Agenda and minutes

            No apologies were reported.

            The minutes of the meeting of 24th September 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 October, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            Councillor Walsh declared an interest in relation to agenda item 2(i) - Heritage Trail - Expression of Interest Submissions, in so far as it related to the application to erect a James Connolly Heritage Trail Sign, on the basis that he was involved in that initiative, and left the meeting whilst the matter was under consideration.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following thirteen items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the Press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report providing an update on the assessment of the key financial factors which would influence the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for 2022/23 - 2024/25 and the rate setting process for 2022/23 and on the priorities and work in progress to establish the 2022/22 – 2024/25 Efficiency Programme.

            The report outlined the six key elements involved in the annual setting of the District Rate and provided information on business as usual pressures, committed and emerging priorities, efficiencies, the rate base and the ongoing revaluation of non-domestic properties.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report.

The Committee noted a report providing an update on the progress being made across each of the operational areas in implementing the City Hall Recovery Plan and agreed that it should continue to receive the report on a monthly basis.  

            The Chief Executive submitted for the Committee’s approval the Belfast Region City Deal Document and Governance Framework.  The Deal Document, which would be approved and signed by all partners, committed the partners to the delivery of the £850m Belfast Region City Deal investment programme and would allow funding to flow to projects once their individual Outline Businesses Cases had been approved. She pointed out that the approval and signing of the deal document represented a key milestone in the Belfast Region City Deal process.

            The Committee approved the Belfast Region City Deal Document and Governance Framework and commended those officers who had been involved in the process to date.

The minute for this item has been restricted due to commercial sensitivity. The restriction will be lifted in due course.

            (Mr. E. Baker, Planning Manager (Development Management), attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee noted a report providing an update on the progress being made on the design, configuration and implementation of the new regional Planning IT System, to be shared by the Council, nine other councils and the Department for Infrastructure. The report provided an update also on the contract management of the new system, which would be managed by the Council on behalf of the eleven participants.

            The Committee:

                             i          approved the implementation of the proposed staffing structure resulting from the review of Corporate HR (Phase 1), including the increase in establishment posts, as set out within the report; and

                            ii          agreed that a report be submitted to its meeting in November providing information on other structural reviews which were currently being undertaken across the Council, including an indicative timeframe for their completion.

            The City Solicitor informed the Committee that the Council had received pre-action correspondence in relation to the Department for Infrastructure’s decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Casement Park. The Executive Office had also been named as a proposed respondent, as part of the challenge related to the Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020, which had permitted the Minister to determine the planning application without Executive approval. 

            He reported that the correspondence had been sent to the Council as a potential notice party, as the development was within its district and he requested that the Committee determine whether the Council should:

a.   become a notice party to the proceedings;

b.   provide a substantive response to the issues raised within the correspondence; or

c.    respond by advising that the application had been considered acceptable by the Council’s Planning Committee in its role as statutory consultee and that it was for DfI and The Executive Office to provide a substantive response on the issues raised and in addition to reiterate the Council’s strategic support for the development.

            The Committee granted approval to the City Solicitor to proceed with option c.

            The City Solicitor submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report outlining the background to the drafting of amended bye laws for the amenity and good governance of the City centre. He explained that, under the provisions of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 1972, bye laws must be approved by the Department for Communities before they could be adopted. Council officers were of the view that it would be prudent to carry out some informal consultation with that Department and with other relevant agencies, following which a report would be presented to the Committee.

            After discussion, the Committee:

                            i.     approved the draft bye laws and authorised officers to begin the consultation process with the Department for Infrastructure and other relevant statutory agencies, in advance of a wider public consultation;

                          ii.     agreed that the City Solicitor examine the issue of excessive noise from Belfast Party bikes; and

                         iii.     agreed that a similar review be undertaken of the bye laws governing the use of the Council’s parks.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 19th March, it had considered a request to install an interpretative interactive sign on a bollard facing the North West lawn in the grounds of the City Hall, as part of a James Connolly heritage trail in Belfast.

            The Committee had agreed to defer the request to allow for an appropriate policy to be formulated and for an expression of interest exercise to be undertaken to review other cultural heritage type projects which might wish to work up an interactive signage proposal.  

            The City Solicitor reported that the expression of interest exercise had concluded on 8th October and that ten submissions had been received by that date. He explained that four of those had met the criteria and scoring threshold, and recommended that they be progressed to the next stage on a without prejudice basis, to obtain more detail on the proposals for the purpose of further consideration by the Party Group Leaders and the Committee. He recommended also that the Committee consider if it wished to approve the installation of the James Connolly Heritage Trail sign at this stage, given that it was a fully worked up proposal.

            After discussion, it was 

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by The High Sheriff (Councillor Long),

      That the Committee agrees to proceed immediately with the installation of a James Connolly Heritage Trail sign on a bollard facing the North West lawn in the grounds of the City Hall.

            On a vote, thirteen Members voted for the proposal and six against and it was declared carried.

            The Committee agreed also:

                                   i.           that the design of interactive signage, including symbols, be addressed by the Party Group Leaders, in consultation with the City Solicitor;

                                  ii.          that the four submissions which had met the criteria and scoring threshold be progressed to the next stage in the process and that other groups which had been identified by Members but had not submitted an expression of interest be included for consideration; and

                                iii.          that officers work with a number of other proposals for which a previous interest had been expressed outside of the current process.

            The Committee agreed, at the request of Councillor Garrett, that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing an update on his motion on Pedestrian Animation, which had called for the creation of permanent animation at appropriate points along the Pride Parade route ahead of the 2020 Pride festival, which had been passed by the Council at its meeting on 2nd December, 2019.

            The City Solicitor informed the Committee that Council officers had been made aware of a recent judicial review of a planning decision which had been taken by another council. Whilst the Judgement had yet to be formally published, it was felt that it should be brought to the attention of the Committee, as the judge had made a number of findings which would require the Council to consider its Standing Orders in relation to the call-in process and the operation of the protocols governing the Licensing and Planning Committees, insofar as they related to Member participation in decision-making when they may have been absent during any part of the process of determining an application.

            He explained that officers were engaging with their counterparts in the Department for Communities to explore how the issues identified by the Judgement could be resolved and that a more detailed report on the impact of the Judgement on the Licensing and Committees would be presented to the Committee in due course.

            Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee:

                             i          agree to suspend the relevant provisions of the Operating Protocols of the Planning and Licensing Committee which prohibited Members from taking part in decision making insofar as they related to non-attendance;

                            ii          agree to amend Standing Orders to the effect that decisions of quasi-judicial committees (Planning and Licensing) would be subject to call-in by the deletion of Standing Order 48 (2) (a); and

                          iii          agree to amend Standing Order 48 (2) (c) limiting the ability to suspend call-in to those cases in which an inability to immediately implement a decision would result in a breach of statutory or contractual duty or would otherwise prevent the Council from responding to a situation of emergency, as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

            The Director of Physical Programmes submitted for Committee’s consideration a report seeking approval in relation to the following asset related disposal and estate matters:

Beechvale Farm

The Committee:

                             i.          agreed to affirm its decision of 24th September to proceed with the disposal of approximately 108 acres of agricultural land and to retain the former farmhouse dwellings, outbuildings and surrounding land (circa 3 acres) and the remaining land (circa 22 acres) and access laneways; and

                           ii.          agreed that consideration be given to re-establishing tree nurseries on the Council estate, including on the 22 acres being retained at Beechvale Farm.

Cregagh Youth and Community Centre

The Committee approved the grant of a new licence to the Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch) for the occasional use of the car park adjacent to Cregagh Youth and Community Centre.

            (Mr. R. Black, Director of Neighbourhood Services, attended in connection with this item.) 

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services informed the Committee that a request had been received from Féile An Phobail for the use of Falls Park to hold its “Winter Festival” event.

            He reported that the festival, which was a new addition to Féile An Phobail’s annual events programme, would take place provisionally between 26th November and 4th January and detailed the various attractions/facilities which would be provided.  The event would be taking place outside normal opening hours and would require the closure of a substantial area of the park, particularly when equipment was being erected and dismantled.

            He confirmed that the organisers would, in line with the Council’s events process, be required to submit supporting documentation, including a Covid-19 Risk Assessment, to demonstrate that the event management plan was compliant with all Government Covid- 19 regulations and public health guidance requirements at the time of the event. In addition, a legal agreement would be prepared by the Legal Services Section and would include appropriate fees and bonds for reinstatement costs.

            Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee grant to Féile an Phobail the use of Falls Park to hold its “Winter Festival” event on the aforementioned dates, subject to the completion of the appropriate Event Management Plans and satisfactory terms being agreed by him and on the condition that the event organisers:

·        resolve all operational issues to the satisfaction of the Council;

·        meet all statutory requirements, including those relating to Public Liability Insurance cover, health and safety and licensing;

·        consult with adjoining public bodies and local communities, as necessary; and

·        adhere to Government Covid-19 Regulations in place at the time of the event.

            After discussion, during which the Director of Neighbourhood Services confirmed that the event organiser would be advised of their responsibilities under the Council’s Goods Relations Policy, the Committee adopted the recommendation.

            (With the exception of the Chief Executive, the Senior Democratic Services Officer and the Democratic Services Officer, all officers left the meeting whilst this item was under consideration.)

            The Committee considered a report which set out recommendations for the recruitment of the post of Chief Executive on a permanent basis, including an indicative timeframe for completion, together with the interim arrangements to be put in place to ensure continuity in the intervening period and a number of proposed changes to the role of Deputy Chief Executive.

            The Committee:

                           i.      approved the recruitment of the post of Chief Executive on a permanent basis and agreed that it include the responsibility of Accounting Officer;

                          ii.      agreed that the shortlisting panel for the post consist of the Chairperson of the Committee and two Members from a Political Party not represented by the Chairperson (or their nominees), the Chairperson of the Local Government Staff Commission and the Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services of the Local Government Staff Commission, in accordance with the Local Government Staff Commission’s Code of Procedures on Recruitment and Selection; and

a.     nominated Councillors Beattie and Bunting to sit on the shortlisting panel;

                         iii.      agreed that the final interview panel for the post consist of the Chairperson of the Committee and four Members from Political Parties not represented by the Chairperson (or the nominees) and noted that it would be advised by the Chairperson of the Local Government Staff Commission, the Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services of the Local Government Staff Commission and one Professional Advisor, in accordance with the Local Government Staff Commission’s Code of Procedures on Recruitment and Selection; and

a.         agreed that one Member from each of the four largest Parties on the Council be nominated to sit on the final interview panel, with Councillors Beattie (SF) and Bunting (DUP) being nominated and the Alliance and SDLP Parties to nominate a Member in due course; 

                        iv.      approved the interim arrangements to be put in place pending the appointment of a successful candidate, as set out within the report; and

                          v.      agreed that the role of Deputy Chief Executive be amended as part of a structural review and granted approval for the current postholder to retire on partial efficiency grounds at the end of the interim period.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 4th October, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Matt Collins and seconded by Councillor Michael Collins:

This Council:

·        welcomes legislation at committee stage in Stormont for Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay;

·        notes the Coalition for Bereaved Workers concern that this bill is a ‘missed opportunity’ and 'does not go far enough’;

·        will write to the Stormont Economy Committee to urge that they further the legislation on bereavement policy so that everyone who is bereaved of a close relative or partner is entitled to 2 weeks statutory bereavement leave and pay in line with the Coalition for Bereaved Workers campaign objectives; and

·        will also undertake a review of its own bereavement policy, in conjunction with the unions, that seeks to establish two weeks statutory bereavement leave and pay for all Council workers, in line with the Coalition for Bereaved Workers “Call to action” document.

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            Councillor Michael Collins spoke in favour of the motion, following which the Committee adopted the motion and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed. 

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 4th October, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Garrett and seconded by Councillor Bradley:

“This Council has a long-standing track record of working with event promoters to host significant events and concerts within the Council’s estate across the city.

The Council should be commended for the role it plays in facilitating and promoting a vibrant calendar of events within our estate.

As we look into the future, our position as a Council in declaring a climate emergency and the stark indications presented within Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, we must find ways and offer solutions to mitigate against the catastrophic effects of climate change.

Making our event venues more environmentally sustainable, with access to clean energy (Electricity) and running water will help mitigate the necessity for Fossil Fuel energy combustion and plastic pollution derived from plastic products.

Therefore, this Council will commit to a timetable and plan for delivering the physical means for environmentally sustainable event spaces with Clean Energy (Electric) power sources and Running Water points to mitigate against plastic pollution.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            The Committee adopted the motion and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed. 

            The City Solicitor informed the Members that a request had been received from Councillor M. Kelly for the Council to consider signing up to the Miscarriage Association’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge. 

            He explained that the Pregnancy Loss campaign urged employers to commit to supporting staff through the distress of miscarriage by:

·        encouraging a supportive work environment where people felt able to discuss and disclose pregnancy and/or loss without fear of being disadvantaged or discriminated against;

·        understanding and implementing the rules around pregnancy-related leave, thereby ensuring that staff felt able to take the time off which they needed;

·        showing empathy and understanding towards people and their partners experiencing pregnancy loss;

·        implementing a pregnancy loss policy or guidance, or ensuring that  it was included in sickness, bereavement or other workplace policies, being mindful also of the needs of partners;

·        encouraging line managers to access in-house or external guidance, such as that available on the Miscarriage Association’s website, on how to support someone experiencing pregnancy loss; and

·        supporting people back to work by being responsive to their needs and showing flexibility, wherever possible.

            He reported that the current approach adopted by the Council in relation to staff absence resulting from miscarriage was set out within the Attendance Booklet which accompanied the Attendance Policy. Line managers had been directed to seek further guidance, where necessary, from their Business Support Section and/or the Employee Relations and Occupational Health Units.  The Employee Counselling service was also available to all staff.

            He added that, whilst the Attendance Policy, advice and support materials were already aimed at ensuring that pregnancy loss absence was managed sensitively and that employees were fully supported, the Council would ensure that the Pregnancy Loss Pledge criteria would be fully considered and integrated into the ongoing review of the Attendance Policy and supporting materials.

            The Committee granted approval for the Council to sign up to the Miscarriage Association’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 1st June, had passed the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Lyons and seconded by Councillor Heading:

"This Council notes with alarm the growing number of employers, especially in the retail, hospitality and aviation sectors, who are making employees redundant before reemploying them on less-favourable terms and conditions; believes that these employers should instead be focused on supporting their employees through this pandemic; agrees with Unite the union and others that this fire-and-rehire practice makes a mockery of workers' rights.

The Council, therefore, calls on the Department for Economy to close this legal loophole as a matter of urgency, for example by amending The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order1996 to specify that such redundancies should automatically be regarded as unfair dismissals."

            The City Solicitor drew the Committee’s attention to a response which had been received from Mr. G. Lyons, Minister for the Economy.

            The Minister had begun by stating that he would continue the work of his predecessors in protecting those immediately affected by the pandemic and had outlined the extent of that work. He pointed out that they had taken a number of steps to protect workers' rights in terms of ensuring that statutory family-related payments and various statutory entitlements connected with redundancy or the termination of employment had been based on normal pay rather than furlough pay.

            The Department had also introduced legislation to allow workers who were unable to take holiday leave as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak to carry over their annual leave into the next two leave years. Legislation had also been introduced which had extended vital Health and Safety protections to all workers, something which had previously applied only to employees.

Significant progress had also been made towards the introduction of Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay in Northern Ireland, which would be an important new employment right for those parents in work who had suffered the loss of a child.

The Minister had gone to state that, as the focus moved to recovering from the damage inflicted on the economy by the pandemic, his priority would be to ensure that workers had jobs to which they can return. His Department’s economic recovery action plan would help protect jobs, which, in his opinion, was the most fundamental of all employment rights. 

He had then stressed that, in his view, the practice of giving notice and offering a new contract known as ‘fire and rehire’ should not be used as a negotiation tactic.  Using fire and rehire as a tactic to put undue pressure on workers to accept new and often worse terms and conditions or face losing their jobs was unacceptable.

The Minister warned employers that dismissal and rehire should only be used where there was an existential risk to the business and added that, even in those circumstances, they must follow a statutory minimum dismissal procedure, and may have to follow a collective redundancy consultation process if a group of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

            (Mrs. R. Crozier, Customer Focus Programme Director, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       Members are reminded that, in February and May 2021, the Committee was provided with updates on the Customer Focus Programme, which included updates on the new Customer Hub function which has been operational from 29 March 2021.

1.2       This report provides an update:

·        on the implementation of the Customer Hub function;

·        on progress in the development of added features in the Elected Members’ mobile app and plans for release of this version to all Members; and 

·        on the Customer Focus programme, including the Council’s website development and enabling infrastructure.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

1.      note the update on the implementation of the Customer Hub function including completion of the reception area of the ground floor in CWB and continuing works to accommodate the Customer Hub team;

2.      note the update on the next release of a mobile application for Elected Members and plans to roll this out to all members in October/November 2021;

3.      note that Party Group briefings are planned to take place in October 2021 to continue engaging with elected members to gather feedback on their Customer Hub experience and to continue to promote use of the new mobile app and the additional functionality in the next release;

4.      note the work that is continuing to improve missed bin collections;

5.      note progress on the development of the Council’s websites; and

6.      note the progress on the provision of enabling infrastructure.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

            The first phase of the new Customer Hub function went live on 29th March 2021 as planned. The Customer Hub deals with customer contact for all departments and services, across a number of channels (online, telephone, email). In the first phase of implementation the hub has managed all customer contact for cleansing/waste and calls formerly through the main switchboard and corporate complaints numbers. All other direct dial telephone numbers remain unchanged.

            As part of the blueprint for Elected Members, the Customer Hub provides specific services for Elected Members in the form of a direct phone line and email account and both these channels went live on 29 March 2021.

            Work has continued with the Customer Focus Task and Finish group of Elected Members to develop a third contact channel, a mobile application which enables members to raise issues, keep track of their cases and review their history of cases. The first version of the app was rolled out to members in July 2021. Work has continued with the Task and Finish group to develop additional functionality within the app.

            Work has now started on planning of phase 2 of the programme implementation which will include onboarding of the Building Control Service. A report to a future committee will provide details of the plan.

3.2       Update on the implementation of the Customer Hub Function

            The first few months of operation during the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

            The Director of City and Organisational Strategy informed the Committee that the Council had received from Glasgow City Council an invitation to sign the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, which would be presented on 6th November at the COP26 conference.

            He explained that Glasgow City Council had, with a number of partner organisations, been part of a process aimed at moving local governments and integrated food policies to centre stage. That process had led to the establishment of the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration and organisations and local authorities had been invited to become involved. The Declaration would confirm their commitment to developing sustainable food policies and called upon national governments to put food and farming at the heart of the global response to the climate emergency. The following three key commitments had been included:

·        to develop and implement integrated food policies and strategies as key tools in the fight against climate change;

·        to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from urban and regional food systems, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and build sustainable food systems which would be able to rebuild ecosystems and deliver safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, and sustainable diets for all; and

·        to call upon national governments to establish supportive and enabling policy frameworks and multi-level and multi-actor governance mechanisms, to allow for co-ordinated decision-making on food systems.

            The Committee granted approval for the Council to sign the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration.

            The Director of City and Organisational Strategy submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report

1.1             The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with a high-level overview of the COP26 arrangements and Belfast’s involvement. The Council is sending a delegation to the event and, as such, is seeking retrospective approval for Lord Mayor to attend COP26 in the lead role. She will be accompanied by two Elected Members and one council officer.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

                                         i          note the current arrangements for COP26 and activity planned both in Belfast and Glasgow; and

                                        ii           provide retrospective approve for the Lord Mayor’s attendance at COP26 on 10th and 11th November, as the lead of the Council’s delegation.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       COP26 is the 2021 United Nations annual climate change conference which runs from the 1st to the 12th November 2021. COP stands for Conference of the Parties. Parties are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU). The 2021 conference, hosted by the UK, together with partners Italy, in Glasgow, will be the 26th meeting of the Parties, which is why it's called COP26. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world. The negotiations between governments are complex and involve officials from every country in the world as well as representatives from civil society and the global news media.

3.2       Activity at a COP takes place in two different zones - the Blue Zone and the Green Zone. The Blue Zone is for people registered with the UN body tasked with coordinating the global response to the threat of climate change – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the Blue Zone you might be part of a national delegation, work for the United Nations and related organisations & agencies or be a member of the media or not-for-profit observer organisation. In the Blue Zone, delegates from countries meet for both formal negotiations and informal consultations. They may also take part in meetings with other delegations to clarify their position and interests with the aim of reaching agreement or overcoming a negotiating deadlock. The UNFCCC will also host a range of events, including technical briefings, to support the negotiations process.

3.3       The Green Zone is for the general public. There will be a wide range of events, including workshops, art exhibitions and installations, as well as presentations, demonstrations of technology and musical performances for everyone to attend.

            The Council’s approach to COP26 involvement is multi-faceted, with activity planned in Belfast over the period of COP26 and in Glasgow on 10th and 11th November. Our aims are as follows:

3.5       AMBITION: Using the event as a catalyst for local action by Belfast anchor institutions, businesses and communities by:

·        Joining Global Campaigns to pledge climate action and set targets, to plan how targets will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1            The purpose of the report is to inform the Committee of a proposed feasibility study into the development of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot in Northern Ireland as well as a financial ask to contribute to the feasibility work.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to consider the request for a contribution of £15,000 towards a feasibility study into developing a UBI pilot in Northern Ireland.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Members will be aware that, in September 2019, the Council passed a motion to support the implementation of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) trial in Northern Ireland. Similar motions were passed in a number of other councils across the region.  Over the last six months, a steering group has been formed to explore how this can be realised. This steering group is being co-ordinated by the UBI Lab Network, a global UBI advocacy movement with a local Northern Ireland group. Membership of the steering group includes councillors and officers from five of the eleven councils in Northern Ireland, as well as Advice NI, the Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) Project and Community Foundation NI. The Council’s representatives are Cllr. McReynolds and Cllr. Heading. 

3.2       The group has met on three occasions to date. One of the main areas of work which they have explored is the potential to undertake a feasibility study to consider how a UBI trial would be planned, delivered and measured. This study would also identify the likely outcomes of such a trial and would create a foundation on which a NI-wide UBI might be delivered and resourced by the Northern Ireland Executive. 

            Whilst the Department for Communities is not likely to be a funding partner in this preliminary work, support for a UBI is contained within DfC’s Recommendations for an Anti-poverty Strategy paper (published December 2020), stating that ‘informed public debate on the merits and challenges involved should be encouraged’. Subject to the outcome of the work,

            DfC could potentially become the lead agency in development and delivery of a UBI trial and any trial would require their endorsement. 

            The UBI model has been explored to varying degrees in a number of other locations. In June 2020, Scotland published an extensive report exploring the feasibility of a UBI there, which included detailed economic modelling and a range of options for trialling the concept. The main conclusion was that Scotland would require permission from DWP to run a trial, which DWP have indicated they will not give. The Welsh government has recently (following the local elections) stated their commitment to trialling UBI and initial costings on this have recently been published. The coalition government in ROI committed to a trial of UBI in their Programme for Government, and planning of this trial is underway.

            An outline scope of services for the feasibility study has been drafted by the Working Group secretariat.  Key areas of work include:

·        Agent Based Modelling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

            The Director of Physical Programmes submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes 140 live capital projects, with investment of £100m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. The Capital Programme forms part of the Physical Programme and is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. This report provides an overview of recently completed capital projects and contracts awarded in the last quarter.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Physical Programme update - note the update on those projects that have been completed recently and those currently in construction; and

·        Contracts awarded in Q2 2021/22 –note the update in relation to contracts awarded.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Physical Programmes Update: Q2 July to September 2021

            Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme - a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves existing Council assets or provides new council facilities. The Council also delivers externally focused funding streams such as BIF, LIF and SOF, as well as numerous capital programmes that we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include NHLF, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office via Social Investment Fund and Urban Villages, DfC, DfI, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages and others.

3.2       Recently completed projects:

·        Capital Programme / non-recurrent: IT Programme – Backup Platform Infrastructure, Vere Foster playground, Falls Park playground, Hurling Wall at Cliftonville (Pitches Strategy), Cregagh Green pathways, Willowfield Changing Facilities, Customer Hub location – Phase 1

·        BIF Programme: Knockbreda Parish Church Hall, Hanwood project, Colin Glen Trust - new tourism and recreation facilities totalling £4m at the forest park including Ireland’s first Alpine Toboggan and the longest zipline in Ireland at nearly 700m; Lagan Gateway - £5m for a new navigation lock, iconic foot and cycle bridge and new path connections.  Bridge completed. Work underway to develop Phase 2; new facilities for H&W Welders FC including new 3G pitch and pavilion

·        SOF Programme: Belfast Orange Hall Museum

·        LIF Programme: St. John GAC, Woodvale Cricket Club, West Belfast Orange Hall, St. Matthew’s Parish Church Hall

3.3       Projects Underway:

·        LTP Avoniel - £8m new facility at Avoniel focused on outdoor leisure provision – due for completion Autumn 2021

·        City Cemetery Heritage Project - £2.3m scheme to protect, enhance and promote the cemetery's rich heritage. 

·        St Comgall’s– £7m restoration of former school to create a multi-use community hub

·        LTP Templemore Baths– £17m restoration of Templemore Baths with a focus on heritage and spa provision

·        Forth Meadow Community Greenway– an ambitious and transformational £5m scheme which will see the development of a new 12km urban greenway in West Belfast.

·        PáircNua Chollann (New Park in Colin)– open space

·        Boodles Dam– works to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

            The Committee:

·        approved the public advertisement of tenders as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 1 below;

·        approved the award of Single Tender Actions in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 2 below;

·        approved the modification of the contract as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 3 below; and

·        noted the award of retrospective Single Tender Actions in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 4 below.

Table 1: Competitive Tenders

Table 2: Single Tender Actions

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 23rd April, it had agreed to establish an All-Party Working Group to take forward the Council’s Language Strategy.

            The City Solicitor reported that officers had met on a number of times since then, in preparation for the inaugural meeting of the Working Group in November and that nominations had been sought from each of the Political Parties. The Working Group would be asked at that meeting to agree its Terms of Reference and would be provided with an overview of the Language Strategy. A facilitated workshop would be held in December to enable the Working Group to agree the overall approach for taking forward the Strategy.

            He pointed out that the officers involved in this work were also co-ordinating the public consultation on the Dual Language Street Sign Policy and the accompanying Equality Impact Assessment during this period, which could affect timelines due to resourcing issues. The Elected Member Language Strategy Working Group would, he added, be kept updated on the progress of this consultation and any emerging issues effecting the planned timelines. 

            He went on to state that the Department for Communities had recently established an Irish Language Strategy Expert Advisory Panel and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy Expert Advisory Panel to advise the Department on the direction and development of two new strategies. This work would be cognisant of developments in this area and the Council’s Irish Language Officer had already been invited to engage with the Irish Language Strategy Expert Advisory Panel.

            He concluded by recommending that the Committee approve the following Terms of Reference for the Working Group on the Language Strategy and endorse the proposed approach:

Draft Terms of Reference for the Elected Member

Language Strategy Working Group

Introduction and Purpose

A Language Strategy Member Working Group has been established to provide Members with a forum within which to discuss the implementation of the Belfast City Council Language Strategy 2018-2023 and agree action plans in relation to the languages in the Strategy. 

Whilst the Working Group will not be a decision-making body, it will be required to report into the Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on progress against the strategy and associated action plans.

The Strategy has 5 strands: Irish; Ulster Scots; Sign Languages; New Communities’ Languages and Languages and Communications for People with Disabilities. The Strategy commits to examining the use of languages in the following areas:

·        Documents

·        Communications

·        Translation and interpretation

·        Signage and Branding

·        Council meetings

·        Development of Website/social media

·        Media

·        Support for the community

·        Support for schools

·        Council staff

Terms of Reference

The Language Strategy Member Working Group Terms of Reference will be:

·        to provide elected members with a forum to discuss the impact of the languages in the Strategy across the above areas of work;

·        to support the development of action plans in relation to the Language Strategy;

·        to seek updates and monitor the delivery of work emanating from the action plans;

·        to oversee the investigation of emerging policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

            The Committee granted approval for the Transgender flag to be flown on the City Hall on 20th November and on that date each year thereafter to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership of 11th October, including the recommendations:

·        to note and agree the following updates from the ongoing delivery of the Good Relations Action Plan:

                                   i.           to note all updates in relation to the PEACE IV Programme;

                                  ii.          to note that £15,000 had been allocated to Falls Community Council (as a lead organisation in partnership with a number of other organisations in the area) through the Strategic Intervention Programme within Programme BCC10 of the District Council Good Relations Programme Action Plan;

                                iii.          to note that up to £5,000 would be allocated to Finaghy Women’s Group and Belvoir Area Residents Group from the same Programme in the District Council Good Relations Programme Action Plan Action Plan for community interventions;

                                iv.          to note that Suffolk Community Forum, as a lead partner for a number of Men’s Sheds, had been awarded £12,000 for the delivery of a programme between now and March 2022, to increase cross community contact through community gardens and men’s sheds, as part of BCC7 programme in the Action Plan;

                                 v.          to agree to grant funding of £1,500.00 under BCC7 – Shared Community for a Christmas event with Holy Family Youth Club and Mountcollyer Youth Club;

                                vi.          to agree to receive a presentation from the Commission for Victims and Survivors on its current work; and

                               vii.           to agree that a briefing session be organised in conjunction with the British Red Cross on current issues relating to Refugee and Asylum Seekers.

            The Committee acceded to a request from HERe NI, The Rainbow Project, Cara-Friend and Transgender NI, for the Council to support a feasibility and scoping study for the establishment of an LGBTQ+ hub in the City, with the cost, as yet unknown, to be met potentially through the feasibility fund.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders’ Consultative Forum of 14th October.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Social Policy Working Group of 28th September.

            The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations made in respect of those applications received up to 8th October, as set out below:

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Working Group on the Climate Crisis of 6th October.

Councillor Murphy to propose:

"This Council:

(i)             recognises that 1 in 6 couples across these islands experience infertility and that receiving treatment such as IVF can bring with it stress and pressure;

(ii)            acknowledges that the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as a disability; and

(iii)           further acknowledges that Council staff at present are having to take unpaid leave or annual leave to receive treatment, which is unacceptable.

In view of this, the Council will seek to implement a new leave provision for staff, which caters for those who need leave for fertility treatment and offers the same protections as sick leave. 

The Council will include in any such provision a safety net period of two weeks paid leave following any unsuccessful treatment."

            At the request of Councillor Murphy, the Committee considered the following proposal:

"This Council:

                               i.          recognises that 1 in 6 couples across these islands experience infertility and that receiving treatment such as IVF can bring with it stress and pressure;

                              ii.          acknowledges that the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as a disability; and

                            iii.          further acknowledges that Council staff at present are having to take unpaid leave or annual leave to receive treatment, which is unacceptable.

In view of this, the Council will seek to implement a new leave provision for staff, which caters for those who need leave for fertility treatment and offers the same protections as sick leave. 

The Council will include in any such provision a safety net period of two weeks paid leave following any unsuccessful treatment."

            The Committee agreed to adopt the motion and agreed also, at the request of Councillor Murphy, that the report to be submitted to a future meeting on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed be extended to include menopause leave.

(Alderman Kingston to raise)

            The Committee noted, upon the advice of the City Solicitor, that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.