Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Disability Pride to hold a large-scale disability related event, which would involve the setting up of staging and marquees in the grounds of the City Hall.  The Director of Property and Projects reminded the Committee that it had delegated authority to himself for routine type requests for the use of the City Hall grounds on the basis of an agreed set of criteria.  However, it had been recognised that there would still be occasions when the nature, scale and/or scope of the request meant that it was appropriate to place the matter directly before the Committee.  The request from Disability Pride fell into that category and the direction of the Committee was therefore being sought.

            The Director explained that Disability Pride had been formed in Chicago in 2003.  Each year the organisation arranged a parade through the city to celebrate the lives of people with a wide range of disabilities.  It also highlighted ways of increasing accessibility for those living with a disability.  Every year since its inception, Disability Pride had requested a new city in the USA and Canada to join the network of those participating in the parade.  For the first time two European cities, that is, Madrid and Berlin, had been asked to join the network and had held parades and post parade events earlier in the year. 

            Disability Pride had recognised the work of Trip-Ability.com, which was a Northern Ireland based web company, which was considered to be progressive on disability issues.  Trip-Ability.com was dedicated to sharing experiences of travel, entertainment and products with a disability community around the world.  Michael Holden and Nigel Millen from the company had been asked to host the first Disability Pride event in the United Kingdom and Ireland and they had, in turn, chosen Belfast City.  The provisional date for the parade was 20th September, 2014.  The parade would leave Custom House Square at 11.00 a.m. and make its way through High Street and Royal Avenue before finishing at the City Hall for a major event.  The parade would consist of disabled people, carers, advocates and healthcare professionals.  In the City Hall grounds an entertainment concert area would be set up on one of the grass areas, with the retail food and village on the other.  There would be a wide range of exhibits, family attractions and entertainment to keep everyone in the carnival spirit. 

            Disability Pride was a non-profit organisation and the event was not a commercial venture.  It would be delivered by the organisers in partnership with suitable disability related sponsors.  Retailers would pay a nominal pitch fee for space to offset the event costs for the day.  Entrance to the event would be free and strictly controlled collection points for designated charities under the Disability Pride branding would be in place to allow members of the public to make donations.

            The Committee agreed to accede to the request from Disability Pride to use the City Hall grounds on 20th September, 2014 and to have the use of one of the City Hall rooms either during or prior to the event.