Community and Recreation Committee 11 October 2006
From Nigov
Community and Recreation Committee
Wednesday, 11th October, 2006
Contents |
SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillors Attwood, M. Browne, Campbell, Convery, Ekin, Hendron, McCann, Mullaghan, Ní Chuilín and Rodgers.
Also attended
Councillors Hartley and Kirkpatrick.
In attendance
- Mr M. Elder (Director of Community and Recreation);
- Mr M. Parkinson (Head of Parks and Cemeteries Services);
- Mr S. Walker (Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Development Manager); and
- Miss L. Hillick (Committee Administrator).
Chairing of Meeting
In the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, the Committee agreed that Councillor Rodgers take the Chair.
(Councillor Rodgers in the Chair.)
Bonfire Management Pilot Scheme
(Mrs. H. Francey (Good Relations Manager), and Ms. C. Wilson (Good Relations Officer), attended in connection with this item.)
The Director of Community and Recreation reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 21st August, it had agreed to receive a presentation in relation to the findings contained within the evaluation report in respect of the Bonfire Management Pilot Scheme and that representatives from Groundwork Northern Ireland and the Institute of Conflict Research be invited to attend. It was reported that Ms. M. McKee and Ms. S. Gordon, Groundwork Northern Ireland, and Dr. N. Jarman and Mr. J. Byrne, Institute of Conflict Research, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Acting Chairman (Councillor Rodgers).
Mr. Byrne informed the Members that the Institute of Conflict Research had been commissioned by the Council to undertake an evaluation of the 2006 Pilot Bonfire Management Project. The Project aimed to reduce the adverse health and environmental impacts of bonfires on the City, progress the Council’s Good Relations Strategy by supporting communities to develop and celebrate their cultural traditions, to support local communities to bring about improvement in bonfire management and work with the statutory sector to ensure that the illegal disposal of waste was tackled. He pointed out that there had been a number of positive outcomes associated with the 2006 Pilot, which included:
- an increase from eight to twelve participating sites;
- a significant reduction in the number of paramilitary flags and political and sectarian images on display;
- a reduction in the number of bonfires within each of the participating communities;
- a significant decrease in the number of tyres placed on bonfires;
- a growing awareness of the environmental impact of bonfires and the associated risk of damage to health and property;
- collections commencing later than in previous years;
- communities engaging with the Council and Groundwork Northern Ireland in an open and transparent manner; and
- a large number of groups participating in a cultural traditions programme.
After discussion, the Acting Chairman (Councillor Rodgers), on behalf of the Committee, thanked the representatives for their attendance and they then retired from the meeting.
After discussion, the Committee agreed, to enable due consideration to be given to the matter, that a copy of the Evaluation Report be forwarded to each of the Party Groupings on the Council and that a special meeting be held in Decemberwhen? to consider the possibility of the Council participating in the 2007 Bonfire Management Scheme.
Chairman
