Cultural Expression Implementation Agreement

The aims of the Councils Cultural Expressions implementation agreement are as follows:

•  To maintain and develop the level of goodwill built up in the local community

•  To maintain and develop the core environmental conditions of any bonfires that do take place

•  To ensure that celebrations on the 11th July continue

•  To enable the Council to fulfil its environmental obligations and to ensure compliance with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011

The steps required to ensure that these aims are met within the ever increasing constraints on working in this area are as follows:

•  To reduce the number of traditional bonfires on Council land by encouraging the choice of non-traditional bonfires such as sand based alternatives

•  To encourage the development of a programme of alternatives

•  To provide continued financial incentives so that the bonfire season continues to become a more positive community festival

The core conditions for participation in the Council’s Cultural Expressions Policy are:

•  The development and support for local bonfire management committees as agreed.

•  Local agreement that material for burning is not collected before the First Saturday of May

•  Local agreement that toxic and unsuitable material will not be burned on bonfires

•  Local agreement that bonfire sites are regularly monitored for tidiness

•  The erection of suitable signage available from the Council showing suitable and unsuitable material for the bonfire, and stating a warning that the site is being monitored for fly tipping

•  Local agreement that Council or Northern Ireland Housing Executive contractors have access to bonfire sites to remove unsuitable material as agreed by the local management committee

•  Local agreement that no huts are created within the body of the bonfire and at a safe distance as agreed by the NI Fire and Rescue Service, and that community groups must make regular inspections to ensure compliance by the bonfire builders

•  Local agreement that there will be no commercial dumping at bonfire sites

•  Local agreement for a programme of inspection monitoring to be undertaken in June and July by the Council’s Borough Inspector

•  Local agreement for community groups to seek advice from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service regarding how to light bonfires

•  Local agreement for community groups to procure public liability insurance for all community events and educational or diversionary activities

Implementation Process

The Council is committed to providing on the ground support to groups who sign up to the core conditions detailed above. Good Relations Officers and Community Development Officers will be available to provide advice and support on all elements of the programme including the implementation process.

Council is required to publicly invite expressions of interest for Funding in April 2015.

Officers will meet with partner groups who wish to participate in order to gather all of the necessary details that will allow financial support to be offered.

Awards will be made to constituted community groups who agree to the above core conditions. The maximum amounts available for cultural celebrations are:

Events with associated Community Bonfire
Traditional Bonfire with Community Festival / Non Traditional Bonfire (eg Sandbased) with Community Festival
£1200 / £2300

Amounts awarded are dependent on the level of funding received from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and apply only to the period 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016

•  Procurement

It will be the responsibility of successful applicants to purchase all goods and services for the community festivals. Good Relations Officers and Community Development Officers can advise on procurement matters. Advance payments will be made to assist with cash flow.

•  Advance Payments

Grants less than £1,200 – 80% advance allowable.

Grants of more than £1,200 – 50 % advance allowable.

•  Balancing Payments

Payments in respect of the outstanding balance of grants awarded will only be made upon satisfactory verification of original invoices, receipts and bank statements for the total approved cost of the festival or event.

For advice and support please contact

Donna Mackey, Good Relations Officer:

Beverley Skillen, Good Relations Officer:

Telephone : 0300 013 3333

Acceptance

I agree to comply with the core conditions detailed in this Cultural Expressions Implementation agreement.

Name ______

Signature ______

Date ______

Locations of sites to which this agreement relates

______

______

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