Agenda and minutes

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

            The minutes of the meetings of 26th April and 10th and 24th May, 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 June, subject to:

            (1)  The amendment of the minute of 24th May under the heading “Armed Forces Day” to provide that the Council agrees to fly the Armed Forces Day flag through the period from 24th till 29th June, 2013.

            (2)  The amendment of the minute of 24th May, under the heading “Abolition of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive” to provide that the Council agrees that a letter be forwarded to the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive expressing concern regarding the difficulties which had been experienced by Elected Members in contacting Area Managers to discuss housing issues on behalf of their constituents.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            (Mr. J. Walsh, Legal Services Manager, attending in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

            “1     Relevant Background Information

At its meeting on 10 May 2013 the Committee considered a report submitted by the Democratic Services Manager in relation to the ongoing issue of appointments to the Belfast Education & Library Board.  In that report, the Committee was reminded that correspondence has been received from the Department of Education indicating that, following the selection process which had been carried out to appoint 4 Members to the Board from the 8 names submitted, which involved the completion of application forms by the nominees, an eligibility sift of applications against the criteria and, for those who met the eligibility criteria, a conversation with a purpose, the outcome was that three of the nominees did not progress beyond the eligibility sift stage and one candidate had withdrawn from the process.

This resulted in only four eligible candidates remaining in the process and the Minister for Education subsequently asked for the current pool of candidates to be augmented before he made his choice of candidates to be appointed.  The Department had therefore requested the Council to submit an additional four nominations, who would be required to undergo the same selection process as that set out above.  Effectively, the Minister is insisting that he has a pool of 8 eligible nominations from which he can then proceed to make the appointment.

At the meeting of 10 May, the Committee deferred consideration of the above report to enable a legal opinion to be obtained regarding the decision of the Minister of Education. 

            2       Key Issues

2.1 The legislative position in relation to the appointment of members to the Education & Library Boards is set out in the Education & Libraries (NI) Order 1986.  Article 3 of the 1986 Order provides for the establishment of the 5 existing Education & Library Boards, and further provides that the Boards shall be constituted in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2 of the Order.

2.2    Paragraph 2 (1) of Schedule 2 provides that the Department of Education shall determine the total number of members to be nominated to a Board by the relevant district council, and the number to be nominated by each district council.  Each council is required to select the members of the council to be nominated by it and to send to the Head of the Department the names and addresses of the persons so nominated.  There is no requirement in the Schedule as to the methodology to be employed by the councils in selecting the members to be nominated, but the Schedule goes on to provide that if a district council fails to nominate members to a Board, or fails to nominate the requisite number of such members, then the Head of the Department has the default power to make the nominations himself on behalf of the council.

2.3    There is nothing in the Schedule which defines the “requisite number of members” but the Department of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            (Mr. J. McGrillen, Director of Development, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    In April 2013 the Development Committee agreed to bid for, and if successful, stage a major pipe band championship in 2014 and 2015.  This was approved subject to the Strategic, Policy & Resources Committee agreeingto in an increase in the specified reserve by an additional £120,000 to accommodate the proposal to host a Belfast International Piping Championship in 2014 and 2015 (total cost per annum of £180,000).

1.2    Therefore, the purpose of this report is to seek approval from the Strategic, Policy and Resources Committee to increase the specified reserve for major events by £120,000.  This will allow BCC to place a bid with the Royal Scottish Pipe Association (RSPBA) to host a major piping championship in 2014 and 2015.

2       Key Issues

2.1    Officers have met and engaged in discussions with the RSPBA in regard to a new championship that the Association wish to create.  This event would be a replacement to the Cowel Championship which comes to a close this year.  The new event would be one of the Association’s ‘big five’ competitions which include: the World; European; British; Scottish and All-Ireland events.

2.2    The annual cost to Council would be circa £180,000 and would include an £80,000 yearly fee to the RSPBA.  It is estimated between 100 and120 bands would attend this event.

2.3    Currently £240,000 has been allocated in the Council’s specified reserves in order to host major piping events over a two year period.  However, market analysis by the RSPBA has indicated that an additional £120,000 would be required, bringing the Council’s contribution to £360,000 over two years.

3       Resource Implications

3.1    Financial

         The financial implications are as follows:

Ø    The total two year cost would be £360,000 to bid and deliver the 2014 and 2015 Belfast International Piping Championship (working title)

3.2    Personnel

         None at the current moment.

4       Equality and Good Relations Considerations

         There are no relevant equality and good relations implications.  However, as with all major civic events, public events like those listed have the potential to bring together people from a wide range of backgrounds and therefore promote good relations in the city.

5       Recommendations

         Committee are requested to consider:

         That an additional £120,000 is set aside within the Council’s specified reserves to assist in the securing and staging of two major international piping events in 2014 and 2015.  Total cost of the two championships over the two years would be £360,000.”

            The Committee agreed to an additional £120,000 being set aside within the Council’s specified reserve to assist in the securing and staging of two major international piping events in 2014 and 2015.

Chairman