Parks and Leisure Committee 9 August 2007
From Nigov
Parks and Leisure Committee Thursday, 9th August, 2007
MEETING OF PARKS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Ekin (Deputy Chairman) (in the Chair); and Councillors Adamson, Austin, M. Browne, Cush, Humphrey, Kyle, C. Maskey, McCann, McCausland, McKenzie, O'Reilly and Stalford.
In attendance
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Chairman (Councillor Stoker) and Councillors McClenaghan and Newton.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 12th June were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 2nd July.
Belfast Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After a lengthy discussion, it was
Moved by Councillor M. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McCann,
That the Committee agrees that the Council be recommended to abandon the concept of developing a Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium in Belfast and instead support the Government's decision to locate a National Stadium at the Maze site in Lisburn.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor McCausland, Seconded by Councillor Stalford,
That officers seek clarification from the relevant Government Departments in relation to the reasons why the North Foreshore and Titanic Quarter have been rejected by the Strategic Investment Board as possible locations for the development of a National Stadium.
Request for Recorded Vote
Moved by Councillor Stalford, Seconded by Councillor McCausland,
That the question of the siting of a National Stadium be determined by means of a recorded vote.
On a vote by show of hands six Members voted in favour of determining the matter by means of a recorded vote and seven against and it was accordingly declared lost.
The Committee proceeded to vote by show of hands on the amendment standing in the name of Councillor McCausland, with six Members voting for and seven against and it was accordingly declared lost.
The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor M. Browne was thereupon put to the meeting, with five Members voting for and six against and it was accordingly declared lost.
Further Proposal
Moved by Councillor Stalford, Seconded by Councillor McCausland,
That the Committee agrees that the Council be recommended to affirm its decision of 17th May, 2007 to call upon the Northern Ireland Assembly to abolish plans to locate a National Stadium at the Maze site and instead to give due and proper consideration to other options before coming to a final decision. In addition, the Committee agrees to seek a meeting with the relevant Assembly Ministers and the Strategic Investment Board to ascertain why alternative Belfast sites had been ruled out as possible locations for a National Stadium.
On a vote by show of hands seven Members voted for the proposal and five against and it was accordingly declared carried.
It was noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 27, a motion to alter or rescind a decision of the Council shall not be competent within six months from the date of such resolution unless the change is recommended by the Committee concerned. Accordingly, since the Committee had not recommended that any change be made to the decision of the Council at its meeting on 17th May regarding the location of a National Stadium at the Maze site, the Committee's decision could not therefore be altered at the Council meeting on 3rd September.
Upgrade of Council Playgrounds
(Mr. S. Walker, Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.
Neighbours of Europe Project
The Director of Parks and Leisure informed the Committee that officers from the Parks and Cemeteries Services Section were involved currently in a two-year Neighbours of Europe Project, which had been funded substantially by the European Union Interreg III programme. The project was aimed at providing local people with the skills to assist the regeneration of local open spaces and was focused on the Woodvale and the Dunville parks.
He pointed out that the Partnership included the Probation Board of Northern Ireland, the Community Safety Unit, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Council. Although the total cost for the project had been substantially funded through the Interreg III programme, there was a shortfall of approximately £60,000 in funding and it was proposed that that amount be funded by the four partner organisations. This would require a contribution of £15,000 from the Council. He stated that, whilst no provision had been made within the Section's current Revenue Estimates, a contribution of £15,000 could be met from existing budgets. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee agree to provide funding in the sum of £15,000 towards the cost of the Neighbours of Europe Project, with an evaluation report being produced at the conclusion of the Programme.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Relocation of the Jaffe Fountain to Victoria Square
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
Refurbishment of Falls Park
The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that a request had been received from the Friends of Falls Park in relation to the undertaking of various improvements to the Park. These had included the lighting of the main driveway leading to the Bowling Pavilion, the renewal of a small pedestrian bridge and an extension to the existing play area. He stated that, in response to the request, a series of meetings had been held between Council officers and the local community. This had resulted in the preparation by the Council's Landscape Planning and Development Unit of a design for the Park which had been agreed by the Friends Group. Thereafter, an application had been submitted to the Belfast Regeneration Office seeking financial support in relation to the completion of the works. He reported that the Council had received subsequently a Contract for Funding in the sum of £277,500 in respect of the proposed improvements on the condition that the funding be spent by the end of the 2007/2008 financial year. Accordingly, he requested the Committee's approval to:
(i) accept the Contract of Funding in the sum of £277,500 from the Belfast Regeneration Office for the refurbishment of the Falls Park; and
(ii) to instigate a tendering process for the implementation of these works within the approved grant offer.
The Committee granted the approvals sought.
Facilities Management Agreement
The Committee agreed that a briefing session be held during September in relation to the Council's Policy on Facility Management Agreements.
Termination of Lease at Beechvale Nursery
The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that during August, 2001 the Council had entered into a five-year lease with Messrs B. Canavan and E. Webb (trading as Euroflowers) in respect of sixteen acres of land, together with glasshouses and other buildings at the Beechvale Nursery, Gransha Road. The annual rent had been set at £7,500 per annum, plus a contribution by the tenant to the insurance of the premises. He pointed out that the lease had terminated during August, 2006 and Messrs Canavan and Webb had been overholding the premises since that time. Although there had been assurances from Mr. Webb that the premises would be vacated, the occupation had continued, although at a reduced level.
The Director stated that the Parks and Cemeteries Services Section wished to reoccupy the facility to undertake various operations and, to facilitate this, possession of the site was being sought by agreement. However, to ensure greater certainty in obtaining possession, the Council wished to serve notice on the tenant under the terms of the Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. This would set a statutory period of six months for the tenant to vacate the premises but did not preclude earlier vacation by agreement. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee grant approval to serve notice on Messrs Canavan and Webb to vacate the premises and seek recovery of the Beechvale Nursery for Council purposes.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Land at Ballysillan Playing Fields
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to lease the land at the Ballysillan Playing Fields to the Upper Ardoyne Youth Centre, subject to notification, in accordance with Standing Order 60, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. In addition, the Committee agreed to investigate the possibility of reducing the rent payable to the Council, with a report in the matter being submitted in due course for its consideration.
Attendance at the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration Conference
The Committee was informed that the former Parks and Cemeteries Services Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 13th March, had been advised that the 21st World Congress of the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration would be held in Dublin during the period from 3rd till 6th September. The event would attract approximately 400 international delegates and, as part of the programme, a day visit to the Council's parks had been scheduled to take place on 6th September. Accordingly, that Sub-Committee had agreed to provide appropriate hospitality for the group at Malone House, the cost of which would be approximately £3,500.
The Director of Parks and Leisure pointed out that this was a prestigious event and represented an excellent opportunity to hear from experts on some of the major issues facing parks and open spaces. The cost per delegate attending the conference would be approximately €1,305 (approximately £885) plus travel. He recommended that the Committee authorise the attendance of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman and the Director of Parks and Leisure (or their nominees), together with two officers from the Parks and Cemeteries Services Section.
The Committee adopted the recommendation and authorised the payment of the conference fees, together with the appropriate travelling and subsistence allowances in connection therewith.
Tender for the Supply and Delivery of High Quality Bedding Plants
The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that, in response to public advertisement, three tenders had been received in relation to the supply and delivery of high quality bedding plants. He stated that each tender had been evaluated against pre-agreed criteria and he recommended the acceptance of the most economically advantageous tender received, that submitted by Pentland Plants, Pentland Nurseries, Loanhead, Midlothian, in the sum of £62,946.73 per annum, for the period from November, 2007 till October, 2008, with the option to renew annually up until October, 2010.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Vandalism Report
The Committee considered a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in respect of the incidence of vandalism which had occurred in Council-owned properties during the period from May till June, 2007.
The Committee noted the contents of the report and noted further that a report highlighting the costs associated with anti-social behaviour at the Council's Parks would be submitted for its consideration to the September meeting.
Willis Lake
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to adopt the recommendation and agreed also that Council officers offer assistance to the Residents' Association to improve conditions at the site.
Refurbishment of Stables at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendation.
Council Policy Statement on Dog Fouling
The Committee considered a report in connection with a proposed Council Policy Statement in respect of Dog Fouling within the City.
After discussion, the Committee endorsed the contents of the draft Policy and the action programme outlined therein. In addition, the Committee noted that the proposed Policy had been adopted by the Health and Environmental Services Committee at its meeting on 1st August and that a copy of the report was available for inspection on the Members' Portal.
Gaeltacht Signs
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
After discussion, it was
Moved by Councillor M. Browne, Seconded by Councillor McCann,
That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendation contained within the report.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Stalford, Seconded by Councillor McKenzie,
That the Committee agrees to defer consideration of this and similar requests to enable a Council Policy in relation to the erection of dual-language signage to be submitted for its consideration.
On a vote by show of hands seven Members voted for the amendment and five against and it was accordingly declared carried. The amendment was thereupon put to the meeting as the substantive motion when seven Members voted in favour and five against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Beechmount Leisure Centre Update
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
Loughside Boys' Football Club - Request for Use of Room at Loughside Recreation Centre
The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that the Loughside Boys' Football Club held currently a facility management agreement with the Council in relation to the outdoor grass pitches located at the Loughside Recreation Centre. He stated that an application had been received from the Club requesting the long-term use of a room at the Centre in order to facilitate its club development programme. The room would be utilised as a meeting point for the Club's Members and external coaches. The Club had confirmed that it would not require access to the room outside the normal opening hours of the Centre. The area was a disused storeroom, which had been utilised previously as an office and could be made available to the Club without disruption to the Centre's services. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee:
(i) agree to accede to the request which had been received from the Loughside Boys' Football Club for use of a room at Loughside Recreation Centre until the end of June, 2008;
(ii) approve a hire charge of £250 per month, which was viewed as affordable by the Club and was compliant with its allocated funding; and
(iii) request that the Council's Legal Services Department prepare an agreement for completion between the Council and the Club, which would reflect the above arrangements and address any relevant tenancy issues.
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
Grove Leisure Centre - Preparation of Facility Management Business Case by Swim Ulster
The Committee agreed to accede to a request which had been received from Swim Ulster to defer consideration of its facility management proposal for the Grove Leisure Centre to the meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Committee scheduled to be held on 13th September.
Support for Sport
Delegated Authority - 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.
Large Development Grants
The Committee proceeded to consider the following requests for assistance which had been received in relation to large Development Grants:
|Organisation |Recommended | |Civil Service North Cricket Club |Defer consideration to enable further | | |information to be obtained | |Albion Star Football Club |Do not support | |Crusaders Football Club |Do not support | |Donegal Celtic Football Club |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to a specialist coaching support | | |programme | |Alliance Amateur Swim Club |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to a learn to swim programme for | | |primary school children | |Lagan Valley Orienteers |Do not support | |Karate-Do-Wadi-Kai |Do not support | |Grosvenor Youth Football Club |Do not support | |Glentoran Community Initiative |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to a youth soccer school | |St. Oliver Plunketts Football Club |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to a specially designed coach | | |education/mentoring programme | |Belfast Harlequins Rugby Football Club |Defer consideration to enable further | | |information to be obtained | |Queens University Football Club |Do not support | |Templemore Amateur Swim Club |Do not support |
|Organisation |Recommended | |Linfield Football Development Centre |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to a new soccer academy to replace | | |the existing centre of excellence | |North Belfast Harriers |Do not support | |Cliftonville Football Development Centre |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to the establishment of a school | | |soccer coaching and mentoring initiative | | |throughout North Belfast | |St. Brigids Gaelic Athletic Club |Do not support | |Belfast Giants Hockey Club |Provision of support up to a maximum of £5,000 | | |in relation to an ice hockey coaching programme| | |to be promoted throughout the City | |Ballysillan Youth |Do not support |
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
Chairman
