Parks and Leisure Committee 12 June 2007
From Nigov
Parks and Leisure Committee Tuesday, 12th June, 2007
MEETING OF PARKS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Stoker (Chairman); and Councillors Adamson, M. Browne, Convery, Ekin, Humphrey, Kyle, McCann, McClenaghan, McKenzie, O'Reilly and Stalford.
In attendance
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Attwood and Newton.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of the Community and Recreation Committee of 21st and 22nd May were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 4th June.
Day and Time of Future Meetings
In accordance with notice on the agenda, the Committee gave consideration to the day and time of its future meetings. After discussion, it was agreed that the Committee would meet at 4.30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.
Parks and Leisure Department
The Committee agreed to note the contents of a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in relation to the creation of the new Parks and Leisure Department which came into existence on 1st April and the progress achieved in connection with the development of its improvement agenda.
Wonderland Promotions Contract
Concert at Ormeau Park
The Committee was reminded that the former Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 7th November, 2006, had granted to Wonderland Promotions Limited authority to use the Ormeau Park for two concerts to be held on successive nights during June.
The Director of Parks and Leisure advised the Committee that Wonderland Promotions Limited had indicated that it no longer wished to hold the aforementioned concerts at the Ormeau Park site and he recommended that the Committee agree to the withdrawal of the Company's submission in this regard.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Relocation of the Tennent's Vital Concert
The Committee was reminded that the former Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 10th January, 2006, had granted approval for the Tennent's Vital Concert to be held at the Botanic Gardens for a three-year period from 2006 till 2008.
The Director reported that a request had been received from Wonderland Promotions Limited, on behalf of Inbev Ireland Limited, for approval to transfer the venue for the event, which would be held during August, 2007, from the Botanic Gardens to the Ormeau Park. The organisers had indicated that the Ormeau Park would be utilised for the 2007 event only and would enable a larger audience to enjoy the concert.
The Director advised the Committee that if it were minded to accede to the request, the cost of the reinstatement of the site, for which Inbev Ireland Limited would be liable, would range from approximately £6,000 to £126,000, depending on weather conditions, and there would be no guarantee that the football fixtures would be able to commence on 1st September. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee grant approval for the 2007 Tennent's Vital Concert to be relocated to the Ormeau Park, subject to:
- the Council being satisfied that all operational issues could be resolved with the Company;
- an appropriate legal agreement to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services;
- reinstatement of the lands to the Council's satisfaction; and
- the event organisers meeting all statutory requirements, including licensing.
A full review of the event would be carried out prior to next year's concert.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
New Governance Arrangements - Appointment of Fixed Term Working Groups
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee granted the approvals sought.
Children and Young People Initiative
The Committee agreed to note the contents of a report in relation to the progress which had been achieved in connection with the Council's Children and Young People Initiative. In addition, the Committee noted, due to the introduction of the new governance arrangements on 4th June, that the Initiative would be managed in future by the Development Department.
32nd Annual Youth Football Festival - City of Belfast Playing Fields
The Director reported that the Northern Ireland Boys' Football Association had submitted an application to the Council for the use of the City of Belfast Playing Fields in relation to the 32nd Annual Youth Football Festival. This year the event would take the form of a seven-a-side Mini Soccer Festival, which would involve the development of younger players, both boys and girls, to take place on Saturday, 1st September, with the holding of a further eleven-a-side competition on 8th September aimed at older youths. The free use of all eighteen football pitches would be required on both days, which represented an estimated loss of income to the Council of approximately £1,200. He pointed out that the Festival had been held at the site since it had opened. The organisers had requested also a financial contribution of £1,500 towards the costs associated with the event. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee grant approval for the organisation to have free use of all facilities at the City of Belfast Playing Fields on 1st and 8th September and agree to provide a financial contribution in the sum of £1,500 towards the event.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Review of Swimming Teacher Staff Structure
The Committee was reminded that, as a core element of its programmes, the Council's Leisure Centres offered swimming lessons to schools throughout the City, which were provided by part-time swimming teachers. In addition, after school and weekend lessons were provided also through the recently introduced 'Make-A-Splash' swim development scheme, with the level of uptake having increased significantly over the previous year. Those lessons had been delivered using a variety of interim measures.
The Director advised the Committee that swimming lessons were a fundamental part of the leisure services programme and provided a high quality introduction to the activity of swimming to school children. In addition, the Make-A-Splash programme was now well established and the current high level of demand required the use of casual, agency and temporary employees or permanent staff on an overtime basis, which represented an inefficient use of resources. Accordingly, he sought the Committee's approval to engage the Council's Business Improvement Section to determine the most appropriate structure for the delivery of swimming lessons at the Council's Leisure Centres.
The Committee granted the approval sought.
Tender for the Provision of Vending Machines at the Council's Leisure Centres
The Director reported that, in response to public advertisement, six tenders had been received in relation to the provision and maintenance of vending machines at the Council's Leisure Centres for a period of one year, with the option of extension for a further two years. The tenders had been evaluated in conjunction with the Council's Procurement Section against a pre-agreed criteria and he recommended that the most economically advantageous tender received, that submitted by Mount Charles Catering Limited, Ascot House, 24-31 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, be accepted for a one-year period, with an option to renew annually for a further two years up until a date no later then 31st July, 2010. The tender would result in generated revenue to the Council based on the total sales of vending products.
The Committee adopted the recommendation and agreed that in future the tender specification should include more emphasis on healthy eating options.
Support for Sport - Development Fund Applications
The Committee noted a Schedule of Support for Sport applications in relation to development grants, which had been approved by the Director of Parks and Leisure in accordance with the authority delegated to him. A copy of the Schedule was available for inspection on the Members' Portal.
Belfast Zoological Gardens
Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2007
The Director advised the Committee that the Belfast Zoological Gardens had won the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year 2007. He pointed out that there was no doubt that the success of the venue had been due in part to the range of new initiatives which had contributed towards attracting additional visitors to the Zoo. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee note the achievement and consider whether it wished to mark the success with an appropriate event for staff and Members.
After discussion, during which the Members congratulated the Zoo's staff for their contributions in achieving the award, the Committee instructed the Director to make appropriate arrangements to mark the success of the staff. In addition, the Committee agreed that a site visit to the Zoo be organised during September.
Maintenance Work at Bird Aviaries
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee granted the approval sought.
Tender for the Provision of Health Care Services
The Director advised the Committee that, in order to ensure that due care and attention was being provided to its animal stock, the Belfast Zoo required the use of veterinary services. The existing contract, which had been held by Jubilee Veterinary Services, would expire on 31st May and, in line with Council Policy, the Zoo's staff had initiated a tendering process in conjunction with the Council's Procurement Section. In response to a public advertisement, one tender had been received from Jubilee Veterinary Services, which had been evaluated using a pre-agreed criteria.
The Director recommended that the Committee approve the tender which had been submitted by Jubilee Veterinary Services to provide veterinary care for the Zoo's animal collection for a period of up to three years, renewable annually by agreement. A standard rate of £80 per hour would be charged and the total cost for the year had been estimated at approximately £55,000, provision for which had been made within the Revenue Budget.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Disposal of Land at Lemberg Street Playground
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee being notified, in accordance with Standing Order 60, of the disposal.
Lands at 30 Ladybrook Park
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to a covenant being included within the legal agreement to prevent future development at the site and notification of the disposal, in accordance with Standing Order 60, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.
Shankill Women's Centre - St Michael's Park
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee being notified, in accordance with Standing Order 60, of the disposal.
Encroachment at Cliftonville Playing Fields
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee granted the approval sought, subject to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee being notified, in accordance with Standing Order 60, of the disposal.
Environmental Improvement Work at Woodvale Park
The Director reported that correspondence had been received from the Belfast Regeneration Office in relation to a proposal to replace the existing railings along the Ballygomartin Road at the end of the Woodvale Park. The Belfast Regeneration Office had confirmed that the scheme had been included within its programme for 2007/2008 and it was anticipated that works would commence during the Autumn. There would be no cost to the Council and an appropriate legal agreement would be prepared by the Director of Legal Services which would indemnify and safeguard the Council during the improvement works.
The Director of Parks and Leisure recommended that the Committee grant approval for the Belfast Regeneration Office to undertake the improvement works to the railings at the Woodvale Park, subject to an appropriate legal agreement to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services.
The Committee granted the approval sought.
Lagan Valley Regional Park
The Director of Parks and Leisure advised the Committee that the Lagan Valley Regional Park was being managed through a partnership arrangement between the Council, Castlereagh Borough Council, Lisburn City Council, the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Environment and Heritage Service. Through this partnership arrangement, the Park had benefited from a joint management approach and a variety of events had been organised. He reminded the Committee that the former Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 13th June, 2006, had agreed to support the formation of the Lagan Valley Regional Park Company and provide funding in the sum of £20,000 to the Company for the 2006/2007 financial year, on the basis that up to two Elected Members would, at a later date, be appointed as Directors.
He explained that the Lagan Valley Regional Park Company, which was limited by guarantee, had been set up and that Councillors Stalford and Stoker had been nominated to represent the Council as Directors. The Director pointed out that, in order to ensure continuity of the running of the Park and its work, the Committee needed to consider providing core funding for the Park over the following three years. A successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund had secured approximately £1.5 million for a range of specific projects to be undertaken throughout the Park, particularly in relation to nature conservation, interpretation, community involvement and restoration of heritage features. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee agree to the allocation of funding as follows:
- 2007/2008 - £18,708;
- 2008/2009 - £19,456; and
- 2009/2010 - £20,235.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Installation of Sculptures at Blythefield Park
The Director advised the Committee that, during May, the Greater Village Regeneration Trust had installed eight small sculptures at the Blythefield Park without the prior agreement of the former Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee. A Parks Officer had undertaken a risk assessment of the sculptures to ensure that they were in a safe condition.
He stated that the Trust had received approximately £12,000 from the Council's Culture and Arts Section to commission the sculptures as part of a project entitled "Touching Wood" and, in order to enable the sculptures to remain in the Park, it would be necessary to obtain the Committee's approval and for a legal agreement to be drawn up with the organisation to establish ownership and responsibility for the sculptures. The sculptures were valued by the local community which considered that it was essential that they be accessible to the public. However, while it was estimated that approximately £200 per annum would be required for their upkeep and maintenance, the Council would not be accepting any responsibility for the replacement costs associated with the sculptures. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee grant approval for the sculptures to remain at the Blythefield Park, subject to an appropriate legal agreement to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Management Agreement - Willowbank Park
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee granted the authorities sought.
International Rose Trials 2007 - Glasgow
The Committee was informed that the International Rose Trials would be held in Glasgow during the period from 23rd till 24th August. The Director recommended that the Committee authorise the attendance of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, the Director of Parks and Leisure and the Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Manager (or their nominees). The cost associated with attendance at the event would be approximately £220 per delegate.
The Committee adopted the recommendation and authorised the payment of the appropriate travelling and subsistence allowances in connection therewith.
Hammer Community Multi-User Games Area
(Mr. S. Walker, Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee agreed to note the contents of a report in relation to the withdrawal of funding by the Big Lottery Fund in respect of the provision of a multi-user Games Area at the Hammer Open Space site. In addition, the Committee agreed that an All-Party deputation seek a meeting with representatives of the Big Lottery Fund in respect of the withdrawal of funding for this project.
Chairman
