Agenda and minutes

            An apology was received from Councillor Bower who had just had a baby girl and Members extended their best wishes to her.

            The minutes of the meeting of 13th and 26th June, 2023 were taken as read and signed as correct. 

            It was reported that the minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 3rd July.

            Councillors Black, Canavan, M. Donnelly, R-M Donnelly, Ó Néill and Verner declared an interest in agenda item 3b – Department for Communities Letter of Officer Community Support Programme in that they were associated with or worked for an organisation which was in receipt of funding and left the meeting whilst the item was under consideration.

            Councillors Canavan and Verner declared an interest in agenda item 2a Social Supermarket Update in that they were associated with or worked for an organisation which was in receipt of funding and left the meeting whilst the item was under consideration.

            Councillor Doherty declared an interest in agenda item 7d Period Products Scheme as he had previously collaborated with the Council regarding this scheme.

The Committee agreed to receive a presentation at a future meeting from Keep Recycling Local regarding recycling and the circular economy.

            The Chairperson welcomed to the meeting Ms. J. Kinnear and Ms. C. McKeown representing the Ashton Community Trust and Ms. C. Henderson representing In this Together who both operated Social Supermarkets within their local areas.

            The representatives commenced by providing an overview of their respective social supermarkets and how they operated within their communities.

            The Committee was advised of the strength of need in the communities as result of the cost-of-living crisis, resulting in more working two parent families presenting for support on a regular basis amongst many other people who were struggling to make ends meet.

            The representatives highlighted that many people were self-referring because they were no longer able to be referred to a food bank after reaching their limit.  They explained that to be eligible to join the shop customers had to be on lower incomes and to live locally, with the food sold at around 30% of the normal retail price.

            The representatives also provided an overview of other work they undertook within their communities, including trying to address social isolation and loneliness and highlighted the excellent work undertaken by their many volunteers whom the organisations would not exist without.

            The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the representatives for their valuable commitment and work within their respective local communities following which they left the meeting. 

Noted.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following three items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the Members of the Press and public from the Committee meeting during discussion on the following 4 items as, due to their nature, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            (Ms. M. Higgins, Lead Officer Community Provision, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the activity delivered through the Social Supermarket Fund in 2022/23 and background on the different social supermarket models.  It also advised the Members of the allocation from the Department for Communities (DfC) through the Social Supermarket Fund for the 2023/24 financial year and sought consideration as to whether they approved the recommended approach for the allocation of the 2023/24 funds to support the activity from 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024.

The Committee was advised that the recommended approach had considered learning from previous schemes and had also been informed by the ongoing work in relation to use of the Hardship/Cost of Living funding that had been made available by DfC for 2023/24.  The approach had also been informed by the fact that until the 7th July 2023 there had been no confirmation of the level of DfC funding for this area of work, in fact there had been no financial support for activity since 31st March 2023. This timescale also meant that there would be insufficient time or resources available to manage an open call grants programme in order to support activity quickly, as the administration of open call would have required significant lead in and delivery time and would not have enabled delivery of activity before December 2023. In addition, given the specialised nature of this work, it was noted that it was likely that only a small pool of organisations would be eligible to apply.

            The officers outlined to the Members the recommendations for the allocation of the funds, as follows:

·        a portion of funding to be allocated to support the establishment of new social supermarket provision, it was recommended that 10% of the overall budget be set aside for this. If these funds had not been used by 1st December 2023, they would be allocated to existing partners on a pro rata basis. Officers would promote this opportunity and seek to work with new organisations. The Director of Neighbourhood Services be granted delegated authority to support new partners and allocate unspent funds to avoid delays in issuing funding;

·        based on a review of the demand from organisations and the membership/areas that they serve it was suggested that the area/thematic allocation be changed to 80/20 of the remaining 90% of the budget. The allocation levels suggested would be the maximum amount that each organisation could access. All projects identified in this report would be invited to submit project proposals and these would be assessed through an agreed process to ensure that activity met the aims of the funding programme, was eligible, value for money and could be delivered within timescales. Recommendations would be brought to the Director of Neighbourhood Services in relation to the outcome of the application process and awards would be offered following his approval;

·        given the successful delivery in 2022/23, it was recommended that current partners be invited to submit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee was updated in respect of the financial position of the People and Communities Committee for Quarter 4, which confirmed an overspend of £760k (0.9%) of the 88.3m budget.   

            The main reasons for this were absorbing the pay rise, £1m of Hardship Fund payments, additional contract costs and transport cost increases.  Some of these increases had been offset by additional grant income made available in year, vacancies and posts under review and delays in projects and programmes.

            The Committee was advised that a report outlining the year end position for the Council had been submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 26th June, together with the Quarter 4 finance report and year-end treasury position.

            The Committee noted the year-end financial position. 

            (Ms. M. Higgins, Lead Officer Community Provision, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee was reminded that the Department for Communities (DfC) provided an annual grant to the Council to help deliver the Council’s Community Support Programme (CSP).

            At its meeting in April, the Committee was advised that on 27th March 2023 the Chief Executive had received correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, DfC, relating to the CSP which stated that the Department could only provide support to cover the three-month period up to 30th June 2023 with the allocations based on the 2022/23 budget settlement. The correspondence added; “I hope you will understand why this allocation cannot be interpreted as an assurance as to the level of funding available for the remainder of 2023/24, given the absence of clarity on the overall budget settlement for the Department.”

            The Neighbourhood Services Manager reported that on 7th June 2023 the Council had received further correspondence advising that the department had decided to extend the interim funding arrangements, based on the 2022/23 opening budget allocations, and that these would run from 1st July to 30th September 2023.

            Following further budgetary consideration by DfC, the Council received the Letter of Offer for 2023/24 on 7th July 2023. The funding allocation was based on the 2022/23 figures which combined nine separate elements, as follows:

            The Members were reminded that at previous meetings they had considered proposals to provide funding via the CSP to organisations based on the DfC budget limitations at the time and to mitigate the impact of those decisions on the community groups funded by the Council.

            The Neighbourhood Services Manager explained that this Letter of Offer provided the full match funding to deliver on all the CSP funding allocation and, if they were content, officers would administer funding agreements and payments for 2023/24 in line with normal arrangements, where Letters of Offer/Funding Agreements would be issued based on the total allocations/awards outlined in Appendix 1 attached to the report, which listed the full amount that funded organisations would receive in 2023/24, of which part of this allocation was from the CSP. Following receipt of signed Letters of Offer/Funding agreements, payments would be issued on a 50/50 basis.

·        Small Grant Programme 2024/25

            The Members were reminded of a previous decision to operate a revised project/activity grant approach during 2020/21 and 2021/22 as a result of the COVID-19 operating environment. In 2022/23 the Council had reverted to its historic programme of small grants provision.

The Members were asked to note that community provision small grants were administered through the Central Grants  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Director of City Services advised that, as a component of the Council’s ongoing statutory duties in respect of Local Air Quality Management (LAQM), as established via Part III of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2022, the Council was required to provide annual Updating and Screening Assessments or Progress Reports to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for technical appraisal and subsequent publication via the DAERA NI Air website. The Members were advised that previous Council air quality reports were accessible via the following weblink:

https://www.airqualityni.co.uk/laqm/district-council-reports#511

            The timetable for such reporting was established in Table 1.2 Phased Approach - Cycle of Reporting for Northern Ireland of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra) Local Air Quality Management Technical Guidance (TG22). As part of the 8th round of local air quality management reporting, the Council’s 2023 Air Quality ProgressReport was due to be submitted to DAERA for technical appraisal by 30th June 2023. The Members were advised that the Council had obtained an extension to the submission date from DAERA to enable the 2023 Progress Report to be considered at Committee prior to its submission to the Technical Appraisers. This approach reflected a decision taken at the People and Communities meeting of 9th November 2021 to review air quality reports prior to their submission to DAERA.

            The Members were advised that an Air Quality Progress Report was considered to be in draft format until it had been assessed and accepted by DAERA’s independent Technical Appraisers, therefore, the report had been ‘restricted’ on the agenda.

            The Members considered the report, which provided an overview of the 2023 Belfast City Council Air Quality Progress Report and of the key findings, as available at Appendix 1.

            A Member stated that he would like to see the Air Quality Management Areas along the Ormeau Road and the Newtownards Road maintained at present and would like this reflected in the report. 

            The Director of City Services agreed to liaise with DEARA to discuss this matter further.

            A further Member referred to the fact that the Council was not the lead authority in respect of some of the areas of concern within the air Quality Action Plan for the city and, given the current funding pressures, it was possible that some actions might not be able to be progressed. 

The Committee:

·        agreed the 2023 Belfast City Council Air Quality Progress Report, subject to rewording of the suggestion within the report that the Air Quality Management Areas along the Ormeau Road and the Newtownards Road might potentially be revoked;

·        agreed that the report be submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) independent Technical Appraisers immediately after the Committee meeting, noting that the submission was subject to Council ratification and call-in procedures;

·        agreed to highlight in the correspondence to DAERA that the Council was not the lead authority in respect of some of the areas of concern within the air Quality Action Plan for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Committee was advised that, at the meeting of the Standards and Business Committee held on 27th June, a motion on Playful Belfast Streets, which had been proposed by Councillor McMullan and seconded by Councillor McAteer, had been referred to the Committee for consideration.

            With the permission of the Chairperson, the proposer of the motion, Councillor McMullan addressed the Committee and outlined the details of the motion, as follows: 

“Following other cities, including London and Dublin, this Council will work with relevant stakeholders to facilitate how residents can organise Playful Streets in Belfast.

Playful Streets are a low cost and easy way to turn residential streets into play spaces allowing children and communities to come together and play through limiting or closing access to vehicles for a few hours.

We will invite Playful Cities Ireland to present to Council members at a future Committee meeting and for council officers to engage with the pilots currently being carried out by Fingal County Council this summer.

This Council will then seek to pilot the same in Belfast in 2024 across the four quarters of the city and the city centre with a view to introduce a council led system through which residents can apply to make their street a Playful Street.”

            At the request of Councill de Faoite, the proposer of the motion, agreed to amend the motion to include School Street Pilots alongside Playful Street Pilots.

            The Committee:

·        agreed that a report on how this would be facilitated, resourced and managed would be submitted to a future meeting; an

·        it also agreed to receive a presentation at a future meeting from Playful Cities Ireland regarding the scheme and to extend an invitation to the Forward South Partnership to provide an overview regarding the Residents’ Parking Scheme in South Belfast.  

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1             To update the Committee regarding the commissioning of a new 10 year Pitches Strategy for Belfast.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

i.       Note the timeline for the commissioning and production of the new 10 year Pitches Strategy.

ii.      Note the Terms of Reference for the strategy.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Council developed a playing pitches strategy for the period 2011-2021 which was agreed in February 2012. The strategy included action plans under 3 key objectives:

-       Objective 1-Capital Investment

-       Objective 2-Management 

-       Objective 3-Sports Development

3.2       The growth in participation numbers across a number of sports since the Covid Pandemic has created increased demand for pitches and other outdoor sports facilities.

3.3       Due to the increased demand and a number of approaches from elected members, sports Governing Bodies and Belfast based Sports Clubs the need has been identified to commission a new 10 year “Belfast Pitches Strategy”.

3.4       Any new strategy and the subsequent work arising will need to align with the wider Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy currently under development and any future plans under Leisure Development.  The new pitches strategy will need to be supported with a financial strategy in terms of funding opportunities from both council and other partners.

3.5       In the interim, officers will continue to work on an area by area basis to identify, agree and secure quick wins for all sports at our existing sites.

3.6       Indicative timeline for commissioning and production of strategy

3.7       Terms of Reference

            Senior officers met with party group leaders and discussed the draft terms of reference and their feedback is incorporated into the terms of reference below.

i.            To produce a strategy for the development and management of all outdoor sport facilities in Belfast, which will maximise opportunities to realise Belfast Agenda outcomes.

ii.           To undertake a baseline assessment of existing outdoor sports facilities in Belfast and to identify which sports are using each facility.

iii.         To map existing Belfast sports clubs, their current home facilities, and their membership profile.

iv.         To provide an analysis of how existing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

As reported at the June meeting of Committee, the Neighbourhood Services Manager advised that the key focus of work currently was reviewing and designing the recruitment process and engagement approach to encourage applications from young people across the city.

            The Members noted that over the summer months the Youth Council representatives would be prioritising outreach with youth providers and youth services to promote recruitment.  This would include regular social media posts, e-shots, mailing, emailing, telephone calls and face to face contact with a wide range of groups to try and ensure that a diverse range of young people received an opportunity to apply to BCYC. In addition, contact would be made with youth organisations in each of the 10 Council DEAs as well as larger citywide organisations, including the following;

·        Youth Work Alliance;

·        Voluntary Sector Youth Providers;

·        Street Beat;

·        Community Restorative Justice;

·        Shankill Alternatives;

·        Common Youth;

·        Transgender NI;

·        ACT Initiative;

·        Rainbow project;

·        EA Youth Service;

·        R City;

·        NIYF;

·        NICCY;

·        Extern;

·        Volunteer NOW;

·        Cara Friend; and

·        Belfast Met.

            The officer advised that new Youth Champion nominees had been sought from the Party Group Leaders and, once confirmed, these Members would be invited to attend a meeting with the Belfast City Youth Council members.

            The Committee noted the content of the report relating to the Belfast City Youth Council and the list of groups that would be contacted as part of the recruitment exercise for new members and agreed to contact the Young People’s Co-ordinator directly if they had any further suggestions.

            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:

·        Seek approval for use of Belfast City Council’s (BCC) allocation of £90,000 to support Active Belfast Partnership (ABP) in 2023/24 to deliver the programme of activity detailed in the report

·        Update members on delivery of the first Participatory Budgeting (PB) programme delivered through the Active Belfast Partnership

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The committee is asked to:

·        Approve the use of the BCC allocation of £90,000 to support ABP in 2023/24 to deliver the programme of activity detailed in the report.

·        Note the update in relation to delivery of the first Participatory Budgeting (PB) programme delivered through the Active Belfast Partnership

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Active Belfast Partnership is a multi-agency partnership supporting physical activity and healthy eating in Belfast. It is jointly funded by BCC (£90,000) and Public Health Agency (PHA). PHA advised on 19th July that they were applying a 3.54% uplift to their allocation for 2023/24 providing £181,141. The BCC contribution remains at £90,000 which means the total budget for 2023/24 is £271,141. Physical activity and healthy eating remain priority areas within the refreshed Belfast Agenda as well as wider health-focussed strategic documents. AB therefore, both as an approach and as a partnership, plays a vital role in facilitating collaboration with key partners to take forward relevant and novel approaches.

3.2       Members may note that in January 2023 approval was given for the Active Belfast Partnership to use £64,000 of the 2023/24 budget to allocate funding awards made through its Participatory Budgeting programme for the delivery of activity in 2023/24. (£26,000 from BCC and £38,000 from PHA). At that time officers advised that a planning session to identify and agree priorities for 2023/24, alongside associated spend profiles would be held early in 2023 and that committee would receive an update following that meeting. However, due to the absence of key staff the meeting did not take place until May 2023 and the tabling of this report was delayed as a result.

3.3       In the interim, SP&R committee considered what level of Council contribution would be directed to support micro-medium grants in June 2023 as part of the spending review. The 2023/24 allocation from Active Belfast of £79,940.00 was included in this discussion and has been included in the overall budget for these awards.

3.4       Proposed Active Belfast 2-23/24 Budget Profile

            The table below lists the recommended allocation for 2023/24 following discussions with partners. The PHA uplift which was made available on 19th July has not been reflected in this table and ABP will agree the allocation of this uplift at its next meeting. The rationale for supporting listed projects is as follows;

            Previously agreed by BCC for 2023/24;

·        PB Project – spend approved in January 2023 to support delivery of this programme which has testedmore participative and innovative methods of engaging citizens in programme delivery. Allocations have been made through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Committee was presented with the Quarter 4 update report in relation to the Committee Plan that had been agreed by the Committee in June 2022.

            The Director of City Services referred the Members to a table in Appendix 1 that provided detail and commentary on the progress of all 33 actions.  She explained that this table set out the work undertaken by the Department to deliver the key priorities, to the end of Q4 2022/23.  It was highlighted that 33 actions had been identified across the Department’s three Directorates. Of these, 4 had been completed, 19 were currently on track, 5 were considered at risk and were slightly delayed and a further 5 actions were considered to be behind schedule and would require additional resources to ensure their completion in the next financial year.

            The Committee was reminded of the resource, capacity and resilience pressures that the City and Neighbourhood Services Department had experienced during 2022-23. It noted that recent recruitment exercises had provided some additional resources which would assist with the progress of those actions currently considered to be delayed, though it was anticipated that some of these actions would be carried into the 2023-24 Department Business Plan, where completion was more realistically achievable.

            The Members noted the content of the year-end report and progress against the business plan and that a further report detailing the 2023-24 Committee Plan would be submitted in due course.  It further:

·        noted the ongoing staff resource pressures which were still having an impact on the delivery of key programs of work, however, welcomed the initiatives being taken by officers to work with Corporate HR on innovation with the recruitment process;

·        agreed that officers would investigate if an apprenticeship programme could be introduced within the Pest Control Service;

·        encouraged the targeting of woman to driver positions and incentives such as job-share and part-time working being promoted within these roles;

·        noted that an update in respect of the use of smaller vehicles within the cleansing fleet would be provided to the next meeting of the Cleansing Task Force;

·        noted concern that no progress had been made in respect of biodiversity work due to staff resources and budget, an update was sought in respect of how much it was anticipated this workstream would take to progress; and 

·        agreed that an update on Alleygates would be submitted to the September meeting providing an update on the recent consultation undertaken.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1             To update members on the progress of the DFC/BSC funded Bullring capital project including the formal park opening; proposed process for naming the new park and keyholder arrangements for the community garden/allotments and MUGA.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

1.     Note the update and formal opening arrangements for the new park.

2.      Agree the preparation of a keyholding agreement for the community garden with Lower Shankill Community Association and Denmark Street Community Centre.

3.      Note the process for naming the new park including the shortlisted names for the public vote on the Council’s Your Say website. The result of that vote will be reported back to this Committee.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Department for Communities, through its Building Successful Communities programme, has funded two public realm projects in Lower Falls and Lower Shankill. The Westlink Sports Activity Park (which was its working title for funding purposes) is situated at the Divis ‘Back Path’ area located between the rear of Cullingtree Road and the Westlink. Now renamed Páirc an Lonnáin, it was opened to the public in early July 2021 following a major £1m development, creating a valuable new asset for residents in this part of the west of the city.

3.2       The Bullring project is larger in scale. The finished asset will, alongside improved hard and soft landscaping, include:

·        A MUGA

·        Play area for 0-3years and 3-6 years

·        Exercise Equipment

·        Self-contained Community Garden including toilet facility

·        Allotments

3.3       Appendix 1 contains a Planning Drawing of The Bullring Public Realm proposals.

3.4       The expected completion date is the end August 2023. In line with recommendations made by the SP&R committee in October 2016, the Bullring will transfer to council with 3 years of maintenance funding from DFC at an annual value of £35,000. The site will be managed and maintained by the relevant Open Spaces Street Scene team within City and Neighbourhood Services.

3.5       The Bullring site includes a securely fenced and gated area for a community garden with raised beds which can be made available to individuals and/or community groups for growing. This area also includes a WC, storage shed and water taps. Throughout the construction period, CNS officers have engaged with DfC and with local community representatives, including Lower Shankill Community Association and Denmark Street Community Centre, via a local stakeholder group, to prepare for the handover of the park. The Parks Outreach and Events Team have been helping prepare for the handover with a particular focus on how the community garden can be managed over late summer and autumn of 2023.

3.6       Keyholding

            Given the importance of facilitating access to the community garden for watering and weeding, across the breadth of times when users will want to work there, it is proposed to enter into a keyholder agreement for the community garden and the MUGA with Lower Shankill Community Association and Denmark Street Community Centre.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Committee agreed to the erection of a second street nameplate in Irish at Mica Drive, Coolnasilla Park South, Haypark Avenue, Eliza Street Terrace, Friendly Street, Rossnareen Avenue, St James Parade, St Judes Square, Lagmore View Road, Ashgrove Park, La Salle Park and Mill Valley Road.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To provide members of the People and Communities Committee with an update on addressing better responsible dog ownership, in particular:

·        The Committee noted the previous update at the meeting on 7 March 2023 and requested a Members’ Workshop to discuss the issues and potential solutions to dog fouling in the city in more detail.

·        Actions taken following the Members’ Workshop on 25 April 2023 on Tackling Dog Fouling in the City; and

·        The deferred decision regarding proposed changes to Fixed Penalty Fines for dog fouling offences and littering offences.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the actions and outcomes following the Members’ Workshop on 25 April 2023.

·        Reconsider Options 1 – 3 in relation to the new fixed penalty limits for dog fouling  and agree a preferred option.

·        Consider Option 4 - applying any changes made to the fixed penalty limits for dog fouling offences to littering offences.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       PART 1 – Members’ Workshop

3.2       A Members’ Workshop on responsible dog ownership and the tackling of dog fouling in the city took place on 25 April 2023. An overview of the Dog Warden Service was followed with fouling statistics and trends; the challenges when tackling dog fouling and updates from the various teams in the Council with responsibility for tackling dog fouling.

3.3       Sixteen actions have been grouped under eight headings and since the workshop, officers in the Dog Warden Service, Environmental Education and Outreach Team, Corporate Marketing and Communications, Open Spaces and Streetscene and the Performance and Improvement Unit have held further workshops and been working through these actions.

            DATA

3.4       ACTION 1 – Consider how best to use data from street inspections / street index data or other data sources to identify hot spots and look at impact. Consider how best to provide data to Members.

3.5       A full analysis of the available data was carried out and the key findings were:

·        Customer complaints in relation to dog fouling increased by 14% from 21/22 (889) to 22/23 (1013).

·        The data from the Council’s Quality Monitoring Survey evidences a seasonal trend to dog fouling, where there is increased dog fouling in the winter months (December – February) compared with the summer months (June – August). This same seasonal trend has been identified in customer complaints recorded by the Customer Hub. It shows from about November to March in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 there was a sharp rise in complaints.

·        The number of fixed penalties and revenue from the fines are currently low. Fouling detection patrols are resource intensive and are carried out in pairs. We are continuing to review the opportunity for fouling detection patrols against the other demands on the Dog Wardens time.

·        There was a greater number of people with dog licences pre-pandemic than post pandemic.

3.6       Outcome 1 - We will continue to use the data from complaints (via public and Members) and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

            Committee is asked to note that Council has received a number of requests from event organisers to host events across several city park locations in 2023. Committee is also asked to note that the request for use of Falls Park also includes a request for funding.

·        VC Glendale – Falls Park

·        Penny for your Mental Health & Money Advice – Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park

·        East side Partnership - Go Greenway Campaign

·        North Belfast Lantern Parade – Alexandra Park

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       That committee note the request for £8,207 funding support for the Falls Park event. It is recommended that officers will endeavour to signpost the club to other possible external funding streams for this year’s event and work with the club in future years to ensure they are aware of our funding streams.

            The Committee is asked to grant authority to each of the applicants for the proposed events on the dates noted and to delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to ensure the following:

i.       Where appropriate negotiate a fee which recognises the costs to Council, minimises negative impact on the immediate area and takes account of the potential wider benefit to the city economy, in conjunction with the Councils Commercial Manager;

ii.      Negotiate satisfactory terms and conditions of use via an appropriate legal agreement prepared by the City Solicitor, including managing final booking confirmation dates and flexibility around ‘set up’ & take down’ periods, and booking amendments, subject to:

-       The promoter resolving any operational issues to the Council’s satisfaction.

-       The promoter meeting all the statutory requirements of the Planning and Building Control Service including the terms and conditions of the Park’s Entertainment Licence.

2.2       Please note that the above recommendations are taken as a pre-policy position in advance of the Council agreeing a more structured framework and policy for ‘Events’, which is currently being taken forward in conjunction with the Councils Commercial team.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       If agreed, the event organisers will be required in advance of each event to submit an event management plan for approval by the Council and all relevant statutory bodies. This will include an assessment of how the event will impact upon the surrounding area and measures to mitigate these impacts.

3.2       VC Glendale Falling Leaves - Falls Park

            VC Glendale are a well-known local voluntary cycling club with a long history of producing some of the country’s finest cyclists. The club was founded in 1981 by local Andersonstown men Mark Graham, Brian Holmes and Jimmy Watson to help local cyclists take part in cycling events during a very turbulent time in Belfast. The club quickly had established itself as one of the best cross community cycling clubs in Ireland with some of its members racing in major events such as The RAS (Ireland’s premier event) and established races throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and also representing Ireland at world events. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

            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 provide members with an update on the success of the Period Waste Scheme (March 2022 - current)  and seek direction on future delivery.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the contents of the report and make a recommendation that the Environmental Education & Outreach team will cease provision from April 2024 given that:

o   current demand appears to have been met through the first two pilot programmes;

o   there is no available budget to run a third programme

o   provision will be established through the new legislation 

2.2       The Committee is also asked to authorise the Director of City and Organisational Strategy to submit a formal written response on behalf of council, as outlined at 3.13, to the TEO consultation on the provision of free period products.

3.0       Main report

          Background

3.1       The aim of the Period Waste initiative was to raise awareness and encourage increased use of reusable period products. This will have an environmental benefit as it will reduce the amount of period waste that is entering our waste stream and being landfilled, and it will also reduce plastic waste. Disposal of single use menstrual products - tampons, pads and applicators generates 200,000 tonnes of waste per year in the UK[1]. In addition, sanitary waste can be made of up to 90% plastic.

3.2       In the most recent BCC Waste Composition Study (2014) it was found that 1.87% of all miscellaneous combustible waste (the largest category of waste we collect) was of a sanitary waste nature (including other absorbent hygiene products but excluding nappies). This means each household was producing on average 3.38Kg of this type of product waste per year.

3.3       This project was primarily focused on waste reduction but also had the benefit of providing a sustainable resource for those affected by period poverty which is an added pressure on individuals and families as a result of the current cost of living pressures.

3.4       The pilot scheme was launched on 30 March 22 to unprecedented demand and in less than 24 hours the pilot had to be closed because of demand. Through the scheme we provided free access to reusable period products to 3,159 people in the Belfast area. Council worked with the social enterprise, ‘Hey Girls’. (www.heygirls.co.uk) to deliver the scheme, where participants could register and order reusable sanitary products online.

3.5       Social media coverage and feedback on the scheme was also very positive. Commentary praised Belfast City Council for bringing the initiative forward. Over 95,000 people were reached through Council social media on the topic with over 225,000 people having viewed twitter posts promoting the scheme.

3.6       Market research targeted at participants of the pilot found that 94.2% of respondent use the products they received all or some of the time. 43.5% said they no longer use single use period products and 86.9% say it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

The Committee considered a report highlighting the continuation of funding to support Belfast City Council’s activity in the area of product safety regulation.

            The Members were reminded that, at the February 2023 meeting, the Committee had agreed to avail of in year (2022/23) grant funding, totalling £120,000 which had been made available from the Department of Business Enterprise and Skills (Office of Product Standards and Safety, OPSS) to support Councils work in relation to:

·        ensuring that businesses involved in the importation, supply or sale of goods complied with their legal obligations and to ensure that goods presented on the market did not present risk of harm or injury to consumers; and

·        building capacity and capability of the service to understand and deliver requirements of the legislation, and to build strong working relationships with key partners and businesses.

            The Members were advised that OPSS had now extended both grant funding programmes.  Officers had reviewed the 2 available grant funding offers and had confirmed that Belfast City Council would be eligible to claim the available funding, in full, in line with the eligibility criteria.

            The Members were advised that it was possible that these programmes might continue beyond the 2023/24 financial year, with further grant funding offers in future years.  Therefore, to assist the Council in planning for delivery and to draw down future funding in a timely manner, approval was sought to avail of extended funding opportunities under these programmes should they become available in 2024/25 or beyond.

            The Committee agreed to avail of the continued grant funding offers to support Belfast City Council’s work on product safety in 2023/24 and any subsequent extensions over future years, if made available.

Request that the Council will take the opportunity presented by the roll-out of new bilingual street signs to:

•                     Explore the use of cló Gaelach, or an appropriate adaptation, for Irish language wording on bilingual street signs in Belfast, bearing in mind that accessibility assessment if required should be judged against the standards for this script format rather than Roman script.

•                     Explore the possibilities to use a distinctive font for English language wording on all street signs to create a unique ‘Belfast character’ which will be readily identifiable as a feature of the city. This could echo, for example, fonts used on traditional black tiled signs, meeting accessibility requirements.

•                     Explore options around other scripts that may be required for bilingual signage in future, relating to other languages, to avoid any delays in delivering any such signage.

            With the permission of the Chairperson, Councillor McKeown addressed the Committee and explained that he wished for the Council to take the opportunity presented by the roll-out of new bilingual street signs to:

·        explore the use of cló Gaelach, or an appropriate adaptation, for Irish language wording on bilingual street signs in Belfast, bearing in mind that accessibility assessment if required should be judged against the standards for this script format rather than Roman script;

·        explore the possibilities to use a distinctive font for English language wording on all street signs to create a unique ‘Belfast character’ which will be readily identifiable as a feature of the city. This could echo, for example, fonts used on traditional black tiled signs, meeting accessibility requirements; and

·        explore options around other scripts that may be required for bilingual signage in future, relating to other languages, to avoid any delays in delivering any such signage.

            A number of Members stated that they would not be in support of the suggestions as they thought it was unnecessary and the costs would also be prohibitive, however they noted that they were content for a report to be submitted to a future meeting and that the requests could be considered further at this stage.

            The Chairperson advised that he had recently been contacted by representatives from Lagan Valley Regional Park, of which he was a Council appointed member of the Management Committee.

            He advised that he had been informed that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) which, along with Belfast City Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, provided core funding for the park had recently written to the Directors advising that it was withdrawing its element of funding to the park with immediate effect and that it would not be funding any works done to date this year. He stated that, obviously, this was extremely concerning, and he sought permission for the Committee to write outlining its concern and support for the Park.

            The Committee agreed to write the Department of Infrastructure stating its concern at the withdrawal of funding from the Lagan Valley Regional Park (LVRP), concern at the lack of notice given and outlining its support for LVRP.