Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Keenan and Mac Giolla Mhín.

            The minutes of the meetings of 8th and 22nd November were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st December, subject to:

(i)     the amendment of the minute of the meeting of 8th November to note that Councillor Ó Muilleoir was in attendance;

(ii)    the amendment of the minute of the meeting of 22nd November under the heading “Future Renewing the Routes Programme 2011/2016” to reflect that the Committee had agreed to grant authority for officers to invite tenders for construction-related design services and measured-term agreements for work associated with the future Renewing the Routes Programme and to award contracts on the basis of cost and quality for work for which funding had already been committed;

(iii)  the amendment of the minute of the meeting of 22nd November under the heading “City Hall Christmas Lights” to reflect that a lighted sign with the words “Merry Christmas” would be erected as soon as possible in 2011, and every year thereafter, over the East Entrance to the City Hall; and

(iv)  the further amendment of the minute of the meeting on 22nd November under the heading “City Hall Christmas Lights”  to note that the Council agreed to explore with An Cultúrlann the possibility of donating, pro gratis, a “Nollaig Shona” (Merry Christmas) sign to be erected within the City Hall grounds.

            The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed Councillor Mallon to the meeting following her recent absence due to a road traffic accident.

            The Democratic Services Officer informed the Committee that correspondence had been received from the Northern Ireland Hotels’ Federation requesting that the Committee receive a deputation from that organisation to discuss how it could work with the Council in respect of the development of conference facilities within the City.

            The Committee agreed to receive at its meeting on 10th January a deputation from the Northern Ireland Hotels’ Federation.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and noted further that a report in respect of the level of Council financial support for the organisation in 2012/2013 and beyond would be considered in due course. In addition, the Director undertook to submit to a future meeting a report which would outline a number of options which could be considered for securing additional private sector support for the work of organisations such as Belfast City Centre Management.

            The Committee considered the quarterly update on the Departmental Plan for the period ending 30th September, 2011.  The Director clarified a number of issues in respect of the Plan and undertook to update Members in respect of various aspects therein.

                                                                                                                                    Noted.

            In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations, the Director sought the Committee’s authority to have a number of outstanding accounts amounting to £23,759.81 written off, a schedule of which had been submitted for the Committee’s information.  He pointed out that all reasonable measures had been undertaken to recover the debts.

            After discussion, during which the Director undertook to submit to a future meeting a report outlining the Council’s debt management procedures, the Committee granted the authority sought.

            A prolonged discussion ensued, during which Members pointed out that the Steering Group which had been established to review community development and infrastructure services in Belfast had no political representatives serving on it. It was suggested that input from Elected Members would be essential to ensure that any proposals forthcoming had been subjected to prior political scrutiny. 

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Alderman Stoker,

            Seconded by Councillor Maskey and

      Resolved - That the Committee agrees to note the contents of the report and agrees further that the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, or their nominees, be nominated to serve as the Council’s representatives on the Steering Group established to review community development and infrastructure services in Belfast.

            The Committee was informed that the Ormeau Baths Gallery had ceased trading on 31st October, 2011.  In May, as part of the Council’s Culture and Arts Development and Outreach Initiative, the organisation had been awarded £9,523 to enable it to fund a project for an ‘Artist in Residence’ for the Markets and Donegall Pass areas. That project had been lead by the Ormeau Baths Gallery, in conjunction with the Crescent Arts Centre and the Markets and Donegall Pass Community Centres. In June, the first instalment of £4,761.50 for the project had been released, which had enabled the organisers to engage a range of artists and to procure equipment and materials. However, with the closure of the gallery, work on the project had ceased. It was reported that the artists involved had expressed their willingness to continue with the project and that the Crescent Arts Centre had expressed an interest in acting as the lead partner in this regard. Accordingly, the Head of Economic Initiatives outlined a number of options for the future of the project for the Committee’s consideration.

            The Committee agreed that responsibility for the delivery of the remainder of the project would be transferred to the Crescent Arts Centre and that the outstanding grant instalment would be payable to that organisation. 

            The Committee was reminded that the Cathedral Quarter Trust had, in December, 2010, issued for consultation a five-year development plan which had been presented to the Committee at its meeting on 12th January. Accordingly, the Committee considered the contents of a report which outlined the results of a public consultation exercise on the Plan, together with a revised executive summary of the document. The Director provided an overview of the main aspects of the revised Plan and referred to the amendments therein which had been made to incorporate the Council’s comments in respect of the original document.

            The Committee endorsed the contents of the revised Development Plan.

            The Committee endorsed the response to the Department for Regional Development’s consultation on the route options for the Belfast Rapid Transit Project:

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee endorsed the response to the above-mentioned Inquiry:

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            After discussion, during which it was agreed that Members would seek to raise the matter of the economic importance of direct air routes between Belfast and London, the Committee noted the information provided.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to adopt Option 2 as set out within 2.9 of the report and award £25,000 funding to the Black Box for the financial year 2012/2013, subject to the Department’s estimates of expenditure being agreed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 6th January.

             After discussion, during which the officers clarified a number of issues relating to the possible extension of the programme to other areas of the City and the projected timescale for the delivery of the projects outlined, the Committee adopted the recommendations.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Ó Muilleoir,

            Seconded by Councillor Mallon,

   That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations as set out within the report, subject to the amendment that the banners to be displayed in the Gaeltacht Quarter would be in both Irish and English.

            On a vote by show of hands nine Members voted for the proposal and four against and it was accordingly declared carried.