the development of a floodlit 3G pitch and associated car parking. To enable this construction contract to proceed BCC require access across adjoining land and use of adjoining land owned by Sally Gardens Community Centre Management Committee (SGCCMC) and the Department for Social Development (DSD) to facilitate the Council’s contractor.

(ii) Licence Agreements: Coffee Docks

At its meeting on 8 August 2013 the former Parks and Leisure Committee approved the initiation of a pilot project for provision of temporary coffee outlets at four Parks across the city and to seek expressions of interest in these through public advertisement. This process has now been concluded and as a result Parks and Leisure Department now wish to take forward arrangements at two sites (Cherryvale Playing Fields and the Waterworks/Queen Mary’s Gardens). There were no successful applications for sites at Dunville Park or Victoria Park. This report relates solely to the grant of the Licence Agreements. The aforementioned approval of the Parks and Leisure Committee already provides authority to proceed with the pilot service arrangements.

(iii) Agricultural Land Lettings

Following advertisements and evaluation of submissions by Parks and Leisure Department, it is proposed to enter into seasonal lettings for land at various locations, for the period April to October each year, for a period of three years (commencement date for first year pending Committee approval). The agreements will permit grazing of cattle or the cutting of hay as specified on the attached schedule. Submissions by interested parties were evaluated on the basis of the highest total fee submitted over the three year period at each site. Information on the successful bids and bidders has been circulated and it is proposed that Agreements, as prepared by the Town Solicitor, will be granted to each of the parties named on the schedule.

(iv) ASSI Declaration at Belfast Zoo

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) as part of its role under The Environment (NI) Order 2002 has declared land in Council ownership at Belfast Zoo as an Area of Special

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Scientific Interest (ASSI). The Declaration relates to a portion of the cliff face adjoining the main Zoo car park. The ASSI applies to the area outlined red and shaded pink on the attached map.

2.0 Recommendations

(i) Licence Agreements and Easement: Sally Gardens Pitch Development

Subject to the agreement of appropriate terms by the Estates Manager and the drawing up of suitable Licence Agreements to be approved by the Town Solicitor, Committee is recommended to provide authority for the Council to enter into appropriate Licence Agreements with Sally Gardens Community Centre Management Committee and the Department for Social Development to allow the Council’s contractor to use their land in connection with the construction by the Council of a new 3G pitch and car parking at Sally Gardens, Poleglass. Committee is also recommended to authorise the Council to enter into an Easement agreement with DSD on terms to be agreed by the Estates Manager and incorporated in a legal agreement to be prepared by the Town Solicitor, to facilitate the future maintenance and management of pitch drainage across DSD land.

(ii) Licence Agreements: Coffee Docks

Committee is recommended to authorise the grant of Licence Agreements at Cherryvale Playing Fields and Waterworks/Queen Mary’s Gardens, to the operators referred to in Appendix 2 for a period of one year in accordance with the approvals provided by the former Parks and Leisure Committee at its meeting on 8 August 2013 (extract attached at Appendix 3) for provision of mobile coffee docks.

(iii) Agricultural Land Lettings

Committee is recommended to approve the grant of three year seasonal agreements for the grazing of land, or cutting of hay, to the parties referred to in Appendix 4 on the basis of the total financial bids referred to therein and subject to the parties entering into appropriate legal agreements as prepared by the Town Solicitor.

(iv) ASSI Declaration at Belfast Zoo

Committee is asked to note the Declaration by NIEA.

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3.0 Main report

(i) Licence Agreements and Easement: Sally Gardens Pitch Development

Key Issues

LCC had not entered into temporary arrangements with the adjoining land owners in respect of land required to facilitate the carrying out of the 3G pitch construction contract. BCC Officers have established that the relevant adjoining landowners are Sally Gardens Community Centre Management Committee (SGCCMC) and the Department for Social Development (DSD). BCC officers have recently been in discussions with both land owners to seek their agreement to relevant arrangements.

The nature of the arrangements with the two land owners are envisaged as follows:

1. Arrangements with SGCCMC. Use of the area shaded yellow, including the area hatched black for use as a contractors compound for the duration of the works contract (estimated at approximately 6 months). The area shaded red on the map comprises the existing community centre, a car park and a BCC playground. These areas will not be available to the contractor. The area hatched black on the map is being sought to allow construction of a new car park which is required in connection with the pitch development. The Council will seek to regularise future ownership, maintenance responsibilities etc. for the proposed new car park and drainage from it, as soon as possible and a further report will be brought to Committee regarding this in due course.

2. Arrangements with DSD. Use of the area outlined red to facilitate access to construct the southern end of the pitch and associated boundary fencing (this land is to transfer to Belfast City Council in April 2016 as part of the transfer of regeneration function from DSD). Part of the land is populated by mature trees and some tree felling may also be required within this area (subject to bird survey) and potentially some re-grading of the slopes to tie in with levels at the edge of the proposed new pitch. Use of this area would involve closing off the pedestrian path which traverses it. Alternative access points to the path system are available some 200 metres to the north near the Brian’s Well Road roundabout and some 200 metres to the south via

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Glenkeen. The Council’s Outdoor Recreation and Education Officer has been consulted on the proposal and has not raised any concerns in terms of the Access to the Countryside Order (NI) 1983.

3. In addition the Council will be seeking agreement from DSD regarding the installation of a drainage pipe across DSD land, approximately at the location marked with a blue line on the map. The pipe facilitates surface water drainage from the proposed new pitch. Further arrangements regarding provision of an Easement to allow retention and future management of the pipe will be required in due course. The DSD land shown hatched black on a white background will form the main access route to the construction site from Bell Steel Road and it is proposed this area will also be included in the Licence Agreement with DSD.

It is proposed that detailed terms as may be agreed with SGCCMC and DSD will be incorporated in Licence Agreements and an Easement agreement to be agreed by the Estates Manager and approved by the Town Solicitor. A separate Easement agreement also be prepared by the Town Solicitor on terms to be agreed by the Estates Manager, in respect of the proposed drainage pipe.

Financial & Resource Implications

The availability of the adjoining land owned by SGCCMC and DSD is essential to delivery of the 3G pitch and car parking. It is envisaged neither SGCCMC or DSD will charge a Licence Fee for use of their land but will anticipate appropriate reinstatement of the land at the end of the Licence period. This will form part of the construction contract. It is envisaged DSD will be unlikely to charge a premium in respect of grant of the required drainage Easement.

Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.

(ii) Licence Agreements: Coffee Docks

Key Issues

The proposed arrangements for each Coffee Dock location include the grant of Licence Agreements, prepared by the Town Solicitor, to the successful parties to allow them to operate at designated locations within each site and to provide

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regulated access to those locations. The names of the proposed licensees are provided in Appendix 2. Approved mobile catering units may only be used for the provision of an agreed range of services in accordance with a Service Specification prepared by Parks and Leisure Department and operators are only permitted access to the sites within agreed operating hours.

Financial & Resource Implications

The Licensee will be responsible for all electricity and other costs, plus relevant insurances and keeping the area free of litter generated by the operation. The successful financial bids over a three year operating period are shown in Appendix 2. It is acknowledged that in accordance with the previous approval of the Parks and Leisure Committee the operation of the units will be subject to review after the first year.

Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.

(iii) Agricultural Land Lettings

Key Issues

Parks and Leisure Department have a number of land holdings on the outskirts of Belfast which comprise large areas of grass. At some of these sites management of the grass is achieved through provision of the land to local farmers to enable them to graze cattle on the land. At other sites, specified areas are provided for the cutting of hay. This is seen as a cost effective management regime and has been the practice for some years. At this time updated arrangements are being put in place with revised formal agreements drafted by the Town Solicitor and further advice and mapping provided by Estates Management Unit. A number of other Parks and Leisure sites remain at a different stage in the letting cycle and arrangements in relation to these will be provided to Committee in due course.

Financial & Resource Implications

The total financial bids for the three years 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17, across all nine sites is £56,309.56. This represents a substantial increase from the previous cycle, when the total three year bids for these sites amounted to £21,058. The increase is mainly driven by an increased demand for the extensive area of land at Cavehill Country Park.

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Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.

(iv) ASSI Declaration at Belfast Zoo

Key Issues

The ASSI Declaration by NIEA follows initial consultation with Council officers. Following the Declaration (made of 31 March 2015) there is a period of four months in which formal representations and objections (on scientific grounds) may be made to NIEA regarding the Declaration.

The Declaration has been made by NIEA due to the presence of a layer of ‘clay with flints’ which is exposed between lower white limestone bedrock and the upper lava flows which form the Antrim Plateau. NIEA data suggests this exposure provides clues to the nature of the environment during its formation between 65 and 75 million years ago. They are of the view that continued sensitive management of the land will ensure the survival of the site’s important geology.

The ASSI Declaration places obligations upon the landowner (in this case the Council) to continue to manage the land as previously and not to take actions which would result in the deterioration of the geological features. In line with this NIEA have provided a list of operations and activities which are likely to cause damage to the features and for which NIEA consent would be required. None of these activities represent an onerous obligation upon the Council. Indeed the designated area comprises mostly cliff face, along a line of disused quarries and is not an area normally accessed for operational purposes.

The Declaration process will result in NIEA making an entry on the Statutory Charges Register to alert any potential future purchaser of the land, regarding of the presence of the ASSI Declaration.

Financial & Resource Implications

There are no known financial implications for the Council arising from the ASSI Declaration.

Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

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Matters Referred Back from Council/Notices of Motion

Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel of 17th April

The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 24th April under the heading “Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel of 17th April” which, at the request of Alderman Rodgers, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

Alderman Rodgers, at whose request the matter had been taken back to the Committee, informed the Members that the issue which has given rise to his concern had been addressed to his satisfaction.

The Committee agreed to affirm its decision of 24th April, that is, to note the minutes of the meeting.

Social Clauses – Update

The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 24th April under the heading “Social Clauses – Update” which had been referred back to the Committee at the request of Councillor Carroll.

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter for a period of one month and that the Minister for the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure be requested to meet with an All-Party deputation from the Council to discuss Social Clauses.

Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme

The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 24th April under the heading “Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme”, an extract of the minute in this regard is set out hereunder:

“Appointment of Members to the Building Successful Communities Programme

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 To consider the appointment of Members to the five Building Successful Communities Forums operating in the city.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 The Committee is recommended to:

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1. Agree to the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder system of proportionality to allocate the available places on the five Forums amongst the political parties represented in the relevant DEAs.

2. Agree to the allocation of the seats on the five Forums as follows:

• Lower Oldpark and Hillview – 1 SF and 1 DUP • Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – 1 DUP and 1 SF • Lenadoon and Glencolin – 2 SF • Lower Shankill & Browns Square and Falls – 1 SF, 1 DUP, 1 PUP and 1 TUV

3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues

3.1.1 In October, 2013 the Department for Social development launched five pilot schemes in Belfast under the Building Successful Communities Programme. These were:

• Lower Oldpark and Hillview • Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer • Lower Shankill and Brown Square • Lenadoon and Glencolin • Lower Falls

3.1.2 These Forums, since their launch, have had membership from elected representatives, local communities and statutory and voluntary agencies. The Forums were tasked with identifying the particular housing and regeneration needs of their area and developing and implementing plans to reverse the decline in those areas and create more sustainable communities.

3.1.3 Elected member representation on the Forums had been identified by way of nomination from MLAs. However, the Department is now seeking the formal nomination of up to two Council representatives on each of the five Forums.

3.1.4 It is suggested that, in order to ensure that the nominated Members are from the District Electoral Areas (DEAs) in which the Forums operate and that the nominations are proportional to the political party

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strengths in those DEAs, a Quota Greatest remainder exercise should be undertaken.

3.1.5 The five Forums and the relevant DEAs have been identified as:

• Lower Oldpark and Hillview – Oldpark DEA • Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – Castle DEA • Lenadoon and Glencolin – Collin and Black Mountain DEAs • Lower Shankill and Brown Square – Court DEA • Lower Falls – Court DEA

3.1.6 Accordingly, it is suggested that the two Forums for Lower Shankill and Brown Square and Lower Falls should be grouped together for the purpose of the proportionality exercise as the membership for both is being drawn from the Court DEA.

3.1.7 The outcome of the Quota Greatest Remainder exercise is set out below:

3.1.8 Lower Oldpark and Hillview – Oldpark DEA

Party Number of Members Representation SF 3 (1.00) 1 DUP 1 (0.33) 1 SDLP 1 (0.33) 0 PUP 1 (0.33) 0 6 2

The Quota Greatest Remainder system dictates that where two or more parties have the same remainder figure the available place should be allocated to that party which attracted the most first preference votes in the most recent local elections. In this instance, DUP, SDLP and PUP each have a remainder figure of 0.33 therefore the second seat is allocated to DUP.

3.1.9 Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – Castle DEA

Party Number of Members Representation DUP 2 (0.67) 1 SF 1 (0.33) 1 ALL 1 (0.33) 0 SDLP 1 (0.33) 0 UUP 1 (0.33) 0 6 2

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The two available seats are therefore allocated to DUP and SF.

3.1.10 Lenadoon and Glencolin – Collin and Black Mountain DEAs

Party Number of Members Representation SF 10 (1.54) 2 SDLP 2 (0.31) 0 PBPA 1 (0.15) 0 13 2

The two available seats are therefore allocated to SF.

3.1.11 Lower Shankill & Brown Square and Lower Falls – Court DEA

Party Number of Members Representation SF 2 (1.33) 1 DUP 2 (1.33) 1 PUP 1 (0.67) 1 TUV 1 (0.67) 1 6 4

The four available seats across the two Forum areas are allocated to SF, DUP, PUP and TUV. It will be a matter for agreement between the four parties concerned as to which of the two Forums they wish to nominate to. In the absence of such agreement, the order of choice should be in relation to the overall Party representation in the Court DEA.

3.2 Financial & Resource Implications

None.

3.3 Equality or Good Relations Implications

As the recommendations are based upon established systems of proportionality set out in the Local Government Act (NI) 2014, there are not any equality or good relations considerations associated with this report.”

The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations.”

After discussion, it was

Moved by Alderman Kingston, Seconded by Alderman Stalford;

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That the allocation of seats on the Forums be as follows:

Oldpark and Hillview – 1 DUP and 1 PUP Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer – 1 DUP and 1 UUP Lenadoon and Glencolin – 2 Sinn Féin Lower and Shankill and Brown Square – 1 DUP and 1 PUP Falls – 2 Sinn Féin

On a vote by show of hands six Members voted for the amendment and ten against and it was declared lost.

Further Proposal

Moved by Councillor Hargey, Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

That the Committee agrees to affirm its decision of 24th April and to adopt the recommendations as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report.

On a vote by show of hands twelve Members voted for the proposal and six against and it was declared carried.

Notice of Motion re: Stained Glass Window – Sport

The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, had considered the following Notice of Motion which had been moved by Alderman Rodgers and seconded by Councillor Copeland:

“Over many years, the Council has worked closely with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Sport Northern Ireland, sports Governing Bodies and numerous clubs, teams and organisations to bring about many benefits to our Capital City.

Accordingly, the Council agrees to the installation of a stained glass window in the City Hall to celebrate the contribution which sport has made to Belfast and to Northern Ireland.”

In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the Motion had been referred without discussion to the Committee.

The Committee was advised that the installation of a further stained window should be considered in the overall context of the City Hall Memorabilia. One of the Council’s primary aims was to make the environment within the City Hall balanced, inclusive and reflective of the backgrounds of all the citizens of the City. At present, the Council was considering the installation of two other stained glass windows. Firstly, a Spanish Civil War Commemorative Window, which was being progressed by a Working Group specifically set up for that purpose and for which a budget had been approved. Secondly, a stained glass window to recognise the role of women in the City which was currently being considered by the Women’s Steering Group.

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The Democratic Services Manager explained that, in keeping with previous decisions and, if the Committee was minded to support the Motion, it might wish to consider establishing a Working Group to progress the matter. That Group could consider the scope of the themes to be depicted within the window and examine the potential costs of production and make a recommendation to the Committee. Thereafter, it would be a matter for the Committee to approve the design and installation of such a window and any costs associated therewith.

The Committee agreed that the Motion be referred to the Diversity Working Group to be considered within the overall context of memorabilia in the City Hall.

Notice of Motion re: Belfast Blitz – 75th Anniversary Commemoration

The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, had considered the following Notice of Motion which had been moved by Councillor Dudgeon and seconded by Councillor McGimpsey:

“The Belfast Blitz has been described as ‘the most disastrous event in the history of the City’. The two major German air raids of 1941 on Easter Tuesday (15 April) and three weeks later on the night of 4th May killed some 740 and 192 civilians respectively. The dead were from all over the City, the most affected areas being the north and east and the City centre, and of course the shipyards and aircraft factory. The 15th of April raid by 180 German aircraft predominantly involved 200 tonnes of high explosives, the second in May also involved 96,000 incendiary fire bombs. No other city, save London, lost so many of her citizens on one night as Belfast did on that Easter Tuesday raid or suffered more incendiaries being dropped as in May.

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The Committee agreed that the Notice of Motion be referred in the first instance to the Diversity Working Group.

Governance

Appointment of Members to the Five Partnership Boards

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 To consider the appointment of Members to the five Partnership Boards.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 The Committee is recommended to:

1. Approve of the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder method to identify those parties entitled to nominate representatives to the North Belfast, South Belfast and East Belfast Partnership Boards, based upon the number of Members returned at the Local Elections for the District Electoral Areas coterminous with the Partnerships’ areas.

2. Approve of the Party allocations for the North, South and East Belfast Partnerships as set out in Sections 3.1.5 to 3.1.12 of the main report.

3. Note that the Committee will be provided with an update at its meeting on 22nd May with regard to the appointment of Members to the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Partnership Boards.

3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues

3.1.1 The former Belfast City Council, in 2011, made nominations of Members to serve on the 5 Partnership Boards (North, South, East and West Belfast and Greater Shankill). These nominations were made from the Members returned for the related District Electoral Areas at the Local Elections, depending upon the political party strengths in those DEAs.

3.1.2 The representation was:

North Belfast Partnership – 5 Members from Castle and Oldpark DEAs

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South Belfast Partnership – 8 Members from Balmoral and Laganbank DEAs East Belfast Partnership – 4 Members from Pottinger and Victoria DEAs West Belfast Partnership – 6 Members from Lower Falls and Upper Falls DEAs Greater Shankill Partnership - 7 Members - 5 from Court DEA and 2 Unionist Members from Oldpark DEA

3.1.3 The District Electoral Areas have been redrawn and the Committee needs to decide how best to nominate representatives to the 5 Boards so that they have an affiliation with the local area. The whole issue of the Partnership Boards – their number and remit – will have to be revisited once the regeneration powers are transferred to the Council, which is expected to happen in 2016. Therefore, the appointment of Members to the 5 Boards is only for the period up until the regeneration function transfers.

3.1.4 The Committee is recommended to adopt the Quota Greatest Remainder system of proportionality, which the Council has already adopted for the appointment of Members to the Standing Committees, to determine the party representation to the Partnership Boards as set out below.

North Belfast Partnership Board (6 Members)

3.1.5 For the past number of years, the Council had 8 representatives on the North Belfast Partnership Board. The Board this time has asked that the Council nominate 6 representatives. The Committee had decided in the past that the Members should be drawn from the representatives elected to the Castle and Oldpark District Electoral Areas and this can be replicated with the new DEAs of Castle and Oldpark.

3.1.6 The strengths of the Parties in these District Electoral Areas is set out below, together with the number of places which the Parties would be entitled to on the Board based upon the strict application of proportionality.

Party Number of Members Representation SF 4 (2.00) 2 DUP 3 (1.50) 2 SDLP 2 (1.00) 1 UUP 1 (0.50) 1 PUP 1 (0.50) 0

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ALL 1 (0.50) 0 12 6

3.1.7 Four of the six seats are automatically allocated (2 SF, 1 DUP and 1 SDLP). There are 4 Parties – DUP, ALL, UUP and PUP - who each have the same remainder score of .50. There are 2 seats remaining between these 4 Parties and, in accordance with established practice, these two places should be rotated amongst the Parties with the same remainder score. The parties which attracted the largest first preference votes in the most recent local elections in the DEAs of Castle and Oldpark, DUP and UUP should be given the additional seat(s) in the first and third years of the 4-year term with the additional places being allocated to PUP and ALL in the second and fourth years.

South Belfast Partnership Board (8 Members)

3.1.8 The appointees have historically been drawn proportionately from the Parties represented in the Balmoral and Laganbank District Electoral Areas. The new DEAs of Balmoral and Botanic are now used for this purpose.

3.1.9 The strengths of the Parties in these District Electoral Areas is set out below, together with the number of places which the Parties would be entitled to on the Board based upon the strict application of proportionality.

Party Number of Members Representation SDLP 2 (1.60) 2 DUP 2 (1.60) 2 SF 2 (1.60) 2 ALL 2 (1.60) 1 UUP 2 (1.60) 1 10 8

3.1.10 All 5 parties – SDLP, DUP, SF, ALL and UUP each have 2 Members in the areas. Five of the eight seats are allocated automatically (one to each of the 5 Parties). There are 3 seats remaining between the 5 Parties and, in accordance with established practice, these three places should be rotated amongst the Parties with the same remainder score. The Parties which attracted the largest first preference votes in the most recent local elections in the DEAs of Balmoral and Botanic should be given the additional seat(s) in the earlier years of the 4-year term. Accordingly, the additional

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places in year 1 would be allocated to SDLP, DUP and SF and then rotated on the following basis: Year 2 – All, UUP, SDLP; Year 3 – DUP, SF, All; and Year 4 – UUP, SDLP, and DUP.

3.1.11 East Belfast Partnership Board (8 Members)

Previously, the Council was allocated 4 places on the East Belfast Partnership Board and 4 places were allocated to the former Castlereagh Borough Council. As the areas of Castlereagh represented by the Board have now moved into the new Belfast City Council, the Board has increased its representation from the Council to 8. The new DEAs of Lisnasharragh, Ormiston and Titanic are now used for calculating the party strengths.

Party Number of Members Repr esentation DUP 6 (2.53) 3 ALL 5 (2.11) 2 UUP 4 (1.68) 2 PUP 1 (0.42) 1 SF 1 (0.42) 0 Green 1 (0.42) 0 SDLP 1 (0.42) 0 19 8

3.1.12 Five of the eight seats are allocated automatically (2 DUP, 2 ALL and 1 UUP). The UUP and the DUP have a remainder score of .68 and .53 respectively and are allocated the next 2 seats. There are 4 Parties – PUP, SF, Green and SDLP- who each have the same remainder score of .42 for the last available seat. In accordance with established practice, this place should be rotated amongst the Parties with the same remainder score. The party which attracted the largest first preference vote in the most recent local elections in the DEAs of Lisnasharragh, Ormiston and Titanic should be given the additional seat in the earlier year of the 4-year term. Accordingly, the additional seat would be allocated to PUP in year 1, to SF in year 2, to Green in year 3 and to SDLP in year 4.

West Belfast Partnership Board (8 Members) and Greater Shankill Partnership Board (6 Members)

3.1.13 The redrawing of the DEAs for the new Council has a particularly significant affect in the West and Greater Shankill areas of the city and, similarly, with the

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consideration of the appointment of Members to the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Partnership Boards.

3.1.14 The area covered by the Greater Shankill Partnership Board encompasses the greater Shankill area as well as parts of the Oldpark area. The new Court DEA by contrast covers the greater Shankill area as well as parts of the Lower Falls area. It is therefore very difficult to identify DEAs which are coterminous with the area covered by the Board.

3.1.15 Previously, the membership of the West Belfast Board was drawn from the former DEAs of Lower Falls and Upper Falls and the membership of the Greater Shankill Board from the Court DEA plus any Unionist Members from the Oldpark DEA. However, the boundaries of the new DEAs of Black Mountain, Collin and Court could now all be viewed as representing the West Belfast area and the Court and Oldpark DEAs the Shankill area.

3.1.16 Discussions are ongoing between the Parties which are entitled to a place or places across these two Partnership Boards to ascertain if an agreed position can be reached with regard to the appointments. The Committee will be updated on the outcome of those discussions at its meeting on 22nd May.

3.2 Financial & Resource Implications

3.2.1 There are not any financial considerations associated with this report.

3.3 Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.3.1 As the recommendations are based upon established systems of proportionality set out in the Local Government Act (NI) 2014, there are not any equality or good relations considerations associated with this report.”

The Committee:

(i) approved the use of the Quota Greatest Remainder method to identify those parties entitled to nominate representatives to the North Belfast, South Belfast and East Belfast Partnership Boards, based upon the number of Members returned at the Local Elections for the District Electoral Areas coterminous with the Partnerships’ areas;

(ii) approved of the Party allocations for the North, South and East Belfast Partnerships as set out in Sections 3.1.5 to 3.1.12 of the main report; and

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(iii) deferred consideration of the appointment of Members to the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Partnerships Boards to enable discussions to take place between the Parties which were entitled to a place or places across those two Partnership Boards to ascertain if an agreed position could be reached with regard to the appointments.

Belfast Agenda

Belfast City Council Employability Initiative

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of report or summary of main issues

1.1 The purpose of this report is to update elected members, as requested at the last Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, on achievements against the job opportunity and work placement targets set out in the Investment Programme, (namely the provision of 200 job opportunities and 400 placements, apprenticeship and internship opportunities).

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 Members are asked to note the achievements against the targets set out in the Investment Programme and agree to the consideration of the Council developing an ‘exemplar’ approach to employability for other employers, particularly within the public sector.

3.0 Main report

Key Issues

3.1 Achievements against the Investment Programme employability targets

Year one, two and three targets for both job opportunities (externally advertised posts) and placements were exceeded; the details are set out below:

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Job opportunities (externally advertised posts) Target 110 60 30 200

Actual 249 276 214 739 (159 (136 (107 (402 permanent, permanent, permanent, permanent,

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90 temp ) 140 temp ) 107 temp ) 337 temp ) Placements Target 170 170 170 510

Actual 252 234 204 690

Appendix 1 provides a detailed breakdown of the employability outreach interventions delivered and the work placements provided.

3.2 Additional achievements and outcomes

3.2.1 The following provides a summary of employability activity carried out in addition to the targets set in the Investment Programme.

3.2.2 Delivery of three pre recruitment and training programmes

In an attempt to reduce the use of agency workers in the Council and create more job opportunities, Members agreed to the creation of up to forty new peripatetic Business Support Clerks. They also agreed to a proposal to ring fence five of these posts to the long term unemployed. Members agreed to pilot this proposal including the delivery of a pre recruitment and training programme, for 40 long term unemployed from across the city.

The project was the first of its kind in the public sector in Northern Ireland and was extremely well received by our partner organisations - DEL and its lead employability contractors across the city; the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and various disability organisations. Five successful candidates were appointed to permanent positions. Following an evaluation, similar programmes were delivered in years 2 and 3 of the Investment Programme, resulting in five more candidates being appointed to seasonal cleansing operative positions and two more appointed to permanent recycling operative posts. This best practice model has been promoted to a range of organisations, and Queens University has recently delivered a similar model.

3.2.3 Apprenticeships and student placements

During the three year Investment Programme we created ten apprenticeship positions (electricians, fleet technicians, painters and gardeners) and provided 61 salaried one year industrial placements for students in local universities.

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3.2.4 International placements

In 2014 we placed a total of nine students - six from Germany, two from France and one from Spain. All of the placements had the opportunity to work in various council departments and some took advantage of working in other city wide organisations.

3.2.5 Lord Mayor’s Shadowing Initiative

In 2014/15, we organised 15 placements for young females to work shadow the Lord Mayor. Keen to encourage young women into political life, during her term in office as Lord Mayor, Cllr Nicola Mallon invited fifteen young women to work shadow her. We worked in partnership with schools, disability organisations, minority ethnic groups and women’s groups to provide the opportunities.

3.2.6 Cinemagic Project

We co-ordinated a joint regional project with NI Assembly and Cinemagic to encourage young females into politics. The young people developed team working and communication skills, innovation, creativity by making three short films, focussing on the use of social media, domestic abuse and STEM subjects, all issues affecting society today. The films were screened as part of our International Women’s Day celebrations at City Hall and also the celebrations Stormont.

3.3 Partnership working

We developed successful partnerships with a number of employability organisations across the city including DEL and its lead contractors, the LEMIS providers, schools, colleges, universities and disability organisations. Please see Appendix Two for further detail.

3.4 Careers in the City Event

In November 2014, we organised the first Belfast City Council careers event which took place in the City Hall. The purpose of the event was to promote employability opportunities to schools, careers teachers, universities and employability advisors across the city. We invited a number of local businesses and organisations to take part. We received very positive feedback from all involved and schools and universities in particular found the information extremely beneficial.

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3.5 Awards & Recognition

In 2014, we won the Employability Champion award at the Business in the Community Responsible employer awards. We have been nominated this year in the same category.

3.6 Sharing our learning

We have shared our learning with many employers across the city and some have implemented similar models in their own organisations. To continue demonstrating civic leadership and in an effort to encourage other employers to excel in their employability outreach, it is proposed that the Council considers the feasibility of developing an ‘exemplar’ approach to employability which could include a programme to share best practice and/or the development of an employability toolkit.

3.7 Social Clauses Outcomes

The table below outlines employability outcomes to date achieved through social clauses. It is proposed that elected members will be briefed on social clause outcomes on a bi monthly basis through the Members’ portal. The employability clauses are categorised into three target areas in line with the draft social clause policy. They are - the long term unemployed, work placements (targeting students and training for success participants) and apprentices. The latter requires contractors to maintain a minimum of 5% of their workforce on recognised apprenticeship schemes. This may therefore contribute towards sustaining employment rather than creating new apprenticeships. This approach will ensure the contract does not create displacement in the market as the council’s contracts will not be in a position to sustain a full apprenticeship programme.

Social Cla uses Employability outcomes to date

Opportunities 23 individuals have secured employment, for the equating to 269 employment weeks. unemployed Apprenticeships 46 apprenticeships are being sustained

Student Work 21 students have been supported through work Placements placements, with 246 placement weeks delivered. Training for 6 individuals have undertaken work Success placements, with 59 placement weeks Placements delivered.

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Financial & Resource Implications

3.8 Financial

There are no additional financial implications in this report. Any costs arising from the development of the proposed exemplar approach would be met by the existing Organisational Development budget.

3.9 Human Resources

Engagement in employability initiatives requires increased support and co-ordination from Corporate Human Resources staff as well as extensive participation and supervision from staff in all departments

3.10 Equality or Good Relations Implications

Corporate HR works closely with the Department of Employment and Learning, the Equality Commission and the Local Government Staff Commission to ensure that all our employability our initiatives are equality proofed.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Employability and Skills Issues and European Social Fund Update

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the report in relation to the employability and skills issues and European Social Fund (ESF) Update to enable details of the request for match funding for ESF Projects which had been received by the Council to be submitted to the next meeting.

Belfast Integrated Tourism Strategy and Associated Year 1 Delivery Plan

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Members following the consultation on the Belfast Integrated Tourism Strategy (2015- 20) and to present the proposed year 1 action plan in line with strategy priorities for Members’ decision.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 Members are asked to:

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- Note the responses to the draft Belfast Integrated Tourism Strategy and approve the revised strategy document, which reflects these comments - Note the proposed year 1 action plan for the strategy, identifying priority schemes, lead partners and resource requirements - Grant delegated authority to the Director of Development or nominees to approve any tenders required to deliver individual elements of the action plan, subject to a form of legal agreement being drawn up by Legal Services.

3.0 Key Issues

3.1 The draft Integrated Tourism Strategy was considered by Shadow Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in November and approved to go out to public consultation: The twelve week consultation process ended on 27 April 2015.

3.2 The strategy was developed in tandem with the City Centre Regeneration Strategy and investment plan and the proposals are aligned to support the future development, economic growth and profile of the city.

3.3 Issues set out in the draft strategy include:

1. The strategic goal is to double the value of tourism by 2020. 2. There are a number of caveats to this including the need to tackle some of the macro issues affecting the competitiveness of the city. Two of the most significant issues identified are air access and availability of accommodation. 3. Identification of the need for true partnership in delivery. The current delivery structures within the city are fragmented and won’t deliver optimal returns as currently aligned. The document suggests very clear roles and responsibilities for the various agencies. 4. Proposal for the development of an innovation group allowing the private sector to provide part of the creative solution. 5. The concept of Belfast as a ‘Giving City’. Working with partners to ensure tourism as a wealth generator has a true impact at a community level across the city. 6. Being more international in the outlook for the city. This means highlighting those elements where Belfast has true International standout, including the peace story.

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7. The need to align the development at the Waterfront Hall with a broader business tourism plan to be developed as part of the process. 8. The need to better align resources behind events that have the potential to attract international visitors staying in commercial accommodation. 9. The importance of young markets (16-35) and young at heart to the city offer. 10. The need to enhance professionalism in the city and encourage the next generation of tourism leaders. 11. The need for more robust data providing real time analysis informing business decisions.

3.4 Following consideration of the draft strategy by the Committee, there has been a series of direct engagements with key partners in the city. Several organisations made formal submissions which have been summarised below. These comments have been reflected in the draft revised strategy.

3.5 Key responses are as follows:

- General support for the vision, mission, themes and direction the strategy is taking. - A strong and consistent message in the responses is the importance of better joined up delivery between key agencies involved in tourism in the city. This is reflected in the draft action plan. The plan will allow for the optimal use of resources across all of the agencies in respect of their activities for Belfast. - Those responding also focused on the need to optimise usage of existing city tourism products and hardware. Locations such as the Ulster Museum, the Mac, Lyric and developments in Titanic Quarter which have been in receipt of significant public investment were referenced. - The strategy identifies a skills deficit at leadership level in tourism in the city, aligned to the points made in the Hunter Review of NITB and Tourism Structures. Those responding and others consulted concurred with this analysis but also identified the need to look at training for those working in customer facing roles. Consideration will need to be give to the DEL budget cuts and the implication of these, particularly for issues such as World Host training and other support for customer-facing staff. - Feedback has also highlighted the need for better packaging and alignment of activity across the city. - In terms of governance a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be put in place between Belfast City Council (BCC), Visit Belfast (VB), Tourism

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NI (TNI) and Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) clearly defining roles in the context of the Belfast Integrated Tourism Strategy and agreed delivery plan.

3.6 All partners will meet regularly as a working group, which will be chaired by Belfast City Council. This group will have collective responsibility to oversee delivery of the Belfast Tourism Strategy. The working group will also be responsible for establishing appropriate targets and milestones for each work stream and for ensuring progress is achieved. This will then be reported back through the appropriate Council committee.

3.7 In order to plan delivery of the priority activities identified in the draft strategy, there has been some preliminary development work undertaken by officers from Belfast City Council, in conjunction with partners from Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Visit Belfast. A draft year 1 action plan has been circulated for Members’ information and endorsement. Some of the activities in which the Council will play a lead role include:

- Developing the city narrative and place positioning strategy - Working with Visit Belfast and Tourism NI to develop a new city visitor pass for 2016/17 - Development of conference subvention scheme with Visit Belfast and Tourism NI to support the development of business tourism in the city, in advance of the opening of the Belfast Waterfront Convention and Exhibition Centre - Collaboration with DEL and other partners to develop and deliver a leadership programme for key hospitality representatives – to encourage excellence within the sector - Work with private developers and the hotel sector to bring forward new hotel developments in the city, in line with projected demand - Further work to develop products around the ‘Beyond Peace’ narrative, in line with the tourism strategy ambitions.

3.8 Financial & Resource Implications

The Integrated Tourism Strategy has been screened out. Actions and initiatives that are developed to take forward the Strategy will be equality screened in line with Belfast City Council policy.

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3.9 Equality or Good Relations Implications

The Integrated Tourism Strategy has been screened out. Actions and initiatives that are developed to take forward the Strategy will be equality screened in line with Belfast City Council policy.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Physical Programme and Asset Management

Capital Programme Update

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1 The Council’s Capital Programme is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. The rolling programme was approved by the Shadow SP&R Committee in January 2015. This report outlines –

• highlights of current status of projects under the Programme • specific project updates – MUGA programme, Playground Improvement Programme 15/16 and 16/17 and Connswater Community Greenway

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 Members are asked to –

General

• note the update in relation to the Capital Programme as outlined in 3.1 and that the Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange site visits for Members/ Party Groups to any capital programme project Capital Programme Project Updates

MUGA Programme – New builds

- note the agreed definition of a MUGAs as ‘ intended to be kick around areas suitable for a variety of informal sports including football, basketball and netball. Due to their nature the majority of MUGAs are accessible and free to use’ - note that in January 2014 Members agreed £565,000 towards two new build MUGAs at Clarendon Playing Fields

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and Annadale and that Springfield Site A was added to this list with a budget of £294,000. These projects are currently at ‘Stage 3– Schemes at Tender Preparation Stage’ on the Capital Programme

ANNADALE

- note that the current costs for this project are £393,000 compared to the budget of £265,000 due to a change in scope of the project.

- note that engagement with the local community groups has highlighted that they do not believe that a MUGA project is the best project for the area in terms of meeting local need and that consultation has highlighted a preference for an outdoor gym and playground development

- agree therefore that the Annadale project no longer forms part of the MUGA Programme and that an alternative proposal for the site is worked up – in line with the Council’s stage approval process this will need to be treated as a new ‘Stage 1 - Emerging project’ and will be brought back to Committee for further consideration in due course following further consultation with the local groups and the South Area Working Group

CLARENDON PLAYING FIELDS

- note that the current costs for this project are £452,000 compared to the budget of £300,000 due to a change in scope of the project - note that the change of scope of the Clarendon project means that it is now for a mini 3G bookable pitch and that this therefore sits outside the agreed definition of a MUGA which should be a free, kick around space. - Given this, Members are asked to agree that the Clarendon project no longer forms part of the MUGA Programme and reconsidered as a stand-alone ‘Stage 1 – Emerging Project’. Members are asked to note that officers will continue to work with Clarendon Club in relation to this proposal

SPRINGFIELD SITE A

- note that the current costs for this project are £322,682 compared to the budget of £294,000 - agree that this project is value engineered to back to within the £294,000 budget

Playground Improvement Programme 2015/16 and 2016/17

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• agree the proposed rolling programme of playground refurbishments as outlined below as recommended by the People and Communities Committee and that note that a maximum budget of £580,000 per annum has been allocated to the Programme and that the Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed that this is within the affordability limits of the Council

Year 1 2015 -2016 Year 2 (2016 – 2017)

a) Skippers a) Cregagh

b) Horn Drive, Lenadoon b) Jubilee Park

c) Belmont Park c) Alloa Street

d) Drumglass Park d) Wedderburn

e) Tirna nog Ligoneil e) Grove

f) Willowbank f) Glencairn

g) Nubia Street g) Ardoyne

h) Springhill Site A

i) Castleton

- Agree that the rolling Playground Refurbishment Playground 2015-17 is moved to Stage 3 – Committed Projects – Schemes at Tender Preparation Stage’ on the Capital Programme and agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver. - Note that the SP&R Committee agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass. Preparatory work is being advanced on these projects and will be taken forward in conjunction with the playground refurbishment programme.

Connswater Community Greenway

• agree the request by the CCG Trust that the existing grant from the Council to the East Belfast Partnership for the Connswater project be transferred to the CCG Trust. Members are also to note that this has no impact on the ongoing project

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3.0 Main report

Key Issues

3.1 The Council’s rolling Capital Programme is a significant programme with over £150m of projects recently completed or currently underway. The Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange site visits for Members/ Party Groups to any Council funded capital project. Key highlights since last month include -

• the launch of the Belfast Bike Share Scheme which has seen the installation of 30 bike docking stations and 300 bikes across the city centre. • the award of the tender for the North Foreshore Infrastructure project – subject to an alcatel period. If there are no challenges during this period it is anticipated that works can commence on site at the end of the month

Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a 3 Stage process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by SP&R. This provides assurance as to the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project. Importantly it will also enable Members to focus on delivering the projects which can have maximum benefits and investment return for the city and local areas.

Project Updates

MUGA Programme

In January 2014 the SP&R Committee agreed the development of a MUGA Programme consisting of a rolling programme of refurbishments to the existing MUGAs and a number of new facilities. In this report it was highlighted that MUGAs are ‘intended to be kick around areas suitable for a variety of informal sports including football, basketball and netball. Due to their nature the majority of MUGAs are accessible and free to use’.

Members are asked to note that since 2014 11 of the Council’s existing MUGAs have been upgraded under the rolling refurbishment programme and all of these are now key neighbourhood assets. Photographs of the upgrades are attached at Appendix 1.

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MUGA Refurbishments MUGA Refurbishments 15/16 14/15 Clara Street Stewart Street Victoria Park Springhill Finlay Park Pitt Park (due to complete end of May) New Lodge Canmore (due to complete end of May) Willowbank North Queen Street (due to complete end of May) Dover Street

In addition to the rolling programme of refurbishments the SP&R Committee in January 2014 also agreed to allocate £565,000 towards two new MUGAs at Annadale and Clarendon Playing Fields. Members are asked to note that Springfield Site A had originally been proposed as a refurbishment however this was amended by Committee to a new build and the new build programme was amended to reflect this.

Members are asked to note that the overall costs for these schemes were based upon proposals which had previously been worked up with an estimated cost of £300,000 for Clarendon, £265,000 for Annadale and £294,000 for Springfield Site A. Following SP&R approval for the new builds a sponsor was assigned to the MUGA Programme, a design team was appointed and detailed design and costs were fully worked up.

Following this detailed examination and consultation with local groups and communities there are a number of key issues which Members now need to consider in relation to the MUGA Programme and in terms of the emerging implications in relation to the overall capital programme and affordability limits.

ANNADALE - The current estimated costs for the Annadale new build are £393,000 –approx. £128,000 above the estimated budget upon which the overall budget figures for the new builds were proposed. The main reason for this was due to a change in scope of the project.

Detailed discussions have been undertaken with local community groups (Ballynafeigh Community Development Association and the Cultural Society) who have highlighted that in terms of local need that they do not feel that the MUGA proposal is the best option for the use of the site and that local consultations have indicated a preference for an outdoor gym and/or a playground on the site. It has been highlighted to the Groups that the money that had been allocated to this project

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is for a MUGA only and that the allocated monies would not automatically transfer to another project and that changing the scope of the project completely would mean that it would need to be re-agreed as a ‘Stage 1 – Emerging Project’ on the Capital Programme. The Groups have accepted this and were going to raise this with local Councillors and via the South Area Working Group.

It is proposed therefore that the Annadale project no longer forms part of the MUGA Programme and that an alternative proposal for the site is worked up – in line with the Council’s stage approval process this will need to be treated as a new Stage 1 - Emerging proposal and will be brought back to Committee for further consideration in due course following further consultation with the local groups and the South Area Working Group

CLARENDON PLAYING FIELDS - The current estimated costs for the Clarendon new build are £452,000 –approx. £150,000 above the estimated budget upon which the overall budget figures for the new builds were proposed . The main reason for this has been due to a change in scope to the project.

Members are asked to note that the Clarendon proposal is now essentially for a mini-3G bookable pitch and therefore as a project this sits outside the definition of a MUGA a free, kick around spaces as included in the SP&R Committee report of Jan 14. Given the significant variance between the current costs and the original budget of £300,000 Council officers have been working closely with Clarendon in order to re-examine the project and consider available options. Value engineering has been examined including reducing the size etc. however the project will require significant amendments to bring it back within budget. The Group have highlighted that any changes to the design to bring it within budget would not provide the outcomes which are looking to be achieved and have expressed that

- A reduced size facility would offer little more than currently exists - A reduced size facility is not what had previously discussed - A reduced sized facility would not support the delivery of small sided game programmes and they have been in discussion with the IFA re use of the facility post completion

Clarendon have a Facilities Management Agreement (FMA) in place and it is anticipated that they are looking at the income that will be generated through the mini pitch. Members will be

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aware however that the future of FMAs is currently under review with work on this being taken forward by the Parks & Leisure Department. It has been highlighted as part of this process that the FMAs at both Clarendon and Willowbank required to be re-examined Members are asked to note that a planning application for this project was submitted in February 2015 based on current proposal however a PQQ has not yet been issued as the project remains over budget and no detailed consultation has been undertaken.

Members are asked that given the change in scope of this project that it no longer forms part of the MUGA Programme and reconsidered as a ‘Stage 1 – Emerging Project’. Officers will continue to work closely with Clarendon Club on this proposal.

SPRINGFIELD SITE A - The current estimated costs for the Springfield Avenue new build MUGA are £322,000 –approx. £28,000 above budget The main reason for this is primarily that the original costs were historic and have had to be updated to reflect current market conditions. It is therefore proposed that this project is value engineered back to within the £294,000 budget.

Playground Improvement Programme 2015-2017

Members will be aware that for the past number of years a rolling programme of refurbishments of playgrounds has been carried out. Since its inception in 2012, this Programme has made a significant impact on overall quality and play value of the city’s playgrounds. Through the Programme a total investment of £745k has improved accessibility and play value at each of the sites, providing new inclusive equipment, safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.

Members are asked to note that the Playground Improvement Programme was previously funded out of revenue budgets however it has been agreed that this is now funded under the Capital Programme and a budget of £580,000 per annum has been allocated to this

On the basis of the most recent independent inspections the People & Communities Committee has recommended the playground as outlined in Table 1 below be refurbished during 2015/16 and 2016/17.

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Year 1 2015 -2016 Year 2 (2016 – 2017)

- Skippers - Cregagh

- Horn Drive, Lenadoon - Jubilee Park

- Belmont Park - Alloa Street

- Drumglass Park - Wedderburn

- Tirna nog Ligoneil - Grove

- Willowbank - Glencairn

- Nubia Street - Ardoyne

- Springhill Site A

- Castleton

In reviewing the proposed playgrounds below Members are asked to note that it was agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass. Work on these will be progressed at the same time as the Improvement Programme

Members are asked to agree that the Playground Improvement Playground 2015-17 is moved to Stage 3 – Committed Projects – Schemes at Tender Preparation Stage’ on the Capital Programme and approval is further sought to initiate the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

Connswater Community Greenway

Members will be aware that work on Phase 2 of the CCG is underway in partnership with the East Belfast Partnership (EBP). The EBP has established a separate subsidiary company, the Connswater Community Greenway Trust, which has recently received charitable status by the NI Charity Commission. As a result of this the Trust is now in a position to take on the full budgetary responsibility for the remainder of the BCC grant relating to Connswater Greenway. The East Belfast Partnership have therefore formally requested that the existing CCG Grant from the Council to the East Belfast Partnership be transferred to the CCG Trust. Members are

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asked to note that this will not have any impact on the ongoing delivery of the project.

3.13 Financial & Resource Implications

MUGA Programme – Annadale, Clarendon and Springfield Site A MUGA proposals are all above agreed budgets

Playground Improvement Programme 15/16 – 16/17 – A maximum budget of £580,000 per annum has been allocated to the Playground Improvement Programme

Connswater Community Greenway – No implications in terms of the Council

Resources – Ongoing resources in terms of project delivery Equality or Good Relations Implications

All capital projects are screened as part of the stage approval process.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Waterfront Hall Works and Services

The Director of Property and Projects reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 24th April, it had approved the derogation from Standing Orders for works associated with the first phase of the upgrade of the Waterfront Hall. It would also make sense for the Council to also use the already appointed design team to assist in the development of the entire upgrade work and normally that would be dealt with by a variation to the existing contract.

However, because of the funding conditions relation to the main works, he had been advised by Legal Services that this should be taken forward as a separate contract and, therefore, required the Committee to derogate from Standing Order 54, in that the exception was justified under special circumstances, in relation to the appointment and he recommended accordingly.

The Committee adopted the recommendation.

Belvoir Estate

The Committee agreed that consideration of the installation of a multi-use games area (MUGA) at Belvoir Estate be considered in the first instance by the People and Communities Committee.

Belfast Investment Fund (BIF) - Update

The Director of Property and Projects submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

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“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 The Council has established a Belfast Investment Fund which is designed to support partnership projects across the city. At the April SP&R Committee Members noted that there was £22m available under BIF and agreed new objectives/ eligibility criteria for BIF projects including that projects must align to the Belfast Agenda vision and outcomes and the removal of the 50% match funding requirement (see Appendix 1). Members agreed that the current Stage 1 BIF proposals would be re-assessed against the revised eligibility criteria and objectives and against the 4 investment ‘abilities’ which guide all capital projects. This paper sets out –

- a number of key issues for Members to consider in relation to BIF - the outcome of this assessment and - proposed next steps

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 In relation to BIF Members are asked to note-

• there is a finite amount of resources available under BIF - it will therefore not be possible for all the proposed BIF projects to be delivered and there will be an opportunity cost of approving one BIF project over another • BIF is a rolling programme over this council term and beyond and therefore there is no requirement for immediate investment decisions • the city and investment context has changed since many of the BIF projects were originally proposed and none of the current proposals are within the enhanced boundaries and they have not been set within an overall city or area framework • that SP&R, as the Council’s Investment Decision Maker, is responsible for taking decisions on a city- wide, not an area, basis and therefore it has to ensure that the Council’s investment in projects is transformational, sustainable and helps to deliver the optimal economic, social and community benefits

It is acknowledged that the above issues will require Members to take some hard decisions in terms of BIF projects prioritisation and that Members will wish to consider this in greater detail before progressing any projects. It is therefore recommended that BIF and the outcome of the assessment against the 4 investment ‘abilities’ is taken into the next round

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of the AWGs so that Members can go through BIF and the projects in detail. This will allow Members to -

- consider how BIF investment best fits within the emerging city wide and area plans and how the Council ensures that the benefits of its BIF investment is maximised - to consider the impact of the enhanced boundaries and the geographies of the new area working groups - to determine if there are any additional projects which should be added to the list; to consider any which projects are no longer viable and which could potentially be removed

Members are also aware that a series of ‘Belfast conversations’ are underway which have been focused in local areas and that feedback from these sessions may be useful for Members in helping to determine BIF priorities. It is also important that investment decisions are not taken in isolation and so at these sessions Members will be taken through the other physical investments which are underway or potentially planned in their areas either via the Council or through other initiatives including SIF, Urban Villages and Building Successful Communities. This will help Members to potentially cluster projects together which will further maximise the benefit of BIF investment for the city.

3.0 Main report

KEY ISSUES

3.1 There are 23 current BIF project proposals. The Lagan Gateway is the only project which is currently approved as a Stage 3 – Committed project. 2 projects (St. Comgall’s and St. Mary’s CBS) are currently in Stage 2 and were moved by Committee due to their state of readiness and/or their potential match funding ability. An update on the status of these projects is outlined in 3.5

OUTCOME OF ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE 4 INVESTMENT ABILITIES

3.2 It was agreed last month that the ‘Stage 1- Emerging BIF proposals’ should be retested against the revised eligibility criteria and objectives and reassessed and scored against the 4 investment ‘abilities’. This process reflects the RAG status assessment which LIF proposals are taken through. This assessment has now been carried out and as part of this each project was tested and RAG scored against a number of key areas as outlined below. Further information on what was assessed has been circulated.

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• Affordability – greater priority to be given to those proposals which have a match funding offer in place and/or which are likely to lever in additional monies rather than a 100% Council investment in project. • Feasibility - to assess the fit of proposals in terms of alignment with the Belfast Agenda (i.e. Plan on a Page); alignment with the IP principles as above together with an assessment of the project outcomes; identified needs and project beneficiaries • Deliverability – to ascertain how deliverable projects are in terms of statutory approvals, design and delivery method etc. • Sustainability – to give greater consideration to those proposals which will have no on-going revenue implications for the Council or which have secured revenue streams for their ongoing sustainability

3.3 The outcomes of the assessment are outlined below for Members consideration – this is based on the status of projects as at May 2015. The costs outlined are heavily caveated as these are based on high level Stage 1 information and they have not been tested by the Council – these should be treated as a guide only in terms of allowing Members to consider balanced investment across the city in terms of BIF investment.

WEST

LIONRA ULADH DAVITTS AN SPORTLANN BLACK MOUNTAIN (RADIO FAILTE) SHARED SPACE (BLIF22) Approx. £1.75m Approx £2.25m Approx £2.9m + Approx.£7.5 - £11m £375k secured £150k secured VAT No other funding Approx costs No other funding secured secured. Letter of intent DCAL

AFFORDABILITY -

FEASIBILITY - - - -

DELIVERABILITY -

SUSTAINABILITY -

OVERALL RAG / - SCORE

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BELFAST HILLS SUFFOLK ST ANDREWS CONWAY MILL (BIF20) COMMUNITY (BLIF24) FORUM (BLIF21) £650,000 £415k Approx.£2.74m N/A Approx costs No other funding No other funding secured secured Withdrawn from AFFORDABILITY - - - process FEASIBILITY - - -

DELIVERABILITY - - -

SUSTAINABILITY - - -

OVERALL RAG / - - - SCORE

Members are asked to note that the project promoters for the Conway Mill project have advised the Council that this project is no longer proceeding.

NORTH

GRACE CLIFTONVILLE CANCER WOMEN'S COMMUNITY ST KEVINS HALL LIFELINE MALGROVE CENTRE FORUM £3.4m Approx. Approx £2m Approx £1m No other £440k No other No other Approx costs funding secured No other funding funding funding secured secured secured

AFFORDABILITY -

FEASIBILITY - - - - -

DELIVERABILITY -

SUSTAINABILITY -

OVERALL RAG / SCORE -

Members are asked to note that there are two additional proposals in North – Ballysillan Masterplan and Old Grove Masterplan – however individual projects under these have not been identified and it is not possible to assess a Masterplan. Individual projects can be assessed if these are identified and prioritised at a future date

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EAST

BLOOMFIELD WILLOWFIELD H&W WELDERS STRAND CINEMA COMMUNITY PARISH CHURCH CLUB (BLIF11) ASSOC (BLIF12) (BLIF13) (BLIF14) Approx £2.14m – Approx £1.4-2m Approx £441k Approx £1.1m Phase 1 No other funding No other funding £540k secured No other funding secured secured BIF - £560k (?) secured

AFFORDABILITY

FEASIBILITY

DELIVERABILITY -

SUSTAINABILITY -

OVERALL RAG / SCORE -

SOUTH LANYON TUNNELS (BIF09) GILPINS (BLIF10) Approx £1.5m Approx £6m No other funding No other funding secured – SIF sought secured

AFFORDABILITY -

FEASIBILITY - -

DELIVERABILITY -

SUSTAINABILITY -

OVERALL RAG / SCORE -

ISSUES FOR MEMBERS TO CONSIDER

3.4 There is an opportunity cost of approving one BIF project over another and this raises a number of key issues and hard decisions for Members in terms project prioritisation and there are a number

- the projects proposed above were recommended through AWGs – the SP&R Committee, as the Council’s Investment Decision Maker, is responsible for taking decisions on a city-wide basis and ensuring that the Council’s investment in projects is transformational and sustainable and helps to deliver the optimal economic, social and community

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benefits to the city. The SP&R Committee must therefore determine if the project proposed above deliver on this and represent the best investment in terms of BIF investment - the city and investment context has changed since many of these projects were proposed e.g. the enhanced boundaries and the council’s new roles and responsibilities including community and spatial planning under LGR, the emerging area plans which are due to be developed and the role of the new area workings and other emerging city-wide initiatives including Building Successful Communities and Urban Villages. None of the current proposals are within the enhanced boundaries and all were proposed without an overarching city or area framework. Members are asked to consider - BIF is a rolling programme over this council term and beyond and therefore there is no requirement for immediate investment decisions which allows Members the opportunity to take time to consider other projects and the emerging city and area frameworks as outlined above

STAGE 2 PROJECTS –

3.5 As outlined in 3.1 above there are currently 2 BIF projects at Stage 2. An update on these is outlined below.

St. Mary’s – This project was moved to Stage 2 due to the potential of match funding by DSD. Members are asked to note that this project is not on the current list of projects which are due to be progressed by DSD this year (this is still subject to final confirmation by DSD).

St. Comgall’s – This project has been prioritised by the West SIF Zone and is currently being economically appraised by OFMDFM. This appraisal process is ongoing and Council officers are working closely with OFMDFM and Falls Community Council on this.

NEXT STEPS

3.6 It is acknowledged that this is a complex report and that it raises a number of issues that will require Members to take some hard decisions in terms of BIF projects prioritisation. It is therefore recommended that BIF and the outcome of the assessment against the 4 investment ‘abilities’ is taken into the AWGs so that Members can go through BIF and the projects in detail. This will allow Members to -

- consider how BIF investment best fits within the emerging city wide and area plans and how the Council ensures that the benefits of its BIF investment is maximised

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- to consider the impact of the enhanced boundaries and the geographies of the new area working groups - to determine if there are any additional projects which should be added to the list; to consider any which projects are no longer viable and which could potentially be removed - Members are also aware that a series of ‘Belfast conversations’ are underway which have been focused in local areas and that feedback from these sessions may be useful for Members in helping to determine BIF priorities.

3.8 Financial & Resource Implications

• Financial - £22m is available for under the Belfast Investment Fund. With the agreement of the BIF allocation of £2.15m to the Lagan Gateway this means there is approx. £20m left under BIF. The final decisions on which BIF projects are supported will be taken by SP&R as the Council’s investment decision maker and in line with the principle of balanced investment across the city’s 4 quadrants.

• Resource - Officers will be required to help work up projects to bring them to a point where Members can take informed investment decisions.

Further resources may be required from a project management, estates, legal and financial perspective dependent on how projects are delivered

Equality or Good Relations Implications

Any changes to BIF will need to be rescreened.”

The Committee adopted the recommendation.

Super-connected Belfast Update

The Committee noted the contents of a report which had provided an update on the Super-connected Belfast programme of work which comprised three strands, that is, the Belfast Connection Voucher Scheme; the Public Sector Wi-Fi Hotspots; and the Metro-Wireless Project.

Finance/Procurement and Performance

Partnership Panel

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

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“1.0 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT or SUMMARY OF MAIN ISSUES

1.1 To update Members on the recent meeting of the Regional Partnership Panel and seek endorsement of the proposed Partnership Work Plan for the period 2015-2019.

2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1 Members are asked to:-

(i) note the contents of the report including the update on discussions at the Partnership Panel meeting on 28 April 2015;

(ii) consider and endorse the draft Partnership Panel Work Plan 2015-19, with the following caveats set out:

- it remains a live document with councils having the ability to bring forward additional priorities for the consideration of the Panel as may be appropriate; - recommending the inclusion of an additional strand of work relating to the identification and maximisation of potential funding mechanisms available to both central and local government to deliver common priorities; and

3.0 MAIN REPORT

3.1 Key Issues

3.1.1 As Members will recall the Environment Minister, Mark Durkan, MLA established a Regional Partnership Panel between central and local government under the auspices of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 2014. The purpose of the Partnership Panel is to:

(a) give advice to any Northern Ireland department about matters affecting the exercise of any of its functions; (b) make representations to any Northern Ireland departments about any matters affecting, or of concern to, those involved in local government; and (c) give advice to those involved in local government.

3.1.2 The Local Government Act provides for all Executive Ministers (including Junior Ministers) to be members of the Partnership Panel. Local government representation on the Panel comprises one nominated elected Member from each of the 11 councils (designated as a position of responsibility) and cross-party representation from NILGA. Members will be

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aware that Councillor John Kyle is the Council’s nominated representative on the Partnership Panel.

3.1.3 Partnership Panel Work Plan

The Partnership Panel met on 28 April 2015 to discuss, among other things, its draft Work Plan for the period 2015- 19. At the meeting, it had been acknowledged that councils should have the opportunity to consider and input into the Work Plan and, therefore, it has been issued for formal consideration and endorsement by councils.

The work plan outlines three key themes with a number of associated workstreams and specific actions and delivery targets, namely:-

Theme 1: Effective Public Service Delivery

i. Shared Services ii. Investment in Public Services iii. Performance Management and Improvement

Theme 2: Strengthening Local Democracy

iv. Community Planning v. Assembly and Executive Review vi. Additional Powers/ Further Functions to Local Government vii. Collaboration in Programme for Government targets

Theme 3: Effective Partnership Panel

viii. Strengthening Relations between the two tiers of government, and ix. Review operation of the Partnership Panel, including supporting arrangements

Members are asked to endorse the Work Plan as set out subject to (i) it remaining a live document with the Council having the ability to bring forward additional priority issues for the consideration of the Panel as may be appropriate; (ii) consideration be given to the inclusion of an additional strand of work relating to the identification and maximisation of potential funding mechanisms available to both central and local government to deliver common priorities.

3.1.4 Attached at Appendix 2 is a note of the key outcome of discussions at the Partnership Panel meeting which has been issued by NILGA as secretariat to the Panel. A formal

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minute of the meeting will be issued in due course. Some of the key issues discussed included:

• NI Executive Budgets - Local Government (LG) stressed the importance for advance negotiations and engagement on the NI Executive 2016/17 budget process. Highlighted the importance of early notification of potential budgetary cuts which will help inform local rates forecasting processes for 2016/17.

• Well-Being Agenda – Panel received a presentation by Joint Chairs of Carnegie Trust (Dr Aideen McGinley and Mr John Woods) highlighting the importance of Well Being Agenda in terms of government planning and delivery of services and finding expression in the new Programme for Government. Potential fact finding site visit to Scotland for Panel Members to examine how Well Being is linked to delivery of single outcome agreements.

• Code of Conduct - Panel members requested that an early review be undertaken of elements of the Code of Conduct for elected Members. The Environment Minister Mark Durkan, confirmed his intention to facilitate further meetings to resolve areas which are unsatisfactory

• Shared Services – Local Government supported the general principles underlying shared services including potential efficiency savings, however, strong caveat set out that councils are sovereign entities who already have a proven track record of effective and efficient service delivery. Councils will continue to explore potential opportunities for collaboration which would bring benefits.

• Review of Central Government – Local Government sought formal input into to the Review of the NI Assembly including the numbers and roles of the new departments.

• LGR transfer of Assets – LG sought confirmation from DoE Minister on the position regarding unresolved insurance claims and associated liabilities lodged before April 15 for transferred car parks and other capital assets

3.1.5 Regular update reports will be brought back to Committee providing Members with the opportunity to input into the emerging work of the Partnership Panel.

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3.2 Financial & Human Resource Implications

There are no Financial or Human Resource implications contained within this report.

3.3 Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no Equality or Good Relations implications contained within this report.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

Contracts for Award

The Committee approved the public advertisement and delegated authority to the appropriate Director, using pre-agreed criteria, to accept the most economically advantageous tender and allow month by month extensions where contracts were under review for the following:

Contracts for Award, Schedule of tenders for consideration

Title of tender Senior Responsible Proposed contract Officer duration

Tender for collection and recycling Siobhan Toland 3 years with option of of scrap metal including one year extension abandoned vehicles

Tender for the supply of winter Siobhan Toland 4 years warmth packs for adults and children

Tender for demolition, blocking up Siobhan Toland 1 year with option of and repair of properties and renewal on an annual dilapidated buildings basis for a further

Implementation of a secure BACS Paul Gribben 5 years and cheque payment solution

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Tenders under review requiring extension of contract period on a month by month basis

Title of tender Senior Responsible Officer

Tender for collection and recycling of scrap metal including Siobhan Toland abandoned vehicles

Tender for provision of travel agency services Ronan Cregan

Tender for provision of employment agency services Jill Minne

Tender for supply of electrical supplies and lamps Gerry Millar

Tender for provision of taxi services Gerry Millar

Tender for supply and delivery of promotional items Gerry Millar

Tender for paper and degradable plastic sacks Gerry Millar

Equality and Good Relations

Minutes of the Meeting of the Good Relations Partnership

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Good Relations Partnership of 11th May and adopted the recommendation in relation to the following:

Prioritised Good Relations Action Plan

The submission of the revised Action Plan to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), noting that the Council’s contribution would remain as was agreed in the Revenue Estimates for 2015/16 and that concerns regarding the reduced level of funding would continue to be communicated to OFMDFM.

Disability Strategy 2015 - 2018 and Associated Action Plans

The Committee approved the Disability Strategy and Action Plans, copies of which were available on the Council’s website, and agreed that documents be issued for consultation for a twelve week period from 3rd June till 26th August, 2015.

Operational Issues

Notice of Motion – Tax Justice

The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 1st April, 2015, had considered a Notice of Motion in relation to Tax Justice. The Motion had

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recognised that there was a growing awareness of aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion and its associated impact, as well as the importance of curtailing tax avoidance and evasion to create a sound market economy in which all traders could compete on a level playing field to provide goods and services.

The Director of Property and Projects explained that a wider impact of tax avoidance and evasion was on the local and international economy, and, in particular, its cost to some of the world’s poorest countries. As a result of tax avoidance and evasion by some multinational corporations, developing nations were estimated to lose sums greater than the amount they received in development aid each year. The United Kingdom Government had already taken steps to tackle tax abuse by companies seeking to secure public contracts by issuing “Procurement Policy Note 03/14 – promoting tax compliance” which was mandatory for Central Government Departments.

He stated that the Council now had an opportunity to utilise its procurement process to help increase the awareness of companies regarding their tax compliance. That could be achieved by amending procurement policies to ensure that all bidders for Council contracts above the European threshold self-certified that they were fully tax compliant, in line with Central Government practice. From a practical perspective, tax compliance measures would be incorporated into the Council’s current procurement procedures. A set of tax questions would be included in procurement documentation for companies to complete when bidding for contracts. It was anticipated that that would not be onerous for either bidders to provide or for officers to administer. If approved, that change could be incorporated immediately.

The Committee approved the amendment of Council’s procurement policies to ensure that all bidders for Council contracts above current European Union thresholds self-certified that they were fully tax compliant and that the Council actively publicise the policy change.

Allowances for Civic Dignitaries for 2015/16

The Committee considered a report in relation to the allowances payable to the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and High Sheriff and agreed not to increase the allowances for the 2015/16 year.

Recording of Committee Meetings

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 The Shadow Council, at its meeting in October 2014, referred the undernoted Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor Long, to the Shadow Strategic Policy & Resources Committee for consideration.

1.2 ‘In order to increase openness and transparency, so far as is reasonably practicable, this Council will make an audio and potentially video recording of so much of any Committee

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meeting of the Council as is open to the public and the recordings will be made available to the public at the City Hall and published on the Council’s website.’

1.3 At shadow SP&R the matter was deferred to allow Members to give full consideration to the implications of either of the proposals.

2.0 Recommendation

2.1 The Committee is asked to determine whether it wishes to adopt either of the proposals contained within the referred Notice of motion for webcasting or audio recording and publication of committee meetings.

2.2 Alternatively, given that completely new Committees with new priorities and reporting arrangements have been set up within the new Council, it is likely to take a number of months for those Committees to develop their plans. Therefore, the Committee might wish to decide to defer consideration of the matter until the new Committees have been in operation for 6 months to allow them time to become comfortable with their new remits and to revisit the matter at that point.

3.0 Main Points

3.1 Key Issues

3.1.1 Costings in respect of adopting either of the proposals are as follows;

Costs for Webcasting Committee meetings

3.1.2 If the existing contract with Public-I were to be extended on the same terms as the existing contract for the webcasting of Council meetings to cover 5 Committee meetings each month (with the exception of the recess month of July) then the number of total hours contracted for would need to be increased and the estimated additional monthly cost of doing so is estimated at £525 (£6,300 per annum). There would also be some additional staffing costs for a webcast operator and engineer to be present during such meetings, which are normally held in part outside normal contracted hours.

3.1.3 The cost of providing webcasting facilities in the Committee Room is estimated at an annual cost of £20,000 - £25,000 as this would require the installation of cameras and the computer equipment to allow for the webcasting to take place. It is unlikely that the Committee Room would be large

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enough to allow for the installation of a dedicated webcasting station whilst also setting aside an area for the members of the public to attend and for those reasons this option is not considered to be feasible.

Audio Recording in Committee Rooms

3.1.4 An estimate has been received for the provision of equipment in the Committee Rooms to allow for the audio recording of Committee meetings on media which would allow for the recordings to be made available after the meeting on the Council’s website.

3.1.5 The estimated initial cost of the provision of this equipment is £500 per room (including set up costs). If we were to provide it in only the main Committee Room (Lavery Room) then the annual running costs would be £50. If we were to extend the provision to the Conor Room also then this cost would double to £100.

3.1.6 It is for the committee to determine if it wishes to adopt either of the proposals. On one view the publication of proceedings in committee by either proposal will allow for greater transparency and public scrutiny. However it may also sit uncomfortably with the concept that the committee process allows members to engage with one another in a less formal setting in which free, frank and open exchanges take place. Members need also to be aware that recordings may be used as evidence.

3.1.7 The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 requires the Council to provide for the audio recording of full Council meetings and this requirement is met under our current policy of webcasting the Council meetings. This requirement is not extended to Committee meetings and the Council is under no obligation to record the proceedings of Committees in any way other than through the official minute record.

3.2 Financial & Resource Implications

3.2.1 The cost of upgrading the webcasting service to allow for the broadcasting and archiving of the Committees’ meetings is estimated at £6,300 per annum plus staff costs.

3.2.2 The estimated cost of providing audio recording equipment in the Committee Room(s) is £500 for purchase and set up plus £50per room annually for running costs.

3.2.3 No specific budget has been set aside for these costs but, should the Committee decide to proceed with either option,

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the additional costs could be met from within Departmental budgets.

3.3 Equality or Good Relations Implications

None associated with this report.”

After discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor Long, Seconded by Councillor McNamee,

That the Committee agrees to proceed with the audio recording of Committee meetings with effect from September, 2015.

Amendment

Moved by Alderman Kingston, Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

That the Committee agrees to defer consideration of the matter, for a period of six months, to enable the new Committees to become comfortable with their remits and to revisit the matter at that point.

On a vote by show of hands six Members voted for the amendment and ten against and it was declared lost.

The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor Long and seconded by Councillor McNamee was put to the meeting when ten Members voted for and none against and it was declared carried.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel

The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel of 14th May.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel of 5th May.

Requests for the Use of the City Hall and the Provision of Hospitality

The Committee considered the undernoted requests for the use of the City Hall and the provision of hospitality:

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Organisation/ Event/Date - Number Request Comments Recommendation Body of Delegates/Guests

British BAOS Annual The use of the Delegates will be The use of the City Association of Conference Dinner City Hall and staying in Hall and the Oral Surgeons the provision of accommodation in provision of 7th September, 2017 hospitality in the Belfast and the hospitality in the Approximately 300 form of a drinks Conference will form of wine and attending reception take place within soft drinks the city. Approximate cost This event would £500 contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘City Leadership – Strong, Fair, Together’.

Miller Trust for Miller Conference on The use of the Delegates will be The use of the City Radiation Radiation Chemistry City Hall and staying in Hall and the Chemistry Conference Dinner the provision of accommodation in provision of hospitality in the Belfast and the hospitality in the 21st August, 2019 form of a drinks Conference will form of wine and Approximately 150 reception take place within soft drinks the city. attending Approximate cost This event would £500 contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘City Leadership – Strong, Fair, Together’.

Barnardos LifeSkills Youth The use of the This event will The use of the City Northern Ireland Achievement Event City Hall and recognise the Hall and the the provision of achievements of provision of 16th June, 2015 hospitality in the young people who hospitality in the Approximately 100 form of a drinks have participated in form of wine and attending reception the LifeSkills soft drinks programme, which aims to develop Approximate cost young peoples’ £250 understanding of the importance of self-esteem and helps develop social skills. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘Better Support for People and Communities’ and in addition would contribute to the Council’s thematic area of Children and

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Young People.

Flax Trust Inter-Community School The use of the This event will The use of the City Choirs Awards (FISCA) City Hall and provide schools Hall and the the provision of across North provision of 3rd December, 2015 hospitality in the Belfast the hospitality in the Approximately 550 form of tea, opportunity to form of tea, coffee attending coffee and showcase their and biscuits biscuits intercommunity choirs and to Approximate cost promote music and £500 song as a neutral means of communication, and its ability to change perceptions and eliminate community tensions and religious prejudices. This event will culminate in the presentation of the award for best choir. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘Better Support for People and Communities’.

NOW Group NOW Graduation The Use of the This event will The use of the City Celebration City Hall highlight the work Hall of NOW an 28th October, 2015 organisation which Approximately 200 provides training attending and employment services for people with learning difficulties. It will aim to demonstrate that Belfast is a city that supports people with all levels of learning difficulties and will provide the much needed support for integration into all areas of public life. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘City Leadership – Strong, Fair, Together’, ‘Better

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support for people and communities’ and ‘Better opportunities for success across the city’.

British Deaf Celebration of 125 The use of the This event will The use of the City Association Years of the British Deaf City Hall and highlight and Hall and the Association the provision of acknowledge the provision of hospitality in the achievements of hospitality in the 3rd November, 2015 form of tea, the Association form of tea, coffee Approximately 100 coffee and over the past 125 and biscuits attending biscuits years and to recognise local Approximate cost Deaf organisations £250 and local young deaf people. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘ City Leadership – Strong, Fair, Together’ , ‘Better Opportunities for Success Across the City’ and ‘Better Support for People and Communities’

Philippines Philippines The use of the This event will The use of the City Unified Support Independence Day City Hall and celebrate the 117th Hall and the Organization – Celebration the provision of anniversary of provision of Northern Ireland hospitality in the Philippine hospitality in the (PUSO-NI) 21st June, 2015 form of a drinks independence and form of wine and Approximately 200 reception will aim to bring soft drinks attending together the various Philippine Approximate cost community £500 organisations across Northern Ireland, the U.K and Ireland to help explore shared cultures, traditions and beliefs. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘City Leadership – Strong, Fair, Together’ and ‘Better Support for People and Communities’.

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Northern Ireland Remembering The Use of the This event will The Use of the City Interfaith Forum Srebrenica City Hall provide delegates Hall and members of 5th July, 2015 the public with an Approximately 50 understanding of attending the events and history of Srebrenica, and aims to bring together those interested in interfaith work. Delegates will be staying in accommodation in Belfast. This event would contribute to the Council’s Key Theme of ‘Better Support for People and Communities’.

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

NILGA Annual Conference 2015

The Committee was advised that the 2015 NILGA Annual Conference was being held in the La Mon House Hotel, Castlereagh, on 18th June from 9.30 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. The Council was usually represented on the event each year and this year’s conference was entitled “Northern Ireland’s New Councils: Beyond the First 100 Days: Growing Local Democracy and Economies in Partnership”. The cost of attendance at the conference was £121 plus VAT per delegate.

The Committee approved the attendance of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, the Council’s representatives on NILGA (or their nominees) and the appropriate Council officers.

Business in the Community (BITC) Awards

The Committee was advised that the Council had been shortlisted for two Business in the Community Awards. Firstly, the Employability Champion (Corporate HR and Economic Initiatives) and, secondly, the Resource Efficiency Champion (Waste Management and Economic Initiatives).

The Committee approved the purchase of one table accommodating ten places at the Awards on 4th June, 2015 to facilitate Council representation at the Awards with the following:

• the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (or a nominee);

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• the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee (or a nominee);

• the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the People and Communities Committee (or a nominee); and

• a maximum of seven officers from across the four participating business units.

Chairperson

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People and Communities Committee

Tuesday, 12th May, 2015

MEETING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Members present: Councillor Corr Johnston (Chairperson); the High Sheriff (Councillor McKee); Aldermen McCoubrey and Rodgers; Councillors Austin, Bradshaw, Brown, Copeland, Corr, Garrett, Groves, Hanna, Heading, Jones, Mallon, McAllister, McCabe, Newton and Sandford.

Also attended: Councillor Kyle

In attendance: Mr. R. Cregan, Director of Finance and Resources; Mr. G. Millar, Director of Property and Projects; Mrs. R. Crozier, Assistant Director of Parks and Leisure; Mrs. S. Toland, Lead Operations Officer/ Head of Environmental Health; Mr. T. Martin, Head of Building Control; Mr. J. Hanna, Senior Democratic Services Officer; and Miss. E. McGoldrick, Democratic Services Officer.

Apologies

An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Beattie.

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were reported.

Motion - Cavity Wall Insulation

The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 5th May, had considered the following Notice of Motion, which had been moved by Councillor Heading and seconded by Councillor Convery:

“This Council, having taken note of the level of fuel poverty in the city, urges the Northern Ireland Executive to recognise the relationship which exists between fuel poverty and poor home insulation.

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After discussion, the Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the issues outlined in the motion.

Reconsidered item - Belfast Festival Open Spaces / Policy Framework re: Large Scale Partnership Events

The Committee considered the following report:-

“1.0 Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 This report outlines a proposal for an outdoor event as part of the Belfast Festival 2015 programme, in partnership with the Council. The Committee will recall that this matter was deferred at the meeting held on 21 April to enable a deputation from the organisers of the Belfast Festival to attend. The representatives will be in attendance and will be admitted to the meeting for ten minutes to clarify issues for the Committee.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 1. Authorise officers to initiate discussions with the Belfast Festival to agree the conditions of financial support for 2015, in line with the objectives outlined in the report; and

2. Agree to support an outdoors event as part of the programme for the Belfast Festival up to £20,000, subject to conditions agreed and legal agreements drawn up to the satisfaction of the Town Solicitor. This will include the partial closure of Botanic Gardens for up to 8 days in October for the exclusive use of attendees. A further outreach event may be facilitated in the City Hall grounds, depending on terrain and performer requirements.

3. Agree that a further report is presented to a future meeting which outlines a policy framework for a programme of supported, large scale partnership events in the city’s parks and open spaces.

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3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues

The Council established successful partnership arrangements with the Belfast Festival at Queen’s and Mela in 2013. These operate at minimal cost to the public. These type of events are well-received by audiences and significantly add to the attractiveness of the Council’s parks and open spaces.

Proposal for 2015 event with Belfast Festival

3.1.1 Belfast Festival is proposing to work in partnership again with the Council to stage two outdoor performances in the Council’s open spaces. Last year, over 5,000 people attended events in Botanic Gardens and City Hall grounds.

At the request of the Committee, Richard Wakeley, Director from Belfast Festival has been invited to present the proposal to the Committee at its meeting on 12 May.

The proposal for 2015 is for two leading circus and acrobatic troupes from Europe; The Jashgawronsky Brothers (Italy) with their comedy musical work, Trash and Lonely Circus (France) with their unique acrobatic performance piece, Le Poids de la Peau.

This would include an activity marquee in Botanic Gardens where families would be invited to participate in outreach workshops reflecting the nature of the two professional groups including music making, acrobatics and a variety of other activities.

Taking into account artists’ fees, installation expenses, accommodation, transport, and travel costs from Europe, Belfast Festival is seeking a contribution of £20,000 towards this project. Belfast Festival will take all responsibility for overseeing the installation, running and promotion of the work and will credit it as a joint presentation with the Council.

Organisers are currently assessing the suitability of terrain. The proposed timescale from set up to take down of the event is up to eight days in October 2015 in Botanic Gardens. Consultation by Belfast Festival will be undertaken with other local stakeholders such as Queens University, Lyric Theatre, local residents’ groups and the Friends of Botanic Gardens.

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Benefits to Council

3.1.2 The Belfast Festival proposal is a good fit with the policy objectives of the Council in that it is family friendly work that is participatory and fun. It will animate our public spaces whilst also providing educational learning opportunities for children and young people. It is proposed that Council provides financial support to the event (up to £20,000), given the positive economic impact it has for the city, improved good relations and attractiveness of the Council assets.

As part of an agreement with Belfast Festival, a series of targets for participation, outreach and sponsorship would be set.

Way forward

3.1.3 The Committee recognises the value and benefit which a diverse and well-designed events programme in its parks and open spaces can bring to the city and its neighbourhoods.

It is recommended that a policy framework is required to guide the number, size and nature of events which happen in its green space in the council area. This will ensure that a number of events are sustainable and feature as annual events, and encourage a diverse range of events which have wide appeal for the community as well as tourists and visitors.

This could include working with the City Events Unit to promote the availability/suitability of a range of parks and open spaces for major city events.

In addition, work would be undertaken to develop the criteria for the park grants funds to enable events to be sustainable year on year and more evenly spread across the city e.g. a higher score for working with partners; using under-used parks; community outreach.

Financial & Resource Implications

3.2 A fund has been provided for large-scale cultural events in Council parks within revenue budgets for 2015/16. There may be overtime required by staff to assist with the management of the proposed events which would be met by the Council.

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The Legal Agreement will include a Bond of Reinstatement (£1,000) to ensure minimal impact on Council property. The event organisers will prepare an events plan and meet all statutory requirements including Health and Safety and Licensing, to the satisfaction of the Assistant Director.

Equality or Good Relations Implications

3.3 The Events Policy for Parks and Leisure facilities and venues was previously screened as part of its consideration at Committee. The application of the policy is deemed to have no differential impact on any one group, given the diversity of applicant groups and range of events organised across the Council’s properties.”

In accordance with its decision of 21st April, the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed to the table Mr. R. Wakely, representing the Belfast Festival.

Mr. Wakely requested that consideration be given to the proposed events which would include two leading circus and acrobatic troupes from Europe, an activity marquee in Botanic Gardens and a variety of outreach workshops, which would be organised as part of the Belfast Festival 2015 programme in partnership with the Council.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Wakely for his presentation and he retired from the table.

The Assistant Director outlined the principal aspects of the report which included the requirement for a policy framework and answered a range of Members’ questions in respect of the options which had been identified.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Heading, Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

That the Committee agrees to support the outdoors event as part of the programme for the Belfast Festival, up to £20,000, subject to the following conditions:-

• that the organisers investigate the potential for inclusion of outreach events to be facilitated in those areas of east and west Belfast which had been transferred from the former Castlereagh and Lisburn Councils;

• that the financial support would be reduced to a maximum of £15,000, if the above outreach events would not be viable; and

• that legal agreements would be drawn up to the satisfaction of the Town Solicitor to include the partial closure of Botanic

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Gardens for up to eight days in October for the exclusive use of attendees; and

• that a further report be presented to a future meeting which outlines a policy framework for a programme of supported, large scale partnership events in the city’s parks and open spaces in line with the forthcoming corporate City Events Strategy.

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Bradshaw, Seconded by Councillor McAllister,

That the Committee agrees to adopt the original recommendation as set out within 2.0 of the report.

On a vote by show of hands, eight Members voted for the amendment and nine against and it was declared lost.

The proposal standing in the name of Councillor Heading and seconded by Alderman Rodgers was thereupon put to the meeting when ten Members voted in favour and none against and it was declared carried.

Presentation: Update on Physical Programme

The Director of Property and Projects provided an update on the Council’s overall physical programme for 2015/16, which outlined key details of the Capital Projects including the Capital Programme, the Belfast Investment Fund, the Local Investment Fund and other projects.

The Director also highlighted the role of the People and Communities Committee and the Area Working Groups in relation to the physical programme.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that the Director of Property and Projects investigate the feasibility of working with partners on erecting hoardings on strategic physical programme sites which would communicate details of the projects being delivered.

Governance

Appointment of Members to Community Centre Committees

The Community Development Manager reminded the Committee that on 31st March the Community and Play Centre Committees had ceased with the end of the old Council and invited the Party Groups to consider representation on the list of current centres that had committees as outlined in the report. She informed the Committee that the community centre committee approach would be reviewed as part of the City strategy and framework for community centre provision, with any recommendations being submitted to the Committee for consideration.

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The Committee agreed that expressions of interest from Members to sit on the Community and Play Centre committees as listed (a copy of this was available on Modern.gov) would be submitted through their Party Groups and agreed, in principle, that each of the Community and Play Centre Committees would include at least one Member from the People and Communities Committee.

Belfast Agenda - Community and Neighbourhood Services

Proposed Strategic Workshop to Develop Committee Work Plan

The Director of Finance and Resources reminded the Committee of the work already undertaken to develop the Belfast Agenda and the planned work to engage stakeholders in ‘the Belfast Conversation’. He advised the Committee of a proposed workshop to consider the following themes:-

• to define the role of the People and Communities Committee in supporting the delivery of the Belfast Agenda;

• to raise awareness and understanding of the functions and cross cutting themes within the sphere of the Committee’s responsibilities and to obtain Members’ input to how Committee business should be conducted;

• to set out strategic objectives for the Committee and further define its working relationship with Area Working Groups, working towards an outcomes based approach to understand causes, priorities and action at a local level; and

• to identify key priorities and develop an action plan for 2015/2016.

The Committee agreed that a workshop would take place before the summer break to develop a Committee work plan and that Members of the People and Communities Committee would be invited to attend.

Tackling Anti Social Behaviour – Update

The Lead Operations Officer and Assistant Director updated Members on the progress on the internal review on how the Council dealt with anti-social behaviour. She outlined the work that had been undertaken in the four areas of particular focus, Falls Park/City Cemetery; Woodvale Park; Musgrave Park; and Orangefield Park and the expected future direction of the work in line with the priorities of the new Council.

After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that a further report would be considered at its next meeting, to include;-

• the effectiveness of joint patrolling of the parks; • research on tackling anti-social behaviour in the City; and • an update on tackling anti-social behaviour in the parks in the Ballysillan and Oldpark area.

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Playground Improvement Programme

The Committee considered the following report:

“Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Members on the successful Playground Improvement Programme 2014 - 2015 and outline plans for a new two year rolling programme of playground refurbishments for 2015 -16 and 2016 – 2017. Members are asked to note that the refurbishments are funded under the Capital Programme and that an allocation of £580,000 has been agreed for the next two years for this programme

1.2 Members will be aware that as part of the LGR 16 playground sites were transferred to the Council which brings the total number of playgrounds across the city to 93. Members are asked to note that the SP&R Committee agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass. Preparatory work is being advanced on these projects and will be taken forward in conjunction with the playground refurbishment programme.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 1. Recommend to SP&R Committee the refurbishment of the sites below under Year 1 and Year 2 of the Playground Improvement Programme which has an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme for the next two years (a copy of which, was available on the Council’s website)

Year 1 2015 -2016 Year 2 (2016 – 2017) a) Skippers a) Cregagh b) Horn Drive, Lenadoon b) Jubilee Park c) Belmont Park c) Alloa Street d) Drumglass Park d) Wedderburn e) Tirna nog Ligoneil e) Grove f) Willowbank f) Glencairn g) Nubia Street g) Ardoyne h) Springhill Site A i) Castleton

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2. Agree to replace eight, two-seater rotators that no longer comply with the BSEN 1176 safety standards during Year 1 of the Programme.

3. Agree the use of Framework Agreement ‘E’ (Landscape Architecture) to assist delivery of the LGR playground improvements during Year 1 of the Programme.

Members are asked to note that it was agreed in January 2015 that £2m from the new boundary rate base should be applied to projects in the new boundary areas which included playground refurbishments at Brooke; Areema; Mount Eagles; Roddens Crescent and a new playground in Poleglass. Work on these will be progressed at the same time as the Playground Refurbishment Programme.

3.0 Main Report

Playground Refurbishment Programme 2014/15

3.1 Since its inception in 2012, the Playground Improvement Programme has made a significant impact on overall quality and play value of the city’s playgrounds. Through the Programme a total investment of £745k has improved accessibility and play value at each of the sites, providing new inclusive equipment, safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.

3.2 In 2012 independent inspection reports classified 25% of our facilities as ‘poor’ (quality score of 3.0 or less). Continued investment over the last four years has achieved the desired improvement in overall safety, quality and play value at each of the sites refurbished under the Programme. Based on this year’s cycle of inspection reports only 2% of all sites are classified as ‘Fair’. In terms of their quality, the remaining sites are recorded as ‘sufficient’ through to ‘excellent’. None of the sites are recorded as being ‘insufficient’ to ‘extremely poor’. The playgrounds improved under previous programmes are now more inviting, inclusive and exciting places for children and parents to visit. The 2014 - 2015 Improvement Programme will be fully complete by the end of May 2015 and has resulted in the following playgrounds being transformed.

• Stewart Street • Queen Mary’s Gardens (completion delayed until late May 2015) • Carnamore • Lemberg Street

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• Falls Park • Cherryvale Playing Fields.

Proposed Playground Refurbishment Programme 2015/16

3.3 Members should note that this year’s cycle of independent inspections has been undertaken by Play Services Ireland Ltd in March 2015 . The ‘quality’ score for each playground is based on compliance with European safety standards BS EN 1176 & 1177. Inspection reports also continue to identify and prioritise repairs to existing equipment for ongoing maintenance purposes. The ‘quality’ score awarded for each playground is categorised as:

Score 9 - 10 Excellent Score 8 - 9 Very Good Score 7 - 8 Good Score 6 - 7 Fairly Good Score 5 - 6 Sufficient Score 4 - 5 Fair Score 3 - 4 Insufficient Score 2 - 3 Poor Score 1 - 2 Very Poor Score 0 – 1 Extremely Poor

3.4 Following this assessment, it is proposed that the playgrounds as listed in Table 1 above are refurbished under Year 1 and Year 2 of the Playground Improvement Programme which has an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Capital Programme. These playgrounds had the lowest overall quality scores (March 2015 - Quality Scores). As a result of refurbishment work all selected playgrounds will move from ‘fair’ to the new classification of ‘excellent’ (quality score 5.4 – 10.0) when re-inspected.

3.5 Members are asked to note that Avoniel has not been included on the list of proposed refurbishments as there are wider proposals for this site as part of the leisure transformation programme. Refurbishments to Brooke, Areema and Roddens Crescent, which also all scored low, are being taken forward as part of £2m which has previously been agreed by the SP&R Committee for projects in the transferring in areas.

3.6 Members are asked to note that to deliver playground improvements for the additional sites above will require the engagement of consultants through the Council’s existing Framework Agreement ‘E’ (Landscape Architecture).

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3.7 Members should also be aware that as a result of this year’s suite of independent inspections it has come to light that eight of our older model two-seater rotating units are no longer compliant with current BSEN 1176 safety standards. In order to ensure compliance with the safety standard all eight units should be replaced in Year 1 of the new two year refurbishment programme.

3.8 Financial & Resource Implications

• Refurbishment work at existing Belfast City Council sites will be funded through the capital programme and a budget of £580k has been allocated for each year of the programme. • Staff from the Landscape Planning & Development Unit will continue to deliver and project manage the Playground Improvement Programme and will be using the Council’s framework agreement ‘E’ (Landscape Architecture) to deliver improvements to the new acquired LGR playground sites. As in previous years, Community Park Managers and park Outreach officers will continue to assist with the distribution of information relating to playground improvements to members and local communities. • The use of the framework agreement ‘E’ (Landscape Architect) will incur a range of professional fees, dependent upon the level of assistance required.

3.9 Equality or Good Relations Implications

• The processes proposed in this report will be subject to the council’s existing equality screening process.”

After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations as set out under section 2.0.

Belfast Agenda – Regeneration

Department of Regional Development (DRD) Lagan Footbridge - Gasworks to Ormeau Park

The Committee noted the contents of a report which provided an update on the progress of the proposed DRD Lagan Footbridge ahead of the anticipated submission of a planning application and the impact the scheme might have on the Council post April 2016. The Director of Property and Projects outlined the key issues for notation, in particular:

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• the significance of the infrastructure project for the City and its importance for connecting the city centre with communities east of the Lagan;

• the progress in recent months from concept design of nine options to detailed design of one preferred option and the anticipated submission of a planning application to the Council; and

• the continued engagement by DRD with the Council regarding operational issues and potential developments in Ormeau Park, such as cycle paths.

Operational Issues

Strategic Cemetery and Crematorium Provision - Update

The Assistant Director advised the Committee on the progress that had been made in relation to cemetery and crematorium development. She reminded the Committee that the Shadow Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting in October 2014, had agreed to commission a review of the Council’s current burial policy and that an economic appraisal was also currently being undertaken around the options for future cremation provision for the City.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and the planned workshop on Thursday, 18th June, which would consider the outcome of the review of the Council’s burial policy and economic appraisal, to which all Members of the Council would be invited.

System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) – Update

The Assistant Director reminded the Committee that over the past 18 months the Council had successfully progressed to Phase 2 of the SOPARC pilot using a technique to effectively measure, analyse and encourage levels and characteristics of usage and activity within Council parks and open spaces. She highlighted the principal aspects of the report which included updates on each of the three phased approaches that were currently being implemented across the City.

The Members noted the contents of the report and the ongoing development of the SOPARC pilot project.

Street Naming Applications

The Committee approved the undernoted application for the naming of a new street, in respect of which the Royal Mail had offered no objection:

Proposed Names Location Applicant Global Crescent Off Millar Street, BT6 Fold Housing Association

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The Committee refused the undernoted application for the naming of a new street, to allow the developer to submit a further proposed name:

Proposed Names Location Applicant Corrigan Heights Off Westrock Drive, BT12 Apex Housing Association

Parks Events - Small Grants Scheme

The Committee noted the contents of a report which outlined the decisions taken by the Assistant Director, under delegated authority, regarding the Parks Events Small Grants applications received in Tranche 1 for events taking place in parks between 1st April and 30th September, 2015 (a copy of which was available on the Council’s website).

Lagan Valley Regional Park Scheme

The Assistant Director provided an update on the funding position of Lagan Valley Regional Park (LVRP) and explained that a request had been received for additional funding of £41,055 in 2015/16 due to the changes in the availability of funding streams. She indicated that as part of Local Government Reform, funding for LVRP would now be divided between two Councils, namely the Council and the new Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, rather than three councils.

She outlined that the Council had benefitted significantly from its partnership with LVRP and funding it in 2015/16 would support and enhance work undertaken by the Council in countryside recreation, biodiversity, promotion and community engagement.

She reminded the Committee that the former Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting on 11th December 2014, had been informed that this level of funding had not been provided for in the estimates, however, officers had subsequently identified savings within the revenue budget for this request. She outlined that a report would also be submitted to the Committee at a later date regarding the assessment of the longer term funding arrangements.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the funding of £41,055 to LVRP for 2015/16, subject to the relevant funding agreement being updated.

Alexandra Park - Creation of Outdoor Classroom

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the abovementioned report to allow Elected Members for the area to be consulted on the approach as set out within the report regarding the public consultation exercise on the development of an outdoor classroom in Alexandra Park and that a report be submitted to the Committee in this regard.

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Food Safety Prosecution - Update

The Committee noted the contents of a report which outlined the outcome of the Food Safety and Port Health Team’s investigation into the major E. coli O157 outbreak associated with Flicks Restaurant that had occurred in October, 2012.

Attendance at Events - Healthy Cities Annual Conference

The Committee granted authority for the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, together with the appropriate officer from Environmental Health (or their nominees), to attend the Annual Business and Technical Conference (Phase VI) in Kuopio, Finland from 24 - 26 June.

Issues Raised In Advance by Members

Roselawn Cemetery - recent press coverage

Alderman Rodgers referred to an incident that had occurred at Roselawn Cemetery during which graves had been submerged with rain water.

After discussion, the Committee agreed that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, would write a letter of comfort to the families which had been affected during the incident.

It was agreed further that a Committee site visit would take place to Roselawn Cemetery and Crematorium.

Chairperson

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City Growth and Regeneration Committee

Wednesday, 13th May, 2015

MEETING OF CITY GROWTH AND REGENERATION COMMITTEE

Members present: Councillor Hargey (Chairperson); The Deputy Lord Mayor Alderman Spence; Aldermen Kingston and Stalford; and Councillors Craig, Dudgeon, Hanna, Howard, Kyle, Magee, Magennis, McAteer, McDonough-Brown, Newton, Ó Donnghaile and O’Hara.

In attendance: Mrs. S. Wylie, Chief Executive; Mr. G. Millar, Director of Property and Projects; Mr. J. McGrillen, Director of Development; Mrs. S. Toland, Lead Operations Officer; and Miss L. Francey, Democratic Services Officer.

Apologies

Apologies were reported from Councillors Attwood and Beattie.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 22nd April were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May.

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were reported.

Presentation

Department for Social Development - Capital Funding Projects

The Committee was reminded that, at its last meeting, it had requested that a presentation be sought from the Department of Social Development (DSD) on Capital Funding Projects for 2015/16. The Chairperson advised the Members that Mr. Mark O’Donnell, Director of the Belfast City Centre Regeneration Directorate, was in attendance to provide the Committee with an update.

Mr. O’Donnell explained that the DSD and the Council had been working together closely on a number of projects, particularly for continuity purposes, as regeneration powers would transfer from DSD to the eleven new Councils on 1st April, 2016. He provided examples of the Lagan Weir footbridge and the Girdwood Park Infrastructure which were due to be completed by the end of 2015 and which would

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become Council assets from April 2016. Mr O’Donnell outlined a list of projects which would be taken forward in 2015/2016.

A number of Members expressed concern that funding for certain projects across the City would no longer be available. It was explained budget constraints had been the main cause of that and the Department had been required to take a risk- adverse approach in deciding which projects to pursue.

The Chief Executive advised Members that a paper would be brought back to the Committee at a later date with more detail on the transfer of regeneration powers from DSD.

Noted.

Belfast Agenda - Business and Economy

Business Improvement Districts (BIDS)

The Director of Development provided the Committee with an update on the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) process and highlighted the key issues which the Council might need to consider in readiness for a potential positive BID ballot. The Members were reminded that the Department for Social Development (DSD) had invited applications from areas which were interested in taking forward development work on a BID and had appointed a consultancy team – Mosaic Partnership and Place Solutions – which would deliver a “BIDs Academy” to guide successful applicants through the development process required to bring a BID to the stage of running a ballot.

He advised Members that three areas in Belfast had been successful in their applications to DSD to create a BID, namely Belfast City Centre, the Cathedral Quarter and the Lisburn Road. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it was now unlikely that the Lisburn Road BID would be taken forward, although this had not yet officially been confirmed.

He explained that Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM) had carried out a survey of businesses in the proposed BID areas and that the issues which had been identified had been marketing and promotion, safety and security and the removal of litter. They had also established a BID Team which would be responsible for taking the BID to ballot stage.

During discussion, a number of Members asked whether charities and the Council itself would be liable to pay a BID levy, the Director of Development undertook to provide this matter.

After discussion, the Committee agreed to receive a presentation from the consultancy team which had been appointed by DSD to carry out the BIDs Academy, and that the BIDs representatives in Cathedral Quarter and City Centre be invited to attend at a future meeting.

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It was also agreed that a more detailed report on the topic, including resource implications, would be submitted to a future Committee meeting.

Regeneration

City Centre Regeneration Strategy – Framework for Car Parking

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 Members will be aware of the importance of the city centre to Belfast’s prosperity and as a driver of the regional economy. City centres are where investment impact can be maximised, where rates are generated and where momentum can be built to support growth in the surrounding neighbourhoods. The draft Belfast City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan has been produced as a framework for change through which the new council, with its place-shaping powers and greater responsibility for planning and regeneration, can achieve its bold vision for a thriving city.

1.2 As a result of Local Government Reform the Department for Regional Development (DRD) transferred all its off-street car parks (excluding Park and Ride/Park and Share) to councils on 1st April 2015. The Council is therefore now responsible for the operation of 30 car parks which were previously operated by the DRD.

1.3 The City Centre Regeneration Strategy & Investment Plan considered access, traffic flows and car parking provision in the city and identified that there were significant opportunities for improvement; such as the consolidation of car parking provision and the real time provision of information about parking availability. To address these issues the Council will need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, together with Transport NI and the DRD, to develop and implement a city centre parking strategy.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 Members are asked to consider this report and agree to the commissioning of a strategy and action plan aimed at improving city access, traffic flows into and around the city, and city centre car parking within the context of the emerging City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan. Members should note that the public consultation on the draft

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City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan closes on 28 May.

3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues Transport NI biannual surveys would indicate Belfast currently has more than enough car parking serving the City centre, estimating in excess of 10,000 publicly available off- street parking spaces (Urban Strategies 2014). In addition, an earlier study indicated that parking provision in Belfast city centre was significantly greater than in other UK similar cities, such as Dublin, Manchester, Bristol or Edinburgh. However, supply is fragmented being made up of large numbers of low capacity surface car parks with no real time information for drivers on availability. This means free spaces can be hard to find which adds to traffic congestion and creates a barrier to visitors accessing the City centre. Furthermore a large area of the city centre is being taken up by unattractive surface car parks which should be put to better use.

3.2 It should be noted under Local Government Reform on the 1 st April the DRD transferred all its off street car parks (excluding Park and Ride/Park and Share) to councils. The Council therefore is now responsible for the operation of 30 car parks previously operated by the DRD. 15 of these car parks are within the City Centre, most of these are located around the inner ring road. It is estimated the Council now operates around 13% of the off street car parking spaces in the City Centre.

3.3 Recognising the importance of appropriate car parking for cities, the draft Belfast City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan includes a proposal for the Council, together with Transport NI and the DRD, to develop and implement a city centre parking strategy as a matter of high priority. As a result of the analysis carried out by Urban Strategies and the consultant team, it proposes that this should involve the consolidation of car parks and real time advertisement of parking availability as well as being set within the context of alternative transport provision in the city, such as the Belfast Bike Share Scheme and Rapid Transit.

3.4 To support the City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan; a city centre car parking strategy is likely to consider:

3.5 Traffic Flows

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Despite the improvements that have been reported in relation to the Belfast On the Move project, there are still concerns raised about congestion into and around the city. A car parking strategy can help to reduce congestion in several ways. Firstly, it can provide alternatives to driving into the city by providing parking outside of the centre that is near to alternatives means of accessing the city core such as public transport, park & ride, cycling etc. Secondly, it can ensure parking is located in the right places to meet demand and minimise journey times by directing drivers efficiently into and out of key areas. Finally, it has been reported that there is ample parking in the city centre and the actual problem is caused by a lack of information about current parking availability. This causes significant additional traffic as drivers travel around the city centre searching for a space. A strategy that includes better signage and live information about parking could significantly reduce unnecessary traffic.

3.6 Underdeveloped areas Much of the city centre feels incomplete, as development is interrupted by vacant sites, many of which are utilised as surface car parks. The clustering of these sites creates large, undefined areas around the edges of the centre. New growth in the city centre needs to expand into these areas and connect them to the core.

3.7 Need for green space The centre is lacking in green space. Rationalising parking into fewer larger capacity sites will open up land for development. There is a great opportunity to provide a sizable new open space in the north end by reclaiming the parking area around St. Anne’s Cathedral for green space and linking it to Buoys Park and Writer’s Square. Such a large open space could be used for events, festivals and celebrations.

3.8 Improve accessibility to the City Centre Car parking can be perceived as a barrier to outer Belfast and Northern Ireland residents accessing city centre shopping. Anecdotally, drivers report that they cannot find a space and businesses have raised the apparent problem of adequate parking to serve city centre retail. Quantitatively, there is more than enough parking with excess of 10,000 publicly available off-street parking spaces in and around Belfast City Centre in addition to extensive on-street parking and numerous private car parks. However the provision of these spaces is fragmented into numerous low capacity surface car parks owned and operated by a range of stakeholders with inconsistent pricing and information. Therefore while occupancy of the total available spaces may be relatively low

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parking spaces can be hard to find which can lead to significant volumes of traffic searching between car parks and increasing city centre traffic levels.

3.9 Rationalisation of parking into larger capacity multi-storey car parks accessed from the Inner Ring Road would open up development sites, create a much more coherent system and reduce congestion.

3.10 The potential benefits of new technology and improved information systems In the short term, the coordinated advertisement of parking availability to visitors to the centre would greatly improve the city centre experience. There are opportunities to harness new technology by providing information in real time about what parking spaces are available where.

3.11 The potential to develop a unified city ‘app’ that markets and promotes the city centre has already been used in other cities. This would provide information on parking together with a range of other topics including public transport, events, sales, as well as coupons, booking opportunities, etc.

3.12 In addition there are other emerging technologies that can support similar smart information systems e.g. the pay and display machines used both on and off street have inbuilt computers connected to the internet with integrated ticket printers and can be easily fitted with touch screen displays. Some cities are using these machines to signpost visitor information or offer promotional coupons.

3.13 The development and implementation of a City Car Parking Strategy will require a time frame of at least five years given the potential requirement for capital investment. Therefore, in the interim it is proposed that the Council should develop an action plan to address the shorter and medium term issues including: • engage key stakeholders including current parking providers and the DRD to develop a parking strategy for the city centre, • develop and implement a costed improvement plan for city centre parking provision, management and enforcement, • Progress the use and improvement of parking information systems and contribute to the development of a “city app”, • Deliver the off street car parking functions and review its effectiveness to identify improvements to deliver on the ambitions in the Belfast City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment

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3.14 Financial & Resource Implications The cost of developing a parking strategy and action plan is likely to be in the region of £50k and will be met from existing budgets.

3.15 Equality or Good Relations Implications Equality and good relations issues will be considered in the development of the strategy and improvement plan. It is noted that the Shadow Council had previously passed a motion in relation to child and family friendly car parking provision which will be considered in the development of the strategy.”

The Chief Executive explained that the report was about a much wider issue than car parking alone, in that the Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan would seek to bring everything together to attract more people into the city centre. She indicated that it would seek to, amongst other things, link cycling routes throughout the City, consider the issues which inner City communities faced and create more green spaces within the city centre.

During discussion, a number of Members raised concerns that these plans might discourage car users from utilising the city centre. The Chief Executive advised Members that that was not the case and that the overall agenda would seek to attract more users in general into the city centre, by looking at traffic flow, car parking availability, public transport routes, cycle routes and pedestrian access.

A Member raised the issue of residents-only parking schemes for certain areas of the City which were regularly filled with commuters cars during the working week, and suggested that the Council should consider supporting such schemes if they were to be introduced.

In response, it was agreed that the Lead Operations Officer/Head of Environmental Health would circulate further detailed information on the issue of city centre car parking to the Committee.

The Committee agreed to the commissioning of a strategy and action plan aimed at improving city access, traffic flows into and around the city, and city centre car parking within the context of the emerging City Centre Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan, on the condition that the scope of the consultancy work would be agreed and circulated in advance.

Tourism & Events

Events and Festivals Update 2015-16

The Director of Development provided the Committee with an update on the programme of council-funded and part funded events and festivals which would take place between June 2015 and March 2016:

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Event Details Date(s)

June Belfast Photo Festival A Public and vibrant hub of photography celebrating cultural 04/06/15- diversity and identity through events / exhibitions for young 30/06/15 people aged 8-16. Artwork from workshops bringing together south Belfast schools / ethnic minority community groups will be exhibited, encouraging participation, skills, inclusion and exploring / highlighting common values within the community. UK National Piping Only in its second year this Royal Scottish Pipe Band 13/06/2015 Championships, championship attracted 12,000 people in 2014. Stormont Estate Ciclovia 2015 This is an international movement which promotes the closure 14/06/2015 of streets within cities in order to facilitate walking and, in particular, cycling on certain days in city centres. It is proposed that an event to promote the movement takes place in Belfast on Sunday 14 June to mark the start of Bike Week in the Botanic Avenue/Dublin Road Area of the city. Belfast Urban Ballet Belfast Urban Ballet will be a new event for the Belfast 20/06/2015 summer calendar, building on the past two decades of Beat’s parade innovation and international connections. It will be a festival of street bands and urban carnival choreography with dance and music performances in the streets and public city- centre spaces. Delivered by Beat Initiative.

July

Community Together A Community based Festival of Culture and Arts relating to to 01/07/2015 Arts and Culture the community. Community led encouraging all members of Festival the community young and old to take part in all events. A show case of local talent and abilities from both young and old and culture awareness. Belfast Tall Ships 500,000 are expected to attend ‘the event of the year.’ Total 2 to 5 July cost of the project is £2.3 million inclusive of Council support of £1.3 million. Tullycarnet Action Through feedback and surveys from the community, TAGIT 08/07/2015- Group Initiative Trust aim to have a 5 day festival, that will include all members of 12/07/2015 (TAGIT) the Tullycarnet and Ardcarn communities. TAGIT aim to promote Health and Well Being, Education, Intergenerational activities, Cultural/ Heritage and strengthen Neighbourhood cohesion, for all residents. August Féile August Féile is Ireland's biggest Community Arts 31/07/15- Festival/Summer School. This ten day festival presents a wide 9/08/15 range of arts and cultural activities, including music concerts, comedy, exhibitions, discussions, debates, youth &literary events, dramas, family, outdoor and community events, street performances, carnival parade, sports, tours and walks

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August

Belfast Pride The organisers wish to increase the scale and impact of the 01/08/2015 event and regard it as an opportunity to promote Belfast as a modern, tolerant and multi-cultural cosmopolitan city. Colin Summer Festival A week long community festival that will cater for all ages that 03/08/2015- will include a community carnival and fun day, art workshops, 08/08/2015 cultural food tasting and craft fair, inter-generational trips, all ability sports days, Family walks, trips and visits to parks and museums for families. New Lodge Summer A week-long summer festival in the New Lodge area to 06/08/2015- Festival promote the arts and culture and bring positivity to an area at 14/08/2015 a time when tensions can arise with an increased risk of anti- social behaviour - organised by Ashton Community trust. Caribbean Week One Caribbean based festival with activities including story-telling/ 10/08/2015- Love Festival Caribbean folklore, dub-poetry/ workshops and Caribbean 16/08/2015 influenced music & other performing arts. This event will highlight the growing Caribbean community and showcase the Caribbean’s history, culture and ability to contribute positively to enriching community spirit and tourism in Belfast. Eastside Arts Festival EastSide Arts Festival and Summer School 2015 will be a 19/08/2015- community-led exploration and celebration of the rich artistic 31/08/2015 and cultural heritage and identity of East Belfast designed to present a positive image of, and animate the arts in, East Belfast and promote social cohesion and regeneration. Brian Friel Festival An international destination multi-arts and multi-disciplinary 26/08/2015- festival celebrating Ireland’s greatest playwright of past 50 31/08/2015 years in theatre, readings, talks & discussions, music, dance, food and leisure. The leading play is Friel’s most popular play Dancing at Lughnasa in its 25th anniversary year to be produced by the Lyric Theatre Belfast. Five mini-Belfests will come into existence responding to the themes and concerns of this one signature play: (1) Amongst Women talks & discussions programme (2) Dancing Cranes outdoor dancefest (3) New Norths: Trade-Contemporary music from Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia and the Baltic (4) The Kitchen Table Foodfest (5) Michael’s KiteTanica Kite flying mini-fest Belfast Mela The Belfast Mela is NI's largest festival of world cultures held 30/08/2015 annually in Botanic Gardens. Attracting up to 30,000 people, the festival is an iconic highlight in the region's festival calendar, showcasing music, dance, crafts and food from over thirty nations across the globe.

September

The Community This is a weekend festival, to be held in the Skainos Centre in 01/09/2015 Festival at Skainos East Belfast. It will bring a wide range of activities to inner East Belfast residents of all ages and will also encourage residents from other parts of Belfast to visit the area and celebrate its cultural identity. Bounce! - Arts Festival Bounce! Arts Festival 2015 will showcase new work by 03/09/2015- disabled and deaf artists, celebrating and inspiring talent and 06/09/2015 artistic excellence. Showcasing artistic excellence, with

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challenge, warmth and a quirky sense of fun, Bounce! is the first and still the only festival of its kind on the island of Ireland. Belfast Tattoo 2015 This is a new large scale event in the city which celebrates its 04/09/2015- Ulster-Scots culture and has taken place in the Odyssey 05/09/2015 Arena over the past two years. BBC Proms in the 11,000 people are expected for the BBC managed live 12/09/2015 Park, Titanic Slipways concert, on the Titanic Slipways, to mark the Last Night of the Proms series. Belfast’s Autumn Fair, A two day horticultural and family friendly event in Botanic 12/09/2015 Botanic Gardens Gardens organised in conjunction with BCC Parks and – Leisure. 13/09/2015 Culture Night Writer’s Square will be the focal point for community-led 18/09/2015 performances and activities, and a hub of outdoor activity and media attention on Culture Night Belfast (CNB) 2015. Community activity will be supported by complimentary programming and services to ensure an encouraging, welcoming and lively atmosphere for all ages. BabyDay BabyDay will be an extraordinary day that will capture the 27/09/2015 imagination of the whole city. With art in the streets, music in the air and families everywhere, there'll be a real festival feel and Belfast will be one big bundle of joy!

October

Draw Down the Walls Golden Thread Gallery will present Invisible Barriers: Moving 01/10/2015 Images, a programme of films in unusual and surprising sites across North Belfast. This will include art films, mainstream movies and community-authored productions, inviting audiences to imagine a city without barriers. International Cinemagic will use film, television and digital technologies 09/10/2015 Cinemagic Festival through screenings, workshops – and other participative opportunities to educate, motivate and 04/11/2015 inspire young people. Belfast International This is an international multi art form festival taking place in 16/10/2015 Festival venues across the city. – 01/11/2015 Nine Nights In 2015, ArtsEkta will present a large scale multi-artform 24/10/2015 outdoor arts spectacle to tell stories from age-old Indian folklore. Nine Nights is being artistically produced in partnership with Walk the Plank, an internationally renowned theatre company credited with major cultural events in Northern Ireland such as landmark UK City of Culture event The Return of Colmcille. The free evening show will play out to audiences in Autumn 2015 and light up Belfast City Centre in a way you have never seen before. Halloween Metro An evening of family fun and entertainment culminating in a 31/10/2015 Monster Mash, Titanic massive fireworks display at the Titanic Slipways. Slipways

November

Christmas Lights A one hour family orientated event, at City Hall, to mark the 14/11/2015 Switch-on, City Hall start of the Christmas festivities

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December

BBC Sports Thousands will be able to avail of tickets for this iconic award 20/12/2015 Personality of the ceremony, which will be staged in the Odyssey Arena and Year, Odyssey Arena managed by the BBC.

March 2016

Belfast Children’s Belfast Children's Festival is an annual international festival for 01/03/2016 Festival children aged 0 - 14 years and their accompanying adults. Events take place both in and out of school time for schools, groups and families to attend. Young at Art is a leading arts charity presenting a wide range of arts events and activities all year round for children and young people in Northern Ireland. Their annual Belfast Children’s Festival is back for the 18th year to light up the city with a colourful array of art and performance to inspire joy, creativity and curiosity. St Patrick’s Day, City Now in its ninth year the Council organised celebration 17/03/2016 Centre parade and incorporates a parade and live concert from Custom House Custom House Square Square. Circuit of Ireland Rally, Three days of international racing that is part of the World 24/03/2016 City Hall and Titanic Rally Championships, which starts from Belfast City Hall. - Slipways 26/03/2016 -

TBC

Lord Mayor’s Event, Details of this annual event are tbc with Lord Mayor, Cllr tbc venue tbc Arder Carson. Over the last three years previous Lord Mayors have staged: a multi-cultural event, a live music day and ‘come-try-it’ sports show-case.

The Committee agreed to create a ‘brand’ for the overall events and programme to raise their profile and promote awareness of the Council’s investment.

Sister Cities Management

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 Members will be aware that one of the key commitments in the Council’s Investment Programme 2012 - 2015, is that the Council will work with city partners to promote Belfast proactively on the international stage to attract trade and investment, increase visitor and student numbers and build the networks necessary to support growth.

1.2 Over the past two years, work has been undertaken to develop and deliver an International Relations Framework and Action Plan that seeks to shape how city stakeholders can work

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together in a stronger and purposeful way, to maximise the economic impact for Belfast as a whole.

1.3 This framework and a two year action plan were agreed by Members at the August 2013 Development Committee. An update report was presented to the Development Committee on 17 February 2015. The purpose of this report is to seek Members’ approval to explore opportunities and implications of putting in place partnership-based management arrangements to guide and support the respective work programmes to oversee and support the formal Sister City Relationships with Boston and Nashville.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 It is recommended that Members:

• Note and endorse the proposal to convene a steering group of relevant local partners to take forward opportunities for Belfast – Boston collaboration.

• Note and endorse the proposal to re-convene relevant partners from the Belfast – Nashville steering group to identify opportunities for collaboration between the cities.

3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues

The current aims of the International Relations Framework are: − To maximise economic return of development for Belfast. − To increase the economic benefits of marketing Belfast internationally.

3.2 The framework has the following objectives: − To deliver increased economic return to Belfast through collaborative international promotion. − To develop meaningful international partnerships and civic relationships to support Belfast’s growth. − To promote the attractiveness of the city for business, education and tourism. − To create the optimum mechanisms for international promotion of Belfast.

3.3 Proposed Future International Relations Activity 2015 – 2016 The International Relations Programme for 2015 – 2016 contains activities which can deliver on the aims and

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objectives set out in the International Relations Framework, across the priority target markets and areas of work.

In line with these aims and objectives, a series of proposed activities are set out below, focusing on the linkages with Boston and Nashville, currently the only two US-based sister city linkages that Belfast has in place.

3.4 Boston

− Members should note that the Mayor of Boston is in the final stages of setting up a Belfast – Boston steering group. This will comprise of 5 voluntary members chaired by a politician including two business, one clergy and one third sector representatives. This group will be confirmed by the end of May 2015. − It is proposed that a similar steering group is established in Belfast, based on those currently active in Boston or those interested in developing further links, in line with the international framework objectives. Based on existing and potential opportunities for collaboration, the Belfast-based group may comprise relevant political representation (Chair and Deputy Chair of City Growth and Regeneration Committee), third sector representation, academic representation and faith-based representation. Consideration may also be given to business representation in order to explore economic linkages.

There are a number of partners who are already undertaking a range of direct engagements with Boston include:

− PSNI is hosting two Boston Police delegations in April and May this year to look at community policing and interface work. The delegates will meet with the Lord Mayor and party leaders during these visits. − Belfast Youth Orchestra is planning a concert in Boston in July this year (The Council has agreed to commit £5,000 towards this with additional funding being sought from other sources). − Rev Bill Shaw regularly hosts inward visits from faith/community organisations in Boston through links with the North Eastern University.

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3.5 Nashville Members will be aware that there has been a sister city relationship between Belfast and Nashville for some years. Activities of those partners working on Belfast – Nashville initiatives were previously co-ordinated through a steering group and the council’s Tourism Development Unit historically provided the secretariat for this group, given the original focus on cultural linkages. Partners have been working independently on their linkages and there are a number of mature partnerships which continue to function without any requirement for city council support. There are a number of new potential opportunities for collaboration that have recently emerged. These include:

− In October 2014, Ross Graham from Generator NI met with the Sister Cities contact, Tracy Kane, as part of a music delegation to Nashville, sponsored by UKTI (UK Trade & Investment). Ross visited the Nashville Entrepreneur Centre to discuss opportunities for residencies for local artists and music businesses. This centre is just in its infancy and there is an opportunity to explore potential collaboration in the near future, particular with regards to connecting it with the proposed Belfast Creative Hub.

− Queen’s University have active linkages with both Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities. In November 2014, twelve staff involved in international research activity took part in a visit to the city and a reciprocal visit is currently being planned.

There are ongoing linkages with the Belfast/Nashville Songwriters’ Festival and these continue to develop year on year. The organisers for the festival are in regular contact with the Sister Cities office.

3.6 In order to identify the current status of links between organisations in Belfast and Nashville, it is proposed that a meeting is held to bring together those partners currently active in collaborative projects. The purpose of the meeting will be to understand the scale and scope of current linkages and to identify whether there is any added value in taking a wider perspective on those linkages, through a city partnership steering group.

3.7 Financial & Resource Implications A budget of £150,000 has been set aside for the delivery of the Council’s International Relations Framework and Action Plan.

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3.8 Equality or Good Relations Implications The International Relations Framework has been equality screened.”

The Director of Development advised the Committee that the Sister Cities Steering Groups for both Boston and Nashville would be seeking representatives from the Committee. A number of Members outlined the importance of the linkages the Council had established with Nashville and it was suggested that that group be reconvened initially. In response to a Member’s suggestion, it was agreed that the Director of Development would liaise with the Ulster Scots Agency and invite them to participate on that group.

A further Member pointed out that the linkages with Hefeishould also be maximised and that the Council should seek to meet regularly with the new Chinese Consul General in Belfast.

After discussion, the Committee agreed:

1. to convene a steering group for Belfast/Boston collaboration; 2. to re-convene the Belfast/Nashville steering group to identify opportunities for collaboration; 3. that both the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, or their nominees, be nominated to sit on both the Boston and Nashville steering groups; 4. that representation by other parties be considered as paret of that process; and 5. that an update report on future relations with Hefei would be brought to a future meeting.

Sports Personality of the Year – Update

The Director of Development reminded Members that, on 29th April, the BBC had announced that the City had been chosen to host the 2015 Sports Personality of the Year event, which would be staged at the Odyssey Arena, on Sunday 20th December.

He advised the Committee that while the event had been staged annually for sixty year this would be the first time it would be hosted in Belfast. The event would attract an audience in the venue of around 7000 people and would make a major contribution to the local economy. The event would also give the city the opportunity to present itself in a very positive light to an audience of over ten million viewers.

The Committee welcomed the confirmation of the event and agreed that a further report be brought outlining the Council’s involvement and detailing activities which would take place in association with the BBC around the date of the event.

Operational Issues

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Market Licence Request – ‘BabyDay’

The Director of Development stated that on 27th September, the Replay Theatre Company would host the world’s first BabyDay to Belfast. That event would decorate the City with playful art and fill the streets with families, similar to Culture Night, but focus on activities for babies. He advised the Committee that BabyDay was one of the Council’s nine flagship Creative Belfast projects and aimed to have an audience of at least 6,000 at City Hall, with participation from at least 10,000 residents across the city at community and cultural venues.

He reminded Members that anyone who wished to operate a market or car boot sale within Belfast must apply to the Council for permission and that an application had been received for a market to be held as part of the BabyDay festival at the City Hall. The event would be funded through the Creative and Cultural Belfast Fund and the Replay Theatre Company.

The Committee granted approval for a one-off market licence to Replay Theatre Company as part of the BabyDay event.

Finance, Procurement and Performance

Social Clauses and Improving Economic Impact through Council Expenditure

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 The purpose of this report is to agree the monitoring and communication of both the social clause outcomes and economic impact of council expenditure.

2.0 Recommendations

Members are recommended to agree:

(i) To a bi-monthly briefing to be included on the members portal on social clause employability outcomes. (ii) For officers to update the baseline analysis of the local multiplier model, used to measure the economic impact of council expenditure.

3.0 Main report

3.1 Members will have noted that the papers outlined below were presented to Strategic Policy and Resource committee on 24 April 2015;

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• Social Clause Policy and associated staff guidance subject to further equality screening. • Local Multiplier Model as an agreed methodology for understanding of the economic impact of council expenditure.

The full reports which were presented to Committee.

3.2 As members will be aware the Local Multiplier Model, provides an economic methodology for measuring the economic impact of council expenditure. This involved analysing employee, supplier and grant expenditure and also incorporated a survey amongst each of these groups to understand how they further impacted the local economy through their spending decisions.

3.3 The expanded council boundary from 1st April 2015 has increased the area through which ‘local’ (Belfast based) expenditure occurs, to reflect these boundary changes and more accurately measure local spend, it is recommended that an update of the baseline analysis used to inform the local multiplier model be undertaken. This would involve resurveying council suppliers and employees to obtain economic data to feed into the baseline for the multiplier model. If approved, this baseline will be used to analyse the impact of council expenditure from 2014/15 financial year onwards, however it is expected that this analysis would need to be repeated every 3 years to maintain the integrity of the calculation.

3.4 In the discussions at committee members expressed a desire to be kept appraised of developments and an ambition for these combined initiatives to deliver even more for the citizens and ratepayers of Belfast. It is thus proposed that an update be posted on the members’ portal on a bi-monthly basis the outcome of the employability related social clauses, as well as the wider employability initiatives. This will include an update on the four categories of employability against the specific projects of both the live and completed contracts.

3.5 As previously highlighted to members central to this is the need to consider an optimal balance between the desire to increase employability and the number of local businesses accessing council procurement opportunities with the desire to create ever more efficiencies.

3.6 Financial & Resource Implications

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The proposed re-baseline will be undertaken within approved budgets, from Economic Development Unit and Corporate Procurement Service.

3.7 Equality or Good Relations Implications

No specific equality or good relations implications.”

The Director of Property and Projects reminded the Committee that the reports on both the Social Clause Policy and the Local Multiplier Model had been presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 24th April, and, while they had been approved by that Committee, the Council on 5th May had referred them back to the Committee for further consideration.

After discussion, during which the Director of Property and Projects agreed to brief any Party, who so wished, the Committee adopted the recommendations.

Chairperson

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Licensing Committee

Wednesday, 20th May, 2015

MEETING OF LICENSING COMMITTEE

Members present: Councillor Hussey (Chairperson); the Deputy Lord Mayor Alderman Spence; and Councillors Attwood, Bell, Brown, Campbell, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Dudgeon, E. Groves, Hutchinson, Jones, Magennis, McConville, Mullan and Sandford.

In attendance: Mrs. S. Toland, Lead Operations Officer/ Head of Environmental Health; Mr. T. Martin, Head of Building Control; Mr. P. Cunningham, Assistant Building Control Manager; Ms. N. Largey, Solicitor; Mr. J. Hanna, Senior Democratic Services Officer; and Ms. L. Francey, Democratic Services Officer.

Apology

An apology was reported on behalf of Alderman L. Patterson.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 15th April were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were reported.

Non-Delegated Matters

Revised Protocol for use by the Licensing Committee

The Committee considered the undernoted Protocol for use by the Licensing Committee:

“PROTOCOL FOR COMMITTEE DECISION MAKING

Introduction

1. The following protocol has been developed for use by the Licensing Committee (‘the Committee’). It should be read alongside

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relevant provisions of the Council’s Standing Orders and the Code of Conduct for Councillors and is not intended to replace either document. The key aims of the protocol are to ensure that:

Those who apply for, or make representation to, applications before the Committee are able to make informed representations and know the case which they have to meet; and The Committee makes decisions in a soundly based, lawful, and transparent way and in a timely and efficient manner.

2. Meetings of the Committee will be open to the public; however, seating within the Committee chamber will be limited according to venue capacity and associated fire and safety regulations.

3. Seating for applicants, statutory consultees, and objectors (‘the parties’) to an application will be reserved but only for the time in which their application is being considered.

Representations to Committee

4. Only those who have made written submissions and registered a request to speak in respect of an application shall be permitted to make oral representations before the Committee.

5. Parties to an application will be subject to the following conditions: i. Deputations shall be heard in the following order: Statutory consultees or other notice parties; Objectors and/or their representatives; Applicant and/or their representatives and/or those supporting the application. ii. Where more than one application is received in relation to a street trading site, deputations will be heard in alphabetical order according to the surnames of the applicants; iii. Deputations, unless otherwise agreed in advance by the Committee, shall consist of no more than 3 persons. Where there are more than 3 objectors or groups of objectors they will be required to arrange a single deputation to express their representations; iv. The privilege of such deputation shall be confined to the presentation of a statement and the making of a short address either by each member of the deputation or, should they so wish, by their nominated spokesperson or legal adviser;

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v. Each deputation shall be permitted, as far as is reasonably practicable, a maximum of 5 minutes to address the Committee. Where more than one person wishes to make representation the 5 minutes should be shared between the members of the deputation; vi. Speakers will not be permitted to circulate papers to members at the Committee meeting; vii. All members of a deputation must continue to be seated and remain silent whilst other deputations are making representations to the Committee; viii. Cross-examination, discussion or any type of debate between persons making representations to Committee shall not be permitted; ix. Once all deputations have been made, the parties shall be permitted an opportunity to rebut any factual inaccuracies only which may have arisen from the oral representations of another deputation and in respect of which they have not had an opportunity to comment. This will be strictly limited to responding to any such issue and the party will not be permitted to rehearse any representations which have already been made; x. The Committee may, upon advice from officers, exclude any deputation from being present during the whole or part of the time when any other deputations are being made due to:- the confidential nature of information relevant to the application to be discussed; or For such other reasons as may be appropriate; xi. The Committee may seek clarification from those who have spoken on any issues raised by them but should not enter into a debate with them; xii. Officers can address any issues raised during the course of representations from any deputation and the Committee can question officers; and xiii. The Committee may agree to accept representations outside these procedures but will only do so in exceptional circumstances.

Submission of representations to Council

6. Each deputation shall submit a prepared statement in advance of the meeting in a format as required by the Committee.

7. The statement, along with any other supporting information, must be provided in sufficient time which, unless circumstances

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dictate otherwise, shall be 3 weeks prior to the date of the Committee at which the matter is to be considered and the statement shall be included in the report to Committee.

8. Save for exceptional circumstances, all material supplied to the Committee will be shared with the parties. In particular;

Objectors will receive the material supplied on behalf of the applicant or representatives in support of an application; Applicants will receive the material supplied on behalf of objectors in opposition to an application; and All parties to an application shall be supplied with the report and all appendices thereto which is to be presented to Committee apart from any information which is restricted by virtue of the confidentiality provisions in the Council’s publication policy.

9. Any relevant information which was not made available for inclusion in the report to Committee in advance of the meeting must be received by the Building Control Service (in writing or by email) no later than 12.00noon two working days prior to the meeting. Any such information may then be verified or investigated and must also be supplied to all the parties to an application in advance of the meeting. Failure to do so may result in either the documentation being disregarded or the hearing being deferred.

10. Any documentation which is provided directly to any members of the Council must also be copied to the Building Control Service so as to ensure that the issues raised can be fully investigated by officers prior to the Committee hearing. Failure to do so may result in either the documentation being disregarded or the hearing being deferred.

11. All Committee papers will be available online. However, access to some documentation may be restricted by virtue of the Council’s publication policy. Information which is determined to be exempt by virtue of Schedule 6 of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 2014 may be published where the Council considers that the public interest in disclosing same outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption.

Role of Committee Chairman

12. It is the role of the Committee Chairman to chair the proceedings in such a way as to facilitate decisions which are consistent with the Committee’s aims and to ensure that licensing decisions are properly debated.

13. The Chairman will ensure that those making representations to the Committee adhere, as far as is practicable, to any time limits

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fixed for such presentations. These time limits will have been communicated to those making representations in advance of the meeting.

14. The Chairman may at any time during the hearing of deputations, if s/he thinks it necessary to secure order, direct the removal of any individual from the meeting, or order that the meeting be cleared of all deputations.

15. When hearing deputations, the Chairman will only permit questions to be put to persons appearing before the Committee and will require members engaging in debate to desist, until such time as all relevant information has been received.

16. The Chairman may bring the questioning of any person appearing before the Committee to a close provided s/he is satisfied that all relevant issues have been addressed. The Chairman may also prevent duplication of questions being put.

17. In any circumstances in which relevant information has been omitted from the information presented to the Committee, or the information appears to be deficient or appears to require further clarification or investigation, the Committee should consider deferring consideration of the matter to the subsequent monthly meeting of the Committee to allow the relevant information to be brought before it.

18. The Chairman may permit any member of Council who is not a member of the Committee to appear before the Committee and make representations but the member cannot vote or take any other part in the proceedings.

19. If a member of the Committee moves that the question be put to a vote and the Chairman is of the opinion that the application before the Committee has been sufficiently discussed, s/he shall put the motion to the vote.

20. The Chairman shall, if necessary, seek clarification on any proposal put by any member before a motion is put to a vote.

Role of Committee Members

21. The Committee’s aim will be to make decisions which are sound, lawful, fair and transparent. In particular, members of the Committee should ensure that they take into account all relevant considerations and leave out of account irrelevant considerations.

22. Members must act fairly and be seen to act fairly. This means that they must have an open mind when considering an application

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and not pre-determine, or appear to pre-determine, an application before all of the evidence has been heard.

23. In considering any application only those members of Committee that have been present to consider representations from all deputations and any other information presented in relation to that application shall be permitted to vote on the matter.

24. Members of the Committee who have any pecuniary interest or other personal interest in a particular decision of the Committee should declare same and withdraw from the meeting whilst that matter is being considered.

25. Any member of the Committee who feels they cannot remain impartial and wishes to support an applicant or objector at a Committee meeting can do so in their capacity as a local Councillor. If they do so, they can appear before the Committee and make representations but the member cannot vote or take any other part in the proceedings.

26. Only those members sitting on the Committee will be permitted to engage in the questioning of those giving presentations or making representations to the Committee.

27. If legal advice is provided by Legal Services, the Committee must have regard to any such advice before reaching a decision.”

The Head of Building Control advised the Committee that the Protocol had been designed to ensure consistency and to place the Council in a stronger position to resist potential legal challenges relating to its decision-making process. The key aims of the Protocol was to ensure that those who applied for applications (or addressed the Committee in that regard) were able to make informed representations, be cognisant with the case in question and aware that the Committee was obliged to make decisions in an efficient, lawful and transparent manner. He emphasised that the Protocol should be considered by Members in conjunction with the Council’s Standing Orders and the Code of Conduct, which, he pointed out, the Protocol was not intended to replace.

The Committee adopted the revised Protocol.

Map Defining the Boundary for the City Centre

The Head of Building Control reminded the Committee that it had requested that a map defining the boundary of the City Centre be submitted to a future meeting for its consideration. That had been to assist Members to determine which premises were situated within a defined City Centre and, as such, obliged to advertise for entertainment licences in each of the four main local daily newspapers.

He pointed out that the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan had established a City Centre boundary and the Council might wish to adopt that template to ensure that

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decisions would be aligned with over-arching planning policy. He added that the Council’s Amusement Permit Policy used also the boundary as defined by BMAP.

The Assistant Building Control Manager demonstrated an in-house digital map, which had been created to illustrate the current extent of Entertainments Licences, Amusement Permits, outdoor venues, Street Trading Pitches and Sex Establishments in Belfast. He explained that the map would, for example, be useful in illustrating how many late licences were in operation in certain areas, which would assist the Committee in taking decisions.

In response to a Member’s question, the Head of Building Control agreed to submit a report to a future meeting detailing the number of licensed premises which were located previously within the Lisburn or Castlereagh areas and which now fell within the Belfast boundary.

The Committee agreed to adopt the City Centre boundary, as outlined, for the purposes of determining which premises which would be required to advertise for their Entertainments Licence in one of the four main newspapers.

Charging for Special Policing Services

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) wrote to the Council on 27th April to make it aware of a new policy regarding charging for special policing services at events and enterprises. This policy has been agreed with the Policing Board and is effective from 1st April 2015. They have asked that this letter and the relevant Policy are brought to the attention of the Licensing Committee for information.

1.2 The PSNI wish to inform the Committee of this new policy and of the relevance it has with the Committee’s role in the licensing of entertainments. The PSNI have stated in the policy that, where there is no request for PSNI services, or there is no agreement with the event organiser on the extent of provision and payment for policing services, they may look to make the case to the Committee to object to the event.

2.0 Recommendation

2.1 The Committee is asked to consider the letter and policy and whether it wishes to avail of the offer to receive a briefing from the PSNI at a future meeting.

3.0 Main Report

3.1 Key Issues

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The PSNI have indicated they have the legal authority to charge for policing services under Section 11 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and that this policy formalises existing arrangements and brings the PSNI into line with other Police Services within the United Kingdom.

3.2 In cases where the PSNI cannot get agreement by way of numbers then they will seek to raise the concerns with the Licensing Committee either by objecting to the event or seeking the Council to impose their requirements by way of conditions on the entertainments.

3.3 Entertainments Licences are granted to premises on an annual basis, so within their terms and condition they can provide entertainments for the duration of that licence. Whilst the PSNI can object at any time and are not constrained as to the substance of that objection it can only be considered at the grant and/or renewal of the licence.

3.4 If the proposed event is due to take place under a current Entertainments Licence, the only basis upon which a proposed event can be stopped is where the Council is satisfied that the event is causing, or likely to cause a serious threat to public order or public safety.

3.5 Suspending an Entertainments Licence is a significant Council decision, which has legal and financial implications for the Council. Furthermore, before suspending a Licence, a meeting of the Licensing Committee must be convened and the applicant permitted to address the Committee before it decides whether to suspend the Licence.

3.6 Financial & Resource Implications None

3.7 Equality or Good Relations Implications There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.”

During discussion, the Committee expressed concern at the proposal by the police to charge for providing support at events, particularly given the widespread effect that this would have on a number of Council departments.

Accordingly, the Committee agreed that a letter be forwarded to the PSNI requesting that a meeting be held to discuss the Committee’s concerns regarding the proposals as outlined and that a report in that matter be submitted for consideration. In addition, the Committee agreed also that representatives of the PSNI would be invited to a future meeting should it be deemed necessary.

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Review of Entertainments Licensing Legislation by the Department of the Environment

The Head of Building Control reminded Members that, on 1st May 2015, the Minister for the Environment, Mark H Durkan MLA, had announced that a consultation on the review of Entertainments Licensing legislation would be undertaken by a Working Group set up by the Minister. The Head of Building Control advised Members that the consultation would run until 26th June, 2015 and that the Committee was being asked to submit a response.

After discussion, the Committee agreed that:

1. officers draw up a draft response to the consultation questions;

2. Members would email any specific comments to the Head of Building Control for inclusion within the response; and

3. a special meeting of the Licensing Committee, to which all Members of the Council be invited, be held to discuss and agree the Council’s response before the June meeting.

Review of Street Trading and Pedlary Laws – Update

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 At your meeting of the 17th December 2014, you considered the report regarding the proposed changes being introduced by the Department for Social Development (DSD) to the Pedlars Acts 1871 and the Street Trading Act (N.I.) 2001.

1.2 Officers of the Service reported to you that the Minister had decided to implement the changes and highlighted to you the detrimental and negative impacts that the changes were likely to create for the city.

1.3 The Committee, after considering the matter endorsed the comments set out within the report and agreed, in addition to writing to the Minister for Social Development to express its concerns at the proposed changes to the legislation, that the Minister be invited to meet with an All-Party delegation from the Committee and relevant council officers to discuss the matter.

1.4 A letter was subsequently sent to the Minister on behalf of the Committee on 13th January 2015 to express your concerns and is attached as Appendix 1.

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1.5 The Minister responded to your letter and stated that it may be more beneficial, in the first instance, if a meeting was convened at officer level to discuss your concerns. Committee subsequently agreed that officers should meet with Social Development officials to discuss the Council’s concerns.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 The Committee is asked to consider the comments arising from the meeting with DSD and to consider writing to the Minister once again raising the Council’s concerns on the proposed changes along with any amendments arising from your discussion.

3.0 Main report

3.1 Key Issues A meeting was held on 24th March 2015 with Mr Liam Quinn, Head of Social Policy, Department for Social Development and a delegation of Council Officers.

3.2 There was considerable discussion around the proposed changes including the major issue of removing the ‘house to house’ restriction regarding pedlars in Northern Ireland.

3.3 In effect, those proposals will allow a pedlar to trade in the city centre, outside entertainment venues and a host of tourist destinations across the city, even if the Council has designated them as prohibited areas. As long as the pedlar isn’t pushing or pulling a trolley they can trade from a bag or trade from a tray worn around the neck.

3.4 A brief summary of the discussions are detailed below:

1. The DSD propose to introduce the changes in October 2015 in line with the rest of the UK;

2. The PSNI will continue to licence Pedlars and take enforcement for licence offences. However the police have no power to suspend, revoke or seize a pedlar's certificate. Councils will be responsible for enforcement against Pedlars who are engaged in illegal street trading who aren’t acting as a pedlar;

3. For consistency across the United Kingdom, the Association of Chief Police Officers will introduce guidance for police. There will be no input from councils;

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4. To repeal the Pedlars Act would take between 6 to 12 months and to review the Street Trading Act would take approximately 2 years. Both will require a body of evidence of problems following the introduced changes. Realistically this could mean that it could take much more than 2 years to resolve any problems in the City that may occur following the changes;

5. The Council will seek legal advice on what is a Pedlar and what Pedlars are allowed to do, as there is considerable case law following the introduction of the Pedlar legislation in the 1800s;

6. The Council will also approach the Institute of Licensing to assist in building a body of evidence of problems associated with Pedlars across the United Kingdom.

3.5 Financial & Resource Implications

None

3.6 Equality or Good Relations Implications

There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.”

After discussion, the Committee agreed that Legal Services obtain a Senior Counsel’s opinion regarding the proposed changes being introduced by the DSD to the Pedlars Acts 1871 and the Street Trading Act (N.I.) 2001, and thereafter a further request be sent to the Minister inviting him to meet with an All-Party delegation.

THE COMMITTEE DEALT WITH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN PURSUANCE OF THE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON 1st MAY, 2007 IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDER 46

Licences Issued under Delegated Authority

The Committee noted a list of licensing applications which had been granted under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

Applications for the Entertainments Licence to run beyond 11.00p.m. at Falls Park - Feile an Phobail Event

The Head of Building Control advised that a request had been received from the organisers of Féile an Phobail to hold a 10 day music event within a marquee at Falls Park, running from Friday, 31st July to Sunday, 9th August, and which sought permission for the entertainment to run beyond 11.00 pm to 12.00 am on eight of the

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nights. He reminded the Committee that it was a condition of the Falls Park licence that all requests to operate beyond the permitted hours of entertainment must be considered by the Licensing Committee.

The Head of Building Control stated that the organisers had requested that consideration be given to permit eight nights of entertainment to run beyond 11.00 pm, to 12.00 am. The proposed dates for the extensions would be Friday 31st July and 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th August.

He informed Members that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been consulted in relation to the event and had offered no objections to the application. The Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) had also been consulted in relation to the request for late night entertainment.

The Head of Building Control advised the Committee that, as with all such events, a series of detailed planning meetings would be held to consider traffic management, transport and any wider operational policing issues. He also informed Members that officers from the Service had carried out performance inspections over previous years at events organised by Féile An Phobail and had found the organisers to be professional in their approach and had found no issues with the health, safety or welfare management of the events during that time.

As in previous years, officers were currently working with the organisers and their representatives regarding a suitable noise assessment and noise management plan for the festival. Any noise assessment should be able to demonstrate that noise from the event would not cause unreasonable disturbance to commercial and residential premises. Officers would consider all reports and supporting information to ensure that the technical requirements were in accordance with all the relevant legislation and guidance.

Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, that the eight proposed events, taking place on Friday 31st July and 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th August in the Falls Park be permitted to take place beyond the standard hours to 12.00am.

Outdoor Entertainments Licence – Crusaders Football, Athletic and Sports Club

The Head of Building Control stated that an application had been received for a 14-day Occasional Outdoor Entertainments Licence by Crusaders Football, Athletic and Sports Club based on the Council’s standard conditions to provide outdoor musical entertainment. The Members were reminded that, in accordance with Standing Orders, all applications for the grant of Outdoor Entertainments Licences were required to be bought before the Committee.

The Head of Building Control advised the Members that the purpose of the application was to facilitate an outdoor concert on 19th June at the football grounds. The concert would commence at 7.45 pm, and finish by 10.30 pm. He reminded the

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Committee that the standard days and hours for an Outdoor Entertainments Licence were Monday to Sunday: 11.30am to 11.00pm.

The Committee was advised that the PSNI had been consulted and had confirmed that it had no objections. Police officers had also attended a pre-event meeting with the applicant, who undertook to consult further to consider traffic management and wider operational policing issues.

Accordingly, the Committee, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, granted approval for a 14-day Occasional Outdoor Entertainments Licence to the Crusaders Football, Athletic and Sports Club.

Street Trading Licence Appeal for Berry Street - Update

The Head of Building Control reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 17th December, 2014, it had considered an application from Mr. M. Gulusen for the renewal of a Stationary Street Trading Licence for a designated site in Berry Street, near its junction with Royal Avenue. Subsequently, the Committee had refused that application on the discretionary grounds as set out within Section 9 (1) (c) of the Street Trading Act (Northern Ireland) 2001, in that the applicant was, on account of misconduct or some other reason relating to trading activities, unsuitable to hold a Street Trading Licence.

He advised that a Notice of Appeal had then been lodged by Mr. Gulusen with the Belfast Magistrates Court on 23rd January. The licence therefore remained in force until the determination of the Appeal. The Members were informed that, after hearing from both parties on 5th May, the Court had rejected Mr. Gulusen’s appeal and, accordingly, he could no longer trade at the site in Berry Street.

The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

Consideration of Applications for Temporary Street Trading Licences

The Head of Building Control advised Members that Section 14 of the Street Trading Act (N.I.) 2001 permitted the Council to issue a Temporary Licence where a full-term licence might not be appropriate, for example, for special events such as festivals of fairs. In recognition of the possibility that applications might need to be processed quickly and, because of the ad-hoc nature for which a Temporary Licence was designed to cater, the legislation permitted the Council a wide degree of discretion.

The Head of Building Control reported that two Temporary Street Trading Licence applications had been lodged by Sense Marketing Limited, who were acting on behalf of The Economist magazine. They had proposed to operate a coffee tricycle - measuring 2.4m by 1.2m - at Castle Place junction on 28th May from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm; and a second at Great Victoria Street at the same time. It was being proposed that complimentary coffee and leaflets be distributed to promote The Economist magazine and attract subscribers. The Head of Building Control advised that Sense Marketing Limited had been informed that they would be required to apply for a permit from the

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Council’s Cleansing Services to hand out leaflets, as required under the Distribution of Free Printed Matter (Belfast) Designation Order 2012.

He advised Members that the PSNI had been consulted but that their response had yet to be received, while Belfast City Centre Management had expressed concerns regarding the Castle Place location, given its proximity to an existing coffee kiosk. The holder of the Stationary Street Trading Licence at Castle Place had been formally consulted and had objected verbally to the application, but had not submitted a written objection.

After discussion, the Committee agreed to grant and approve both Temporary Street Trading Licences to Mr Daniel Hennessey, to operate one coffee tricycle measuring 2.4m by 1.2m at Castle Place junction outside Barclays Bank on 28th May 2015, between 7.30am to 3.30pm, and a second coffee tricycle at Great Victoria Street, near its junction with Glengall Street, on the same date and time, despite the fact that they fell outside the Council’s Policy due to the merits, and limited nature, of the applications.

Chairperson

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Planning Committee

Tuesday, 19th May, 2015

MEETING OF PLANNING COMMITTEE

Members present: Councillor Garrett (Chairperson); Alderman McGimpsey; Councillors Armitage, Bunting, Campbell, Heading, Hutchinson, Magee, McAteer, McDonough-Brown and Mullan.

In attendance: Mr. C. McIlwaine, Area Planning Manager; Ms. N. Largey, Solicitor; and Mr. B. Flynn, Democratic Services Officer.

Apologies

Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen L. Patterson and R. Patterson, together with Councillor Johnston.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 23rd April were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes, with the exception of the matters which had been delegated to the Committee, had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May.

Declaration of Interest

Regarding item Z/2014/1491/F, that is, the application for the construction of ten dwellings with associated car parking and landscaping at 268 to 287 Beersbridge Road, Councillor Mullan declared an interest in that she had had requested that the application be deferred when it had been presented to the former Town Planning Committee.

Routine Correspondence

The Committee noted the receipt of correspondence from Transport NI in respect of the following matters:

• the provision of accessible parking at 46 Wellington Park and 6 Willowholme Parade; • the introduction of ‘School Keep Clear’ restrictions at St. Joseph’s Primary School; and • the proposed introduction of waiting restrictions at Balmoral Park, Gordon Street and at Stranmillis Embankment.

Appeal Decisions Notified

No notifications had been received.

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Delegated Decisions

The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued under the Delegated Scheme between 1st April and 12th May.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency Proposed Listing of Buildings

The Committee was reminded that the former Shadow Planning Committee, at its meeting on 11th March, had agreed to support proposals which had been formulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to list the corporate headquarters of the Danske Bank in Donegall Square West and the headquarters of the Belfast Telegraph in Royal Avenue/Library Street. At the meeting of the Council on 1st April, that decision had been referred back to the Planning Committee for further consideration to enable deputations from both the Danske Bank and the Belfast Telegraph to attend a future meeting to outline their concerns in this regard.

Belfast Telegraph

The Chairperson welcomed Mr. R McClean, Managing Director of Independent News and Media NI, together with Mr. D. Stelfox, who was acting as a consultant for the group in this matter. The Committee was advised that the Belfast Telegraph site comprised of a number of buildings, including an original four-storey 1886 Victorian redbrick building and four extensions. Mr. Stelfox gave an overview of the architectural merits of the buildings. He acknowledged that, whilst the original redbrick Victorian building was of historical and architectural interest, the various extensions were not of such importance to be afforded listing status. He therefore requested that the Committee agree only to support a proposal that the original 1886 building be listed.

Mr. M. Deery, Assistant Director with the DoE’s Historic Environment Division, outlined the rationale which had been utilised by the Department in determining how buildings were considered for listing status. Regarding the Belfast Telegraph buildings, the Committee was advised that the principal interest was in the original 1886 building, but that an extension which had been completed in 1907 complemented its character and the existing streetscape, which contained the Belfast Central Library and the former Frames Complex. The views of the Committee on the listing of that extension would also be considered. He added that the other buildings within the Belfast Telegraph site were not being proposed for listing.

Moved by Councillor Armitage, Seconded by Councillor McAteer and

Resolved – that the Committee agrees, given their architectural and historical importance, to support the proposals of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to list the 1886 original Belfast Telegraph building in Royal Avenue, together with the associated 1907 extension in Library Street.

Danske Bank – Donegall Square West

The Committee then received Dr. T. Quinn, Planning Consultant with Braniff Associates, who was in attendance to outline, on behalf of Danske Bank, their

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opposition to the proposals to list the bank’s corporate headquarters in Donegall Square West. The Committee was advised that the proposal to list the building would be unnecessary for the following reasons:

• there were sufficient safeguards to protect the building in that it was located within a Conservation Area, which prevented it from being demolished and which meant that only sympathetic modifications could be made to its exterior;

• the Northern Ireland Environment Agency report which had set out the rationale for listing the premises had failed to note that it had been altered significantly in 2008 through the addition of a sixth floor and the infilling of the central area, which had undermined its architectural merits for listing; and

• the Danske Bank, as one of the largest employers in the City centre, would be opposed to having unnecessary constraints imposed upon its business operations.

Mr. Deery indicated that the Agency had considered the architectural and historical merits of the building and, given that it was regarded a unique example of mid- twentieth century modernism, it was being proposed that it be afforded listing status.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Hutchinson, Seconded by Alderman McGimpsey,

That the Committee agrees not to support the proposal of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to list the corporate headquarters of the Danske Bank in Donegall Square West.

On a vote by show of hands, five Members voted for the proposal and six against and it was declared lost.

Further Proposal

Moved by Councillor McDonough-Brown, Seconded by Councillor Armitage,

That the Committee agrees, given the architectural and historical merit of the building, to support the proposal of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to list the corporate headquarters of the Danske Bank in Donegall Square West.

On a vote by show of hands, five Members voted for the proposal and five against. There being a parity of votes, the Chairperson exercised his second and casting vote in favour of the proposal and it was declared carried.

Pre-Application Community Consultation Process

(Mr. I. Harper, Building Control Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

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The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0 Relevant background information

1.1 Section 27 of the Planning (NI) Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) places a statutory duty upon applicants for planning permission for major applications to consult the community in advance of submitting an application.

1.2 Major applications are larger applications such as housing developments with more than 50 units, or large retail, leisure or entertainments units which exceed 1000sq meters in area.

1.3 The applicants must submit a Proposal of Application Notice (‘PAN’) to the Council at least 12 weeks in advance of the submission of any major planning application. The PAN should outline the detail of the proposed application and what consultation is to be undertaken.

1.4 The minimum standard of consultation requires the applicant to:

• Hold one public event in the locality in which the proposed development is situated • Publish a notice in one local newspaper seven days in advance of the event.

1.5 Within 21 days of receipt of the PAN the Council can ask for further individuals or organisations to receive the notice or for additional consultation to be carried out.

1.6 When the formal application is submitted, it must include a written report which demonstrates how the applicant has complied with their pre application consultation obligations. The suggested minimum requirement is for the applicant to:

• specify who has been consulted • set out what steps were taken to comply with the statutory requirements and those of the planning authority • set out how the applicant responded to the comments made, including whether and the extent to which the proposals have changed as a result of PAC • provide appropriate evidence that the various prescribed steps have been undertaken – e.g. copies of advertisements of the public events and reference material made available at such events; and • demonstrate that steps were taken to explain the nature of PAC, i.e. that it does not replace the application process whereby representations can be made to the planning authority.

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1.7 The Council will assess the report and determine if the consultation undertaken meets the requirements set out above and can request further information or decline the application if it deems those requirements have not been fulfilled.

2.0 Key issues

2.1 The purpose of having the community consultation process is to ensure that people:

• have access to information about major applications in their area; • can put forward their own ideas about the proposed application and feel confident that there is a process for those ideas to be considered; and • have an active role in developing proposals and options to ensure local knowledge and perspectives are taken into account.

2.2 The consultation is carried out at pre-application stage and comments made to the applicant are not representations to the Council. However during the full application process public advertisement and neighbour notification will take place and representations can be made to the Council during that formal process.

2.3 While the minimum requirements are set out in the 2011 Act and The Planning (Development Management) Regulations (NI) 2015, the Council can also notify the prospective applicant that it requires it to carry out additional notification and/or consultation if it is not satisfied with the proposals set out in the PAN.

2.4 In considering whether to give such notification the Council is to have regard to the nature, extent and location of the proposed development and to the likely effects, at and in the vicinity of that location, of it being carried out.

2.5 Similar legislation exists in Scotland and contact was made with Scottish councils to explore how they deal with this piece of legislation. The feedback received, in particular from City of Edinburgh Council and Aberdeen City Council, indicates that they do have further standard requirements such as the PAN to be sent to local elected members, for additional events to be held, or for additional publicity of events such as leaflets and posters.

2.6 In some more contentious cases City of Edinburgh Council will also state in its response that a fuller consultation programme including feedback events may be required, dependant on the feedback from the initial events held. They may also ask for

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other events such as manned or unmanned exhibitions to be held.

2.7 The major difference in Scotland is the existence of Community Councils which have a statutory right to be consulted. They play a key role in the PAC process, helping to identify these additional engagement requirements on a case by case basis.

2.8 Given the absence of Community Councils and the desirability for better connections with local communities, it is proposed that the Council adopts a similar approach to City of Edinburgh Council by requesting that PANs are sent to elected members in the area of the proposed development, and that additional publicity be used to ensure that communities are aware of the event(s) taking place in all instances.

2.9 Senior Planning officers will meet to consider each PAN that is submitted to determine what, if any, additional requirements are to be requested, over and above those outlined by the applicant and the additional requirements in 2.8 above. To ensure that the all relevant factors have been considered and that decisions are informed by local knowledge Community Services or other relevant council officers may also be consulted, where required. For example this may include requesting a copy of the PAN be provided to local area partnerships. Prospective applicants will be made aware of the Councils response to the proposed consultation as set out in the PAN within 21 days.

2.10 It is estimated that there could be up to 300 major applications in any year, based upon the previous definition for major applications and a comparison to 2014 applications. This will have a resource implication for both Planning Service staff and Community Services and this will be monitored on an ongoing basis.

2.11 Given that members will now be receiving PANs for developments in their areas, it is proposed to issue a briefing note to all members outlining the key issues, process and the roles and responsibilities of council.

2.12 Having reviewed how various councils in Scotland give guidance on the PAC process, it was noted that they provide guidance on their websites including access to documents. The following documents have been prepared for Belfast Planning Service and will be available on the website:

• Belfast City Council Guidance pack: Pre-Application Community Consultation • Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) • Template newspaper advert

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2.14 The wider development industry is being advised of this change through the information on the website, through written correspondence and through workshops being held on wider planning issues.

3.0 Resource Implications

3.1 This is a new element of work for the Planning Service and Community Services and the impact of the additional workload involved in assessing PAC will be kept under review.

4.0 Equality and Good Relations Considerations

4.1 There are no direct equality implications arising from this report. However, the Council will use the opportunity to promote equality by asking developers to be mindful of the need to ensure equality of access to consultation and engagement in the PAC guidance.

5.0 Call In

5.1 Yes

6.0 Recommendations

6.1 Members are asked to note and approve:

• The proposed method of assessing the adequacy of proposed consultations for major applications;

• The proposals in relation to determining the nature of any additional consultation required by the Council including requesting that the PAN be sent to elected members in the area and for additional publicity to be provided by the prospective applicant;

• A review to be carried out after six months to ensure that the approach being undertaken is consistent and ensures that communities are given adequate opportunity to comment on proposals at this early stage.”

The Committee adopted the recommendations.

THE COMMITTEE DEALT WITH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN PURSUANCE OF THE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDER 37(e)

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1. Z/2014/1398/F – 9 to 21 Adelaide Street (application for the demolition of existing building and the erection of a nine-storey office development).

The Planning Officer reported that the proposal had adhered to planning policies BH12 and BH14 of PPS 6. It was pointed out that the statutory consultees had offered no objections to the proposal and that there existed a history of similar planning approvals at the site. Therefore, subject to the imposing of relevant conditions, it was recommended that approval be granted.

The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

2. Z/2014/1555/F – Former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices at Queen’s Road (change of use to an eighty-four bed boutique hotel plus heritage/tourist facilities).

The Committee was apprised of the main aspects of the proposal, which was for the development of a boutique-style hotel at the site of the former Harland and Wolff headquarters within the Titanic Quarter. It was explained that the application, if approved, would necessitate work to be undertaken to the listed building at the site and that aspect of the application would be determined under the Council’s Delegated Scheme. The Planning Officer reported that no objections had been received and the application had been recommended for approval.

The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions as outlined within the report.

3. Z/2014/0057/F – Dargan Road Waste Transfer Station, 2a Dargan Road (amendments to Waste Transfer Station to regularise current operations).

The Committee was advised that the application had been assessed against the principle of permitting additional waste types at the site and associated development. The additional waste materials which would be accepted would be electrical and electronic equipment, plasterboard and metals. It was reported that these would not pose any demonstrable harm to human health, nor would they affect the local environment. It was reported that the statutory consultees had offered no objections and that no representations had been received. Therefore, it was recommended that approval be granted.

The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

Items 4 and 5 – (55 to 63 University Street / 101 to 111 Botanic Avenue)

The Committee then considered items four and five together, which had been submitted by The Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB):

4. Z/2012/1428/DCA – 55 to 63 University Street and 101 to 111 Botanic Avenue and Queen’s University Garage University Square Mews

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(application for demolition to enable development of twelve HMO townhouses and three apartments to provide purpose built student accommodation); and

5. Z/2013/0012/F – 55 to 63 University Street (application for the erection of purpose-built student accommodation).

The Committee was informed that application Z/2012/1428/DCA had sought full planning permission for the demolition of five buildings in University Street, with facade retention for one of those buildings; the demolition of a garage in University Square Mews; and the demolition of six buildings on Botanic Avenue, with facade retention. The demolition, if permitted, would facilitate the development of twelve HMO townhouses and three apartments, which would provide 71 purpose-built spaces for student accommodation with associated car parking.

The Planning Officer reported that the case to demolish the buildings had not been demonstrated convincingly by the applicant. Whilst the applicant had submitted additional reports and information, it was considered that the buildings made a positive contribution to the Queen’s Conservation Area and that no overwhelming evidence had been presented to justify their demolition. It was reported that the replacement scheme would not preserve or enhance the Conservation Area, but would result in harm.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr. T. Gallagher, Pro-Vice Chancellor of QUB, together with Mr. P. Fleming, who was acting as a consultant for the University. Mr. Fleming advised that the proposal, if approved, would help to transform the area and enhance the amenity of the locality by encouraging residential use of the vacant properties. Mr. Gallagher added that the investment in the site would enhance Belfast’s status as a learning City.

The Committee was then addressed by Mr. M. Patton, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Historic Buildings Preservation Trust, who pointed out that similar-type refurbishments had been carried out within the University Street area which had not necessitated the demolition of the interior of the buildings. He indicated that the buildings in question were of such character and significance that any proposals which would impact on their internal structures would be opposed by the Trust.

The Committee refused the application for demolition for the reasons as set out in the Case Officer’s report.

The Committee refused the full application for the replacement scheme for the reasons as set out in the Case Officer’s report

6. Z/2014/1491/F – 236 to 287 Beersbride Road (Construction of ten dwellings with associated car parking and landscaping).

(Councillor Mullan, who had declared an interest in this application, withdrew from the table whilst it was under discussion and took no part in the discussion or decision-making process.)

The Planning Officer reported that the application, in respect of which no representations had been received, had been assessed against the principle of

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developing housing at the location, its potential impact on the residential amenity; and the potential impact on the character of the vicinity.

The Committee was advised that the site was located on land which had been zoned for social housing within the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. The Planning Officer reported that, in principle, there were no issues associated with the development of social housing at the location.

The Planning Officer reported that the scheme had been the subject of a pre- application discussion, during which the applicant was informed that the scheme was unacceptable since it would not result in a quality residential development. The scheme had been discussed further at an office meeting and the applicant had been given the opportunity to submit an amended scheme. However, nothing further had been received subsequent to the meeting. In addition, the proposal had been assessed against the criteria as set out in Policy QD1 of Planning Policy Statement 7, and it had been deemed that the proposal would result in unacceptable damage to the local character and create an undesirable living environment due to an unsatisfactory layout and inadequate provision of amenity space at the site. Accordingly, the application had been recommended for refusal.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr. C. Hughes, who was acting on behalf of the applicant, Oaklee Housing Association. He advised the Committee that the houses which had been proposed had incorporated a unique design which was sympathetic with the local character and environment. He added that there existed significant support and a demonstrable need in that area for the development and he requested that the Committee would agree to reject the opinion to refuse the application.

The Committee noted the comments of Mr. Hughes but agreed to adopt the recommendation to refuse the application on the grounds which had been outlined specifically within the Case Officer’s report.

(Councillor Mullan returned to the Committee table at this point.)

7. Z/2014/1685/F – 184 Upper Newtownards Road (Change of use to a HMO).

The Planning Officer reported that the application had been recommended for approval since it was in accordance with the policy as set out within the HMO Subject Plan. The main issues which had been considered, she reported, related to the principle of the establishment of an HMO unit at that location and its impact on the local amenity. The site lay within HMO Development Node 04/10, which covered the area in which the building was situated. The application had complied with that policy.

It was reported also that 89 objections had been received to the application. Those had referred to issues regarding the prospective impact on the local residential amenity, the character of the area, parking and traffic control, the number of HMOs within the general area, the transient nature of the tenants, together with issues regarding the devaluation of property prices and the precedent for the establishment of further HMOs.

The Chairperson welcomed to the meeting Mr. C. Lyttle, MLA, and Mr. C. Nicholl, who were in attendance to outline concerns on behalf of local residents. They

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referred specifically to road safety and parking issues which would arise should the application be approved. In addition, it was suggested that the amenity of the area would be affected by the establishment of the HMO and that the safety of children could be compromised by the additional traffic within the area.

The Committee agreed to defer the application to enable further information and clarity to be provided by Transport NI in respect of its assessment criteria for road safety and parking issues, specifically as they related to Houses in Multiple Occupation.

8. Z/2014/1720/F – 6 Cutters Lane, Malone Lower (Retrospective change of use from dwelling to HMO).

The Planning Officer reported that the pertinent matters in the application had related to the principle of establishing an HMO unit in the area and its impact on the local amenity. The application was assessed against HMO 5, which had set out a 10% maximum threshold for HMOs within any street outside a defined HMO area or Node. In Cutters Lane there were 25 dwellings and, therefore, up to two conversions to HMOs could be approved within guidelines. There was no record of any other HMOs within the street and, as such, the application could be approved within the 10% restriction. It was reported that 14 objections had been received concerning the intensification of traffic, the lack of car parking space, access for emergency vehicles, together with a change of character to the area, excessive noise and general disturbance.

The Committee was advised that the Council’s Health and Environmental Services Department and Transport NI had offered no objections on the change of use to the property. Accordingly, since the application would be consistent with current policy and would not result in a detrimental impact on the character of the area, nor to the amenity of neighbouring residents, the Committee was recommended to approve the application.

The Chairperson welcomed to the meeting Ms. C. Magee and Ms. C. Doherty, who were in attendance to outline concerns on behalf of local residents. The objectors referred specifically to road safety and parking issues which would arise should the application be approved. They suggested that the amenity of the area would be affected by the establishment of an HMO and that the safety of children could be compromised by additional traffic within the area.

9. Z/2015/0167/F – 179 and 181 Lisburn Road, Malone Lower (Change of use and external alterations to provide three apartments and three bedsits).

The Planning Officer reported that the proposal was deemed unacceptable since there was a lack of sufficient private amenity space, a poor outlook for Unit 3, and unacceptable living standards for Unit 4. The proposal was contrary to both PPS 1 and PPS 7, which related to General Principles and Quality Residential Environments. The

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Committee was advised that the proposal would result in demonstrable harm to the quality of the living environment and the residential amenity of prospective residents. Therefore, the Committee was recommended to refuse the application.

The Chairperson welcomed Mr. T. Stokes, who was acting on behalf of the applicant, and who was in attendance to outline objections to the opinion to refuse the application. He indicated that revised plans and drawings had been submitted for the Council’s consideration on 14th May and requested that the Committee might exercise its discretion and either defer the application or consider the amended scheme.

During discussion, the Committee noted that the amended scheme could not be considered. It was noted further that it would set an inappropriate precedent should the Committee accede to Mr. Stokes’ request to consider or defer the amended scheme outside the existing process.

The Committee adopted the recommendation to refuse the application.

(The Committee stood adjourned for ten minutes.)

10. Z/2015/0141/F – Victoria Park (application for approval for a mobile tea/coffee kiosk).

The Committee granted approval.

11. Z/2015/0144/F – Cherryvale Playing Fields (application for approval for a mobile tea/coffee kiosk).

The Committee was informed that the operation of a mobile unit was considered acceptable and not likely to affect adversely the character of the park. It was indicated that the proposal had complied with all of the relevant planning policies and that statutory consultees had offered no objections. The Committee was advised that one letter of objection had been received from a local church which had outlined its concerns that the kiosk might affect outreach activities.

The Committee granted approval.

12. Z/2015/0142/F – Waterworks Park Antrim Road (application for the provision of a mobile tea/coffee kiosk in the park).

The Committee was informed that the operation of a mobile unit was considered acceptable and not likely to affect adversely the character of the park. It was indicated that the proposal had complied with all of the relevant planning policies and that the statutory consultees had offered no objections. The Committee was advised that two

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letters of objection had been received, which had expressed concerns regarding the impact of the kiosk on the character of the park and which had suggested that the development could result in additional traffic problems and create litter issues.

The Committee granted approval.

13. Z/2015/0143/F – Dunville Park Coffee Kiosk (application for the provision of a mobile tea/coffee unit).

The Committee was informed that the operation of a mobile unit was considered acceptable and would not impact adversely on the character of the park. It was indicated that the proposal had complied with all relevant planning policies and that the statutory consultees had offered no objections. Members were advised that one letter of objection had been received which had suggested that the unit would have a negative impact on the character of the park and could impact on surrounding businesses.

The Committee granted approval.

14. Z/2013/0627/F – Colaiste Feirste, Beechmount House (application for an extension to existing school building).

The Planning Officer outlined the principal aspects of the application and indicated that the proposed alterations to the listed building would be determined under the Council’s Delegated Scheme. It was pointed out that the NIEA had no objections to the proposal. The application had complied with PPS 1 - General Principles; PPS 3 - Parking, Access and Movement; and PPS 8 - Open Space, Sport and Recreation. It was reported that no representations had been received and the Committee was recommended to approve the application, subject to the conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

15. Z/2014/1741/F – Lands 50 metres due south of 2 Whiterock Close (change of design from previously approved scheme for a single-storey Irish Language and Youth Community Centre).

The Planning Officer reported that approval had been granted previously at the site for a two-storey Irish language youth centre and that the proposal, if approved, would make amendments in terms of its size, height and materials to be used. It was pointed out that the statutory consultees had offered no objections to the proposal and that no representations had been received.

The Committee granted approval to the application subject to the conditions and informatives as outlined in the Case Officer’s report.

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16. Z/2014/1211/O – Lands between North Boundary Street (Renewal of planning permission for construction of a four-storey 96-bedroom nursing home).

The Committee was informed that the application submitted had been for a renewal of previously granted outline permission for a four-storey 96-bedroom nursing home, with associated car parking and landscaping. It was reported that the statutory consultees had offered no objections and, subject to the imposition of conditions, it was recommended that the application be approved.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

17. Z/2014/1223/F – Macrory Memorial Presbyterian Church (renewal of planning permission for construction of a three storey building).

The Planning Officer indicated that the application had sought permission for a three-storey building comprising of 12 two-bedroom apartments with access from both Duncairn Gardens and Hillman Street. The principal issues which had been considered in the assessment of the proposal had related to the demolition of the church to permit the re-development of the site. The Planning Officer indicated that the principle of redevelopment had been established previously through planning approval Z/2008/1584/F. Since there had been no subsequent change in planning policy, the development was considered acceptable in terms of its scale, massing and design. It was pointed out that consultees had offered no objections and that no representations had been received.

During discussion in the matter, a number of Members suggested that further consideration might be given to preserving the church as part of the development. It was suggested that the application could be deferred for a month to seek the view of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the architectural and historic importance of the church and to enable the Committee to make a decision within that context. Further Members sought clarity in respect of the current ownership of the property.

The Committee deferred, to its meeting in June, consideration of the application for the reasons outlined above.

18. Z/2015/0086/F – 159 Sandy Row (Change of use from vacant retail unit to hot food takeaway).

The Committee was informed that the application had complied with the local area plan and relevant planning policies. The Planning Officer indicated that consultees had offered no objections and that no third party representations had been received.

The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions as outlined within the report.

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19. Z/2012/1421/F – Land within existing archways under East Bridge Street, known as the Markets Tunnels (Conversion of, and extension to, existing archways to provide a mix of uses).

The Committee was informed that the application sought to redevelop eight derelict tunnels to enable a range of uses. The site, it was reported, was situated on un- zoned land within development limits as designated within the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. The Planning Officer reported that the proposal had been assessed against PPS 1 and was considered acceptable within a mixed-use area. It was indicated that no representations had been received and, subject to the imposition of conditions relating to contamination investigation and appropriate mitigation, it was recommended that the application be approved with conditions.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined within the report.

20. Z/2014/1012/F – Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park (Alterations of existing road access onto Malone Road).

The Planning Officer indicated that the application had sought to alter the existing road access from the park to the Upper Malone Road. It was pointed out that appropriate landscaping would be undertaken to address any loss of vegetation and to reduce any detriment to visual impact. The proposal complied with policy and would result in a safer access and exit since the entrance would be widened. The Committee was informed that the proposal would, if permitted, benefit users of the park and the wider public. It was indicated that no objections had been received and, accordingly, the Committee was recommended to approve the application.

The Committee granted approval to the application.

21. Z/2014/0794/F – Ulster Independent Clinic, 245 Stranmillis Road (two-storey extension with basement to provide additional hospital facilities)

It was reported that the application had been assessed to establish if the scale of the proposed building would be acceptable at the site, together with the associated impact upon protected trees in the vicinity and the setting of the existing listed buildings. As such, the proposals were deemed to be in compliance with the relevant policies. The statutory consultees had raised no objections to the proposal and, accordingly, the application had been recommended for approval with conditions imposed to ensure that there was no adverse impact on protected trees and the listed building.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined.

22. Z/2014/1753/F – Lands on Rossmore Drive (renewal of planning approval for development of five townhouses and three apartments).

The Planning Officer reported that the application had been assessed against the principle of housing at that location, the previously approved planning application

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and the scale and design of the scheme within the Rosetta Area of Townscape Character.

The Committee was advised that the proposal had adhered to relevant planning policies and material considerations and would not cause demonstrable harm. It was pointed out that the statutory consultees had offered no objections to the scheme and, subject to the implementation of standard conditions, approval was recommended.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

23. Y/2015/0019/F – 75m due west of 37 Gilnahirk Park (Play area including a range of low-level equipment).

The Planning Officer reported that the site in question was located within an existing area of open space and recreation land as zoned within the local development plan. The proposal had complied with relevant policies. However, 27 letters of objection had been received with regard to parking issues and road safety, the necessity for the development, together with issues which related to litter, flooding and the prior refusal of housing within the vicinity.

The Committee was informed that the principle of establishing a play park was considered acceptable. Since the proposal would affect only 150 square metres of land, it was considered that it would not impact significantly upon the existing flood zone. The Planning Officer added that the existing area of open space and the modest scale of the development would not result in any significant adverse impact. Statutory consultees, it was pointed out, had offered no objections.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined within the Case Officer’s report.

24. Z/2014/0759/F – 1b Erinvale Drive Belfast (Change of use from vacant unit to hot food bar).

It was reported that the applicant has sought approval to substitute - and to have revoked - a previous approval, that being Z/2013/1056/F, at 1c Erinvale Drive. The Planning Officer outlined the main aspects of the application and reported that one objection had been received in respect of the potential for smell, noise and the cumulative impact of three hot food bars in the area. It was pointed out that the Council’s Environmental Health Department had no objections to the proposal, but it had recommended conditions to mitigate noise and smell.

The Committee granted approval with conditions, subject to the previous planning approval, i.e., Z/2013/1056/F, being revoked.

25. Z/2014/1243/F – 2 Windsor Road Belfast (Erection of eight 2.5 story terraced houses)

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The Committee was advised that the application had been assessed against the principle of redevelopment of the site for housing and its potential impact on the neighbouring area. The Planning Officer indicated that the proposal had complied with relevant planning policies and would not impact negatively on the amenity of existing residents. It was reported that there no representations had been received and that statutory consultees, including Transport NI, had offered no objections to the proposal.

The Committee granted approval, subject to conditions as outlined within the report.

Chairperson

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