Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported from Alderman Spence.

 

            The minutes of the meetings of 14th and 23rd November were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 3rd December.

 

            The following members declared an interest in respect of item 3(c) Motion: Social Investment Fund (SIF) and left the meeting while the matter was under consideration:

 

            Councillor Reynolds – in that he was a former member of the Social Investment Fund North Belfast Panel;

 

            Councillor Carson – in that he was the manager of an organisation (Tar Anall) which had received Social Investment Funding;

 

            Councillor Beattie – insofar as he was on the West Belfast Partnership Board which had received Social Investment Funding and his partner was funded through a programme that worked with the West Belfast Partnership Board;

 

            Councillor O’Donnell – insofar as she was employed by the Short Strand Partnership based in the Short Strand community Centre and that organisation had received funding from the Social Investment Fund;

 

            Councillor Garrett -in that he was a member of the West Belfast Partnership Board which had received funding from the Social Investment Fund;

 

            Councillor Walsh – insofar as he was the Chair of Tar Anall Management Committee and a member of Coiste na nIarchimí, both of which had employees which had been funded through the Social Investment Fund;

 

            Councillor McAteer – in that she received a salary from a project which had been managed and delivered by the Social Investment Fund employability programme;

 

            Councillor Hutchinson – in that he was a member of the Shankill Partnership Board;

 

            Alderman Browne – insofar as a he was a member of the Westland Community Centre Management Committee; and

 

            Councillor Graham – in that she worked for Gems NI which is the delivery agent on the Employment East Social Investment Funding programme.

 

            Councillor Reynolds also declared an interest in respect of item 4(b) Smart Belfast Programme Update insofar as it related to Wildstone as when it had announced its investment he was involved in a statement promoting it and he left the meeting whilst that item was under consideration.

 

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following 5 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 Committee meeting during discussion of these 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 (NI) 2014.

 

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 23rd November, it had agreed a target for the rates increase for 2019/20 to be in the region of 1.98% and that the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources should bring a further report to the December meeting which would deliver the target rate increase.

 

 

            Accordingly, the Director submitted a report in this regard which recommended that the Committee:

 

1.      Agree that the decisions in relation to the setting of the district rate as set out below should not be subject to call-in because it would cause an unreasonable delay which would be prejudicial to the Council’s and the public’s interests in striking the rate by the legislative deadline of 15 February 2019.

2.      Agree the following departmental growth proposals, which were presented to Committee at its meeting on the 23 November 2018.

 

            Departmental Proposals

 

3.      Planning and Technical Support Officers: £102,150 (Planning Committee)

4.      Regeneration Support Staff: £107,010 (City Growth and Regeneration Committee)

5.      Regeneration - Housing and Infrastructure: £100,000 (City Growth and Regeneration Committee)

6.      Legal and Civic Services: £120,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

 

            Priority Areas

 

7.      Area Based Festivals: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

8.      City Deal: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

9.      Capital Financing: £500,000 (Strategic Policy and Resources Committee)

10.   Agree to recommend the following cash limits for 2019/20 subject to the impact of the decisions made on items 3 to 9 above.

 

a.      A cash limit of £42,292,987 for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for 2019/20, including £3,270,000 for Belfast Investment Fund and £1,500,000 for City Deal.

b.      A cash limit of £80,614,500 for the People and Communities Committee for 2019/20.

c.      A cash limit of £17,118,371 for the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for 2019/20.

d.      A cash limit of £1,609,861 for the Planning Committee for 2019/20.

e.      A Capital Financing Budget of £21,524,022 for 2019/20

 

11.   Noted the next steps to setting the district rate outlined in paragraph 3.37 of the report.

 

 

            After discussion it was,

 

Moved by Councillor Long,

Seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McDonough-Brown),

 

      That priority area 7 – Area Based Festivals: £500k be not included in the Revenue Estimates and that the rise in rates be set at 1.67%.

 

            On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the proposal and thirteen against and it was declared lost.

 

Proposal

 

Moved by Councillor Attwood,

Seconded by Alderman Browne,

 

      That the £500k allocated for priority area – Area Based Festivals be reallocated to an anti-poverty crisis and prevention fund.

 

            On a vote by show of hands five Members voted for the proposal and eleven against and it was declared lost.

 

Further Proposal

 

Moved by Councillor Craig,

Seconded by Councillor Reynolds,

 

      That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations in relation to the setting of the district rate as set out in points one through to eleven.

 

            On a vote by show of hands twelve Members voted for the proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2a

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the review of the finance function which had been completed by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and its recommendations to ensure that the Council had a fit for the future finance function.

 

            The Committee agreed:

 

·        The finance structure recommendations of the CIPFA review included in Section 3.9 of the report;

·        That the selection panel for the Head of Finance (Head of Profession) comprise the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee (or their nominees), together with Councillor Hutchinson;

·        That these three elected members provide a balance in terms of both gender and community background;

·        That the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources accompany the elected members to constitute the selection panel to recruit this key post; and

·        To the establishment of a post of Programme Lead to take forward the City Deal, the post to be for a period of 3 years with the possibility of a 2 year extension to be financed through the City Deal resources.

 

            The Committee considered a report which provided members with an update on the funding of and any other relationship the Council had with the Romanian Roma Community Association Northern Ireland. 

 

            After discussion, the Committee:

 

                    (i)     noted the contents of the report and that the Council would not release any grant payments to the RRCANI pending satisfactory resolution of grant monitoring in respect of Council funding; and

                   (ii)     noted the ongoing engagement of Council officers on the inter-agency group in order to ensure access to free and independent advice and services and the provision of culturally sensitive and effective support to the Roma community in the city.

 

            The Committee was advised that the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, at its meeting on 5th December, had considered that an interim year was required for evolving to a new approach for developing events and festivals for the future.  It had considered this under the auspices of a 10 year Cultural Programme and the recommendations already accepted from the Festival and Events International (FEI) on repositioning events and festivals.

 

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy reported that, in agreeing to an evolutionary programme to test some Signature and Growth events and festivals, it would require the allocation of one year funding.  As the finance was not included in the draft revenue estimates for the annual programme of events, the City Growth and Regeneration Committee had requested that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee consider releasing finance from a specified reserve to enable that to happen.  

 

            After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed to allocate £320,000 from within the cultural programme development reserve to enable the City Growth and Regeneration Committee to fund and test an evolutionary year for Signature and Growth Events and Festivals.

 

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th May, 2018, it had agreed to allocate £400k of non-recurrent funding to a number of summer diversionary events and programmes.  At the same meeting, it had also agreed “to ensure transparency in future years, to establish an open call diversionary programme with an agreed budget.”

 

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted a report, the purpose of which was to ascertain whether the Committee wished to proceed with a  diversionary programme for 2019 and what form that programme would take.  The report had been provided in the context of the Revenue Estimates and District Rate report which had been considered and discussed early in the meeting.  He pointed out that during discussion on that item the Committee had agreed to allocate funding in the sum of £500k to the Programme.  The Committee now needed to decide how that budget would be allocated and consider also the definition of Community Diversionary Festival Activity, the objectives of the programme, the criteria for funding and the process.

 

            After discussion, it was

 

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by Councillor Garrett,

 

            That the Committee agrees that the budget of £500,000 be split with £250,000 being allocated to the July programme and £250,000 being allocated to the August programme.

 

            On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the proposal and five against and it was declared carried. 

 

            The Committee then agreed the following:

 

·        That no financial limit should be placed on the basis of geographical areas for both the July and August programmes;

·        That a minimum of £25k and a maximum of £100k levels of funding be available for a successful applicant; 

·        The definition of community diversionary festival activity as outlined at paragraph 3.1 of the report;

·        The objectives of the programme as outlined at paragraph 3.2.

·        The selection criteria as outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report and to Option 2 – that Festival activity as far as possible must be delivered in the lead in to and around 12th July and 8th August.  Any applications that fall out of this scope must clearly demonstrate how their project will address issues associated with these dates;

·        That consortia applications are encouraged, with the Group submitting the application having experience of programmes at a similar level or similar financial scale;

 

 

Moved by Councillor Long,

Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

 

      That in relation to the process, following the preliminary assessment of each application against the agreed criteria, recommendations should be submitted directly to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for consideration and not reported through the relevant Area Working Groups.

 

            On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the proposal and eleven against and it was declared lost.

 

            The Committee accordingly agreed the process as outlined in paragraph 3.4 of the report.

 

            The Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of the Council on 1st November, the following Motion, which had been proposed by Councillor O’Neill and seconded by Councillor Nic Biorna was, in accordance with Standing Order 13(f), referred to the Committee for consideration:

 

“This Council supports the ‘On the Ball’ campaign, the aim of which is to provide free sanitary products in as many sporting grounds and public buildings as possible to combat the ever growing issue of period poverty.

 

As an initial step, the Council will examine the feasibility of providing these products in the City Hall, in all Council offices, and, in keeping with the ‘On The Ball’ campaign, also look at the feasibility of providing free sanitary products in our sporting and leisure facilities.

 

It should be the norm in schools, universities colleges, workplaces, football grounds, concert venues for free access to sanitary product provision to help combat the ever growing issue of period poverty.”

 

            Councillor O’Neill, in whose name the motion stood, then addressed the Committee and requested that it give consideration to supporting the campaign

 

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to the motion and that a report be submitted to a future meeting on the feasibility of the Council participating in the campaign.

 

            The Committee was advised that, at the meeting of the Council on 1st November, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Nicholl and seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McDonough-Brown):

 

"This Council notes the PSNI led “No Grey Zone” awareness campaign, which clearly sets out what constitutes sexual assault, debunks myths and provides information on available support.

 

The Council believes that everyone in our City should feel supported and empowered to speak out when a sexual assault occurs.  Accordingly, the Council declares every Belfast City Council premise to be a #NoGreyZone and resolves to arrange a cross-party delegation, to include Council Communications officers, to meet with the PSNI, prosecutors, sexual violence charities and student representatives to identify how to effectively support the campaign in Belfast City Council premises."

 

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred to the Committee for consideration.

 

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to support the motion.

 

            The Chairperson’s attention was drawn to the fact that, due to the number of Members who had declared an interest and left the meeting, the meeting was now inquorate and that the motion could not be considered.

 

            The Chairperson indicated that those Members who had left the meeting be advised that he would be moving on to the next item on the agenda and that they be invited to return to the meeting.

 

            (The meeting then achieved a quorum and recommenced with the next item of business.)

 

            The Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of the Council on 3rd December, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Dudgeon and seconded by Alderman Convery was, in accordance with Standing Order 13(f), referred to the Committee for consideration:

 

“This Council supports memorialising its more than 1,000 citizens and residents who died in the Blitz, particularly those victims of the two largest air raids in April and May 1941.

 

Recognising that Belfast, almost alone of heavily blitzed cities, has no commemorative site for this most devastating event in our history; recognising the generous offer of substantial funding towards a Blitz memorial from the Northern Ireland War Memorial; recognising that the Blitz victims came from every part of the city and beyond, but especially its north side, and that the havoc wreaked was immense; the Council therefore calls for a significant memorial, inclusive of the victims' names, to be erected in the city with a view to it being unveiled in time for the 80th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz in 2021.

 

Cathedral Gardens, which is at the York Street and Lower Donegall Street junction, is perhaps the most appropriate and suitable location, given it was subject to extensive destruction in the 1941 air raids and is Council-owned.  It is also accepted that ‘Buoys Park’, as it was known, is now in need of reanimation and a major replacement feature for the departing Buoys.

 

For all these reasons, the Council agrees that a Blitz memorial at this location is considered as an emerging project for the capital programme in the coming financial year.”

 

            Councillor Dudgeon, in whose name the motion stood, addressed the Committee and urged it to support the motion.

 

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by Councillor Carson,

 

      That consideration of the matter be deferred until the monthly meeting of the Committee to be held in January 2019.

 

Amendment

 

Moved by Alderman Browne,

Seconded by the Chairperson (Councillor Rodgers),

 

      That the Belfast Blitz memorial, as outlined in the motion, be included on the capital programme as an emerging project.

 

            On a vote by show of hands, seven Members voted for the amendment and eight against and it was declared lost.

 

            The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor Carson was put to the meeting, when seven Members voted for and two against and it was declared carried.

 

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       A Notice of Motion was brought to Council on 3rd December, entitled ‘Arrangements to Deliver Justice in Serious Sexual Offences Cases’.  This Motion was in relation to an open public consultation by the Criminal Justice Board on the findings of an independent review of the arrangements to deliver justice in serious sexual offences cases.

 

1.2       Following debate, the motion was put to the meeting and passed, giving authority for the Council to respond to the consultation in support of the recommendation in the Notice of Motion.

 

1.3       It was further proposed by Councillor Canavan (and agreed by the Council) that a report be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to consider the potential for submitting a wider Council response to the public consultation.

 

            This report asks the Committee to submit a consultation response, in line with the Notice of Motion and to highlight within the response that individual parties will respond directly to the wider recommendations contained within the preliminary report.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1      The Committee is, therefore, asked to:

 

a)     submit a Council response to the consultation in line with the Notice of Motion; and

b)     submit individual Party responses to reflect the key recommendations contained within the preliminary report.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       At the Council meeting on 3rd December, the following motion was proposed by Councillor Lyons and seconded by Councillor Nicholl:

 

            “This Council welcomes the publication of the preliminary report by Sir John Gillen, who is leading the independent review of the arrangements to deliver justice in serious sexual offence cases.

 

            The Council notes that a public consultation is open until 15th January and encourages all, but particularly women, to have their say in this process.

 

            The Council also notes the eight key recommendations of the preliminary review, namely:

 

·        public access to trials involving serious sexual offences to be confined to close family members of complainant and the defendant;

 

·        cross-examination of complainants to be pre-recorded and away from court - initially for vulnerable people but eventually extended to all complainants in serious sexual offences;

 

·        measures to combat rape myths and stereotypes, like suggestions that victims provoke rape by the way they dress or act;

 

·        more robust attitude by judges to prevent improper cross-examination about previous sexual history;

 

·        the accused will be anonymous until they are charged, but from that point they will be identified;

 

·        accused will have right to apply for a judge-alone trial without a jury - this would only be granted in ‘rare circumstances’;

 

·        new legislation to manage dangers created by social media; and

 

·        steps to combat excessive delay in the judicial system.

 

“The Council believes that a victim led process is essential in what the report identifies as ‘one of the worst violations of human dignity’ and recognises the immense pressure that victims of sexual crime are under.  To this end, the Council cautions against the adoption of a restorative justice measure for fear it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3e

Adjournment                          The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       Digital Services has recently worked with Deloitte on a new ICT Strategy for Belfast City Council which will provide a framework for members, under the remit of the Strategic Policy and Resources committee, to oversee the development of the Council’s ICT platforms and systems, over a period of three years, according to the Council’s key business priorities.

 

1.2       One of the key aims of the new ICT Strategy will be to establish the business and technical capabilities needed for BCC to deliver ICT services that meet strategic expectations, while acknowledging budget and staff constraints. This paper outlines a new vision for ICT services and highlights the key strategic themes that are required to deliver the new ICT Strategy.

 

1.2       The new strategy must also be flexible enough to ensure it aligns and supports the City’s ambitions which will be delivered through the Innovation and Digital pillar of the Belfast Region City Deal and the Smart Belfast framework.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee are asked to;

 

·        endorse the new ICT Strategy.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Key Issues

 

            The ICT strategy sets out a vision that ‘the Council will become an exemplar in the use of innovative technology to deliver improved outcomes for Belfast and its citizens.’

 

3.2       The key challenges for Digital Services are to:

 

·        Develop a deep understanding of business areas to be the Council’s trusted advisory and delivery partner,

·        Lead the use of innovative technologies to deliver better outcomes for citizens,

·        Drive the improved use of data to support better decision-making,

·        Be a key technology delivery partner supporting the Belfast Agenda and innovation initiatives.

 

3.3       Whilst Digital Services has strong foundations to deliver the technical requirements of the Council, there are 6 strategic themes that should be prioritised to deliver the new ICT Vision.

 

 

 

3.4       Customer Focus Programme – Developing a Customer Digital Platform

 

            The recommendations contained in the ICT Strategy are closely aligned with outcomes of the Customer Focus Discovery exercise. Detailed planning for a strategic Customer Focus Programme of work will be completed before April 2019.  Digital Services will be using the assessment of the current state of citizen experience and engagement to determine the digital technologies and practices that are needed to meet the vision of a citizen-centred digital council.

 

            The customer journey maps identified through discovery will help to prioritise new opportunities for ‘digital services’ and the required technology investments that will be needed to accelerate progress toward implementing improved citizen services.

 

            The Customer Focus Programme will have an impact on many areas of technology including:

 

·        BCC Website

·        Online Customer Portal

·        Online/Mobile services

·        Corporate CRM

·        Back Office Integration

·        Telephony and networking services

·        Social Media

 

3.5       Application Landscape – Targeting an application landscape that meets the Council’s needs

 

            The new ICT Strategy recognises that demand management is becoming increasingly difficult for Digital Services, with a requirement to deliver a large number of corporately significant projects, alongside an increase in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The Smart Belfast programme encourages collaborative innovation between our universities, digital SMEs and the public sector in order to tackle urban challenges and ultimately contribute to the outcomes expressed in the Belfast Agenda. Delivery of the programme is driven by a ‘pipeline’ of collaborative projects. This paper provides a short update and seeks Members’ approval on a number of emerging opportunities.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1 The Committee are asked to:

 

1.      Agree that the Council will provide in-kind practical support and promotion for Wildstone’s £20,000 smart hub competition to support insights into the management of our city centre.

2.      Agree to Belfast City Council to joining the Mastercard ‘City Possible’  programme and that, following engagement with Legal Services, a MoU is signed between the Council and Mastercard.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       The Smart Belfast programme encourages collaborative innovation between our universities, digital SMEs and the public sector to tackle urban challenges and support public service transformation. Delivery of the programme is driven by a ‘pipeline’ of projects specifically chosen for their capacity to contribute to the Urban Innovation framework agreed by Members in 2017. The latest information on the programme is available at http://smartbelfast.city  Members are asked to note a number of current and planned pipeline projects:

 

            £20,000 Smart hub challenge

 

3.2       As Members may be aware, a number of outdoor ‘smart hubs’ are being installed in various locations across the city centre over the coming months by UK company, Wildstone. These hubs will provide a range of features including electronic advertising, public WiFi, phone-charging and public defibrillators, etc. The hubs will have also provide access to on-street real-time information. For example,  Belfast’s tourism partners are currently working with them to provide real-time information to visitors.

 

3.3       Each hub will also have a range of smart ‘Internet of Things’ sensors and potentially will offer the ability to measure footfall, air quality, etc. The City Innovation team have introduced the company to QUB’s Centre for Wireless Innovation who exploring opportunities to work with Wildstone on cutting edge experimental networks in the city centre.

 

3.4       Wildstone would also like to encourage local digital SMEs to take the opportunity to use the Smart Hubs to address a real city centre challenge in innovative ways. They are therefore proposing to fund a smart city competition for SMEs, the winner of which will receive up to £20,000 to develop their product or service idea.

 

3.5       They have invited the City Innovation Team to work with them to define and promote a challenge that supports the Belfast Agenda; advise on the competition guidelines; sit on the judging panel; and provide practical support and guidance to the winning company. (The Council is not being asked to provide funding for the competition).      However, it is being provided with the opportunity to align the competition to city challenges.  The launch of the competition is January 2019 with the winning company deploying  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Mr Brian John Spencer, a local artist, for permission to make a sketch at the Council meeting to be held on 7th January, 2019.  The request would involve Mr Spencer being allowed access to the Chamber for a couple of hours prior to the meeting commencing and for him to be present in the VIP Gallery to also sketch during the meeting.

 

Moved by Councillor Carson,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

 

      That the Committee agrees not to accede to the request.

 

            On a vote by show of hands, seven Members voted for the proposal and none against and it was declared carried.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            Proposed relocation of Moyard Playground

 

            The Committee granted approval for the disposal of the existing Moyard Crescent playground site to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) by way of a surrender of the lease and the acquisition of a new site at the former Vere Foster Primary School from the Education Authority, subject the terms of the Deed of Surrender to the NIHE and the new lease with the Education Authority being agreed by the Estates and Legal Services.

 

            Proposed disposal of land at the Old Zoo

            to the Department for Infrastructure

 

            The Committee approved the transfer of a small plot of land off the Antrim Road to the front of the Belfast Zoo to facilitate the installation of a footpath and road crossing by the Department of Infrastructure, subject to terms being agreed by the Estates and Legal Services. 

 

            Proposed licence from the Department

            for Infrastructure (DFI) for the Holylands

            Local Investment Fund (LIF) project

 

            The Committee granted approval to the Council taking a licence from DfI to allow the planting of trees in the footpaths in the Holylands as required for the LIF 2 Holylands Area Improvement Initiative, subject to terms to be agreed by the Estates and Legal Services.

 

            Proposed licence for Cancer Lifeline

            Belfast Investment Fund (BIF) project

 

            The Committee granted approval to the Council taking a licence from Cancer Lifeline to allow the Council’s contractors on to the site at No.44 Alliance Avenue to construct the new building as part of the Cancer Lifeline BIF project, subject to terms being agreed with Estates and Legal Services.

 

            Proposed licence from the Department

            for Infrastructure (DfI) for Dunmurry Station

            Footpath scheme

 

            The Committee granted approval to the Council taking a licence from DfI permitting the Council to carry out landscaping works at the entrance to the Dunmurry Station Footpath.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

Contracts for Award

 

            The Committee:

 

·        approved the public advertisement and acceptance of tenders as listed in Appendix 1, Table 1through the Council’s electronic procurement system; 

·        grant delegated authority to the appropriate Director using pre-agreed criteria to accept the most economically advantageous tender; and

·        agreed to accede to Standing Order 55(a) exceptions in relations to contracts by direction of the Council acting on recommendations of a Chief Officer that the exception is justified in special circumstances for the contracts set out in 3.6 and Appendix 1 Table 2:

 

Appendix 1 - Schedule of tenders for consideration

 

Table 1 – New tenders

 

 

Title of tender	Senior Responsible Officer	Proposed contract duration
Technical Professionals (ICT)	Ronan Cregan	1 year

 

 

Table 2 - Direct Award Contracts (Single Tender Action)

 

 

System / Product	Supplier	Estimate
City Centre illumination (Including canopy lighting, festoon lighting and animated projection	Belfast City Centre Management	£110,000

 

            The Committee agreed also to award a single tender action contract to Visit Belfast to support the delivery of the #Your Belfast Marketing and Animation Programme in response to the Bank Building fire.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the submission of a corporate response to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s Corporate Plan 2019-22

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       Members are asked to:

 

·        Note the content of the corporate response to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) draft Corporate Plan 2019-22 (Appendix 1)

·        Approve the submission of the corporate response to ECNI, if approval granted by SP&R on Friday 14th December 2018, on a holding basis subject to approval by Council, to meet the submission deadline of 4th January 2019.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Background

 

            ECNI currently has their draft Corporate Plan 2019-22 out for consultation, areas of focus include:

 

            Employment 

 

·        More and better jobs for disabled people

·        Increased choice for women in employment

·        Freedom from prejudice and harassment at work

 

            Education 

 

·        Tackling educational disadvantage

·        Freedom from prejudice based bullying at school

 

            Access and participation 

 

·        Participation in public and political life

·        Shared, safe communities and accessible services and public space

·        Access to information and digital services

 

            Mainstreaming and championing equality

 

·        Mainstreaming equality and good relations

 

3.2       Key Issues

 

            The Equality and Diversity Unit has prepared a draft corporate response. Key points include:

 

·        Alignment with the Belfast Agenda outcomes

·        Need for focus on correlations between deprivation and Section 75 protected characteristics

 

3.3       Financial & Resource Implications

 

            None

 

3.4       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

            Equality and good relations underpin the Council’s work as demonstrated through the consultation response. Rural needs implications were not relevant in this case.”

 

Appendix 1

 

Consultation Response to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s

Draft Corporate Plan 2019-22

 

From: Belfast City Council

Date: 4.12.18

 

“1.        Introduction

 

1.1       Belfast City Council has considered the draft Corporate Plan 2019 – 2022 of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Please see our response below.

 

 

2.0       Feedback

 

2.1       Belfast City Council (BCC) welcomes the identification of the following strategic priorities:

 

·        Employment,

·        Education,

·        Access and Participation

·        Mainstreaming and Championing Equality

 

            We have identified some alignment with the Belfast Agenda, Belfast’s first community plan, and our four areas of focus until 2021:

 

·        Growing the Economy

·        Living Here

·        City Development

·        Working and Learning

 

            The advice and guidance from ECNI should support collaborative working and measuring of progress amongst statutory partners.

 

2.2       BCC also welcome the ECNI move towards an outcomes based accountability process and associated measures, which BCC has adopted within the Belfast Agenda and is currently mainstreaming throughout associated programmes of work.

 

2.3       In particular the council welcomes the focus on the development of Programme for Government equality indicators and the addressing of data gaps and need for disaggregation by section 75 groups, as outlined on page 31 under the strategic outcome area of ‘Mainstreaming and Championing Equality’. The development of these indicators and associated activity may aid the Council in its commitment to deliver inclusive growth, a key principle underpinning the Belfast Agenda, through effective targeting of resources and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committees consideration the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report

 

1.1       To advise Members on how the wording of the recent motion about the definition of antisemitism brought to Strategic Policy and Resources at the November meeting would impact on the Good Relations Strategy and associated policies.

     

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

 

·        Consider the definition and associated examples of ant-Semitism as published by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on 26th May 2016 and if the definition should be fully incorporated into the Council’s Good Relations Strategy and associated policies bearing in mind the impact as outlined below.

 

2.2       That further to the recommendation of the Shared City Partnership on 5th November 2018, Committee agrees that the draft Good Relations Strategy be published for public consultation in January 2018.

 

3.0       Main report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       At the last meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the following motion, which had been proposed at the Council meeting on 1st November 2018 by Councillor Craig and seconded by Councillor Boyle had, in accordance with Standing Order 13(f), be referred to the Committee for consideration.

 

3.2       “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

 

3.3       Furthermore, the Council agrees that this definition and associated examples of anti-Semitism, published by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on 26th May 2016, are fully incorporated into this Council’s Good Relations strategy and associated policies.

 

3.4       The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting on how the wording of the motion would impact on the Good Relations Strategy and associated policies.

 

3.5       It was pointed out that the Good Relations Strategy was scheduled to be considered later in the meeting under the minutes of the meeting of the Good Relations Partnership and accordingly, given the decision in relation to the motion, it was agreed that that part of the minutes be deferred until a future meeting.

 

3.6       A copy of the definition and the associated examples as published by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and referred to in the above notice of motion are attached at Appendix 1 for member’s information.  Members may be aware that the definition and associated examples have been subject to some debate.

 

            Impact on Good Relations Strategy

 

3.7       The draft Good Relations Strategy has been agreed by the Shared City Partnership at its meeting on 5th November 2018 and is attached at Appendix 2. Pending SP and R Committee and Council approval anticipated in January, the draft strategy will go out to public consultation, via the Council’s Citizen Space portal.

 

3.8       The Strategy outlines a vision for the promotion of a shared Belfast. It is not intended to be an action plan rather a framework to support the delivery of Good Relations in Belfast. Throughout  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8c

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter to enable it to be considered at its meeting in January, 2019.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the item until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter until its meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            At this stage of the meeting, the Committee agreed to adjourn for a period of fifteen minutes.  It agreed also that, during the adjournment, officers identify those reports which were time bound and needed a decision at this meeting and those reports which could be deferred until the Committee’s monthly meeting to be held in January, 2019.

 

            (The Committee stood adjourned from 12.00pm to 12.15pm).