Agenda item

            The Strategic Director, City and Neighbourhood Services submitted the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.0       The purpose of the report is to update the committee following engagement sessions that took place with elected members in December 2024. It had been agreed at the May 2024 meeting of the People and Communities committee that elected members from the respective DEA’s would be engaged first to agree a suitable methodology for delivering projects funded by the social value levy and to also put forward project ideas that communities impacted by concerts and events have lobbied for.

 

1.2       From the member engagement sessions, a number of different methodologies for delivery at the three sites have emerged. This paper sets these out for members to consider.

 

2.0       Recommendation

 

2.1       Members are asked to:

 

·        Note the contents of this report.

·        Note that this in an interim position and that all works identified will be required to be taken through the Council’s capital process.

 

            Main Report

 

3.0       Three meetings took place in December 2024 with councillors from Balmoral, Botanic, Lisnasharragh and Titanic DEA’s. The agenda covered methodology for delivery and potential projects.

 

3.1       Social levy monies are to be spent on projects within the park where the events take place or the immediate area surrounding the park. Members are also reminded that the monies can be allocated to both capital and revenue projects.

 

3.2       It was also noted at the meetings that the amounts of money are unlikely to be as sizeable again in the future and that this opportunity should be maximised.

 

3.3       Members are reminded that Council officers have been working over a number of years to establish stakeholder forums at the key concert venues to assist and enable Event Promoters, Key Agencies and Council to improve the delivery of the events and to co-design mitigations that benefit those most impacted by the events. Members noted that these stakeholder forums have proved extremely valuable.

 

            Ormeau Park

 

3.4       All Councillors from Botanic, Lisnasharragh and Titanic were invited to attend the engagement session in December 2024 . The members present were confident that they could put forward projects based on prior engagement with their constituents and the general feeling was that once costings are available that projects can be narrowed down by elected representatives and progressed via the Council’s Capital process. It was agreed that when projects are finalised that this will be communicated effectively with key stakeholders. Projects nominated for costing included:

 

·        A dog off lead enclosure – Approx costings £45k-65k.  Please note that costs may vary depending on the size and scale of the project)

·        Upgrade the outdoor basketball and tennis courts – The upgrade to the Basketball courts is to be delivered via the capital programme.

·        Upgrades to the bowling pavilion – still to be costed

·        Refurbish the bandstand – Still to be costed

·        Commission a feasibility study for the Nettlefield MUGA – approximately £10K

 

            Boucher Playing Fields

 

3.5       Councillors from Balmoral and Botanic DEAs were invited. The members present felt that the residents and local stakeholders should firstly be engaged to determine what sort of projects would benefit those most impacted.

 

3.6       Members agreed that it was best to proceed by inviting local residents and established stakeholder groups to a public engagement session to brainstorm and discuss what they would like to see the money invested in. A resident’s group has been established now for a number of years to work on the concerts and events, but it was agreed that invitations will also extend further via a letter drop to other established groups in the area.

 

3.7       It was noted that although Boucher Playing Fields might benefit from some investment that Musgrave Park was the more likely site to invest in that would benefit the local community.

 

 

 

            Botanic Gardens

 

3.8       Councillors from Botanic DEA were invited to attend the engagement session in December. It was recognised  that the amount of money available is unlikely to support any capital investment in the gardens.  It was felt that the monies could contribute to the ongoing work to support the 200-year anniversary of Botanic. There is an established Friends group for the park for over 30 years and in addition a number of other key groups such as Stranmillis Residents Association and Open Botanic. These groups represent the residents and businesses surrounding the park and elected representatives considered best placed to decide suitable projects. Council officers meet regularly with these groups and could pick this work up as part of those meetings.  

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

            Funds available are:

            Ormeau Park £71,148.00

            Boucher Road £60,742.00

            Botanic Gardens £15,717.00

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

3.10      There may be equality implications if decided that different methodologies for delivery can be adopted.”

 

Proposal

 

            Moved by Council Bunting,

            Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

 

            That the Committee agrees to ringfence £10k to commission a feasibility study for the Nettlefield MUGA.

 

            A Member requested that the Committee also agrees to proceed with a dog off lead enclosure to be capped at maximum cost of £25k, with the costs of the remaining suggested projects, with the exception of the basketball court which would be progressed as capital project, to be brought back to the Committee.

 

Amendment

 

            Moved by Councillor Brennan,

            Seconded by Councillor Donnelly,

 

            That the Committee agrees to defer progressing any of the projects until consultation with the residents/local communities affected had taken place across all three sites.

 

            On a vote, eight Members voted for the amendment and ten against and it was declared lost.

 

            The Committee:

 

·        agreed to proceed with a dog off lead enclosure to be capped at maximum cost of £25k;

·        agreed to ringfence £10k to commission a feasibility study for the Nettlefield MUGA;

·        noted that the upgrade to the Basketball courts was to be delivered via the capital programme; and

·        agreed that further consultation be undertaken with the local communities on the remaining proposals.