Councillor complains about delays for small groups requesting events in Belfast

Councillors say groups face a backlog in a process that has no policy at City Hall

A Belfast councillor has criticised City Hall over delays for small groups requesting events in the city.

SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite has stated that smaller groups face a greater wait when they make requests, and has namechecked the “Ballynafest.” The annual Ballynafest is a free community festival organized by Open Ormeau and will take place on Saturday, August 29, in Ormeau Park, Belfast.

Councillor de Faoite said at the August meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee: “Groups are facing significant delays in getting their event requests approved, particularly events that don’t come to the committee, that is, smaller events, events that happen on an annual basis.

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“(That makes it) difficult for groups to plan, and have certainty when they are going out to vendors to book entertainment, or even the physical amenities they might need for their events.

“I have raised before the Ballynafest, organised every year by Open Ormeau, which will take place later this month. It has taken them until this month to actually get the approval from this council for their event to take place.”

Ballynafest brings together diverse local cultures through music, family activities, and workshops. It will be the sixth time the festival is celebrated. It promises live music and dance performances, circus acts and interactive shows, petting farm and animal encounters, environmental workshops and creative art stations, sensory tents and children’s crafts, and a guided local history walking tour of Ormeau Park.

Councillor de Faoite said: “What they were being told consistently was they would probably get their approval, but it couldn’t definitely be said until it was ready to go out. I understand there may be delays in terms of the (council) team processing those applications, but is there some way we can resolve that delay and clear the backlog, to make sure this issue doesn’t arise again? It is having an impact on a whole pile of groups who organise events on an annual basis.”

A council officer said they would “be quite happy” to look at the problem and bring a report back to elected representatives, offering details on process, council staff numbers and “turnaround.”

Committee Chair, Alliance Councillor Jenna Maghie, said decisions around events in the council were “pre-policy” and asked for an update on a draft policy document surrounding events.

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