Community and Recreation (Community and Leisure Services) Sub-Committee 6 June 2006
From Nigov
Community and Recreation Committee
Tuesday, 6th June, 2006
MEETING OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATION (COMMUNITY AND LEISURE SERVICES) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor McCann (Deputy Chairman) (in the Chair); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Patterson); and Councillors Attwood, D. Browne, Campbell, Lavery, {{@present-Moore, O'Neill and Stoker.
Also attended: Councillor M. Browne.
In attendance:
- Mr. M. Elder (Director of Community and Recreation);
- Mr. P. Lucas (Head of Community and Leisure Services);
- Mr. P. Kelly (Leisure Services Manager); and
- Mr. J. Heaney (Committee Administrator).
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Chairman (Councillor Newton) and Councillor Long.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 9th May were taken as read and signed as correct.
Travellers’ Liaison Management Report
Management and Status of Travellers’ Site
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of a report which had been prepared by the Travellers’ Liaison Officer in relation to the management and status of the Travellers’ sites and appropriate lands in Belfast (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) .
Glen Road Heights (Permanent Site)
It was reported that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive had continued to progress the programme of works designed to improve the overall site conditions at Glen Road Heights. The Travellers’ Liaison Officer reported that there appeared to be some dispute as to whether or not the resident families had objected to the provision of an emergency site being located adjacent to the site. He undertook to discuss the matter further with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and to submit a report on the outcome to a future meeting.when?
Noted.
Transit Site Provision at Hannahstown Hill
The Members were informed that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was intending to develop a transit site on a portion of the Hannahstown Hill location, an area which had been appropriated previously by the Council and, in this regard, the Development Department was assessing currently the details of the Executive’s proposal.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed that further information in this regard be submitted to the Sub-Committee in due course.when?
Review of Public Administration
The Travellers’ Liaison Officer reported that, following discussions with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive concerning the possible transfer of functions and responsibilities from the Executive to Councils prior to the full implementation of the Review of Public Administration, it would appear that responsibility for the control and maintenance of Travellers’ sites would pass to Local Authorities.
Noted.
Belfast Regeneration Office Application
The Sub-Committee approved the reinstatement of the portacabin at the Glen Road location, subject to the successful outcome of the application which had been submitted to the Belfast Regeneration Office seeking funding for this purpose.
Nominations to Whiterock Community Centre Committee
The Sub-Committee approved the appointment of Councillor Austin on the membership of the Whiterock Community Centre Committee.
Royal Society of Ulster Architects: Awards Ceremony 2006 - Falls Road Leisure Centre
The Sub-Committee noted that the Falls Leisure Centre, which had been designed by Kennedy Fitzgerald Associates, had received recently a Winners Award for design innovation at the Royal Society of Ulster Architects Awards Ceremony which had been held at the Belfast Waterfront Hall on 10th May, 2006.
Chief Leisure Officers Association: Annual General Meeting
The Head of Community and Leisure Services informed the Sub-Committee that the Chief Leisure Officers Association was considering holding its Annual General Meeting in Belfast on 17th November. He reported that the Association, which met four times each year at various locations throughout the United Kingdom, had been established as a forum for senior Local Government officers as a mechanism to discuss service-related issues. Accordingly, he recommended that the Sub-Committee agree to host the Annual General Meeting in Belfast and authorise the provision of hospitality for the delegates. It was envisaged that the costs in this regard would be approximately £300.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation and granted the authority sought.
Summer Playschemes
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 5th April, 2005, it had agreed that funding for Summer Playschemes be allocated to qualifying community groups in the voluntary sector following an assessment based on pre-agreed criteria. The Sub-Committee had agreed further that the awards would be in three categories, that is, up to a maximum of £2,750, £1,750 and £1,000, with priority being given to community groups previously funded by Community and Leisure Services.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Sub-Committee that a total of £165,000 had been included within the Revenue Estimates in respect of grant‑aid to Summer Playschemes.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations of the Head of Community and Leisure Services to provide grant assistance in the sum of £160,645, in total, to the organisations indicated hereunder.
Beechmount Leisure Centre Disposal
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th April, it had approved the transfer of that portion of the site at Beechmount Leisure Centre, which was required by Colaiste Feirste on a long-term lease arrangement (999 years), to the Department of Education and at a value to be determined through negotiations with the Valuation and Lands Agency.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Members that, subsequent to that decision having been made, the Department of Education had advised the Council that, although it would be funding the purchase of the site, it would be Colaiste Feirste rather than the Department who would be the purchaser.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to rescind that part of its decision of 4th April, approving the transfer of the portion of the site at Beechmount Leisure Centre to the Department of Education and, accordingly, the Sub-Committee agreed further to approve the transfer of the portion of the site at Beechmount Leisure Centre to Colaiste Feirste on a long-term lease arrangement (999 years) at a value to be determined through negotiations with the Valuation and Lands Agency.
Community Services Improvement Teams
The Head of Community and Leisure Services submitted a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in respect of the work of the Interdepartmental Services Improvement Teams which had been established following the publication of the Venture Community Services, Best Value Report and the Business Improvement Section Staff Consultation Report. He outlined the roles and responsibilities of each of the teams and highlighted the progress which had been achieved by each team in developing and carrying out its Action Plan.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Community Development Project Grants
The Sub-Committee considered a report in relation to the funding of applications in respect of the Community Development Project Grants. A copy of the report, with the exception of appendix C referred to therein (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) , is set out hereunder.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the report.
Capacity Building Grants: Appeals Received
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th April, it had agreed to provide funding in respect of Community Development Support Grants (Capacity Building) and had agreed also that six applications be not funded since they did not meet the pre-agreed criteria which had been established in respect of award of the Grant.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services advised the Members that, in accordance with the appeals mechanism which had been established by the Sub‑Committee at its meeting on 10th January, four of the six organisations which had not been funded had exercised their right of appeal. He reported that the appeals process had been carried out for three of the organisations and accordingly he recommended as indicated hereunder:
C.A.U.S.E.
That the appeal be rejected on the grounds that the organisation does not meet the essential funding criteria in relation to (1) Community-based Organisation and (3.2) Apppropriateness of the Community Support Grant.
Engage with Age
That the organisation be awarded a Capacity Building Grant in the sum of £4,500 for the financial year 2006/2007, which represented 25% of the requested funding, this award being in recognition of the small element of capacity building which had already been delivered and detailed in the organisation’s funding application.
Play Resource Centre
A grant of £10,000 be allocated to the Play Resource Centre during the financial year 2006/2007 in recognition of the small element of the organisation’s work which related to Capacity Building.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendations and agreed also that a further report in respect of the appeal which had been lodged by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre be submitted for consideration at a future meeting.
Denmark Street Community Centre
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 25th November, 2004, it had agreed to support the submission of an application to the Department for Social Development for capital funding in order to undertake major refurbishment work at the Denmark Street Community Centre.
The Head of Community and Leisure Services reported that the Department for Social Development had awarded a grant in the sum of £270,824 in respect of the refurbishment project. The terms of the grant would require the work to commence and be completed prior to 31st March, 2007. He indicated that the Facilities Management Section was developing currently a detailed plan for the scheme to ensure that the work would be completed within the time period as set out by the Department.
Accordingly, he recommended that the Sub-Committee accept the grant offer in the sum of £270,824 from the Department for Social Development and agree to delegate authority to the Director of Community and Recreation, in conjunction with the Chairman, to include those applicants deemed to be suitable on a select list of potential contractors and to accept the most advantageous tender, subject to the completion of the necessary documentation by the Director of Legal Services.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Development of Ardoyne and Woodvale Community Centres
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the development of the community centres at Ardoyne and Woodvale:
After discussion, during which several Members expressed concern at the escalating costs of providing community centres, the Sub-Committee agreed in order to provide the facilities as planned currently, that a sum of £900,000 be provided within the 2006/007 Capital Programme in respect of the Woodvale scheme, with construction to commence in 2006/2007.
Fifty Metre Swimming Pool
The Head of Community and Leisure Services provided an update in respect of the progress which had been achieved regarding the submission of a bids to the Strategic Development Board in relation to the construction of a fifty metre swimming pool at either Ormeau Park or the Alderman Thomas Patton Memorial Park. He pointed out that the Council had invited applications from suitably qualified organisations to assist in the preparation of economic appraisals in anticipation that such appraisals would be required at one or other of the proposed sites.
He pointed out that, should the Council be successful in its submission to the Strategic Investment Board, it was anticipated that the most economical means by which a fifty metre pool could be provided would be if such a pool were to be incorporated within the development plans for either of the new leisure centres to be located in East and South Belfast and, in this regard, he sought the Members’ views on the preferred location for development of a leisure centre in the East of the City.
After a prolonged discussion, during which several Members expressed concern at the anticipated running costs of a 50 metre pool, the Sub-Committee agreed to note the contents of the report in relation to the funding bid, noted the receipt of correspondence which had been received from Swim Ulster, which was supportive of the Council’s bid, and agreed that the preferred location for the development of a leisure centre in the east of the City would be at the Alderman Thomas Patton Memorial Park/Inverary Playing Fields area.
Land to the rear of Falls Leisure Centre
The Sub-Committee was informed that, subsequent to the agenda having been circulated, information had been received which had indicated that the land to the rear of the Falls Leisure Centre was no longer for sale since a private individual had purchased the site.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided and noted also that the Development Department would, at a future date, enter into negotiations with the new owner in order to ascertain whether or not a portion of the site might be made available for car parking for leisure centre users.
Extension to Business Support Post Approved under Director’s Delegated Authority
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 2nd December, 2003, it had adopted the recommendations of the Council’s Business Improvement Section regarding a review of the Business Support structure in Community and Leisure Services. The review had identified that three Business Assistants would be required to carry out the workload of the Financial Team within the Business Support Section and had recommended that two Business Assistant posts be appointed at that time, with a further report being submitted for the Sub-Committee’s attention detailing the requirement for a third Business Assistant.
Subsequently, authority had been delegated to the Director of Community and Recreation to appoint, on a temporary basis, a third Business Assistant. It was pointed out that there had been a significant reduction in the level of outstanding debt within leisure services, which could be attributed directly to the review of business processes, the centralisation of debt administration and the work of a debt controller on a day‑to‑day basis.
The Sub-Committee was advised that the Council would be introducing a new core financial system which would change how debt was administered and which might result in further centralisation. However, this new system was not planned to be introduced until April, 2007. Therefore, to ensure debt levels remained under control and did not reach an unacceptable level, it was deemed necessary for the temporary Business Assistant to remain in place for a further twelve month period and/or until such times as the new core financial system had been implemented.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee granted approval to extend the temporary Business Assistant post within the financial team of Business Support for a twelve month period and agreed also that, at the end of that period, the contract be extended on a month-by-month basis until the Council’s new core financial system had been fully integrated and had assumed responsibility for the administration of debt within Leisure Services.
Grove Well Being Centre: Swimming Pool Spectator Seating
The Sub-Committee agreed to refer to the Community and Recreation Committee consideration of a report in respect of the provision of spectator seating at the Grove Well Being Centre in order for further information to be provided thereat.
2012 Sports Facilities
The Sub-Committee agreed to refer to the Community and Recreation Committee consideration of a report in respect of the potential availability of approximately £50 million towards the cost of providing sports facilities in Northern Ireland prior to the holding of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.
Authority to Attend Meeting
It was agreed that those Members of the Sub-Committee who were not Members of the Community and Recreation Committee be authorised to attend the meeting on 20th June in relation to the previous two items.
Whiterock Leisure Centre
Arising from discussion in the above matter, the Head of Community and Leisure Services drew the Members’ attention to the increase in vandalism and anti‑social activities which had occurred at the Whiterock Leisure Centre. He indicated that the site adjacent to the Centre had been left vacant and expressed the view that this had contributed to the increased levels of vandalism. He stated that a report on the matter would be submitted to the forthcoming meeting of the Community and Recreation Committee.when?
Noted.
Chairman
