Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report

 

1.1             The purpose of this report is to set out:

 

-       Proposed updated approach to city events further to previous decision taken in January 2021 to suspend the direct delivery of events until September 2021.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4 May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

 

-       Note and agree the proposed approach to the delivery of events in the remainder of 2021 including budget implications as set out at 3.17 and Appendix 1. This approach is subject to ongoing review in accordance with COVID 19 legislation and guidance.

-       Note and agree the proposal to take forward the date to recommence the direct delivery of city events to August 2021. This will allow for the delivery of a market at City Hall over August bank holiday subject to compliance with health and safety requirements and confirmation of financial viability.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Members will be aware that in January 2021, SP&R Committee agreed the recommendation that events delivered directly by Council should be suspended until September 2021. This did not prevent digital programmes or the delivery of Council funded activity where this complies with the most up to date legislation and guidance relating to COVID-19.

 

3.2       On an annual basis, the Council’s City Events Unit delivers a series of large-scale public events, which are free to access by both citizens and visitors to the city, on behalf of Belfast City Council. The Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Arts Unit also support a number of annual programmes and activities. Committee will be aware that a ten-year Cultural Strategy for Belfast is currently being delivered. This strategy sets out long-term recommendations for events in the city including better strategic alignment across the Council in the design, delivery and funding of events. 

 

3.3       For 2021/22, the recommendation agreed was to continue to allocate budget to deliver and/or support specified events however to suspend any direct delivery to September onwards.

 

3.4       The re-opening of the city, the easing of restrictions and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 has accelerated the need to consider the role of events in a wider programme of seasonal animation and recovery that seeks to:

 

-       Improve the cultural vibrancy of the city

-       Foster civic pride

-       Position the Belfast brand

-       Support the local culture, arts and events sectors

-       Deliver direct economic benefits

-       Support businesses

 

3.5       The main focus of this report is in relation to the immediate requirement to agree an approach to Q2 and Q3 of the 2021/22 financial year to ensure adequate planning and risk management. This includes reviewing current position to suspend direct delivery until September 2021.

 

3.6       Proposed Approach

 

            June/ July 2021

 

            Following the further easing of restrictions on 24th May it will become clearer as to the outlook for city recovery in the high season months of June and July. However, for tourism and hospitality businesses recovery will also be dependent on a strong uptake from GB and Ireland markets as well domestic and local visitors to the city on daytrips or city breaks. Visit Belfast and Tourism NI both have activity planned to attract domestic visitors into the city including Tourism NI’s Embrace a Giant Spirit TV cycle for Belfast commencing 31st May. Other marketing activity had been subject to review and clarity over guidance relating to the common travel area.

 

3.7       In addition to the marketing of the city, consideration is also being given to some level of street animation to support vibrancy of the city centre. Feedback to date from the sector has focussed on current lower levels of footfall Monday through Thursday and concerns over the outlook further into 2021 and the need to sustain demand into the Autumn. Within the next number of weeks, it will become clearer as to whether hospitality in particular will improve across the week with restrictions lifting on eating in. However, if required and in line with ongoing restrictions animation activity and programming could be put in place over the summer months to support recovery.

 

3.8       August 2021

 

            August is traditionally a busy period for the city and the cultural sector with events including EastSide Arts Festival, Belfast Mela and August Féile. All of these events are intending to deliver activity on the ground in August. Whilst event organisers recognise that a return to 2019 will not be possible in terms of larger scale attendees at single events, an innovative approach is being taken to combine live programming with digital content. Activity is also being dispersed through extended timeframes and multiple locations.

 

3.9       Given the likely landscape for August it is therefore proposed that the previous decision to suspend events until September 2021 is reconsidered to allow for the market that normally takes place on the Spring bank holiday to be delivered on the August bank holiday. This will be subject to compliance with health and safety requirements and confirmation of financial viability.

 

3.10      At present a number of other complementary initiatives are in development with Council working with the BIDs to take forward initiatives to support businesses and improve the overall city centre experience. Currently this includes a proposal for hubs in the city centre with seating and dressing to allow eating spaces for take away and street food offerings. This is to support existing businesses with no plans presently to provide an additional food offer. Subject to full compliance with guidance this could be further supported with animation activities including music.

 

 

3.11      September-December 2021

 

            Officers have been working to develop a potential cultural recovery programme including animation, events and festival activity for September – December 2021.

 

3.12      To date a number of culture and arts organisations have indicated that they intend to deliver substantial activity at this time of year. This includes programmes that normally take place such as Culture Night (September), International Arts Festival (October) as well as other festivals rescheduling from earlier in the year such as Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. There is therefore emerging a critical mass of activity that subject to ongoing restrictions would help drive domestic footfall as well as visitors from GB and Ireland.

 

3.13      The programme would also include Belfast City Council direct delivery activity including the Maritime Festival in September, Freedom of the City music showcase in Oct/ Nov and a new approach to a Christmas seasonal programme. Council will also assume a more pro-active role in co-ordinating activity and this has been positively received following engagement with the cultural sector.

 

3.14      It is therefore proposed that Council takes the following approach:

 

·        Deliver Cultural Recovery Programme as part of city re-opening and recovery with focus on – ‘Culture is back’:

 

o   re-opening and re-stablishing venues and activities

o   Adapting and delivering new programming e.g. increased use of public spaces

o   Increased audience engagement including campaign to increase confidence and return to activity

 

·        Timing:

 

o   Development phase: June – July 2021

o   Launch August 2021

o   Critical mass of activity through seasonal programmes with 2 distinctive phases:

 

•        Autumn (September – mid Nov 2021)

•        Christmas (Mid-Nov to New Year)

 

 

·        Proposed approached:

 

o   Co-ordinated programme with Council operating a clash diary with partners across events, festivals and arts sector.

o   Overarching Marketing and Communications Campaign with implementation plan to include Council, Visit Belfast and cultural partners.

o   Additional animation and dressing to increase connectivity across the programme.

o   Dedicated music programme – aligned to UNESCO application and music recovery plans.

o   Dedicated hospitality initiatives - a food tourism recovery plan is being commissioned to be completed in July. Recommendations will be implemented in partnership with BIDs and local industry.

 

3.15      New concepts for Christmas are currently in development and will be completed by June 2021. This lead in time is designed to ensure increased co-operation with other partners including BIDs, Castle Court, Victoria Square and Titanic Belfast. This alignment will maximise the impact of an overall city approach to Christmas in 2021. Building on 2020 there will also be opportunities to provide support to neighbourhood initiatives and ensure these are integrated into the overall Christmas programme.

 

3.16      Remaining events in 2022

 

            A future report will be presented in relation to St Patrick’s Day as development work is underway to look at a refreshed approach to this event from 2022 onwards.

 

3.17      Financial and Resource Implications

 

            The costs associated with the delivery of this programme is included in departmental budgets. Support for Marketing and Communications activity will be drawn down from existing allocation within revitalisation funding.

 

3.18      Equality & Good Relations Implications

 

            The proposed programme of events is open to all and as such have the potential to promote good relations and equality by bringing together people from a wide range of backgrounds. Events are part of the cultural strategy for Belfast that has been subject to EQIA.”

 

            The Senior Manager - Culture and Tourism provided a presentation on the planned Autumn/Winter 2021 Events Programme. She explained the engagement that had been undertaken with the sector to discuss current plans and challenges relating

to re-opening, and potential initiatives to support recovery.

 

            She summarised the key events and dates for the recovery programme’s planned Festivals and Events and highlighted the ‘Belfestive’ Experience which had been planned for 20 – 21 November. She described the programme for the Christmas City Experience which was due to commence in November and continue into the New Year.  She also summarised the intended approach for 2023.

 

            During discussion, the Senior Manager provided further information in relation to the events which had been planned. She advised that the Council were awaiting confirmation from Belfast Pride for its intended summer events and that Belfast Mela had changed its model of events for this year to extend its programme to include a number of dates and locations. 

 

            In response to Members query, she confirmed that the previously agreed 2021 UEFA Super Cup Football event should also be included in the report, as an up to date position had recently been received. She advised that a plan was in place to decorate/animate the City for the event, in conjunction with the IFA, together with the Reception in the City Hall. 

 

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

 

·        Note and agree the proposed approach to the delivery of events in the remainder of 2021, including budget implications as set out at 3.17 and Appendix 1. This approach was subject to ongoing review in accordance with COVID 19 legislation and guidance;

·        Note and agree the proposal to take forward the date to recommence the direct delivery of city events to August 2021. This would allow for the delivery of a market at City Hall over August bank holiday subject to compliance with health and safety requirements and confirmation of financial viability; and

·        Note that the previously agreed 2021 UEFA Super Cup Football event in August would also be included in the City Events Programme and a plan was in place to decorate/animate the City, in conjunction with the IFA, together with the Reception in the City Hall.