Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

            The minutes of the meetings of 4th and 18th February were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council, at its meeting on 3rd March, subject to the amendment to the minute of the meeting of 4th February, under the heading ‘Applications for Dual Language Street Signs’, to provide that Malone Valley Park be included within the list of streets in which a second street nameplate, in Irish, would be erected.

            Councillors M. Donnelly, Black, Canavan, Verner and I. McLaughlin declared an interest in item 5 (b), ‘Funding Awards for 2025’, in that they worked for, or were associated with, organisations which had been referenced within the report. The Members left the meeting whilst the item was under discussion.

            Regarding item 3 (b), ‘Social Supermarkets’, Councillors M. Donnelly and Canavan declared interests in this matter since they worked for, or were associated with, organisations which had been referenced within the report.  The Members left the meeting whilst the item was under discussion.

Councillor McKeown declared an interest in item 6 (b), ‘Pitch Partnership Agreements’ in that a relative played for Rosario Football Club. Since the item did not become subject to discussion or debate, Councillor McKeown was not required to retire from the meeting.

            Further to its decision of 5th November, the Committee welcomed Ms. C. Rea (Disability Development Manager) and Mr. A. Crooks (Lead Contact) from the Irish Football Foundation to present on the Stadium Community Benefits Initiative (SCBI).  

            The Committee was reminded that Irish Football Association, Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities oversaw the SCBI, which was delivered through the Irish Football Foundation. The programme’s overarching objective was to improve the quality of life for future generations by encouraging wellbeing and healthy lifestyle choices; improving community engagement through schools, clubs and youth organisations; and supporting new and existing football clubs to increase their capacity to deliver by creating participation opportunities across Belfast, particularly for younger people with a disability.

            Mr. Crooks reported that a range of clubs across the City were in receipt of support and funding to assist in the delivery of a variety of initiatives for persons with disabilities, with 185 participants recorded in 2024/25. The success of the initiative was measured against an outcomes-based framework, which had recorded a 100% positive feedback during the current year. In addition, work was undertaken to ensure that the benefits of the programme were aligned to partners’ strategies and a range of indicators had been developed to monitor delivery.

            The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the representatives of the Irish Football Foundation for attending and welcomed the work which had been achieved through the programme. 

Noted.

            Further to its decision of 5th November, the Chairperson welcomed Ms. J. Pope (Head of Service, GLL) and Mr. J. Michael (Business Manager, GLL) who were in attendance to present on the range of services offered to people with additional needs.

            Mr. Michael outlined the initiatives which had been introduced across the Council’s leisure estate by GLL, which ranged from specialised swimming lessons, tennis programmes, inclusive climbing and an ‘able and active’ holiday scheme, which would be delivered in 2025. He outlined the benefits which GLL provided in participating in the JAM card scheme – which stood for ‘just a minute’ of patience, which allowed people with a hidden disability or communication barrier to be afforded extra time to express themselves to staff in a private and easy way. Staff across the organisation had been trained in this regard and in additional disability inclusion training was ongoing.

            The Committee was given an overview of the junior programmes that were delivered across Belfast, with inclusive sessions offered at Andersonstown and Brook. In addition, it was anticipated that specialised birthday parties would be introduced across several centres in 2025. Also, an ‘Understanding Disability’ course would be undertaken by all staff who worked with service users in a gymnasium environment.

            In response to a Member’s query, Mr. Michael outlined the benefits of the ‘accessibility app’ which was used by the organisation to enhance the experience of users. He indicated that GLL would be keen to explore the provision of software that would provide a virtual tour of a building, aimed specifically for persons with autism.

            The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the representatives of GLL for attending and welcomed the work which had been undertaken in providing services for people with additional needs. 

Noted.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following two 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 meeting during discussion of the following two items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Committee was advised that the content of ‘restricted’ reports and any discussion during closed session must be treated as ‘confidential information’ and that no such information should be disclosed to the public as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Code of Conduct.  

The Committee noted the contents of a report and an associated financial pack which provided an overview of the Department’s financial performance as of the end of Quarter 3 of the financial year 2024/25.

(Ms. N. Lane, Neighbourhood Services Manager, and Ms. M. Higgins, Lead Officer Community Provision, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee:

·         noted the outcome of the recent open call process for 2025/26 and noted further that there existed no budget to support the applications since no confirmation had been received from the Department for Communities regarding the level of funding which the Council would receive in the 2025/26 financial year; and

·         noted that a paper on the outcome of the open call process for 2025/26 would be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, with a view that it be referred onwards to the Cost-of-Living Working Group, should any underspends or additional funding become available within the Council’s Hardship Programme, which might be re-allocated to the Social Supermarket budget.

            The Operational Director presented a report which gave an overview of the current Council allotment provision, together with the numbers of individuals currently on the associated waiting lists. He explained that the Council oversaw 281 plots at seven locations, whilst there were 964 individuals on the waiting list.

            The Committee was provided with details on the review process which the Council used to identify abandoned/vacant/unmanaged sites and the methodology for reallocating plots, together with the engagement work undertaken in the facilitation of food growing opportunities and initiatives in conjunction with local communities.

            The Operational Director answered a range of Members’ questions and the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            In addition, the Committee noted that the City and Neighbourhood Services Department would seek to bid for funding from within the Council’s Capital Programme to enable a feasibility study to be undertaken regarding the increasing of allotment provision and improving the current infrastructure across existing sites.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th February, it had considered a request to erect a tree within the Ruby Murray Village Green in memory of the late Mr. Trevor Greer, who had been a community worker within the area. At that meeting, the Director of Resources, Fleet, Open Spaces and Streetscene had undertaken to examine the request and the Committee considered a report in this regard which provided also several design options for the placing of new signage within the park.

Moved by Councillor Bunting,

Seconded by Councillor I. McLaughlin and

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to the installation of a memorial tree within the Ruby Murray Village Green in memory of Mr. Trevor Greer and agrees also to approve option 2, as set out within the report, for the new signage within the Ruby Murray Village Green.

(Mr. P. McGrattan, Leisure Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

The Committee noted the progress achieved to date of the Council’s Boxing Strategy and its associated work plan for the year 2024/25. In addition, the Committee approved an attached action plan and agreed to extend the scope of the strategy and funding for the delivery of the related work programme from 1st April, 2025 to 31st March, 2026.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1          The main purpose of this report is to:

·         Advise members that the Community Support Programme (CSP) Letter of Offer for 2025/26 has not yet been received by Council from DfC.

·         Seek members approval to issue Letters of Offer for 2025/26 for Capacity Building & Revenue Grants and Generalist Advice in the absence of a Letter of Offer from DfC.

2.0        Recommendation

2.1        Members are asked to;

·         Consider the contents of the report and

·         Grant approval for officers to progress funding agreements for the Capacity Building, Revenue for Community Building grants and Generalist Advice for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.  50% payments will be issued in advance upon the return of required paperwork with a second payment made pending return of satisfactory interim monitoring report covering 1 April to 30 September 2025 and available budget.

·         Note that Council does not have any budget to support activity that is 100% funded through the CSP. Members will note that a separate paper on the Social Supermarket Fund which is 100% funded through the CSP has been brought to committee this evening. A further report on other 100% funded elements will be provided when the CSP Letter of Offer has been received.

·         Approve the 2024 – 25 doubling of financial allocations for the Revenue of Community Buildings grants to the organisations  for the 2025 – 2026 financial year.

            Background information

3.1        Members will be aware that the Department for Communities (DfC) provides an annual grant to Council through its Community Support Programme (CSP) Letter of Offer. This funding provides an element of the budget towards Capacity Building and Revenue for Community Building grants as well as Generalist Advice.

            The CSP also provides 100% funding for other elements of activity such as Social Supermarkets and Welfare Reform Mitigations.

3.2        Council has yet to receive a CSP Letter of Offer for 2025/26 and therefore does not have the total budget available to provide the full grant allocation.  Any reduction in the DfC allocation will impact on the overall level of the grant budget and potentially awards to the grant recipients.  The CSP Letter of Offer is received in March - June each year, although members may recall that in 2024/25, DfC funding was released on a gradual basis and the full allocation was not provided until July 2024.

            Key Issues

3.3        Capacity Building and Revenue for Community Buildings Grants

            Members may be aware that in March 2023, Council agreed to provide multi-annual funding covering 3 years 2023-2026 for the Capacity Building and Revenue for Community Building grants. Although the grants are multiannual, Funding Agreements are made on an annual basis. 

            As part of the rate setting process, Council approved an additional budget envelope of £1.5 million for the 2025 – 2026 financial year, with this funding to double the financial allocation to groups in receipt of the Revenue for Community Buildings grant.

            Officers are seeking approval to make payments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5d

The Committee considered the flowing report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1        To update members that we will continue to implement the business-as-usual aspects of the draft Community Support Plan, including Council direct delivery and ongoing allocation of funding programmes which are not being reviewed as part of this work. 

            This report will also outline the requirement to start to develop the processes for the new funding programme (replacing the capacity and revenue funding) which is being reviewed as part of this work and the risk that we may not be able to deliver on a new funding programme by April 2026.

2.0        Recommendation

i.          Note the contents of the report.

ii.         Note the business as usual and improvement aspects of the draft community support plan will proceed, this will include funding programmes that are not under review. Note that our continuous improvement actions in the plan have been informed by our engagement processes.

iii.       Due to the tight timeframe for developing a new funding programme to replace the current Community Development Large Grants (Capacity and Revenue), advise they are content that the proposal for one funding programme as outlined in the draft CSP will replace the current capacity and revenue programme; and agree that officers start to develop the processes for a new programme for 2026/27. 

iv.       Consider the options for future budget allocation and maximum limits for the Community Support Large Grants Programme and recommend an option that will be included in the draft Community Support Plan. If this is an option that exceeds the current budget of £3.3 million recommend that this is considered by SP&R, given the implications for 26/27 rate setting. 

v.         Note that the draft CSP plan, including the funding approach, is undergoing an equality and rural needs screening which will form part of our consultation approach.  It is expected that once we agree a final Community Support Plan, we may have to undertake a formal consultation in Spring/Summer 2025.  In keeping with our policy around screening and consultation, this work has already begun.

vi.       Agree that following completion of the required screening/consultation exercise, a paper will be brought to committee in summer 2025 outlining feedback and seeking agreement on the final Community Support Plan.  Officers will deliver on this plan in 2025/26 but the plan is subject to change based on any feedback that may be received from formal consultation.

vii.      Agree that a final detailed update on the Funding Programme is brought back to members in advance of going to open call in late Summer 2025.

3.0        Main Report

3.1        Background

            In January 2024, the People and Communities committee agreed to the following – ‘That officers produce a Council Community Support Plan (25/29) and at the same time, undertake a review of current community support large grants schemes’. Members will know that the community support large grants schemes form part of our overall funding package that is included in the Community Support Plan.

3.2        Further updates have been brought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5e

The Committee considered a report in respect of a request for funding which had been received from the Belfast Advice Group regarding the delivery of the Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service in 2025/26.

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the request for one month to enable further consideration to be undertaken by the Party Group Leaders and it was noted that the matter would be referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for consideration, if considered appropriate.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th February, it had agreed to defer consideration of a report in the respect of the above-mentioned matter to enable officers to draft a further report that would examine a range of charging options for Community Summer Schemes Charges in 2025. Accordingly, the Committee considered a report which outlined several options for consideration. 

The Committee agreed to introduce a ‘no charge for participation’ fee for the Council’s Summer Schemes in 2025.

(Mr. P. McGrattan, Leisure Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

The Committee considered a report which provided an overview of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Pitch Partnership Agreements from 1st April to 31st December 2024.

After discussion, the Committee:

·         noted the progress achieved as of 31st December 2024. 

·         agreed that the partner agreements be extended until 31st March 2026, or until new arrangements had been put in place following completion of the Council’s Playing Pitches and Outdoor Sports Facilities Strategy; and

·         agreed that an additional amount of up to £2,000 per month be allocated to Rosario FC to support with the costs associated in operating the site until the community asset transfer process had been completed.

The Committee considered a request which had been received from East Belfast GAC seeking permission to install a shipping container for storage purposes within the Henry Jones Playing Fields.

The Committee acceded to the request and noted that a report in relation to a corporate policy regarding the installation of shipping containers at Council facilities would be submitted for consideration in due course.

The Committee considered a request which had been received from the Mae Murray Foundation to host an event in Victoria Park which would seek to raise funds to support social inclusion for persons of all abilities.  

The Committee granted authority for the hosting of the ‘Move a Mile for Mae’ event at the Victoria Park Pavilion on 25th May 2025, subject to the organisers meeting with the conditions as set out within the report.

The Committee granted permission to name the continuation of an existing street as ‘Lady Ishbel Boulevard’.

The Committee agreed to the erection of a second street nameplate in Irish at St. Agnes’ Drive, Colinglen Road, Rosemount Gardens, Mount Eagles Crescent, Rinnalea Grove, Trench Park, Lavinia Square, Catherine Street North, Lower Stanfield Street, Upper Stanfield Street, Henrietta Street and Hamilton Street.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1        At the Council meeting on 4th November 2024 members agreed that a report would be brought to the People and Communities Committee to include a mechanism to deal with deferred applications and to consider the decision to defer the application for Wellington Park Terrace, and the other dual language street signs that had been deferred.  The minute was as follows:

1.2        ‘That the Council agrees that the decision of the People and Communities Committee, at its meeting on 8th October, in relation to an application for a second street nameplate at Wellington Park Terrace, under the heading ‘Proposal for Dual Language Street Signage’ be taken back to the Committee for further consideration, together with other similar applications which have met the threshold for approval but have been previously deferred, following an undertaking by officers to examine international best practice and develop a mechanism to deal with such applications.’

2.0        Recommendation

1.     Agree to the proposed mechanism to deal with applications that are deferred.

2.     Determine if the applications for Wynchurch Avenue, Sunningdale Park North, Ben Madigan Parth South, Wellington Park Terrace are to:

a)    continue to follow this proposed mechanism,

b)    be reconsidered by committee based on the previous survey results,

c)    be subject to a further survey of occupiers or

d)    be closed.

3.    determine if the applications for Ebor Street and Ballysillan Road are to:

a)    follow this proposed mechanism,

b)    be subject to a survey of occupiers or

c)    be closed.

3.1        Key Issues

            The report sets out:

1.     the current policy position,

2.     the proposed mechanism by which these decisions will be dealt with,

3.     consideration of best practice for these types of decisions and

4.     the decisions previously taken to defer applications and put them to the back of the queue.

1.    Policy position:

3.2        The current Dual Language Street Signs policy came into effect in October 2022.  The policy states that

3.3        ‘When an application is received, the Council will canvass by post all Occupiers of that street and seek their views on the request to erect a street sign in a second specified language.’

3.4        ‘Each application will be subject to an initial assessment for any potential adverse impacts on equality, good relations and rural needs. This assessment will commence when the application is received and where any adverse impacts are identified that information will be brought to Committee.’

3.5        Therefore, some applications will be brought to committee seeking approval to carry out the survey of that particular street if adverse impact are identified.

3.6        ‘Where fifteen percent or more of the Occupiers of that street have indicated that they are in favour of the erection of a second language street sign, then such a sign may be erected, subject to the residual discretion of the Council as specified in subsection (xi) below.’

3.7        ‘The Council will retain a residual discretion to decide to erect or not to erect  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6g

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1        To consider if a street survey of occupiers will be carried out for ten applications for the erection of dual language street signs in Irish within the city where potential adverse impacts have been identified by the initial assessments. Objections have been received from elected members for two of these streets with further representations from the community regarding another street. 

2.0        Recommendation

1.     Members are asked to consider the report and matters raised in relation to the applications for dual language street signs in Irish received for Ormeau Road, Delhi Street, Whitewell Road, Victoria Road, Upper Dunmurry Lane, Burmah Street, Upper Newtownards Road, Sunningdale Gardens, Belmont Avenue and either:

a)    Agree that surveys of occupiers of these streets be carried out, or

b)    Agree that no surveys will be carried out on the grounds of the potential adverse impacts identified and these applications are closed.

2.     Members are also asked to agree that the application for Donegall Road is closed on the basis of the agreement at SP&R in October 2023 that dual language street signs would only be erected in the section of Donegall Road within the Gaeltacht Quarter boundary between the Falls Road and the Broadway roundabout. Note signs have now been erected on this section of road.

            Key Issues

3.1        The power for the Council to consider applications to erect a second street nameplate in a language other than English is contained in Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1995.

3.2        The Dual Language Street Sign policy states that ‘each application will be subject to an initial assessment for any potential adverse impacts on equality, good relations and rural needs and where any adverse impacts are identified that information will be brought to Committee.’

3.3        The initial assessments were carried out for all the streets listed and potential adverse impacts were identified. Draft equality screenings were therefore carried out, assessing the request for dual language street signs in Irish for Ormeau Road, Delhi Street, Whitewell Road, Victoria Road, Upper Dunmurry Lane, Burmah Street, Upper Newtownards Road, Sunningdale Gardens, Donegall Road and Belmont Avenue for equality and good relations issues.

3.4        The screenings have identified that the carrying out of surveys and the erection of Irish language street signs in these areas has the potential to give rise to community tension. Conversely the screenings also identified that the process could assist in promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. The findings are outlined in the equality and good relation section below.

3.5        Objections to the applications for Ormeau Road and Donegall Road were also raised by Elected Members during the elected member notification procedure.

3.6        Ormeau Road – Cllr Davy Douglas, member for Lisnasharragh raised an objection stating: -

            ‘Ormeau Road is a mixed community, and progress has been made in recent years around issues with flags in the area. I feel that the adoption of Irish street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6h

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1        To consider if a street survey of occupiers will be carried out for three applications for the erection of dual language street signs in Irish within the city for which potential adverse impacts have been identified by the initial assessments. These applications are being considered as ‘long streets’ as contained in clause 3 (X) of the Dual Language Street Signs policy.

2.0        Recommendation

1.     Members are asked to consider the Dual Language Street Sign applications for Oldpark Road, Donegall Park Avenue and Skegoneill Avenue which have been identified as ‘long streets’ and for which the potential for adverse impacts has been identified and either:

a)    Agree that surveys of occupiers of these streets be carried out using the proposed approach; or

b)    Agree that no surveys will be carried out on the grounds of the potential adverse impacts identified and these applications are closed.

            Key Issues

3.1        The power for the Council to consider applications to erect a second street nameplate in a language other than English is contained in Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1995.

3.2        The Dual Language Street Sign policy states that ‘each application will be subject to an initial assessment for any potential adverse impacts on equality, good relations and rural needs and where any adverse impacts are identified that information will be brought to Committee.’

3.3        The policy also states that:

            ‘Consideration will to be given to ‘long streets’ where opinion on whether to have a second language street sign may differ between readily identifiable, substantial lengths of the street.  In these circumstances, the decision as to the erection of dual language nameplates in certain portions of the street will be made by Committee, exercising its residual discretion and considering advice from officers.’

3.4        Having carried out initial assessments, officers consider that Oldpark Road, Donegall Park Avenue and Skegoneill Avenue fall within this definition. 

3.5        Draft equality screenings were therefore carried out and have identified that the carrying out of surveys and the erection of Irish language street signs in these areas has the potential to give rise to community tension. Conversely, the screenings identified that the process could assist in promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. The findings are outlined in the equality and good relation section below.

3.6        Members are therefore asked to confirm if surveys are to be carried out for these three streets. If members determine these streets should be surveyed, it is proposed that additional analysis of the results of the survey will be carried out by officers to confirm any difference of opinion in the readily identifiable sections, which may influence if and where signs would be erected. The findings will be presented to members for consideration at a future committee meeting, including the location of existing street signage.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.7        If it is decided to carry out surveys, the resulting tasks are included within the normal resources  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6i

The Committee noted that a wider report in relation to the ‘FIDO’ (dog fouling removal vehicles), which would address the associated street cleansing issues raised, would be submitted in due course. 

The Committee agreed that the above-mentioned matter be referred in the first instance to the South Belfast Area-Based Working Group for consideration.