Agenda item

The Committee was reminded that requests for the use of City Hall and the grounds were normally dealt with under the authority delegated by the Committee to the Director of Legal and Civic Services using criteria agreed for this purpose. Occasionally. however, it was necessary to place such requests directly before the Committee, and the requests set out below falls into this category.

            PWC Sleep-Out for Homelessness Awareness 26th September 2025

PWC had held similar events on 20th October 2023 and on 27th September 2024 and the events were successful with no incidents, hence PWC requesting a third event.

The proposed sleep-out would take place along the West façade of City Hall, with around 50 participants sleeping overnight on the pathways, ensuring a safe distance from the intruder alarms situated along façade. Their preference was concrete rather than the grass lawns. The City Hall building and grounds would be closed to the public as normal at this time. The only Infrastructure onsite would be portaloos, no catering provision was planned, and participants would bring their own sleeping materials. A wet weather alternative was not available inside the City Hall. PWC staff would fundraise in advance of the event and monies raised would be donated to charities helping with homelessness.

A Belfast One Halloween 25th – 26th October 2025

Belfast One had held similar events on 28th and 29th October 2023 and on 26th and 27th October 2024 and the events were successful with no incidents, hence Belfast One was requesting a third event.

The event would be aimed towards families celebrating Halloween, with a pumpkin patch on the west lawn with a few novelties throughout such as scarecrows. The event would be ticketed online and at the gate, allowing for restricted flow throughout the day, with an allowance of 80 guests per half hour to avoid overcrowding.  It would be designed with a route through the patch with an entrance and exit on opposite sides to stop congestion and limit lawn damage, with mats in place to help mitigate damage also. There would be some additional entertainment throughout the day such as characters animation. The set-up would be facilitated from the afternoon of the 24 October 2025. The event intended to support wider activity across the City Centre. A report outlining Council funding for this event and associated city-wide activity was presented to City Growth and Regeneration Committee on 6th August by the Culture and Tourism Unit.

            In respect of the PWC request, it should be noted that the city centre was very busy on Friday evenings and therefore there might be a requirement for the organiser to pay for additional security depending upon the event management plan and risk assessment.

There would be no costs to the Council for both these requests as the various organisers would bear any/all stewarding and equipment costs etc. themselves. The normal event support in the form of electrical and water provision in the grounds was not required for either of these events. There were no concerns from an asset management point of view, although the organisers would be required to provide the usual insurances, indemnities, and obligations.

            The Committee authorised:

1.          the use of City Hall grounds on the dates noted above; and

2.          the events to take place on the basis of the submission of an event management plan and risk assessment to ensure delivery of a safe public events.