Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its February 2022 meeting, it had agreed that those events that had previously sought multiple year approval would be subject to annual review, pending a satisfactory pilot year. 

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that the initial request to host Belsonic 2022 had sought multiple year approval, however, the Committee at its meeting in April 2022 had only agreed the series of concerts but the multiple year request had been declined pending a review of the 2022 event. 

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services then provided the Members with a comprehensive update on the preliminary findings of the review of the recent Belsonic Event held in Ormeau Park.

            The Members noted that for this year’s event, in light of previous complaints from local residents and the communities negatively impacted by the event, the relevant Council departments that worked alongside the event promoters had increased the volume of pre-event meetings with the organisers and had also supported a number of meetings between the organisers and local Elected Members who were representing local residents and businesses.

            It was felt that this intervention had enabled some areas of concern to be addressed in advance of the event, which included:

·        Increased portable toilet provision at identified hot spot and drop off areas to deter concert attendees from urinating in public spaces and residents’ alleyways;

·        Increased Eventsec marshalling at identified hot spot and drop off points;

·        A change of focus for the Council’s Community safety operation moved from patrolling the event space to patrolling the streets and alleyways of the local neighbourhoods; and 

·        The implementation of a youth and community outreach approach delivered by a number of youth and community organisations based in the area. These outreach teams moved people on into the concert space at speed, deterred antisocial behaviour and importantly provided a welfare service to those at most risk and vulnerable from alcohol consumption.

            The Director advised that, he was pleased to report, the number of complaints received from previous years had decreased and it was generally felt that this more attentive, focused and collaborative approach by the event organisers and statutory partners had indeed had a positive impact on the overall delivery of the event.

            Several Members concurred and welcomed the level of interaction that had taken place.  Some discussion ensued regarding areas that could be further improved which included enhanced accessibility and the provision of changing places facilities for attendees with disabilities, the provision of a support system for vulnerable young people who had been refused entry to the event and adequate portable toilet provision at identified hotspots.  The Members agreed that it would be useful to have a further meeting with the various stakeholders in advance of considering a multiple year request. 

            In addition, a Member sought clarity on the new Social Value Fund and how this would be administered and allocated.  It was suggested that Elected Members from the constituency area be consulted as to the proposals and that the participatory budgeting approach be considered.  The Director of City Services advised that that was a relatively new initiative, and it was proposed that it would support park improvements.   

            The Committee:

·        noted the report and agreed to have a further meeting with the various stakeholders to discuss additional areas for improvement in advance of potentially being asked to consider a multiple year request from the promotor; and

·        agreed that a report would be submitted to a future meeting to provide detail on the Social Value Fund and the proposals for how it would be utilised.