Agenda item

            Poster for Tomorrow

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Poster for Tomorrow to exhibit within the grounds of the City Hall 100 posters marking World and European Day against the Death Penalty on 10th October.  The posters would be selected from public competition submissions by a panel comprised of eminent local people and would be displayed within the grounds from 7th till 10th October.  Belfast would be one of 100 cities across the world marking the event.

            The posters would be displayed on trellis-type fencing positioned within the grounds.  There would be no resource implications for the Council as the organisation would provide all of their own display materials.  In addition, there would be no requirement for electrical power and the organisation would take out full indemnity insurance.  Due to the nature of the subject, some of the posters might be sensitive in nature, although the Council did have the option of vetoing specific posters if it were deemed that they were controversial or offensive.

            The Committee was advised that the death penalty was still supported by a number of countries, notably the United States of America and China, so the organisers’ position would not have unqualified support.  It was envisaged that the exhibition might receive significant media coverage.  One of the criteria for use of the City Hall grounds stated that the request should comply with the Council’s Equality and Good Relations obligations.  The application by Poster for Tomorrow had been discussed with the Council’s Good Relations Manager who had recommended, given that the United Kingdom had abolished the death penalty, that the application be approved by the Committee.

            After discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor N. Kelly,

Seconded by Councillor McCarthy,

      That the Committee agrees to accede to the request.

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

            West Belfast Festival

            The Committee was informed that the organisers of the West Belfast Festival had requested the use of the City Hall grounds on 7th August for a young people’s music event.  The intention of the event was to engage with numerous young people who already typically congregated in the City Hall grounds in the summer months and to provide facilities to present and promote music relevant to and suggested by those young people themselves.  It was the view of the organisers that the target group of young people would normally have little or no interaction with West Belfast either geographically or culturally and, therefore, the event would essentially be an outreach activity to a group which was not otherwise catered for by the traditional Festival activities.

            The event would take place between 1.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. and was likely to attract several hundred spectators.  It would be promoted as a no alcohol event and the organisers intended to engage in significant outreach activities with the target group beforehand in that respect.  The organisers would be operating the event in liaison with both Belfast City Centre Management and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.  In terms of the logistics of the event, the organisers would be providing their own stage truck and would require a single phase electricity supply.  No access to the City Hall main building was required.  The organisers had confirmed that all equipment and personnel would be clear of the grounds by 6.00 p.m. at the latest and they had given the required assurances in terms of the provision of security cover and indemnity insurance.  The young people would be using the grounds in any event so it was not anticipated that there be any additional damage to the lawns and there were no events in the main building which could be adversely affected by the noise.

            The Committee agreed to accede to the request, subject to the organisers providing the usual necessary assurances and to the Director of Property and Projects being satisfied as to the level of indemnity and other necessary safeguards and obligations being provided.