Agenda item

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that the Council had previously agreed to enter into Partner Agreements at seven sites and he then provided an update on the progress in relation to the Agreements for April – June 2022.  

            He advised that regular checks on the necessary Insurance, Health and Safety and Governance had been undertaken at all sites.  All partners had been compliant on these matters apart from Grove United Football Club - Shore Road Playing Fields, which had been unable to provide evidence of appropriate insurance in accordance with the terms of the agreements and, accordingly, as a material breach of the Agreement had taken place, he advised that the Council had cancelled the Agreement with immediate effect.  The Members were advised that once the Club had obtained and provided evidence of appropriate insurance cover to the Council’s satisfaction the agreement could be reinstated.

            The Director continued that, as previously agreed, funding of up to £20,000 per annum was available for each partner for the delivery of a programme (supporting the Sports Development Plan).  The Director reported that letters of offer had been sent to all partners based on approved sports development plans for the current financial year. Obviously, cancellation of the Grove United FC arrangement would mean that no payment for Sports Programme activities delivered after the date of cancellation would be processed. 

            The Committee was advised that, given the current Covid19 restrictions, the usual end of quarter monitoring meetings had not been held face to face with the partners, but parks management and sports development officers had kept in contact via phone calls for updates on site management and bookings, health and safety, finance, and their sports development plans. Regular meetings would now recommence with the Park Manager and a Sports Development Officer.  Action plans had been reviewed and agreed with the partners during these discussions to ensure that the planned outcomes were achieved, and improvements identified where required.

            He explained that, in line with the Council’s objectives, the diversification of use and improved sports development impact were priorities at the partner agreement sites and he advised that, despite the Covid19 restrictions, the programme delivery had led to significant positive achievements across the seven sites.  He drew the Members’ attention to a table which indicated the outputs at the sites as reported by the partners for Quarter 1 (April – June 2022).

Moved by Councillor de Faoite,

Seconded by Councillor Flynn,

“Without prejudice, I would like to propose that this report is brought back, pending further information to Committee Members in writing.

I have expressed my concerns about governance arrangements to officers, in relation to serious allegations made in the print media and criminal charges facing individuals who may still be on the board of East Belfast FC.

It is incumbent on Belfast City Council’s partner organisations to take action to protect their own reputations, but they must also assure public funders that their governance arrangements are robust.”

            At the request of a Member, it was agreed that a subsequent report would be submitted to Committee that was specifically dealing with the governance arrangements with East Belfast Football Club to ensure that it did not affect any of the other Partner Agreements.

            The Committee:

·        noted the update report on the Partner Agreements and that once appropriate insurance cover had been secured by the Grove United Football Club that the Partner Agreement would be reinstated; and

·        agreed that a subsequent report be submitted to Committee in respect of the Council’s current governance arrangements with East Belfast FC to ensure robustness given that the agreements are publicly funded.