Agenda and minutes

An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor M. Donnelly.

            The minutes of the meeting of 18th February 2026, were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 2nd March.

            No declarations of interest were recorded.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       This report outlines the proposed processes for a temporary street trading application scheme (excluding the sale of alcohol) for streets and sites within the city centre road closure pedestrianised area for the Fleadh in Belfast 2-9 August 2026.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to note the contents of the report and agree to the processes as outlined for a temporary street trading application scheme for period of the Fleadh 2-9 August 2026, and specifically to agree:

·        That applications should only be accepted under this scheme within the road closure area for the streets and locations identified as suitable for street trading and that applications will not be accepted for the sale of alcohol.

·        The procedure to invite applications and criteria for applications.

·        To waive the second application fee for applications for an eight-day licence to cover the whole of the Fleadh period.

·        The method of selection of successful applicants including how a surplus of applications will be dealt with (competing applications)

·        That delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Building Control in conjunction with the City Solicitor for rejecting applications and making decisions concerning oversubscribed /competing applications under the scheme.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            Background

3.1       Members will recall that at your meeting of the 18 February 2026 as part of a report on Licensing Procedures and the Fleadh you agreed that to ensure fairness, applications for any temporary street trading licence opportunities for the Fleadh would be invited within a set timeframe, and you were asked to note that a further report on Street Trading at the Fleadh would be brought to the Committee to determine locations and processes. 

3.2       Under Section 14 of the Street Trading Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 the Council may grant a temporary street trading licence to an individual where an annual stationary licence is not appropriate, such as for special events.  The legislation allows a council to formulate criteria and have regard to those criteria when considering whether to grant a temporary licence.   

3.3       Applications for temporary street trading in locations outside of the Fleadh’s road closure pedestrianised area will be accepted as normal and will follow normal processes.  To allow processing we suggest applications to be made by the end of May 2026, failure to submit by this date may result in applications not being able to be processed in time. 

3.4       However, due to the length and scale of the Fleadh and the potential large volume of applicants requesting a licence within the Fleadh’s road closure pedestrianised area in the city centre, a different approach is necessary to how applications are sought and processed for this area for the period of the Fleadh.

3.5       While most of the Council’s existing temporary street trading policy (See Appendix 1) is still applicable, a number of changes are required to be included in such a scheme.

3.6       The proposed scheme is only for temporary street trading (excluding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee noted the applications that had been issued under the Scheme of Delegation during February.

            A Member raised a number of queries in relation to HMOs, including how the level of intensity of HMOs in areas were determined and a trend for companies buying a number of properties and converting them to HMOs and the negative impact that had on families trying to rent or purchase a property.

            The Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Manager and the Director of Planning and Building Control provided clarity on a number of points and agreed to circulate a copy of the former training, provided by Denise Kiley KC, on the Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

            In response to a number of Member’s queries, the Committee agreed to hold a future workshop on HMOs, with questions to be submitted in advance.

The Committee noted a list of applications for licences which had, since its last meeting, been approved under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

            The HMO Manager provided the Committee with an overview of the application.

            He outlined that the property had had the benefit of an HMO licence issued by the Council with a start date of 2nd December, 2020, with an expiry date of 2nd December, 2025.

            The Committee was advised that the ownership of the property transferred to Mrs. E. Convery with a transfer date of 2nd May, 2021.  The Council had not been made aware of the change of ownership at that time.

            In accordance with Section 28 “Change of ownership: effect on licence” of the 2016 Act, the licence in the name of the previous owner ceased to have effect on the date of transfer.

            The Committee was advised that an application for a new HMO licence was received from Mrs E. Convery on 29th November, 2025.

            An application for a Temporary Exemption notice (TEN) was received on 3rd December, 2025, and granted on 8th December, 2025, with an expiry date of 8th March, 2026.  The TEN had been extended until 8th June, 2026.

TheHMO Manager outlined that, pursuant to the 2016 Act, the Council could only grant a licence if it was satisfied that:

a)     the occupation of the living accommodation as an HMO would not constitute a breach of planning control;

b)     the owner, and any managing agent of it, were fit and proper persons;

c)     the proposed management arrangements were satisfactory;

d)     the granting of the licence would not result in overprovision of HMOs in the locality;

e)     the living accommodation was fit for human habitation and—

                                     i.was suitable for occupation as an HMO by the number of persons to be specified in the licence, or

                                    ii.could be made so suitable by including conditions in the licence.

            The Planning Service had confirmed that a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) was granted on 3rd March, 2026.

It was reported that the NIHMO Unit had consulted with the Environmental Protection Unit in relation to daytime noise; the Public Health and Housing Unit in relation to rubbish accumulation/filthy premises; and the Enforcement Unit in relation to litter and waste and all had confirmed that there had been no relevant enforcement action required in respect of any of the issues in the HMO in the last 5 years.  

For the purpose of Section 12(2) of the 2016 Act, the Council had determined the locality of the accommodation as being Housing Management Area (HMA) “2/10 Fitzwilliam” as defined in the document Council’s Local Development Plan Strategy, which was formally adopted in May, 2023.  It was reported that Legal Services had advised that there was a clear requirement in section 8 of the 2016 Act upon the Council to be satisfied that the granting of a licence would not result in overprovision.

The officers had had regard to:

a)     the number and capacity of licensed HMOs in the locality; and

b)     the need for housing accommodation in the locality and the extent to which HMO  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

            The HMO Manager provided the Committee with an overview of the application, which he clarified the address was Flat 2, 32 Candahar Street and not 32b Candahar Street, which was a separate address.  However, the facts remained the same.

            He outlined that the property had had the benefit of an HMO licence issued by the Council with a start date of 11th January, 2021, with an expiry date of 11th January, 2026.

            The Committee was advised that a reminder letter had been sent to the owner on 3rd December, 2025, informing them that they were required to renew the HMO licence before the expiry of the existing licence on 11th January, 2026.  The correspondence had been sent to the registered company address on Companies House. He stated that the Council was subsequently made aware that the company’s address had changed. The Committee was advised that, within paragraph 63 of the terms of the licence, the applicant had a duty to inform the Council, within 7 days, of a change of address.

            An application for a new licence was received from Norton Cross Ltd on 23rd January 2026.

            An application for a Temporary Exemption notice (TEN) was received on 26th January and granted on 27th January, 2026, with an expiry date of 27th April, 2026.

TheHMO Manager outlined that, pursuant to the 2016 Act, the Council could only grant a licence if it was satisfied that:

a)     the occupation of the living accommodation as an HMO would not constitute a breach of planning control;

b)     the owner, and any managing agent of it, were fit and proper persons;

c)     the proposed management arrangements were satisfactory;

d)     the granting of the licence would not result in overprovision of HMOs in the locality;

e)     the living accommodation was fit for human habitation and—

                                     i.was suitable for occupation as an HMO by the number of persons to be specified in the licence, or

                                    ii.could be made so suitable by including conditions in the licence.

            The Planning Service had confirmed that a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) was granted on 8th April, 2025.

It was reported that the NIHMO Unit had consulted with the Environmental Protection Unit in relation to daytime noise; the Public Health and Housing Unit in relation to rubbish accumulation/filthy premises; and the Enforcement Unit in relation to litter and waste and all had confirmed that there had been no relevant enforcement action required in respect of any of the issues in the HMO in the last 5 years.  

For the purpose of Section 12(2) of the 2016 Act, the Council had determined the locality of the accommodation as being Housing Management Area (HMA) “2/03 Ballynafeigh” as defined in the document Council’s Local Development Plan Strategy, which was formally adopted in May, 2023.  It was reported that Legal Services had advised that there was a clear requirement in section 8 of the 2016 Act upon the Council to be satisfied that the granting of a licence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

            The Director of Planning and Building Control explained that an application had been received for the variation of a 7-Day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence to extend the hours during which entertainment may be provided at Margot.

            The Committee was advised that the days and hours during which entertainment may be provided under the terms of the current indoor Entertainments Licence were:

·      Monday to Thursday:   11.30am to 1.00am the following morning,

·      Friday and Saturday:    11.30am to 3.00am the following morning, and

·      Sunday:                        12.30pm to 1.00am the following morning

            She explained that the variation application related to a proposed extension to the hours during which entertainment could be provided, Monday to Thursday and Sunday, to 3.00am the following morning, and she reminded the Committee that applications to provide entertainment beyond 1.00am were subject to Committee consideration.

            The licensee had requested to extend the permitted hours until 3.00am, indicating that the premises was an integral part of Belfast’s nightlife and that part of the recent major fit-out was the opening of Rudi, a late bar/nightclub, and the proposed changes in hours were to keep them in line with similar venues in the vicinity, allowing them to compete within the sector, which was essential for the commercial success of the business.

            The Members were advised that no written representations had been lodged as a result of the advertisement of the application and that the PSNI and the NIFRS had both confirmed that they had no objections to the variation application.  The Committee was advised that no noise complaints had been received by the Service in the past 12 months in relation to the venue.

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that Mr. P. Langsford, the applicant, was in attendance, however, the Members did not have any questions for him.

            Moved by Councillor T. Brooks,

            Seconded by Councillor McAteer and

      Resolved - That the Committee agrees to the variation application, granting a proposed extension to the hours during which entertainment can be provided Monday to Thursday and Sunday to 3.00am the following morning.

            The Committee agreed to defer the item for one month and requested that officers would submit a report outlining a short-term inflationary rise of the current Street Trading fees, with proposed staged increases, for the Committee to consider at its next meeting.