Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Chairman (Councillor Reynolds) and Alderman Campbell.

            The minutes of the meeting of 23rd January 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 February, subject to the amendment of the minute under the heading “Flood Alleviation in Belfast” to provide that the Ministers for Finance and Personnel, Agricultural and Rural Development, Social Development and, if considered necessary, the Ministers for the Environment and Regional Development, be invited to meet with an All-Party Delegation from the Council to discuss Members’ concerns around flood alleviation, cuts in funding and individual households’ protection scheme.

            Councillor Corr declared an interest in respect of Item 2a – Belfast Investment Fund in so far as he was on the Board of the West Belfast Partnership.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0    Relevant Background Information

1.1    Current objectives and criteria

·        BIF support was designed to support partnership projects across the city which will have a substantial regenerative impact and will bring major benefit to the city

·        The objectives of the Belfast Investment Fund are to:

·        create a focal point for the Council to play a leading role in the development of the city

·        create a ‘can do’ attitude amongst its citizens and create a sense of place and pride in Belfast

·        encourage investment from and engagement of public, private and voluntary sectors, in the achievement of that aim

·        to contribute to the Council’s priorities and vision for the city

·        to be eligible to receive funding under the Belfast Investment Fund projects must -

·        be a single project or a programme/cluster of capital investment

·        demonstrate that they have a cumulative iconic or transformational impact

·        have a partnership element and be receiving at least match 50% funding from another source/sources

·        be seeking a Council investment of above £250,000

         Designed as a rolling programme of investment and given the level of investment in projects was meant to be over 3 terms of the Council up to 2019/2020.

1.2    Current status of fund

·        As outlined in the table below current expectations are that there will be £34m in the BIF stream by 16/17

1.3    Current status of projects 

·        No funding for any BIF project has been agreed to date by Committee

·        20 emerging projects agreed in principle by Committee – (appendix 1)

·        3 of these have been progressed to Stage 2 (i.e. development of an OBC) – Lagan Gateway at Stranmillis; redevelopment of St. Comgall’s and new pitches at St. Mary’s – these projects were prioritised due to their state of readiness and/or match funding sources in place

2.0    Issues

·        One of the key issues in relation to BIF projects has been the 50% match funding requirement – this has been difficult for projects to secure given the lack of other sources of funding – this will be further impacted by the loss of DSD funding under LGR. The South AWG formally requested in October 14 that the ‘SP&R Committee review the match funding requirement for BIF projects which could allow projects that have a certain amount of match funding in place, but not the 50% requirement, to proceed’.  This was considered but no recommendations were agreed at this stage.

·        There are no proposed projects in the enhanced boundaries of the Council and no city centre proposals

·        Many of the proposed projects are limited in scope and their potential outcomes for the city is accordingly reduced.

2.1   Options for Members to consider

        To actually begin to use BIF Members need to focus on three key issues:

·        How can BIF be best linked to the emerging ‘Belfast Agenda’ and the outcomes and accountability frameworks?

·        Given the changing roles  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            The Committee was advised that the undernoted requests for the use of the City Hall and the provision of hospitality had been received:

(Mr. A. Hassard, Director of Parks and Leisure, and Mrs R. Crozier, Assistant Director of Parks and Leisure, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    The Council currently hold the land at Slievegallion Drive.  The land is held on a 10,000 year lease, date 20th Feb 1984, from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.  The lease restricts the use of the site to informal open space and NIHE consent is required for any assignment or sub letting.

1.2    De La Salle College is located adjacent to the Council’s land at Slievegallion Drive.  The school have approached the Council with a proposal for the redevelopment of that part of the Council’s land at Slievegallion Drive, to provide a school/community facility comprising 3G sports pitch and associated changing pavilion.

1.3    The College require a 99 year lease in order to secure funding from the Department of Education for their proposal.

1.4    The site does not form part of the Pitches Strategy and there is currently no identified funding in the Capital Programme for the development of this land by the Council.

1.5    Parks and Leisure Committee at its meeting on 13th June 2013 agreed to officers progressing discussions with De La Salle College with a view to exploring the most appropriate arrangement for the redevelopment of the informal open space at Slievegallion Drive, with a further report to be brought to the Parks & Leisure Committee in due course.

1.6    A further report was brought to the Parks & Leisure Committee on the 11th December 2014 recommending that:

1.   Officers continue to meet with the College representatives to progress the matter;

2.   Agree in principle to the leasing of the land subject to obtaining the necessary statutory approvals; securing funding and reaching agreement with Council officers re terms and conditions including a community use clause;

3.   Agree to make recommendations to Strategic Policy & Resources that the Council fund the refurbishment of the land outside of the pitch proposal using the land fee; and that the Landscape Planning and Development Unit is tasked to undertake the design element of this work.

1.7    The recommendation was not approved by the Parks & Leisure Committee but was subsequently overturned at the Council meeting on the 5th Jan 2015 to provide that the Council proceed with the recommendations as set out within the report and, in addition, that officers arrange a meeting with residents in order to discuss any concerns which they may have in respect of the development.

1.8    A report was brought to the Strategic Policy & Resources Committee on 23rd Jan 2015 seeking approval to the premium of £129,450 and approval to use part of the receipt to upgrade and landscape the retained land.  The Committee deferred a decision and asked that the matter be taken back to Committee following BCC officers undertaking the proposed information session with local residents.

1.9    A public information session has been arranged for 10th February 2015 at Andersonstown Leisure Centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Summer Madness for financial support for two Good Relations related events scheduled to take place on 17th and 18th March.

            It was reported that the first event, which was being organised by Summer Madness, would take place in the Waterfront Hall on the evening of 17th March.  The event would be attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Mayor and a Catholic Church leader.  The event proposed to engage young people from interface areas in conversations around reconciliation and would build on previous engagement projects which had been organised by Summer Madness around issues related to the past, flags and parades.  The event would culminate in a symbolic act of prayer outside the City Hall. 

            The second event would engage young leaders from the business, media, education, faith and political sectors in a breakfast meeting to discuss matters relating to peace and reconciliation.  The proposals aimed to strengthen relationships across communities and inspire young people to become advocates for change.

            The Committee was informed that the proposed budget for both of the events was £9,270.  However, Members would be aware that the Good Relations budget had been fully committed in the current financial year.  If the Committee was minded to support the events it might wish to divert an amount of up to £9,270 from the current revenue resources of the Health and Environmental Services budget to cover the cost of the hire of the Waterfront Studio, sound and production, catering and facilitation.

            The Committee agreed to vire the amount as outlined to support the events on 17th and 18th March, 2015.

            It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Order 55 and the authority delegated to him, the Director of Finance and Resources had authorised the appointment of a number of individuals who were related to existing officers of the Council.

Noted.