Agenda and minutes

            Councillor McAteer declared an interest in respect of Item 3h “Bidding for International Events” in so far as she was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board; and Councillor Spence declared an interest in Item 3a in that he was on the Board of the Ulster Orchestra.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1   Relevant Background Information

1.1The Council is required, under Part 3 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, to establish the Belfast PCSP and the four DPCSPs.  The Council must, under this legislation, make the appointments, so far as is practicable, to reflect the strength of the Parties on the Council.  A diagrammatic representation of the structure has been circulated.

12.2     Furthermore, Part 3, Section 6 (1) (f) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 makes provision for the filling of positions of responsibility.  Under this legislation, Political Members appointed to the PCSP and the four DPCSPs are considered positions of responsibility.

2    Key Issues

2.1Appointment of Political Members to the Principal PCSP

      Members are reminded that, in 2012 the Council decided to appoint a 19 Member Policing and Community Safety Partnership which comprised 10 elected Members appointed by the Council and 9 Independent Members appointed by the Northern Ireland Policing Board.  There were also representatives from 7 statutory bodies and the voluntary and community sector, however there is no formal appointments process for these members.

2.2he Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 provides that the Council may decide to appoint either 8, 9 or 10 Political Members to the PCSP. The number of Independent Members is to be set at one less than the number of Political Members. The decision which the Committee must make on the number of Political Members to appoint needs to factor in both the size of the partnership, but also its political make up.

2.3At appendix 1, Part A, a copy of which has been circulated, sets out the allocation of places to the political parties on the Council based upon a PCSP (the citywide partnership) comprising 19 Members, 17 Members and 15 Members (numbers include both Political and Independent Members).  This is based on the quota greatest remainder formula which the Council uses for sharing out of Committee posts and other posts where it is entitled to nominate representatives to outside bodies.  This formula works on party strengths and is aimed at providing proportionate representation reflecting party strengths in the Council.

2.4However, this is further complicated as the legislation also provides that the Political Members of the PCSP shall include the persons who hold the Office of Chair of each of the DPCSPs.  This means that 4 of the Political appointments to the PCSP each year will be reserved for the Chairs of the 4 DPCSPs.

2.5In addition, for any particular DPCSP there is a requirement that, so far as is practicable, the Chair will be held in turn by the 4 largest Parties on the Council during the 4-year term (although there is a slight difficulty with this as discussed below in 2.8).  Accordingly, when considering the political nominations to the PCSP, it needs to be remembered that some Parties will already have obtained places through the Chairs of the DPCSPs.  The breakdown is represented in Part B of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27a

            Prior to consideration of the report on the Revenue Estimates 2015/16, the Chief Executive advised the Members that there were a number of reports which the Committee would have to consider in conjunction with that report, namely, the Capital Programme – Update, the Non-Recurrent Expenditure Requirements 2014/15 and 2015/16 and the report on Bidding for International Events, since any decisions taken in relation to those reports could have an impact on the setting of Rates.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1                             Relevant Background Information

1.1                            The purpose of this report is to provide the financial information to support Members to make decisions on the following:

·        The level of district rate to be set for 2015/16.

·        The departmental revenue budget allocations and cash limits for 2015/16.

·        The revenue budget allocations and cash limits for the transferring functions 2015/16.

·        The capital financing budget.

·        The adequacy of general reserves.

·         

                                 The report will also provide details of the impact of the decision on the district rate on the ratepayer in the context of the rates convergence scheme agreed by central government and the non-domestic revaluation.

2                               Key Issues

2.1                            Rate Income

                                 This will be the first rate set for the new Council. This means that the rate base now includes all domestic and non-domestic properties transferring from Lisburn and Castlereagh. The final Estimated Penny Product (EPP) provided by Land and Property Services (LPS) and validated by Council officers and the Institute of Revenue, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) is £5,616,420.  This means if the Council sets a zero rate an additional £13,400,133 of rates income would be raised, bringing the total rates income to £143,116,491 for the new boundary area in 2015/16.

2.2                            De-Rating Grant

                                 In addition to district rate income the Council also receives an industrial de-rating grant from DOE. The de-rating grant compensates the Council for the loss of rate income due to the statutory de-rating (lowering of rates) of certain properties.  LPS has notified the Council that the de-rating grant will increase by £461,046 to £5,091,162.

                                 The DOE, however, at the time of writing, has not confirmed the level of de-rating grant to be paid. Members will be provided with a verbal update on the de-rating grant position at the committee meeting.

2.3                            In summary, this means that the total additional rates income based on a zero rate amounts to £13,861,179. Therefore, any additional expenditure agreed by the committee for 2015/16 must be within this cash limit if a zero rate is to be agreed.

2.4                            Summary Position

                                 Table 1 below provides a summary of the proposed allocation of the available £13.86m.

                                 The report will make specific recommendations in relation to:

·        Discretionary elements of net departmental expenditure

·        Additional funding for the running of the transferring planning service

·        The creation of a regeneration budget

·        Additional capital financing to support the debt being transferred from Lisburn and Castlereagh.

Table 1

Cost of Running the New Council in 2015/16

2.5                            Net Departmental Expenditure

                                 Table 2 below shows how the £9.54m increase in net departmental expenditure is distributed. It shows that £11.05m is a result of cost increases beyond the control of the Council. It also includes £1.33m of costs which are at the discretion of Members to agree on and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of report

1.1       Members will recall that at the Shadow SP&R meeting on 16^th January they were presented with a detailed report in relation to the Capital Programme which outlined a number of key issues for Members to consider in terms of progress and also projects which require additional monies to progress and the impact of these decisions. Members at that stage were asked to consider the issues outlined in the report further and a series of party group briefings have been held. It was agreed that the final recommendations would be presented to Shadow Committee on 30 January. Members are asked to note that it is important that decisions in relation to these projects are taken at Committee today as any delays will have further financial implications for the Council. 

1.2       The Council’s Capital Programme is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. This report provides –

·        an update on the Capital Programme 14/15 which was presented to SP&R in February 14

·        an update on the capital financing for 2015/2016 and an update on the capital financing implications of the Leisure Transformation Programme

·        specific project updates – Innovation Centre, North Foreshore, Waterfront, Creative Hub and Council Accommodation which require decisions at today’s meeting.

1.3       Members are asked to note that it is important that this paper is read in conjunction with the Rate Setting and the Non-Recurrent Update reports which are also on the agenda for discussion at today’s meeting.

2.0       Relevant Background Information

            Update on 2013/14 Capital Programme

2.1       Significant progress has been made in the delivery of the capital programme since it was agreed by SP&R Committee last February. The Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange site visits for Members/ Party Groups to any Council funded capital project. 

2.2       Key highlights since the Capital Programme was agreed last February include- 

            General

·        the Investment Programme set a target of levering in £50m of external funding up to March 2015.  This target has now been surpassed and nearly doubled with nearly £100m of external funding levered in or secured for a range of projects including Girdwood, CCG and the East Belfast Flood Alleviation works, Super-connected, the pitches strategy, Tropical Ravine.  While this is good news it also puts pressure on the Council’s match funding requirement and on completion timeframes

            Projects completed (since February 14)

·        the new Adventurers Learning Centre at the Zoo;  the new pavilion at Suffolk; the £4m Phase 1 of the Connswater Community Greenway project; the roll-out of Phase 3 of the Alleygating Programme; new 3G pitch at Marrowbone; MUGA refurbishments at six sites across the city

            Projects currently on the ground

·        construction works are continuing on the extension to the Waterfront to provide dedicated conference and exhibition facilities,  Phase 2 of the Connswater Community Greenway, the £11.7m Girdwood Hub; the new £1.7m 3G pitch at Cliftonville; upgrades and refurbishments at Half Moon Lake and Drumglass  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28b

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.0     Relevant Background Information

1.1    This report presents the non-recurrent expenditure requirements for 2014/15 and 2015/16 and makes recommendations as to how these can be financed.

2.0    Key Issues

         Non – Recurrent Expenditure 2014/15

2.1    The Strategic Policy and Resources Committee has already approved £2,962,241 of non-recurrent expenditure for 2014/15. This is summarised in Table One below. Members agreed, as part of the half year finance report, that this expenditure would be financed from the forecast year end under spend of £4,307,000.

         *DCAL has confirmed that the requested one-off funding will be made available to the Ulster Orchestra as a result of January monitoring. DCAL has asked the Arts Council to administer and allocate this funding under the terms of its current Letter of Offer to the Ulster Orchestra.

                     Non – Recurrent Expenditure 2015/16

2.2    Table Two below outlines the non-recurrent expenditure requirements for 2015/16. The key drivers of these costs are the delivery of Investment Programme projects and transitional arrangements associated with local government reform.

         Table Two: Non-Recurrent Expenditure 2015/16

2.3    Employees

         For the past three years temporary staff employed to support the delivery of Investment Programme projects and local government reform have been financed through the Waste Plan and the Local Government Reform Fund. These funds will come to an end on 31 March 2015. Table Three provides a summary of the temporary employee funding requirements by department. A detailed breakdown by post is provided at Appendix One.

         Table Three: Temporary Employees 2015/16

         Assets

2.4    Table Four details the one-off costs associated with the assets transferring from Lisburn and Castlereagh. Detailed surveys of the assets have been carried out and maintenance costings have been prepared. Appendix Two provides a summary of the proposed work by asset transferring.

         Table Four: One – Off Asset Costs 2015/16

         Other

2.5    These costs include £429k to support the alignment of the Council’s grant aid programmes for areas transferring from Lisburn and Castlereagh. A separate report on the alignment, on a one-off basis, of the events and festivals funding for the transferring areas and the development of a city events  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28c

            The Committee was reminded that, in May 2014, the Department of the Environment had issued to all councils a Departmental Direction and Guidance in relation to the introduction of expenditure controls for the period during which the eleven new councils would operate in shadow form.  The Departmental Direction, which had been made under Section 10 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010, stated that existing councils may not, without the written consent of the new Council:

(a)     make any disposal of land, if consideration for disposal exceeded £100,000;

(b)     enter into any casual contracts:

(i)    under which the consideration payable exceeded £250,000;

(ii)    which included a term allowing the consideration payable to be varied.

(c)  enter into any non-capital contracts where consideration exceeded £100,000.  Such contracts may include:

(i)    employment contracts (for example, individual employment contracts over £100,000 per annum and fixed-term contracts of employment exceeding £100,000 in total over the fixed-term period);

(ii)    service contracts (for example, asset maintenance contracts);

(iii)   revenue contracts (for example, accountancy or legal services).

            It was pointed out that similar expenditure controls had been introduced by the Department during the operation of the Statutory Transition period and the release of the guidance did not preclude the necessity to follow Belfast City Council Standing Orders and the associated process for entering into contracts and land disposals requiring approval through the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the full Council.

            Accordingly, the Committee was recommended to give its consent to the following contracts which had already been presented to the Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee:

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

            The Director of Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1    Members will be aware that, over the past few months, officers have been working on a number of employability issues.  These include the development of an Employability and Skills Strategy for the city and looking at how the impact of any investment in European Social Fund (ESF) projects can be maximised. 

1.2    The European Social Fund aims to reduce economic inactivity and increase workforce skills by promoting access to employment, social inclusion and skills for growth. The fund is managed by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland.  While some funding is ring-fenced for mainstream DEL programmes, much of it is allocated through an open call for projects.  Successful projects attract funding of up to 65% of the total project cost and project promoters are expected to find the remaining 35% funding from other sources.  The most recent call for projects closed on 9 January 2015.

1.3    While the council was originally planning to submit its own bid for funding, using its resources and resources to be transferred from the Department for Social Development, the delay in the transfer of regeneration powers meant that this approach was no longer feasible.  An alternative approach – working to draw funding in through other DEL-funded programmes – was also not possible after further investigation.  The council therefore decided not to bid directly for funding under the ESF call.  However, the council did provide letters to a number of projects that were making applications for support.  DEL had confirmed that engagement with potential match-funders was a pre-requisite for any applications.  However the letters from the council confirmed only that the organisation had made contact with the council, and there was no commitment to provide funding. 

1.4    Given this change in approach, this report considers the proposed way forward for the council in terms of employability and skills development support, including support for European Social Fund activity. 

2       Key Issues

2.1    Members will be aware that the council is currently in the process of developing an Employability and Skills Strategy.  This work is likely to be completed by March 2015.  There are currently four draft objectives against which a range of activities are being identified.  These include:

1.   To develop a coherent and city wide employability and skills partnership

2.   To provide a rounded and whole-life package of entry and lower level skills development and provision

3.   To generate higher level skills which meet the demands of employers and investors

4.   To enable progression routes and employability skills for all.

2.2    It is anticipated that the strategy will provide a framework against which the council and its partners can invest their resources in a series of targeted activities that will address the key skills and employability challenges that the city is currently facing.  Members will be aware that, for many years, economic inactivity has been one of the most significant drags on the city’s competitiveness.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28e

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.    Relevant Background Information

1.1    The Super-connected Belfast programme of work comprises three strands:

1.     Public Sector Wi-Fi Hotspots

2.     Metro-Wireless project

3.     Belfast Connection Voucher scheme

1.2    This report provides an update on the recent significant developments relating to the Super-connected Belfast Programme.

2.      Key Issues

2.1    Public Sector Wi-Fi Hotspots

         The Public Sector Hotspots strand of the Super-connected Belfast programme aims to fund the installation of wireless/Wi-Fi equipment into buildings regularly visited by members of the public. The funding covers broadband connections, Wi-Fi equipment, wiring and the cost of installation.

2.2    The contract to install and supply these public Wi-Fi hotspots has been awarded to BT. The final revised list has identified 108 buildings for inclusion:

Belfast City Council                                          89

BCC incoming buildings from new boundary            11

NIHE     5

Department of Justice                                       2

DSD      1

Total     108

2.3    The chart below shows progress to-date and indicates that the project is on target to be delivered by April.

2.4    City Centre Metro Wireless

         Following the original difficulties with the Metro Wireless procurement the council has decided to take ownership of the delivery of this project and are working to procure and implement a city centre Wi-Fi solution.

2.5    The European commission considers that public funding to a single recipient of up to €200,000 over a 3 year period has a negligible impact on trade and competition, and does not require State Aid notification. Therefore, the council is free to establish its own city centre Wi-Fi zone within these financial constraints.

2.5    Initial market research with telecoms suppliers indicates strong interest in a council funded Wi-Fi network and by focussing the installation of Wi-Fi cells on buildings and making use of the ducting that has already been installed as part of the ‘Streets Ahead’ initiative we believe we can deliver a significant Wi-Fi zone concentrated on the city centre.

2.6    The specification for this procurement is currently being finalised with a view to going out to the marketplace in April when resource will be released following the completion of the Public Sector Hotspots project.

2.7    Belfast Connection Voucher Scheme

         The voucher scheme allows small to medium sized enterprises and social enterprises within the new Belfast City Council boundary area to apply for grants of up to £3,000, to obtain high-speed broadband connections. 

2.8    In August 2014, the Department of Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) set each city a revised target for voucher uptake.  The figure for Belfast was set at 690 vouchers, and the programme is currently well on course to achieve this target.

2.9    On 3rd December, as part of the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne MP, a decision was taken to extend the voucher scheme until March 2016. The government has allocated up to £40 million to extend the scheme to March 2016 and has made the scheme available to more cities. Vouchers will be available in the new cities by April 2015, and will be available  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28f

            The Committee considered a report in relation to the support and maintenance for the existing server and storage infrastructure and agreed that:

(1)     the Council renew support for the current server and storage environment for two years at a cost of £130,000;

(2)     the renewal be completed with the current supplier (Dell) due to the complex nature of the environment; and

(3)     digital services begin the process of preparing a business case for replacing the current environment to take account of improvements in the hardware, the flexibility of Cloud computing and to fit in with the Council’s accommodation strategy.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to:

(i)     Ask Members to consider the issue of funding for bidding for future international events as requested by the Development Committee at its meeting in December  2014;

(ii)   Consider funding towards a festival in each of the areas transferring from Castlereagh and Lisburn to Belfast;

(iii)Consider two invitations to bid for international events

·        UK National Piping Championships 2016, 2017 and 2018

·        World Irish Dancing Championships 2018

2          Key Issues

2.1      At the Development Committee meeting October 2014, Members asked the City Events Manager to bring forward a list of potential events which the Council, along with other regional partners, could bid for over the next 5 years.

2.2       The City Events Manager presented a paper to the December meeting of the Development Committee setting out a list of international events which had been identified by the City Events unit and other regional partners which, subject to adequate funding, could potentially be secured by the City between 2016 and 2021.  These events are set out in summary form in Table 1 below with the potential costs and benefits detailed in Appendix A, a copy of which has been circulated.

            Table 1

                     *This event has been agreed at a cost of £250,000 as per decision of Council November 2010.

2.3       Since 1999 Belfast City Council in partnership with a range of Government departments has been successful in bidding for, securing and delivering a range of international events for the City. These events include the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, the IABA World Amateur Boxing Championships, the UEFA Under 19 European Football Championship, the IRB Under 19 Rugby World Cup, Sail Training International’s Tall Ships Races, Viacom’s MTV EMAs, the World Police and Fire Federation’s World Police and Fire Games, RCS Sports’ Giro d’Italia and various national and international competitions connected to the World Irish Dancing Commission.

2.4       It is recognised that hosting large-scale international and national events has a very positive impact on cities in terms of economic return to the business community, enhancing the civic involvement of local communities and building pride and confidence in their city and promoting a positive image globally to potential visitors and investors.  Examples of the benefits to Belfast of recent events include:

·        Tall Ships 2009 generated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28h

            The Committee was advised that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency currently owned land at the Old Golf Course Road, Dunmurry which it had recently declared surplus to requirements.  The Land and Property Services Agency, in accordance with the D1 Disposal of Surplus of Public Sector Land Procedures, had notified the Council and other public sector bodies of the potential disposal and had sought expressions of interest in the land.

            The Committee was advised that the land in question totalled approximately 14 acres.  It was near two plots which had been sold as an area of existing Open Space and designated as an Urban Landscape Wedge and Community Greenway in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015.  The land was presently located in an area of Lisburn City Council that would transfer to Belfast City Council on 1st April, 2015 under Local Government Reform.

            The Estates Manager reported that it was understood that locally elected Councillors had previously made representations to the Environment Agency about a potential transfer of the land to the Council.  In accordance with Land and Property Services procedures, any interested parties had 15 working days from the date of the letter from the Agency (13th January, 2015) to register an interest in the subject land.  It was unknown at this stage what the terms of any potential disposal would be, although Council officers had requested the Agency to provide further information.  It was also understood that the Environment Agency was exploring the basis and terms of any potential transfer of the land to the Council.  Given the short timeframe involved, Council officers had advised the Land and Property Services that the Council might have a potential interest in the land, subject to the Committee’s approval and to the terms of any disposal.  The preliminary expression of interest was not binding on the Council.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and that a report would be submitted to the Committee in due course seeking its direction on whether or not to proceed with the transfer of the surplus land and any terms associated therewith.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report and approved the draft responses to the consultation documents:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       Members will be fully aware that the operational Transfer of Regeneration and Community Development from DSD to the Council has been delayed by 12 months until 1st April 2016. As part of their existing responsibilities and in parallel to the preparation for transfer of regeneration powers to Council DSD have continued to develop various projects, plans and policies under their remit for delivering Urban regeneration and Community Development functions.

1.2       As part of their ongoing work DSD commissioned consultants to prepare two masterplan documents:

·        Shaftesbury Square Development Framework

·         http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/consultations/shaftesburysq-dev-framework-consultation.htm

·        South West Gateway Masterplan

·        http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/consultations/consultations-south-west-gateway-masterplan.htm

1.3       Draft responses to these documents have been prepared for Members’ consideration and are attached in Appendices 1 and 2.

2          Key Issues

            Strategic Issues

2.1       As part of its preparation for the transfer of regeneration powers the Council had compiled a baseline of DSD documents which comprise the broad operational / policy context for regeneration activity in the City Centre and wider neighbourhoods across the city.

2.2       These documents provide the regeneration policy context within which DSD (through BRO and BCCRD) currently deliver the transferring Urban Regeneration and Community Development function. Any existing informal and formal policy instruments produced by DSD could be used to inform future Council regeneration policy and contribute to the Local Development Plan (land use planning context); the Belfast Plan (community planning context) and the emerging City Centre Regeneration and Investment Plan (an updated urban regeneration context for the city centre).

2.3       The Council consideration of the draft Shaftesbury Square Development Framework and South West Gateway Masterplan was carried out in the context of the emerging Council strategies and plans referred to above.

2.4       Financial Issues

            The physical interventions proposed within this plan could have significant financial implications in the event of any commitment to these actions being delivered. It is essential that any proposed actions that can be delivered in advance of transfer of functions in 2016 are clearly identified and undertaken by the Department utilising existing budgets. Any interventions that lie beyond this timeframe should be set within the wider context of local government reform and recognise that financial implications associated with any proposals would not be binding on the Council.

            In any final documents it should be clear that recommendations for the period post April 2016 that may not be the responsibility of DSD and can only be considered in the context of existing Council plans and projects as well as our future planning, community planning and regeneration functions.

2.5       Shaftesbury Square Development Framework

            DSD appointed GM Design Associates to undertake the Shaftesbury Square Development Framework. The aim is to create a basis for the restoration of Shaftesbury Square as a successful urban space with vibrant local communities linked by attractive and active urban streets. See Appendix 1 for an outline of the study area and a draft Council response.

2.6       The Development Framework identifies a number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    Members may recall Council is a partner on the Belfast Trust area safeguarding panels which are set up separately for children and adults as part of the regional safeguarding structures known as SBNI and NIASP. There is a mandatory duty on Council to safeguard children and an accepted expectation to safeguard adults. It is generally promoted that safeguarding (all ages) is ‘everyone’s business.’

1.2    An internal review of Council safeguarding practice and ongoing needs has taken place over the past year and this has been aligned to current policy for continuous organisational improvement.  Officers are currently finalising the review and will present recommendations to CMT early this year.  Initial findings however would support a new Safeguarding all age policy to best fit the future organisational needs (following guidance by Volunteer Now).  If agreeable this will be developed in the coming months for future Member review.

1.3    Any new approach will build on Council’s positive track record (since 2002) in managing child protection and ensure the policy, principles, procedures and practice best meet the diverse needs of the organisation and its service provision safeguarding the rights and needs of children and adults specifically those at risk of harm or abuse.

2       Key Issues

2.1    At this time there are two external consultations. Members are requested to consider the draft responses which are enclosed in appendices 2 & 4.

·        Consultation 1 is for SBNI’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Learning and Development Strategy and Framework

·        Consultation 2 is DHSSPSNI adult safeguarding policy draft consultation response.

2.2    Consultation 1: SBNI’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Learning and Development Strategy and Framework (children)

         This consultation directs respondents to provide general feedback primarily focused on informing the equality screening process.

         The enclosed response generally welcomes the co-ordination of safeguarding children training & development within the proposed framework. It particularly welcomes the co-ordinated direction presented in the framework which includes a minimum standard based on key learning outcomes to support our safeguarding role protecting children.

         Council’s response provides key comments including recommending a training needs analysis of each partner organisation, as well as the community and voluntary sector, to ensure the framework is suitably flexible and can address the learning/ development needs of all sections of the community.  This should also support council officers as they deliver a diverse range of services to children and young people.

         The framework should capture all of the work of SBNI and its partners and learn from service delivery. It is key that it represents all the activities of each organisation.  For council this includes the work of each Member and related safeguarding learning or support which may be required.

         Further information is also sought on structures, roles, responsibilities and anticipated resources and how this will relate to Council’s existing commitment to the ‘keeping children safe’ training programme

2.3    Consultation 2: DHSSPSNI released a consultation on safeguarding adult policy.

         This consultation document is the proposed regional adult safeguarding policy which reinforces  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30b

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1      Purpose of Report

1.1    To seek approval from Committee for the Council to continue to be a member of a newly reconstituted arc21, post local government reform, when the number of councils shrinks from 26 to eleven and to consider a proposal received from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to also join the reconstituted arc21.

2       Background

2.1    This report is being submitted primarily to ensure that the administrative purposes of the Council continue without interruption over the local government reform period.  Members are reminded that the Department of the Environment (DOE) is responsible for the development and publishing of a waste management strategy setting out policies in relation to the recovery and disposal of waste and councils are responsible for the publication and implementation of Waste Management Plans setting out their arrangements to collect and treat these wastes.

2.2    In 2000, eleven councils stretching from Ballymena Borough to Down District Council came together to form arc21, which is one of three Waste Management Groups in Northern Ireland, to fulfil these responsibilities.  It was set up as a waste management joint committee under the Local Government Act (NI) 1972 with body corporate status giving it the legislative authority, in its own right, to employ staff, acquire assets and enter into contracts. 

2.3    The DOE has advised arc21 that, in terms of local government reform, an early decision on the future arrangements for waste management is required to allow time for the necessary legislation to be put in place

2.4    The body corporate legislation for arc21 lists the existing 11 constituent councils of the arc21 Joint Committee but these will cease to exist as of April 2015.  At this time, arc21 will be providing the following on behalf of Belfast and some of its constituent councils:

·        a landfill contract

·        a garden & food waste treatment contract

·        the emptying and recycling of bring banks

·        the supply of bins

·        the supply of kitchen caddy liners and

·        a materials recovery facility (MRF) contract.

2.5    In addition, arc21 is entering into the final stages of the procurement for the development of major waste infrastructure for the long term treatment of residual waste which will facilitate the Council in achieving its statutory waste targets.

2.6    As the current constituent councils cease to exist, it would appear timely for the new councils to consider the adequacy of the existing waste management structure for delivery of their future waste management functions and, in particular, whether the governance and decision-making arrangements are fit for purpose.

2.7    here are several potential delivery models for the future which might include:

1.   The establishment of a single waste authority, either voluntary or mandatory

2.   The establishment of multiple joint committees, either voluntary or mandatory or

3.   No cross-council co-operation

2.8    Since its early days, arc21 has been advocating that the first model could provide the best delivery model for Northern Ireland which has been endorsed by the constituent councils a number of times but, currently,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30c