Community and Recreation (Community and Leisure Services) Sub-Committee 27 February 2007
From Nigov
Community and Recreation Committee Tuesday, 27th February, 2007
MEETING OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATION (COMMUNITY AND LEISURE SERVICES) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor McCann (Deputy Chairman)(in the Chair); and Councillors D. Browne, Campbell, Lavery, Moore, O'Neill and Stoker.
In attendance
- Mr. M. Elder (Director of Community Recreation)
- Mr. A. Hassard (Head of Environmental Health)
- Mr. P. Lucas (Head of Community and Leisure Services)
- Mr. P. Kelly (Leisure Services Manager)
- Mr. J. Heaney (Committee Administrator)
Apology
An apology for inability to attend was reported from the Chairman (Councillor Newton).
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 6th February were taken as read and signed as correct.
Boost Leisure Card: Means Tested Benefits
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 19th September, it had requested that officers examine the implications associated with the Council entering into partnership agreements with neighbouring Councils, whereby persons outside the Council area who were in receipt of means tested benefit could avail of the discounted admission rates to Council-owned leisure centres which were available currently for such persons living within the Belfast City boundary.
The Leisure Services Manager indicated that, to date, responses had been received from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Councils indicating that they would not be in a position to enter into such a partnership with the Council at this time. He reported further that responses had not been received from any of the three other neighbouring Councils. Accordingly, he expressed the view that it would not be possible at this time to develop partnership agreements in relation to discounted admission rates for persons on low income residing in other Council areas.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Traveller Liaison Management Report
(Mr. F O'Hagan, Travellers' Liaison Officer, attended in connection with this item.)
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of a report in relation to Travellers' issues which were relevant to the Council.
Transit Sites
The Travellers' Liaison Officer reported that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive had indicated that its objective was to complete, during the financial year 2006/2007, an eight unit transit site to service the Belfast City Council area and that it was investigating currently the availability of two potential sites.
Noted.
Benview Community Centre: Request for Assistance
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 2nd August, 2005, it had agreed to extend a licensing agreement which permitted the Council to operate a playcentre within the Benview Community Centre. The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Members that a request had been received from the Benview Community Centre seeking financial assistance from the Council in respect of the cost associated with the internal redecoration of the building and the upgrading of the dividing doors in the main hall area. He reported that the playcentre had daily usage of 50% of the building and, therefore, contributed directly to the depreciation of the internal decoration and fixtures. He stated that it was important for both the staff and users of the playcentre that the building was properly decorated and high safety standards were maintained.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services recommended that the Council provide assistance of 25% of the overall cost of the work, which had been estimated at £6,600. He stated that this would equate to a maximum of £1,650, the cost of which would be met from within the Departmental Revenue Budgets.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
North Belfast Summer Intervention Programme
The Sub-Committee considered a request which had been received from the North Belfast Interface Steering Group seeking, free of charge or at reduced rate, the use of leisure centres, community centres and sports pitches owned by the Council. The facilities would be required during the period from 1st July till 30th September 2007 as part of a Summer Intervention Programme. The group had been established by the North Belfast Community Action Unit to exchange information and share good practice in relation to interface work and comprised of a number of statutory agencies, including the Council, which had a specific focus or interest in the North of the City.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services reported that the Steering Group had supported a broad range of community groups throughout the North of the City in the development of a Summer Intervention Programme aimed at diverting young people away from anti-social behaviour during the summer months and that the Council had, subject to the availability of facilities, provided support to the group in the previous two years.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed that the North Belfast Interface Steering Group be granted free use of the Council's Community and Leisure/Recreation Centres during the period from 1st July till 30th September, 2007, subject to availability and to the Steering Group being responsible for any additional staffing costs which might be incurred by the Council as a result of this initiative. The Sub-Committee agreed also that any requests which might be received from other bona fide interface groups working in different areas of the City be granted similar use of Council-owned facilities and noted that a report in respect of any such requests would be submitted for its consideration in due course.
Leisure Centres: Public Holiday and Maintenance Arrangements 2007/2008
The Head of Community and Leisure Services outlined for the information of the Members proposals in respect of the public holiday and maintenance arrangements during the forthcoming financial year for Council-owned leisure centres. He stated that the proposals reflected historic customer usage patterns in each of the centres and that additional closures would only be required should equipment or plant break down.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee approved the closure arrangements in respect of the public holidays and planned maintenance requirements.
New Leisure Centres
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the Budget allocation required for the proposed new leisure centres in North, East and South Belfast.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted recommendations 1 and 3 and agreed that £12.5 million be allocated to each of the new leisure centres planned for the East, North and South of the City and that these amounts be included within the draft Capital Programme prior to its submission to the Policy and Resources Committee.
Beechmount Leisure Centre: Disposal
(Ms. J. Magee, Principal Solicitor, attended in connection with this item.)
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the disposal of Beechmount Leisure Centre.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to notification of the disposal to the Development Committee in accordance with Standing Order 62.
Elite Facilities Programme: Velodrome Application
The Sub-Committee agreed to refer to the meeting of the Community and Recreation Committee scheduled to be held on 20th March consideration of a report in respect of the Elite Facilities Programme for Northern Ireland Olympic and Paralympic sports velodrome application. The Sub-Committee agreed further that all Members of the Sub-Committee who were not Members of the Community and Recreation Committee be invited to attend the meeting in connection with this item.
2012 Olympic Games: Pre-Games Training Camps
The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Sub-Committee that, in the immediate period leading up to the commencement of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes from around the world would be training and preparing for the competition and in some cases would seek to do this using facilities in the United Kingdom known as "Pre-Games Training Camps or Holding Camps".
The Head of Community and Leisure Services outlined the types of facilites and transport infrastructure which would be required for the establishment of a base camp and he reported that, in order to assist National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees with their decision making process, the London 2012 Organising Committee would be required to provide a "Pre-Games Training Camp Guide" where facilities which had been approved as providing suitable training environment within the United Kingdom would be listed by location and by sport. He stated that this guide would be published in early 2008.
Accordingly, he recommended that an application be submitted on behalf of the Council for the inclusion of all its existing leisure centres, planned leisure centres and other proposed sports facilities in the "London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide".
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Olympia Leisure Centre: Mini Soccer Pitch
The Sub-Committee was informed that the Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 13th June, had agreed to provide financial and officer support to the Greater Village Regeneration Trust in respect of the development of a mini soccer pitch at Nubia Street, Donegall Road. The Sub-Committee was informed further that the request had arisen in order to avail of the opportunity to draw down funds from the Irish Football Association Grass Roots Programme, which had offered up to £25,000 in respect of the supply and installation of an approved Playdale pitch system.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services reported that the estimated total costs in relation to the Nubia Street site, including the installation of floodlighting, had been approximately £38,000. However, the costs associated with site preparation, enhancement to access and the provision of ball stop fencing had not been included in that figure. He reported also that a subsequent inspection of the site by officers from the Landscape Planning and Development Unit had concluded that it could not accommodate the approved pitch system.
Accordingly, the Community and Recreation Committee, at its meeting on 13th February, had agreed to install an Irish Football Association approved Playdale pitch system on an alternative site at the Olympia Leisure Centre, thereby placing the project under the control of the Community and Leisure Services Sub-Committee. It was anticipated that an application would be submitted during March, 2007 to the Irish Football Association for funding in the sum of £25,000 in regard to the cost of the project.
The Sub-Committee was advised that the Association had engaged Playdale Playgrounds Limited as the provider of the mini pitches which had been approved under the funding programme and had sought assurances that any facilities the Council wished to erect would comply with the Playdale specifications and that the mini soccer pitch at Olympia would be provided and installed by that organisation.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services pointed out that, since the project had been transferred recently to the Community and Leisure Services Section from the Parks and Cemeteries Services Section, there had not been any Revenue Budget allocated to meet the costs. Accordingly, he recommended that the Members consider the inclusion of this item within the draft Capital Programme as a priority project.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed:
(i) that a single site application be made in respect of the Irish Football Association Grass Roots programme and that the site be at the Olympia Leisure Centre;
(ii) that the project to provide a mini soccer pitch at Olympia Leisure Centre be included within the draft Capital Programme, at a maximum cost of £60,000, and that it be prioritised for completion during 2007/2008; and
(iii) to approve the engagement of Playdale Playgrounds Limited as the provider of the mini-soccer pitch at Olympia, subject to agreement with the Council's Procurement Section in respect of any contractual arrangements.
Grove Leisure Centre: Swim Ulster Request
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 6th February, it had been advised that discussions were ongoing with the Swim Ulster and the Grove Leisure Centre Users Group regarding the displacement of swimming clubs from the Grove Leisure Centre as a result of the proposed closure of the facilities.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Sub-Committee that a request had been received from Swim Ulster for financial assistance to support a feasibility study which would consider options which might assist in identifying a way forward. He reported that, in order to ensure that this matter was fully considered within the time available, officers had agreed to provide assistance of up to a maximum of £2,000. In addition, the Swim Ulster and the Grove Users Group had requested an opportunity to present their proposals to the Members of the Sub-Committee.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to receive from representatives of the Swim Ulster and the Grove Users Group a presentation at a future meeting.
Olympia Leisure Centre: Midnight Soccer League
The Sub-Committee was reminded that a Midnight Soccer League was being operated currently at various locations throughout the City, including the Whiterock and Avoniel Leisure Centres, and it had been very successful in achieving its aims of making a positive contribution towards crime diversion and helping to tackle anti-social behaviour. The Leisure Services Manager reported that a new third generation synthetic pitch was due to open at Olympia Leisure Centre within the next few weeks
and that a request had been received from the Greater Village Regeneration Trust seeking permission to make use of the pitch for its participation in the Midnight Soccer League. He explained that, although changing facilities were not normally required at these events, the Council had been requested to give consideration to providing toilet facilities. In this regard, enquiries were ongoing in order to determine how this might be achieved without incurring additional staffing costs and, to this end, it had been suggested that league officials could take responsibility for any such facilities which might be made available.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee authorised officers from the Community and Leisure Services Section to, where possible, make arrangements with officials from the Midnight Soccer League with regard to the out-of-hours access to toilet facilities at Olympia Leisure Centre and agreed that the use of such facilities would require an arrangement whereby league officials would take responsibility for controlling access.
Ballysillan Leisure Centre: Synthetic Pitch Refurbishment
The Sub-Committee was advised that the synthetic pitch at Ballysillan Leisure Centre had been in operation since 1995 and that, since normal life expectancy of such a facility was ten to twelve years, it was now due for replacement. In addition, in recent years the pitch had been subject to repeated vandalism and, consequently, only limited areas of the pitch were currently suitable for use. The Head of Community and Leisure Services stated that a report on the status of the pitch had been received from RPS Engineering consultants which had recommended its replacement.
The Sub-Committee was reminded that the pitches which had been replaced recently at the Whiterock and Olympia Leisure Centres had been upgraded to third generation synthetic pitch standard and it was proposed that the pitch at Ballysillan Leisure Centre should be upgraded to a similar standard. He pointed out that, whilst this type of pitch provided excellent soccer facilities, it would not be suitable for small ball sports such as hockey. He reminded the Members that to refurbish the pitch, provide fencing, lighting and associated equipment would require expenditure of approximately £575,000, provision for which had been included as a priority item within the draft Capital Programme 2007/2008.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee approved the commencement of a tendering exercise in respect of the replacement of the pitch at Ballysillan Leisure Centre with a third generation synthetic soccer pitch.
Templemore Swim Centre: Extension of Lease
(Ms. J. Magee, Principal Solicitor, attended in connection with this item.)
The Head of Community and Leisure Services reminded the Sub-Committee that the Templemore Users' Trust had, with financial assistance from the Council, taken over the running of the former Templemore Avenue Baths and had been granted a twenty-five year lease, which was due to expire in 2019. He reminded the Sub-Committee further that, at its meeting on 9th May, it had received from representatives of the Trust a presentation in respect of the planned restoration scheme for the centre. The deputation had indicated that no Capital contribution would be required from the Council since the Trust had secured funding from a number of alternative sources. However, one of the key funders had indicated that it would be a condition of any grant awarded to the Trust that it had tenure of the facility for at least fifty years, thus an extension to the existing lease would be required.
The Sub-Committee was advised that under the terms of the current lease the Council made a contribution to the running costs of the Swim Centre, an amount which was less than the cost of direct management.
In accordance with Standing Order 62, the Sub-Committee agreed to extend the current leasing agreement with Templemore Users' Trust for the Templemore Swim Centre for a period to comply with the funder's requirements for a fifty year tenure, subject to the completion of an appropriate leasing agreement being prepared by the Director of Legal Services.
Chairman
