Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Dorrian, Graham, Long and McDonough-Brown.

            The minutes of the meeting of 21st June were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st July.

Councillor Beattie declared an interest in relation to item 1(d) – Request to Present – Belfast Harbour Commissioners, in that he was a member of the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, and took no part in the decision-making process.

            Councillor Groogan declared an interest in relation to item 2(c) – Asset Management, on the basis that she had supported an organisation which had applied, unsuccessfully, to lease the Council’s property in the Ormeau Park. As the item did not become the subject of discussion, she was not required to leave the meeting.

(oral report)

            The Committee acceded to a request from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners to attend a future meeting in order to present the Belfast Harbour Strategy.

The information contained in the reports associated with the following five 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 11th July, it had agreed to establish an All-Party Working Group to put in place a framework to achieve more effective management of bonfires on Council-owned sites/facilities.

            The Chief Executive drew the Committee’s attention to a draft Terms of Reference for the Working Group, which covered the following elements:

·          Background;

·          Objectives;

·          Membership;

·          Governance/decision-making;

·          Role of the Chairperson

·          Meeting protocols; and

·          Minutes. 

            She recommended that the Committee approve the draft Terms of Reference and agree to the Working Group being chaired by her (or her nominee).

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre

            The Director of Finance and Resources drew the Committee’s attention to issues which had prevented the contractor from completing work on a small section of the Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre site and outlined the potential implications for the Council.  

            After a lengthy discussion, the Committee agreed that the Council should do everything within its power to ensure that the contractor fulfilled the contract and agreed that legal advice be sought on the actions open to the Council should the work not be progressed.

            The Committee agreed also that the Council should request the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards to investigate the leaking of confidential information which had been discussed on 15th August at the meeting of the Party Group Leaders Consultative Forum.

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which set out the Quarter 1 financial position for the Council, including a forecast of the year end outturn. The report included a reporting pack, providing an overview of the financial indicators, together with an executive summary. It provided also a more detailed explanation of each of the relevant indicators and the forecast outturns for the year.

            He reported that the Departmental year-end forecast was an over spend of £149k, which represented a variance of 0.1% of the annual net expenditure budget, and that an underspend of £1.92m was forecast for the Capital Financing Budget.

            In terms of expenditure, the District Rate forecast by Land and Property Services was a clawback of £1.98m. He explained that, whilst the Estimated Penny Product for 2019/20 had been set at a level which should provide adequate cover for the recurring element of valuation appeal losses and normal backdating, there was a risk that a number of outstanding appeals could incur a substantial backdated penalty, resulting in an impact on the level of general reserves. Officers would be meeting with representatives of Land and Property Services to discuss the forecasted position and an updated position would be submitted to the Committee in November.

            In terms of other expenditure, £75k was required to replenish the fuel reserve, following the Committee’s decision on 21st June to fund the City-wide Tribunal Service for three months, and approximately £770k would be required, should the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s appeal for holiday back pay be upheld. There was, therefore, an anticipated funding shortfall of just over £1m. In light of that shortfall, the balance of general reserves was forecast to decrease to £11.7m by the year end.   

            Accordingly, he recommended that, given the Departmental and District Rate forecasts, no further reallocations or cash flow payments be considered until the Quarter 2 position was presented to the Committee in November.

The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee:

i)            Kent Street and Station Street Off Street Car Parks – Renewal of Licence Agreements

-             approved the renewal of licence agreements for Council operated off street car parks at Kent Street and Station Street;

ii)      Corporation Street Off Street Car Park – Renewal of Licence Agreement

-             approved the renewal of a licence agreement with the Department for Infrastructure for the off street car park at Corporation Street.

iii)     Parkgate Avenue Off Street Car Park – New Licence Agreement

-             approved a new licence with the Directors of Argento Contemporary Jewellery Ltd for a right to pass and repass across Parkgate Avenue Car Park.

iv)     9 Adelaide – Acquisition of Freehold

-             approved the acquisition of the freehold interest in 9 Adelaide otherwise known as 9/13 Adelaide Street and 2/10 Donegall Mews.

v)      Lyons Park – New Licence Agreement

-             approved a licence agreement with the Belfast Hills Partnership to allow the excavation of a pond within Lyons Park.

vi)     Finvoy Street – Acquisition and New Lease

-             approved the acquisition of lands at Finvoy Street to facilitate the development of a new Community Centre funded by the Social Investment Fund and to the subsequent lease of this land to Walkway Community Association.

vii) Ormeau Park – New Lease to Bumbles Day-Care Limited

-             approved the grant of a new Lease to Bumbles Day-Care Limited, subject to detailed terms to be agreed between the Estates Manager and Legal Services

viii)   Proposed Licence to Limelight Ltd for Emergency Escape at Dunbar Link

-             granted a licence to Limelight Belfast Ltd for a period of one year for use of Council land to facilitate an emergency access and delegated authority to the Director of Physical Programmes and City Solicitor to approve the terms of the licence agreement.

ix)     Olympia Commercial Sites – disposal to a Major Food Retailer

-             approved the appointment of a major food retailer as preferred bidder following the revised lower offer received from Kirk Bryson Limited. Approval was granted to enter into a contract with the major food retailer for disposal of the site, subject to planning permission and an agreed timeframe for development completion and other terms, as agreed by the Estates Manager and Legal Services.

x)      Ballymacarrett Walkway – Acquisition to Rectify Boundary

-             approved the acquisition of two strips of land from Connswater Homes at Ballymacarrett Walkway for a nominal sum, with the costs associated with the transfer being paid by the Council.

xi)     The Stables, First Floor Office, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park – New Lease to Church Mission Society Ireland

-             approved the grant of a new Lease to Church Mission Society Ireland, subject to detailed terms to be agreed between the Estates Manager and Legal Services.

xii)    St George’s Market – New Lease Unit 3 to Harriette Foods Ltd.

-             approved the grant of a new Lease to Harriette Foods Ltd., subject to detailed terms to be agreed between the Estates Manager and Legal Services.

xiii)   City Lighting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2c

The Committee agreed, with fifteen Members voting for and one against, to defer consideration of the report to allow for a briefing to be held. It was agreed that this should follow the briefing on the review of business rates which, subject to approval being granted later in the meeting, would take place on Friday, 27th September at 9.30 a.m.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 22nd March, it had agreed to the establishment, for one year, of an Innovation and Growth Commission. The Chief Executive reported that the Commission was a collaboration across the Council, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Queen’s University and the University of Ulster, supplemented by a number of strategic advisors from both inside and outside Northern Ireland. The Commission would review economic prospects, consider inclusivity and other challenges and opportunities and produce a growth plan. It would seek also to integrate and join up major strategic projects facing the city of Belfast over the next ten to twenty years.

            She pointed out that several key opportunities had emerged recently, such as the Belfast Region City Deal, the development potential of the City centre and Waterfront district and the Belfast – Dublin Economic Corridor, which had the potential to deliver transformational impacts for the City.

            She explained that the Innovation and Growth Commission would consider evidence from key sectors, as well as various scenarios, and would seek to develop a growth plan for the City, which would deliver on the priorities identified within the Belfast Agenda, and advise on how to make growth more inclusive. It would do so by ensuring integration between major projects, such as those mentioned above, to maximise potential opportunities for the City. Relationships between the Commission and formal decision-making structures across the City would, therefore, be critical.

            She provided details of the initial membership of the Commission and confirmed that she would act as Chair and be accountable for ensuring that it met its goals and worked within its terms of reference.  Accountability for the day-to-day operation of the Commission would rest with the Commissioner for Resilience, who would be tasked with providing advice and support, identifying resources and producing final outputs, as part of her requirement to implement a Resilience Strategy for the City. The Commissioner would work alongside the Director of City and Organisational Strategy to ensure that effective mechanisms were in place to support the Commission and its work streams, provide research and ensure that it was linked to Community Planning and the City Deal. The Commission would take evidence from the eight Political Parties represented on the Council and would engage regularly with both the City Growth and Regeneration Committee and the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided, stressed that a greater emphasis needed to be placed on inclusivity and sustainability and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting outlining how inclusive growth and sustainability would be central to the Commission’s work, including additions to membership to reflect this, and how the engagement process would interact with Members and the wider sectors representing these issues.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st July, the following motion on Domestic Violence had been proposed by Councillor M. Kelly and seconded by Councillor Nicholl:

“This Council is saddened at the levels of domestic violence in Belfast and recognises that this manifests in many different forms, including emotional and economic abuse. 

Belfast needs to become a city that has zero tolerance towards domestic violence or abuse – a “Safe City” which is proactive in supporting victims of domestic violence and challenging perpetrators. A Safe City recognises that domestic violence impacts upon many residents, regardless of age, religion, ethnic or cultural background. 

This Council pledges to build on the work already achieved by engaging with relevant partners to support victims of domestic abuse and challenge perpetrators and to update the Belfast City Council Domestic Violence Strategy.”

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

            Councillor M. Kelly, who had proposed the motion, informed the Committee that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had, in the previous year, received 12,000 complaints in relation to domestic violence in Belfast. She welcomed the fact that the Council had updated its Policy on Domestic Violence and Abuse in the Workplace and suggested that it should work with other statutory agencies to develop a wider domestic violence strategy for the City. She concluded by requesting an update on the progress which had been made in designating Belfast as a Safe City and on the Safe Place scheme, in the context of Council properties. 

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting addressing the issues which had been raised by the Member.

The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st July, the following motion on Water Refill Points had been proposed by Councillor McMullan and seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor McReynolds):

“This Council recognises the over reliance on single use plastic water bottles.  It notes innovative solutions to tackle this issue and support sustainable living, for example, the water refill stations recently installed by Mayo County Council.

The Council agrees to the installation of water bottle refill stations across the Council Estate.  This aims to help encourage a growing culture of using personal, reusable bottles to tackle single-use plastic use.”

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

            Councillor McMullan, who had proposed the motion, referred to the facility within Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park as being an excellent example of a water refill point and requested that other potential Council locations and models be identified and costings provided. He requested also an update on the motion which had, on 1st February, 2018, been referred by the Council to the People and Communities Committee, around the provision by local shops and business of access to public drinking water.   

            The Committee agreed that a report, incorporating the issues which had been raised by the Member, be submitted to a future meeting.    

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st July, the following motion on the Webcasting of Committee Meetings had been proposed by Councillor Nicholl and seconded by Councillor Hanvey:

This Council agrees to introduce webcasting of all Committee meetings in order to increase openness and transparency.”

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

            The Committee agreed that a report on the matter be submitted to a future meeting.

The Committee agreed that this item be considered later in the meeting in the context of the report on the Decade of Centenaries Programme.  

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

“This Council congratulates the Extinction Rebellion movement and other activists who have recently protested in Belfast and across the world in order to highlight the threat of catastrophic climate change.  The Council recognises this as one of the greatest threats facing citizens in Belfast, and believes that urgent action must be taken in Belfast and globally in order to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.  Accordingly, the Council agrees to immediately declare a “Climate Emergency”.

The Council also urges other local Councils to follow suit, and calls on both British and Irish governments to also declare a climate emergency.  Such a call aims to see Belfast move away from fossil fuels and fully toward renewable energy sources.  This initiative would see the Council doing everything it can to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions, including, for example, ensuring that all new buildings are ecologically friendly, that the retrofitting of homes is a priority, and that public transport is expanded.  The Council agrees to immediately establish a multi-agency team across the city, which should include various governmental departments, political parties and other relevant agencies, to ensure that tackling the causes of climate change is an immediate priority.”

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

The Commissioner for Resilience outlined the actions which had been undertaken since the motion had been presented to the Council, particularly:

·        the recent establishment of the Working Group on the Climate Crisis;

·        the establishment, in partnership with Queen’s University, of a Climate Commission for the City;

·        the commissioning of a mini-stern to provide an economic analysis on carbon reduction; and

·        ongoing engagement and research on the development of a Resilience Strategy, which would be present to the Committee in September for approval.

In view of that work, she recommended that the aforementioned motion be referred to the Working Group for consideration and confirmed that a detailed report, setting out the associated actions, timeframes and costs and aligning with timescales for consultation on the City’s Resilience Strategy, would, in due course, be submitted to the Committee for consideration.

Councillor Matt Collins, who had proposed the motion, welcomed the work which was being undertaken across the Council to address climate change and related issues. He highlighted the need for Belfast to declare a Climate Emergency as a matter of priority and suggested that the Lord Mayor host an event to launch the Declaration. He concluded by requesting that the report which had been alluded to by the Commissioner for Resilience be prioritised and submitted to the next monthly meeting of the Committee.

 After discussion, the Committee agreed to refer the motion on Climate Emergency to the Working Group on the Climate Crisis. The Committee agreed also that a report be submitted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3e

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 21st May, had passed the following motion on CCTV in Care Homes, which had been proposed by Councillor Heading and seconded by Councillor Whyte:

“This Council notes the campaign by the Dunmurry Manor Relatives Organisation to highlight the need for CCTV cameras in communal areas of residential homes.  The Council calls on the Department for Health to include the provision of CCTV in any contract made with a private home where the care of the elderly is carried out.”

            The Democratic Services Officer reported that a letter had subsequently been forwarded to the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health advising him of the motion.

            The Permanent Secretary had, in his response, explained that the compulsory introduction of CCTV into residential and nursing homes was a complex issue and that it would, initially, be likely to require Ministerial agreement, along with the probable introduction of new legislation.

            He had highlighted the fact that the Commissioner for Older People had, within his “Home Truths” report into Dunmurry Manor Care Home, included a recommendation for the Department for Health/Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority to produce comprehensive guidance on the potential use of covert and overt CCTV in care homes, compliant with human right and data protection law.

            The Permanent Secretary had concluded by pointing out that, as a Health and Social Care Service, advice was currently being developed for any incoming Minister and that the views of stakeholders would be considered as part of that process.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the response from the Permanent Secretary and agreed that a further letter be forwarded to him seeking clarification on whether the aforementioned advice had now been drafted and, if so, calling for it to be published.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 4th March, had passed the following motion on Support for Roads Infrastructure in Scotland, which had been proposed by Alderman Kingston and seconded by former Councillor Reynolds:

This Council:

·        recognises the long-standing cultural and economic ties between Northern Ireland and Scotland, and that fundamental to increasing the benefit to Belfast from this connection is the need to improve transport connections between Scotland and Northern Ireland;

·        welcomes that the ferry services between Cairnryan and Belfast, by Stena Line, 6 times per day, and between Cairnryan and Larne, by P&O, 7 times per day, are among the busiest services in the UK and represent a strong opportunity for economic and tourism growth; however, the inadequate transport infrastructure beyond the ferry terminals at Cairnryan is inhibiting that growth and require investment to bring them up to standard;

·        supports the campaign in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway for investment in the roads infrastructure - along the A77 towards Glasgow/central Scotland and along the A75 towards the Scotland/England border, which are both predominantly single carriageway routes and pass through a number of small towns and villages – and in the rail infrastructure along the same routes, and agrees to write to the Scottish Government in support of calls for a long-term programme of such investment in the transport infrastructure of South West Scotland.”

            The Democratic Services Officer reported that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity had, within his response to the motion, referred to the draft findings of the South West Scotland Transport Study and the review of Scotland’s National Transport Strategy and their ongoing consultations. Accordingly, the Council, at its meeting on 1st July had agreed that officers should engage in the consultation process.

            He explained that the consultation on the Transport Study was due to close on the day of the meeting and recommended that the motion, as passed by the Council and set out above, be submitted as the Council’s response to the Transport Study. In addition, Political Parties could submit separate responses to reflect their respective positions. He added that the consultation on the review of the draft National Transport Strategy for Scotland was due to close on 23rd October and that, should approval be granted to submit a response, it would be drafted by officers in the Place and Economy Department, given the potential linkages between infrastructure and planning, and submitted to the relevant Committee for approval.

            The Committee approved the response to the South West Scotland Transport Study, subject to the title of the Council motion referred to therein being amended to read as “Support for Investment in Transport Infrastructure in South West Scotland and agreed that officers draft a response to the draft National Transport Strategy for Scotland.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 1st July, had passed the following motion on Welfare Mitigation Schemes, which had been proposed by Councillor Canavan and seconded by Councillor Black:

“The policy of austerity and welfare cuts imposed by the British Government is wrong and should be reversed.

This Council recognises that mitigation packages have provided vital support to the most vulnerable members of our society and should continue to be provided as Tory austerity measures continue to impact.

The Council notes with deep concern the range of reports published recently which highlight the serious risk of greater hardship for many within our community, if welfare mitigations do not continue beyond March 2020. These reports include:

•     Welfare Reform: Mitigations on a Cliff Edge;

•     Cliff Edge Coalition NI; and

•     NIAO: Welfare Reforms in NI.

The Council calls on all parties to support the need to continue welfare mitigations beyond March 2020, agrees to write to the Department for Communities calling for it to take all steps necessary to ensure that mitigations schemes will continue to help the most vulnerable in our community and calls for the immediate restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive so that it can take decisions and actions on this important issue.”

            The Democratic Services Officer reported that a response had since been received from the Permanent Secretary, Department for Communities. The Permanent Secretary had stated that the legislation made following the Fresh Start Agreement, which had provided authority to make welfare supplementary mitigation payments, would end on 31st March, 2020 and that no funding would be allocated beyond that date. In the continued absence of the Assembly, the Department for Communities was, therefore, unable to amend the existing welfare supplementary mitigations legislation beyond March, 2020, as such regulations would be subject to Affirmative Resolution.

            She had explained that, in line with the Fresh Start Agreement, the Department for Communities had undertaken a review of Welfare Mitigation Schemes. The outcome of that review had been published on 25th March. The Department had held a series of public engagement events with stakeholders, primarily from the advice sector, voluntary/community groups and Housing Associations, in order to obtain feedback on the review.

            The Permanent Secretary had concluded by pointing out that the Department for Communities was aware of the challenges which were likely to arise from the termination of the welfare mitigation package and was considering all of the evidence surrounding the potential impact.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the response from the Permanent Secretary and agreed that officers seek from the Assembly’s All-Party Working Group on Poverty an update on the work which was being undertaken to address the issue of welfare mitigation beyond March, 2020. 

            The Committee was informed that Paragraph 4.20 of the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors stipulated that a Member must:

a)     in accordance with any standing orders of your council and within 28 days of receipt of any gift, hospitality, material benefit or service, which is above a value specified in a resolution of your council, provide written notification to your Chief Executive of the existence and nature of that gift, hospitality, material benefit or service;

b)     not accept from anyone gifts, hospitality, material benefits or services for yourself or any other person, which might place you, or reasonably appear to place you, under an improper obligation; and

c)     discourage gifts and offers of hospitality to any family members which might place you, or reasonably appear to place you, under an improper obligation.

            The City Solicitor explained that the value above which a Member was required to inform the Chief Executive of any gift, hospitality, material benefit or service was currently £50 and he recommended that it be maintained at that figure for this Council term.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee was reminded that it had eight Members on the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland Region).  Alderman Sandford had been appointed to represent the Northern Ireland Region on the Association’s National Executive, which would require him to attend a meeting on 9th September in London and on 23rd November in Chester.

            The Committee approved the attendance of Alderman Sandford at the aforementioned meetings of the National Executive of the National Association of Councillors and authorised the payment of the appropriate travel and subsistence allowances.

            The Committee was advised that the National Association of Councillors’ annual conference would this year be held in Carlisle from 13th till 15th September.  The theme for the event would be “Community Hubs and Community Engagement”, with a particular focus on the establishment of hubs and how they could be used to improve outcomes for the public and local/national service. In previous years, the Committee had granted authority for any of the eight Members appointed by the Council to the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland Region) to attend the conference.  The fee per delegate was £350 and there would also be travel and accommodation costs.

            The Committee approved the attendance of any of the eight Members appointed to the National Association of Councillors (Northern Ireland Region) at the conference.

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reminded the Committee that the Council was required, under Part 3 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, to establish the Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership (BPCSP) and four District Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (DPCSPs).

            He reported that independent members of the BPCSP and DPCSPs were appointed by the Northern Ireland Policing Board, which had overall responsibility for the process, from nominations made by the Council. The nomination process consisted of three stages, the first of which involved an eligibility sift by the Policing Board. The shortlisting and interviewing of potential candidates by the Council would follow and, finally, independent members would be appointed by the Policing Board from the appointable pool of candidates.

            He explained that the Policing Board was aiming to have new independent members appointed in advance of the BPCSP and DPCSPs being re-constituted by the target date of 1st April, 2020. He confirmed that the nomination process had now reached stage 2 and that, to enable it to move forward, the Council had been requested to nominate a panel, comprised of four Elected Members from the current DPCSP, including a Chairperson, to shortlist and interview potential candidates. The Council should ensure that the panel was representative in terms of community and gender background and, in order to ensure consistency and to avoid overlap in membership, the same panel would be involved in the selection process for the BPCSP and four DPCSPs. A reserve should also be nominated for each nominated panel member. It was pointed out that the panel members, including reserves, would be required to undertake a half day training session in September and, based on previous recruitment exercises, would be required for two days of shortlisting and eight to ten days for interviewing.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that nominations for the aforementioned positions be sought from the leaders of the four largest Political Parties represented on the Council.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 23rd November, 2018, it had, in response to a Council motion, agreed to establish a Working Group to oversee the installation of an LGBT stained glass window in the City Hall. Following that decision, nominations had been sought from the Party Leaders. However, despite a number of reminders, only two Parties had nominated representatives to the Working Group.

            The City Solicitor explained that the cancellation by the Committee of meetings of Working Groups from the end of March until after the Local Government Elections had meant that the LGBT Stained Glass Working Group had never been properly established. Therefore, it had been omitted from the Governance report which had, on 21st June, been presented to the Committee in relation to the reconstitution of Working Groups.

            The Committee agreed to re-establish the LGBT Stained Glass Working Group and that it should, in line with other Working Groups, consist of one Member from each of the Political Parties represented on the Council. The Committee agreed also that the Council’s LGBT Staff Network and the LGBT community in the City should have an input into the design of the window.

            The City Solicitor informed the Members that, following an adjudication by the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards and consideration by this Committee of a motion highlighting the need for clarity and guidance on the Code of Conduct for Councillors, he had written to the Commissioner seeking clarification on her interpretation of Paragraph 6.9 of the Code and inviting her to attend a future meeting to discuss the motion and the issues relevant to it.

            He explained that Paragraph 6.9 of the Code of Conduct dealt with a dispensation permitting Members to vote on issues where their appointment had been made by the Council or otherwise permitting them to remain and speak on an issue when they had an association with an organisation which had been formed for a public purpose. He confirmed that the Commissioner had, within her adjudication report, appeared to have misstated the correct legal position and had now accepted that the position which he had adopted in respect of Paragraph 6.9 had been correct. The Commissioner had declined the invitation to attend a future meeting of the Committee, on the basis that it would be inappropriate.

            Accordingly, his advice to Members regarding dispensations and significant non-pecuniary interests was that, should their relationship with a public body or organisation formed for a public purpose arise, they may participate and vote on decisions affecting that organisation, other than in cases where they were on a management committee and the decision to be taken related to finance or property.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1            To update the Committee on the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD). 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                            i.        note the progress of the advisory boards in the development of the BRCD;

                                           ii.        agree that the four Members representing Belfast City Council on the re formatted Joint Members Forum be one each from the four largest Political Parties; and

                                         iii.        note that the Joint Member Forum has no decision making powers and all investment decisions relating to BCC BRCD projects will be brought to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       At its meeting in June, the Committee received details of the resources and frameworks being put in place to deliver Phase 2 of the BRCD, which includes:

·        A Financial Plan and Agreement

·        A Deal Document- detailed document covering all elements included within Heads of terms, including Governance Framework

·        An Implementation Plan- summarising milestones for key deliverables, outputs, resources and risk mitigation for each project

·        Outline Business Cases (OBCs) for the individual BRCD projects

3.2       Members also approved the resources and governance arrangements to develop and deliver the Destination Hub – Belfast City Council’s key city deal project.

Programme Update

3.3       In order to support the development of the overall BRCD Programme a number of advisory boards have been set up and they have been working over the summer months to progress the development of the Outline Business Case for the 22 projects.  The Innovation strand, being led by the two universities are well advanced with the development of the OBCs underway.  They have held a number of consultative workshops with partners, industry and government departments and are now engaging with the UK government as part of this process.

3.4       The Employability and Skills workstream has been focussing in the first instance on developing guidance for all other BRCD projects to ensure they maximise inclusive job creation and training opportunities as they are designing their projects and developing OBCs.  The Board has also developed a programme of work and are recruiting a dedicated Programme Manager, funded by the regional colleges, to take this forward.

3.5       The Tourism and Regeneration Board are also guiding councils through the development of their OBCs and all projects have begun this process or are about to procure specialist advice to assist in their development.  Given the nature of these projects this Board has also been engaging with DfE and DfC as well as seeking specific guidance from DoF on business case development. 

3.6       The Fraunhofer Institute which is leading the way in digital innovation and smart districts / testbeds, have undertaken an initial piece of work to develop proposals on how the digital strand of the BRCD can be taken forward.  We are now working with them to develop governance structures and an implementation plan to support the development of the digital OBCs. 

3.7  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5a

            The Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       At its meeting on 23rd November 2018, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee noted an update report and progress achieved in relation to the City and Neighbourhood Service (CNS) Transition and Improvement Programme (T&IP). 

1.2       The purpose of this report is to provide Members with a further update on the progress of the CNS T&IP.

2.0       Recommendation

The Committee is requested to note the contents of the report and the progress achieved in relation to the CNS T&IP and priorities since November 2018. 

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

3.1       The CNS T&IP is part of the Continuous Improvement (CI) programme for the Council.  It is one of the biggest, most ambitious and complex change programmes undertaken by the council.  It is directly supports the delivery of the outcomes, objectives and priorities within the Belfast Agenda, Corporate Plan and the Council’s Improvement plan.

3.2       The programme name was refreshed in April 2019 from “Change” to “Transition and Improvement” to better describe our approach to delivering improved ways of working and service delivery transition. The CNS T&IP will improve customer service, remove duplication, make long-term cost savings, make services more sustainable, and empower staff improve decision-making.  The core objectives of the programme are to:

·        Improve customer focus;

·        Increase efficiencies and creating a fit for purpose service design

·        Improve service delivery (city and neighbourhoods)

·        Integrating services to enhance working practices

·        Delivering the waste agenda

3.3       The programme has evolved as projects have concluded, became part of other programmes, such as Customer Focus to provide better alignment, or are now part of normal business improvements.  In 2019/20, the programme will focus on creating fit for purpose services, and improving neighbourhoods. Projects have been prioritised based on organisational and departmental needs and four interrelated priorities were identified, see below:

*Area and neighbourhood working, and better integration and coordination of service provision will be themes running through these priorities, which is a cross cutting priority for the council. 

3.4      An update of the Departmental functional model, previously agreed by Committee in June 2017 and November 2018, has been circulated.  There are some minor amendments to the previous versions. The functional model facilitates the development and design of integrated services and the regeneration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       This report provides an update for Members on the publication of a Belfast Agenda Statement of Progress in November 2019, which is a legislative monitoring requirement for the Council and its community planning partners.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

a)          note the statutory requirement for the Council and its community planning partners to publish a Statement of Progress in November 2019;

b)          note the proposed content of the statement of progress, which is in line with legislative guidance provided by DfC; and

c)          note the proposed timeline associated with the publication of the Statement of Progress.

3.0       Main Report

Key Issues

3.1       The Belfast Agenda, the city’s first community plan, was published in November 2017 and was led by the Council, in partnership with its community planning partner organisations. It is a long term framework outlining how the Council and its community planning partners will work collaboratively to deliver an ambitious and inclusive vision that will create a better quality of life for all citizens in Belfast.

3.2       The Local Government Act (NI) 2014 requires the Council and its community planning partners to make arrangements to monitor progress against meeting the objectives of the Belfast Agenda and the effectiveness of the actions taken in aiming to achieve these objectives. The legislation also requires the Council to publish a statement of progress on progress towards the outcomes and actions taken every two years, with the first statement of progress due for publication in November 2019.

3.3       The statement of progress, therefore, provides an opportunity for the Council and its community planning partners to update the public on the actions that have been taken, or are ongoing, and to demonstrate the impact that these actions are having on the achievement of the outcomes outlined in the Belfast Agenda.  It also provides an opportunity to take stock in terms of embedding the partnership and collaborative arrangements and our focus and approach going forward.

3.4       The key elements of the statement of progress will include a restatement of the vision, a short narrative provided on what our long-term outcomes are trying to achieve and why they are important; recent available data for our population indicators; and an update on the collaborative actions being progressed among partners.

3.5       The document will also highlight good news stories, noteworthy achievements and good practice, which have led to sustainable change and improvement, particularly where there has been collaboration, engagement and innovative working.

Reporting against Action Plans

3.6       Detailed action plans have been developed in collaboration with city partners to deliver against the commitments outlined in the Belfast Agenda within the context of the 4 priority areas. A detailed update will be provided to Members in September, however, an outline of the main areas of activity underway across each area is summarised below:

·             Living Here

Key areas of collaborative activity underway include, for example, the development of an integrated approach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy submitted for the Committee’s consideration 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 Belfast to sign a joint Memorandum of Understanding, as part of an all island Network of UNESCO Learning Cities including Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Derry and Strabane and Belfast.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

(i)          agree that Belfast signs a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an all-island Network of Learning Cities to further enhance relationships with other cities who are members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. If agreed, the MOU would be signed by the Lord Mayor;

(ii)        note the engagement and discussions underway around UNESCO and ‘Belfast A Learning City’ to explore and identify opportunities for alignment with Belfast Agenda; and

(iii)      note the recent consultation review undertaken on the future focus of the existing BSP Lifelong Learning Group and the intention that this will inform the creation of a revised Learning City action plan.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

3.1       In early 2018, Belfast became a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) with a focus on the use of learning to tackle inequalities within the city. UNESCO GNLC is an international policy-orientated network which supports the sharing of best practice and capacity building; providing access to  experts from across the world and allowing Belfast to showcase how the city is using learning to address inequalities and make life better for citizens. 

3.2       The Belfast Agenda recognises that learning has a vital role in empowering citizens and helping lay the foundations for sustainable social, economic and environmental development and well-being within the city. The principles of learning are fundamental in helping alleviate and address some of Belfast’s persistent societal-inequalities such as health, educational attainment and well-being.  The inclusive growth focus of the Belfast Agenda is about improving the economy and ensuring the benefits of this can be felt by across the city.  Learning is one mechanism through which inequalities can be addressed by raising aspirations, removing barriers and increasing emotional resilience.  Enabling individuals to cope better in difficult times, create access to more and better jobs, build good relations, make healthier choices and empower individuals to reach their full potential.

3.3       Reflecting the importance of learning it has a key role in the four priority themes of the Belfast Agenda: Working and Learning, Living Here, Growing the Economy and City Development. Key work streams focused upon the importance of learning have been reflected across the Belfast Agenda including a commitment “to develop the city’s status as a learning city by becoming a member of UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Global Network of Learning Cities”.

3.4       Learning as a concept has far reaching consequences incorporating traditional forms of learning such as educational and skills development through to learning for health and community benefit.  Additionally it should be recognised that the scope of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5d

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1            Members will be aware that officers are currently drafting an inclusive growth strategy to outline the council’s commitment to creating an inclusive city.

1.2             This report provides the Committee with a high level overview of the commitments contained within the strategy and outlines the next steps that will be undertaken to ensure that a final strategy is presented to committee in September and a public consultation commences in October.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

i.          note the wide range of commitments included within the inclusive growth strategy and that it will be accompanied with a one year action / delivery plan;

ii.        note that a full version of the document will be sent to parties week in the commencing 26th August for review and comment and that officers will engage with political parties to receive comments;

iii.    note that a final document will be brought before the Committee in September; and

iv.    agree to an all-party launch of the strategy for consultation in October 2019.

Main Report

3.1       At the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 20th April 2018, Members agreed to a five step approach to developing an inclusive growth framework for the city, and following a series of one to one interviews with Party Group Leaders, Committee Chairs, Chief Officers and an all member workshop, as well as a detailed analysis of the data available in Belfast, an Inclusive Growth statement and definition was agreed.

3.2       Subsequently, at the meeting on 7th December 2018, a draft bespoke Belfast City Council inclusive growth decision-making framework was presented and agreed. This framework is designed to ensure that inclusive growth is placed at the heart of policy, capital and programme decisions. Furthermore, members also agreed, that in the first instance, our efforts would be focused on the following four target inclusive growth groups:

1.      Workless residents;

2.      Residents with low skill levels;

3.      In work, low earning individuals; and

4.      Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

3.3       These inclusive growth groups have been determined based on a review of the evidence and the consultation carried out with Members. Furthermore, these groups align to the ambitions and priorities set out in the Belfast Agenda.

3.4       During the one to one interviews and at the workshop, Members consistently highlighted a number of actions they felt needed taken forward as part of inclusive growth. Whilst these are not specifically part of the Inclusive Growth Decision Making Framework, they were felt necessary in moving forward the inclusive growth agenda. Since then officers from within the Strategy, Policy and Partnerships team have been working with departments to develop the Inclusive Growth Strategy.

The focus of the Strategy

3.5       The Inclusive Growth Strategy sits within the overarching framework of the Belfast Agenda and is closely aligned to its economic growth ambitions.

3.6       The Belfast Agenda is an ambitious plan for the city,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5e

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1            The Council’s Physical Programme covers over 150 live regeneration projects across a range of funding streams including the Capital Programme, Leisure Transformation Programme, Belfast Investment Fund, Local Investment Fund, Social Outcomes Fund and the projects which the Council is delivering on behalf of other agencies. This report outlines:

-     an overview of physical projects which have recently been completed

-     the Capital Programme and capital financing for 2019/2020

-     a request for the Council to act as delivery agent for two externally funded projects

2.1        Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to note the update on the Physical Programme as at 3.1 below and that the Physical Programmes Department is willing to arrange a site visit to any projects that have been completed and/or are underway.

Capital Programme and Capital Financing 2019/2020(to be read in conjunction with the Medium Term Financial Plan and Efficiency Report which is also on the agenda)

·          note the update on the Capital Programme for 2019/2020 as outlined in 3.3 below and the update on Capital Financing as outlined in 3.6 below

·          note the deficit in capital financing in 2021/22 and 2022/23 and the challenges to be taken into consideration in relation to the future Physical Programme and note that Party Group Briefings will be undertaken as part of the rates setting process to update Members on the status of projects along with the emerging implications for future investment decisions and in particular the potential impact on the district rate. These will be delivered in conjunction with the Director of Finance and Resources.

·          agree to add the ‘Upgrade of the Waterfront Escalators’ as a Stage 1 – Emerging project onto the Capital Programme due to operational requirements

Role of the Council as delivery agent

·             agree in principle that the Council acts as the delivery agent for two projects which are receiving external funding from other sources (the Belfast Islamic Centre and the VOYPIC/Include Youth) subject to the Council receiving a management fee for the delivery, full funding packages being in place and further discussions with Legal Services.

Procurement

·        agree that any necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for any Physical Programme’s projects including externally funded projects for 2019/2020 as required, with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

3.0       Main Report

Key Issues

Update - Capital Programme

3.1       The Council’s rolling Capital Programme is a significant regeneration programme of investment across the city, which improves the existing Council assets or provides new council facilities.  An update on the key projects under the programme is outlined below:

Recently completed physical projects:

-        Navarra Place - Navarra playground includes MUGA and the removal of an interface structure at the boundary with Serpentine Road (DoJ / MUGA Programme Phase 2)

-        Upgrades to parks, open spaces and playgrounds  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

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

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       This report provides an update on the assessment of the key financial factors which influence the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for 2020/21 - 2022/23 and the rate setting process for 2020/21, together with an overview of the priorities and work in progress to establish the 2020/21 - 2022/23 Efficiency Programme.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the challenges to be taken into consideration as part of the annual and medium term rate setting. A further report on progress will be brought to Committee in September.

3.0       Rate Setting Process

A number of factors must be considered as part of the annual and medium term rate setting process. These include business as usual risks, existing priorities, growth priorities, efficiencies and the rate base.

Business as Usual Risks

3.1       There are three main uncontrollable costs likely to impact on business as usual budgets in the period 2020/21 to 2022/23:

1.     Externally imposed increases to the Council’s pay bill. This includes the nationally negotiated pay awards and employers’ pension contributions increase. In April 2018, a National Pay Award of 2% was agreed for Local Government Staff for 2018/19 and 2019/20. The National Pay Award for 2020/21 has not yet been settled. In the interim, a 2% increase will be estimated for 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. The current NILGOSC Triannual Valuation commenced in April 2019. This will set the increase in the contribution rate for the years 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23. As the previous valuation resulted in a 1% increase in the contribution rate for 2018/19 and 2019/20, for medium term planning purposes an increase of 1% has been assumed for 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.

2.     Future revenue running costs resulting from capital investment. The Council’s asset base is growing as new schemes become operational. Members will be aware of the pressure faced by the Council to support local investment partnerships. These pressures are further exacerbated by the growing cost pressures and risks associated with the maintenance of an ageing estate. Existing maintenance budgets need to be reviewed to support the asset base.

3.   External economic factorssuch as inflation, Brexit and the current political climate. The uncertainty around Brexit and levels of government funding make it difficult for services to budget for central government and European funding streams. Inflation is a further external pressure – the current CPI rate is 1.9% with a forecast rate of between 1.8% - 2.0% for 2021.

3.2       Existing Priorities: The organisation has committed to a number of priorities including the Waste Plan, City Deal and Physical Programmes.

The Council will face significant year on year increases in waste disposal costs as the arc21 residual waste contract and interim arrangements become operational. The likely impact of the Waste Plan for the period 2020/21 to 2022/23 will be considered as part of the 2020/21 estimates  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7a

            The Committee agreed to hold a briefing session, to which all of the Members of the Council would be invited, on Friday, 27th September at 9.30 a.m. to receive a briefing from the Director of Rating Policy on the review of Business Rates.

The Committee:

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

                           ii.     granted delegated authority to the appropriate Director, using pre-agreed criteria, to award the most economically advantageous tender;

                          iii.     approved the extensions as detailed in Table 2 below; and

                         iv.     agreed to accede to Standing Order 55(b)  - exceptions in relation to those contracts set out within Table 3 below and requested, in terms of the contract for the build and hire of a stand at the Property and Investment Event 2020 (MIPIM, which is supported financially by the private sector), that the report which had been requested previously by the City Growth and Regeneration Committee on the benefits derived from attending MIPIM, should be presented as soon as possible and include details of the contractual arrangements in place for next year’s event.

Table 1 - New Tenders

Table 2 - Contract Extension

Table 3 - Direct Award Contracts (Single Tender Action)

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       Members will recall that, at the meeting on 21st June 2019, the Committee had recommended that a report be brought back on the recommendations relating to Council arising from the report ‘A Prison Without Walls, Asylum, Migration and Human Rights’.  This report was produced by Housing4All in June 2019.

1.2       The purpose of this paper is to provide Members with an overview of the recommendations relating to Belfast City Council and recommendations on how the Council may wish to proceed.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

                                            i.        write to the Department for Communities to raise the issue of asylum seekers facing destitution and to seek clarity with regard to what statutory body has responsibility for people in this vulnerable situation; and

                                           ii.        seek legal opinion to consider the legal implications of the recommendations relating to Belfast City Council.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

3.2       Housing4All was formed in 2016 to campaign to ensure that all people seeking asylum are given the opportunity to lead dignified and secure lives.

3.3       In 2019, Housing4All launched a report entitled A Prison Without Walls, Asylum, Immigration and Human Rights. The report raises issues faced by people seeking asylum including issues relating to destitution, housing conditions, food poverty, children, health matters and the impact of not being able to work.

3.4       The report outlines a number of issues in relation to destitution and the impact of Home Office Policy that restricts asylum seekers from accessing the labour market.  The report also highlights that in the UK, unlike in other EU countries, if a person’s claim for asylum is refused then the accommodation and financial support that would have been provided by the Home Office is stopped after 21 days.  The report notes that as asylum seekers are restricted from accessing public funds and not eligible to access emergency accommodation, once Home Office support is withdrawn, this results in destitution.

3.5       The report estimates that there are over 100 asylum seekers that have been destitute for several years who fall away from established networks of support and go underground, where they are at serious risk of exploitation and abuse.

3.6       The report also highlights that the system of seeking asylum in the UK causes serious damage to the mental health of people who are already suffering because of what they have experienced in the course of their flight.  It noted that ‘many of the issues could be resolved by lifting the ban on employment for people seeking asylum.’

3.7       A copy of the report has been circulated. It contains a number of recommendations for organisations, including five that have been directed at Belfast City Council.

            Recommendation 1

3.8       Belfast City Council and Department for Communities establish a subcommittee in 2019/2020 to develop plans to introduce a digital money, similar to the MONI scheme in Finland, to pay additional financial allowances to asylum seekers outside of Home Office support.

3.9       The Finnish Immigration Service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To update the Committee on the Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the update of the progress of the programme and that the Council will not develop its own exhibition for the final phase of the Decade.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

The Decade of Centenaries Programme marks the anniversaries of key events from 1912 – 1922, one hundred years ago. It aims is to promote a greater understanding of our shared, but complex history, in a way that can promote better relationships and foster reconciliation.  

3.2       Prior to the onset of the Decade, the Council sought to take a leadership role. From the very first discussions in City Hall on the Decade of Centenaries, Councillors took a positive approach, agreeing that the marking of these events provided the City with an excellent opportunity to broaden our understanding of the past and to develop respect for the complexity of our inter-woven and shared history.

3.3       In 2011, Members of the then Historic Centenaries Working Group had agreed a three phased approach to the whole Decade in chronological order:

-        1912 – 1914;

-        1914 – 1918; and

-        1918 – 1922.

3.4       Members also agreed to a series of principles that would underpin Council activity as well as to guide external events taking place on Council premises, such as the City Hall.

3.5       The first period, 1912-1914, was entitled “Shared History, Different Allegiances” and covered a range of historical events such as the Balmoral Review, the Home Rule crisis, the Ulster Covenant, the Gaelic Revival, the rise of the Suffragette and Labour movements, the formation of the YCV, along with the arming of the UVF and the Irish Volunteers. The Council hosted a large scale exhibition in the City Hall and delivered a range of civic events.

3.6       The second period, 1914-1918, covered the period of World War I, including the Somme and the Easter Rising. The bulk of this activity took place over 2016, under the banner of “Belfast; Reflections on 1916”.

3.7       The third period, 1918-1922, which is currently being delivered, is covering the end of World War I, the 1918 Elections, Women’s Suffrage, the Anglo-Irish war, the treaty negotiations and ultimately the establishment of the two parliaments on the island.

3.8       Major exhibitions were commissioned for the Covenant, the Somme and the Easter Rising and there was a Civic Dinner to mark each of these three events, as had been agreed in 2012. In addition, the Council rolled out an annual programme of events during each year of the Decade, open to the public and free to attend.

3.9       In 2016, at the August meeting of the Diversity Working Group, Members requested that officers develop a programme for the remainder of the Decade, from 2017 until 2022. Central to the programme, Members requested that:

-        Activity being planned would continue with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership held on 5th August, including the recommendations to:

            PEACE IV Secretariat

1.   agree to progress the Supplemental Agreement to the PEACE IV Partnership for new members;

2.   approve the amended TSG governance and agree that representatives and advisors should be sought, as outlined; and

3.   approve the development and revision of the monitoring and evaluation framework in line with SEUPB and PEACE IV Programme requirements.

PEACE IV CYP

1.     note the issues affecting Peace IV Projects; and

2.     ratify the revised implementation approach for CYP1 Tech Connects.

PEACE IV SSS

1.   note the delays in planning permission; and

2.   agree the Resource Allocation criteria and process.

PEACE IV BPR

1.   note the issues affecting PEACE IV projects;

2.   ratify the 3 month extension, revised deliverable timeframe and flexible delivery approach for BPR1 Cross Community Area Networks – Partner Delivery with NIHE;

3.   approve the EU Study Visit criteria and process for BPR4 to enable final submission and formal approval by SEUPB;

4.   agree to progress BPR5 Traveller and Roma elements, as outlined;

5.   agree that a partner approach and/or collaborative partnership should be introduced for BPR5 Traveller and Roma elements, subject to options appraisal and legal opinion;

6.   delegate authority to the PEACE IV programme board and Strategic

      Director of City to approve the identified delivery approach and project proposal for Traveller and Roma elements, ensuring compliance with PEACE IV programme regulations and timescales.

PEACE IV Underspend

1.   Utilise the PEACE IV underspend and progress the proposals for final approval – summarised as

•     extending CYP4 Young Advocates to include a placeshaping element for young people in East Belfast;

•     providing additional connections, landscaping and engineering across the brownfield DfC site from Springfield Road to West Circular Road;

•     approving the addition £26,539 of funding to the Traveller and Roma elements of BPR5; and

•     extending BPR2 Creative Communities project to include an element comprises of a creative project based at St. Comgall’s comprising of research, design and interpretation of a community exhibition.

2.  agree to commence the development of mini application for submission to SEUPB.

Revised Good Relations Strategy

1.   agree the revised Good Relations Strategy, following the public consultation and engagement exercise;

2.   agree to include a foreword to the document, which would be signed by Party Group Leaders prior to the launch; and

3.   agree that the new Strategy would be launched during Community Relations Week in September, 2019.

Update on the Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme

1.   note the contents of the report, including the recommendation that Mr. J. Byrne be invited to attend the September meeting of the Shared City Partnership to provide an update on his evaluation report of the 2019 Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme; and

2.   agree to retain the previous independent assessor for 2019 as a way to ensure consistency. Officers will then explore a process to appoint an independent assessor and bring this back  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8c

            The Committee was advised that one of the main requirements of the Council’s Equality Scheme was to carry out the screening of new and revised policies.  That allowed any impacts related to equality of opportunity and/or good relations to be identified and addressed.

            In addition, the Council had a statutory duty under the Rural Needs (Northern Ireland) Act 2016 to consider rural needs in the development of new policies, plans or strategies or in any service design/delivery decisions and was required to ensure that the annual reporting returns were submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

            Accordingly, the Committee noted the summary of equality screening and rural needs impact assessments which had been undertaken from April till June, 2019.

The Committee was informed that the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, in partnership with the Council and the Education Authority, was proposing to host a one-day “Opportunities Rock” event in the City Hall on 14th May, 2020 to promote pathways for people with learning disabilities.

The event, which would be held in the Great Hall, would focus upon the themes of citizenship, equality and inclusiveness and would provide an opportunity to inform people with learning disabilities, their parents/carers and others of the opportunities which were available across the City and how they could be accessed. Representatives from further education, training, employment, recreation, social, leisure, sports and transport would be in attendance. It was proposed that the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officers of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Education Authority would participate in the event to demonstrate their organisation’s joint commitment to promoting inclusion and upholding the rights of people with learning disabilities to be treated as equal citizens in the City.

The Committee approved the hosting of the “Opportunities Rock” event and noted that the cost would be met by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. 

            The City Solicitor informed the Committee that the Local Council Equality and Diversity Group was comprised of stakeholder bodies from across the Local Government sector and included Chief Executives, diversity champions, equality and human resource officers, Trades Union officials, Staff Commission members and representatives from external stakeholder groups. The Group, which sought to prioritise and influence equality and diversity initiatives across Local Government, had been constituted in 2011 and re-constituted in 2015, following the reform of Local Government.

            He reported that the Group had undertaken a consultation exercise on its draft Strategy and Action Plan for 2019-21, which had been developed to guide its work in the longer term.

            He drew the Committee’s attention to the following comments which had been drafted by officers from the Equality and Diversity Unit and Corporate HR and recommended that it be forwarded to the Local Council Equality and Diversity Group as the Council’s response to the consultation to the Draft Strategy and Action Plan 2019-21:

“Equality and Diversity Group

Draft Strategy and Action Plan

2019 - 2021

July, 2019

1.   Background

The purpose of the Equality and Diversity Group is to prioritise and influence equality and diversity initiatives across local government.  The Group attempts to bring together the equality and diversity practices across the sector and in so doing, seeks to integrate the priorities of the Group with the ongoing work of individual councils. 

      The Group has responsibility for:

·        the development of the overall strategic direction for equality and diversity initiatives in local government

·        determining priorities and setting objectives

·        monitoring progress and reporting to the Local Government Staff Commission on a regular basis

      The Group was first constituted in 2011 and was re-constituted in 2015 in the light of the reform of local government.  A new Chair, who is the Chief Executive of one of the 11 councils, was appointed by Solace in 2019.

      A key feature of the work of the Equality and Diversity Group is the Diversity Champions’ Network which is made up of the elected member(s) and officer(s) Champions in each council.  The role of the Diversity Champion is to champion equality and diversity in individual councils and to act as first point of contact for enquiries and provide advice, guidance and support on equality and diversity issues within the organisation.  The Network provides a forum of support and networking for the Diversity Champions and meets quarterly to provide training and development opportunities for the Champions.

      Sub groups such as the Statutory Duty Network continue to meet, together with specific task and finish groups which will be established as required.

2.   Membership

      The membership of the Equality and Diversity Working Group is drawn from stakeholder bodies across the local government sector and includes Chief Executives, Diversity Champions, Equality Officers and HR Officers in councils, trade union officers and Staff Commission members, as well as representatives from external stakeholder groups.

      The current membership comprises:

            The Committee was reminded that domestic abuse was a serious issue which had the potential to affect any employee of the Council, whether as a victim, survivor or perpetrator. As part of the Council’s Gender Action Plan, a specific domestic violence and abuse policy had been developed and implemented in 2012.

            The Director of Organisational Strategy submitted for the Committee’s approval a revised Policy on Domestic Violence and Abuse in the Workplace, which applied to all Council employees, including casual and temporary staff, and which had been agreed by both management and Trades Unions. The Policy, which had taken account of best practice in other organisations, sought to support and assist an employee experiencing domestic violence and abuse, as well as providing guidance on managing situations where an employee were deemed to be the perpetrators. Upon being approved, it would be communicated to staff through a comprehensive training and awareness programme, in conjunction with the Trades Unions.

            The Committee approved the revised Policy on Domestic Violence and Abuse in the Workplace, as set out hereunder:

“1.       DEFINITION:

1.1.          For the purposes of this policy domestic violence and abuse is defined as any “threatening, controlling, coercive behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, verbal, sexual, financial or emotional) inflicted on anyone (irrespective of age ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation) by a current or former intimate partner or family member”. (Definition taken from the DOJ and DHSSPS Strategy document: “Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence” March 2016.)

2.               INTRODUCTION

2.1.          Domestic and sexual violence and abuse occurs right across our society and it has devastating consequences for the victims and their families. It has no boundaries as regards to age or gender, gender identity, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, wealth, disability or geography. 

2.2.          Domestic violence and abuse is a pattern of behaviour that is characterised by the exercise of control and the misuse of power by one person over another within an intimate or family relationship, including same sex relationships.  It is usually frequent and persistent.  While domestic violence and abuse most commonly refers to that perpetrated against a partner, it includes violence and abuse against ex-partners, and violence and abuse by any other person who has a close or family relationship with the victim, including parents, children, and siblings. It also includes honour based violence and abuse.

2.3.          Domestic violence and abuse does not just refer to physical violence but also to sexual, emotional and psychological, online, financial abuse and coercive control.  Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse used to harm, punish or frighten their victim.  This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.  Domestic violence and abuse is, in many cases, made up of a combination of different forms of abuse.  Domestic violence and abuse affects not only adults but may be inflicted on, or witnessed by children.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8g

            The Committee was informed that the Council’s Equality and Diversity framework, which ran from April, 2017 till March, 2021, set out the means by which the organisation would tackle inequalities and promote diversity in the City. The framework had been built around four key priorities and associated actions, namely, leadership, partnership and organisational commitment, understanding our communities through data and consultation, delivering services accessible to all and developing a skilled and diverse workforce. In terms of the leadership, partnership and organisational commitment key priority, the Council had committed to developing and delivering a Gender Action Plan, an LGBT+ Action Plan and a Race Action Plan.

            The Director of City and Organisational Strategy reported that the Women’s Steering Group had, in May, 2018, agreed a three-year Gender Action Plan for delivery between April, 2018 and March, 2021. The Year 2 Action Plan, covering 2019/20, was being presented to the Committee for approval, as was an LGBT+ Action Plan for the same period, which had been formulated in collaboration with the LGBT staff network. A Race Relations Plan had still to be developed. The cost of delivering Year 2 of the Gender Action Plan was approximately £40,500, which included £16,000 of approved activity carried over from 2018/19, whilst the delivery of the LGBT+ Action Plan would cost £9,300. Those costs would be met from the existing Organisational Development budget.

            The Committee approved Year 2 of the Gender Action Plan (2019/20) and the LGBT+ Action Plan 2019/20, as set out hereunder, together with the associated costs. 

GENDER ACTION PLAN 2018 – 2021

(Year 2019-20)

            The Committee approved the recommendations made in respect of applications received up to 6th August, 2019, as set out hereunder:

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders Consultative Forum of 15th August, 2019.

            The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting of the Active Belfast Ltd. Board of 5th August, 2019.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Working Group on the Climate Crisis of 12th August, 2019.

            The Committee was informed that a request had been received for the use of the City Hall grounds on the afternoon of Friday, 27th September to host a Chinese Cultural event. The event, which would form part of the China in Northern Ireland Programme 2019/20, would attract between 300 and 500 people and would be in keeping with the Council’s obligations in terms of good relations. The organisers had requested also the use of some rooms within the City Hall to provide a reception for VIP guests, however, only the Committee Rooms were available. It was pointed out that there would be only minimal costs to the Council and that those would be met by the International/European Unit.

            The Committee granted the use of the City Hall grounds and the Committee Rooms for the aforementioned event.

Councillor Groogan to raise:

"This Council notes the ambition set out in the Belfast Agenda that Belfast will be a city that is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive for all. The Council agrees that the public display of graphic abortion imagery in our City centre conflicts with this ambition due to the distress that it can cause to people who have suffered miscarriage and undertakes to investigate whether the display of such signs can be regulated lawfully, either by the Council or by another body, to ensure that those who have suffered miscarriages can continue to use and enjoy our City centre without fear of being re-traumatised."

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Groogan proposed the following:

"This Council notes the ambition set out in the Belfast Agenda that Belfast will be a city that is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive for all. The Council agrees that the public display of graphic abortion imagery in our City centre conflicts with this ambition due to the distress that it can cause to people who have suffered miscarriage and undertakes to investigate whether the display of such signs can be regulated lawfully, either by the Council or by another body, to ensure that those who have suffered miscarriages can continue to use and enjoy our City centre without fear of being re-traumatised."

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting addressing the issues raised within the motion.

            The Committee acceded to a request for funding of up to £10,000 from the Brexit Committee to enable an all-Party delegation, together with two officers, to undertake a visit to Brussels from 7th till 10th October to participate in European Week of Regions and Cities. The cost of the visit would be met from within existing Place and Economy Departmental budgets.