Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for the inability to attend was reported on behalf of The High Sherriff, Councillor Long and Councillors Ferguson and Lyons.

            The decisions of the Chief Executive, taken under delegated authority for the Committee and the minutes of the meeting of 9th and 23rd 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 subject to:

·        the omission of the minute under the heading” Just Eat Belfast Bikes Strategic Review”, which was subject to a valid call-in requisition and was not before the Council for approval and adoption; and

·        the amendment agreed under the heading “Sunday Opening Hours” namely “That the current extended Sunday trading hours are not brought back to the Committee for further extension beyond 5th September, 2021. And that the Council acknowledges the full range of challenges facing retail in the city, write to The Executive Office requesting an urgent meeting of the High Streets Task Force.

            No Declarations of Interest were reported.

            The Chairperson introduced representatives from Translink and Weavers Cross to the meeting: Mr. S. Wilson, Mr. L. McCombe, Mr D. McAllister, Mr. B. Gallagher and Ms. H. Harrison, to provide an update on the Belfast Transport Hub at Weavers Cross.

            Representatives provided an overview of building works, together with estimated timeline of completion stages and advised that the main works had been contracted over the next four years with anticipated completion for Summer 2024.

            Mr. McAllister explained the social value activities and metrics, such as partnership working with the Council to deliver job opportunities.

            Mr. Wilson described the social, economic and environmental benefits of the scheme which included:

·        8,000+ FTE Jobs in Grade A offices with FDI potential;

·        30%+ uplift in property values and rates;

·        20m+per annum public transport passenger footfall with all island connectivity;

·        £25m urban renewal investment;

·        20 acre brownfield site regeneration;

·        Zero emission public transport by 2040; and

·        20,000+ tonnes per year reduction in GHG emissions.

            Ms Harrison provided an update on the current planning stages of the scheme and impending consultations.

            Mr. McAllister advised how the development would promote environmental sustainability by a new high quality sustainable connected neighbourhood centred around the Belfast Transport Hub, delivering sustainable mobility with the City Centre. He stated that the ambition was to reduce dependency on private cars and fossil fuel consumption by encouraging modal shift.

            Mr. McCombe described how part of the development, Saltwater Square, was intended to be an active space and clarified how it would link to other parts of the city.

            During discussion, the representatives explained further the Carbon Footprint of Construction and sustainable construction targets and techniques, in particular in relation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announcements on global warming.

            Members of the Committee also raised queries on the streetscaping, cycling and walking paths, changes to existing road layouts and segregation of cycle paths.

            One Member suggested that the Weavers Cross team prioritise active travel users and continue to liaise with the Department for Infrastructure to ensure safe and sustainable transport provision around the proposed development.

            In relation to a query on Translink’s Bikes on Trains Policy, representatives noted that they would get back to the Committee with an update in due course.

            The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their presentation and they retired from the meeting.

            The Strategic Director drew Members attention to the report that accompanied the presentation and its recommendations.

            After discussion, the Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to note:

·        The information provided in Translink’s presentation in relation to the Belfast Transport Hub and the wider Weavers Cross regeneration scheme and that, where relevant, Translink would provide further information on the issues raised;

·        In line with the Committee’s approval in November 2019, the Council’s Hope Street carpark facility is included in Translink’s Weavers Cross master planning considerations and the site has been conditionally included in their marketing collateral seeking a master-developer partner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2a

            The information contained in the report associated with the following 4 items were restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

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

            The Strategic Director provided an overview of the report which outlined the year end finance report for 2020/21 and highlighted the Quarterly finance update which had been included as appendix 1.

            During discussion, one Member highlighted that the recommendations outlined in the report had been discussed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meetings in June and Special Meeting in August.

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note that the following recommendations outlined in the report had been agreed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in June:

-        note the report and agree the 2020/21 balances,

-        agree to the year-end surplus of £5.4m being made available for re-allocation.

-        Retain the annual allocation of £500k for the summer diversionary festival programme with the purpose of running it later in the year.

·        Note that, furthermore, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee had considered the Summer Community Diversionary Festival Programme at a Special Meeting on 2nd August, at which some of the £500k for the summer diversionary festival programme funding had been allocated.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development provided an update on the targeted acquisition of the City Centre and pointed out that further reports would be brought back to this Committee in respect of emerging proposals for future uses.

            During discussion, Members welcomed the acquisition as a significant step in the Council’s regeneration role in managing the future of the city centre. One Member raised the potential for the Council to look at other strategic acquisition opportunities within the city centre and across the city, in conjunction with statutory agencies, and for officers to consider other options for Targeted Acquisitions as part of an overall city regeneration and place-making approach.

After discussion, the Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, that the decisions of the Chief Executive, taken under delegated authority for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 18th June, 2021, relating to City Centre Property - Targeted Acquisition was approved and adopted by Council on 1st July, 2021;

·        Note strategic alignment of this acquisition with priorities identified by Members at the recent City Growth and Regeneration workshop – ‘Future of the City and Role of the City Centre’ in terms of place-making and diversification of city centre uses;

·        Note the immediate next steps and further work proposed in relation to scoping out optimal uses for these premises aligned to strategic proposals for reimagining the city centre; and

·        Note that further reports would be brought back to Committee with respect to emerging proposals for future uses of the property.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the acquisition of Site 10 for the Belfast Destination Hub.

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to note the following:

•        The Council’s Legal Services was progressing the acquisition of Site 10 at Royal Ave / North Street for the Belfast Destination Hub, as considered by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting of 18th June 2021 and ratified at the special meeting of the Council on 1st July 2021;

•        Land and Property Services has been instructed to progress acquisition negotiations with owners of 108 – 112 Royal Avenue and 114 – 116 Royal Avenue as ratified at the special meeting of the Council on 1st July 2021; and

•        All associated site assembly acquisitions would be subject to full title review, to be undertaken by Council Legal Services, with further updates to be brought back to Committee if required.

            It was reported that the Northern Ireland Office was working with an expert panel to facilitate a major art exhibition and had requested the loan of Council’s portrait of Michael Longley, ‘Light from Two Windies’ by Jeffrey Morgan, which was currently exhibited at Belfast Waterfront Hall.

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to approve the loan of the Michael Longley Portrait for the duration of the Portrait of Northern Ireland Exhibition to support this important and unique exhibition.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Members on work regarding connectivity and active travel, including the City Centre Connectivity Study, and a number of emerging public realm / infrastructure projects, the design and delivery of which will be informed by the principles established by ‘A Bolder Vision’.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to note:

·        The update on the Connectivity Study: A Bolder Vision, including the pending elected representatives’ workshop on the 23rd August and planned Public Consultation; 

·        The updates on individual public realm projects including the 5Cs, and Belfast Streets Ahead phases 3 and 5;

·        The proposed amendments to the scope of the ‘5Cs’ public realm scheme, including the removal of College Avenue, which will now be delivered through Belfast Streets Ahead Phase 5;

·        The update regarding DfC plans for carriageway resurfacing at Queens Square; 

·        The update on the Junctions Working Group;

·        The update on the Belfast THRIVES initiative, a pilot partnership to inform how Belfast’s public spaces can more effectively and inclusively contribute to the liveability of the city and the wellbeing of its inhabitants;

·        The update regarding the BCC bid to the UK Community Renewal Fund.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Connectivity is at the core of the Belfast Agenda. The Belfast Agenda seeks to develop a city that is vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable.

3.2       Sustainable connectivity and active travel requires a collaborative and holistic approach across a number of city stakeholders and partners to deliver strategic connections and improved access between, and into local communities and areas. At the April meeting of the CG&R Committee members requested a comprehensive report should be brought back to the Committee on Green and Blue Infrastructure / Active Travel related initiatives across the city along with Council proposals in relation to potential funding mechanisms. This is reflected in the prioritisation of the CG&R Committee Plan as agreed on the 9th June 2021 where one of the key pillars includes ‘Working with stakeholders to bring forward improved, sustainable connectivity and active travel across the city’.

3.3       The Community Planning Partnership Boards, as reported in May and June 2021, were established to translate the Belfast Agenda into action and to mobilise city partners to support the delivery and have clear synergies with the work of the CG&R Committee. The recently re-configured City Development Board has agreed the establishment of Active Travel and Connectivity as one of the four key pillars of work for the Board. The City Development Board, and as agreed by this Committee, recognises there is a need to focus on joint objectives and a targeted delivery approach across partners to accelerate opportunities to enhance accessibility, connectivity and active travel across the city. This is not only important to connect people to employment opportunities and investment hubs, but is important  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting in June, it was provided with an update on the emerging Department for Communities work to develop a Housing Supply Strategy as a key part of the housing programme to help meet the Programme for Government commitments to reduce housing stress and increase housing supply, together with details of the launch of a public Call for Evidence to inform this new Housing Supply Strategy.

            The Committee subsequently recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercised her delegated authority to:

-        Agree that officers develop initial responses to the questions posed in the recent Housing Supply Strategy: Call for Evidence document that has been launched by DfC; and

-        Agree that the draft response will subsequently be brought via Party Group Leaders given the closing date of 16 July for responses, with the final response brought back retrospectively to CGR Committee in August.

            However, due to other Council commitments the meeting of the Party Leaders Forum did not meet prior to the closing date of 16thJuly for responses. As a result, officers circulated an electronic copy of the draft responses to the Call for Evidence to the Members of the Party Group Leaders Forum and the Members of the Committee on the 2nd July for review and comment, with a requested return date for all comments of the 8th July.

            In keeping with the timetable set out by DfC, the draft response was submitted on the 16th July, as included within Appendix 1 of the report (copy available here) pending Council ratification in September.

            Accordingly, the Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

•        Note that a draft response to the DfC Housing Supply Strategy Call for Evidence was submitted to DfC on the 16th July; and

•        Confirm the draft consultation response of the 16th July (Appendix 1) as the Council’s final response.

The Committee considered the undernoted report together with the associated appendices:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            To update Members regarding ongoing work to develop and enable the creation and curation of a network of high quality open/green spaces across the city centre that are both accessible and attractive to a range of users.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note the ongoing work to identify open space and additional greening opportunities across the city centre and connections to local communities;

·        Note the update regarding Cathedral Gardens design development

·        Agree to receive a presentation on the emerging Cathedral Gardens Masterplan in the near future;

·        Agree to the proposal to consider opportunities to create  a new temporary pop-up park in a suitable location during the permanent construction works for Cathedral Gardens;

·        Note the work underway through the INW Open Space Framework to maximise the combined benefits of emerging open space and regeneration projects in the wider Cathedral and UU area and its alignment also with the ongoing Bolder Vision Connectivity work; BRT Phase 2; Belfast Streets Ahead etc;

·        Note the update on other emerging projects, including City Quays Gardens and key connections between the City Quays and City Centre areas.

·        Note the ongoing work on a ‘Playful City’.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       The City Centre Connectivity Study: ‘A Bolder Vision’, in line with the Belfast City Centre Regeneration Investment Strategy (BCCRIS), proposes the development of a more attractive, accessible, safe and vibrant city centre with a greener, walkable and connected core that is more people and family-focussed. BCCRIS identifies that the city centre lacks major publicly accessible open spaces, and that the majority of open spaces are disconnect and have a hard landscape and character, with the centre lacking in greener streets that can provide relief in the most densely developed part of the city. BCCRIS also identifies the opportunity to provide a sizable new open space and greening opportunities by linking St. Anne’s Cathedral to Cathedral Gardens and Writers Square. It goes onto say that ‘the entire Inner Ring should be tamed, humanised and greened to reduce severance from adjacent communities.

3.2       It is well understood that there is a need to enhance existing, and develop new, high quality open spaces across the city centre, for the benefit of all users, including existing communities, and to support the growth of the resident population and diversification of uses in the city centre. This was reflected in the Future City Workshop held with Members of the CG&R Committee in May 2021 where Members agreed that the right infrastructure needed to be developed in order to achieve the aims of diversification of use and supporting city centre living within the Future City Centre Programme. It was noted that this includes the provision of community infrastructure and high quality, inclusive and sustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4c

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the Strategic Assessment & Action Plan developed by the Belfast Labour Market Partnership (LMP).

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note the outline Action Plan which will be used as a basis for engagement with the Department for Communities (DfC) in the coming weeks, in order to support delivery of activity from September 2021.  If approved, the action plan will run from September 2021-March 2023.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members have recently received a number of reports on Employability NI and the emerging work of the Belfast Labour Market Partnership.  At the June meeting of this committee, it was noted that the LMP action plan was under development and would be submitted to DfC in the coming months.  Since that time, officers have undertaken further consultation with the interim partnership and are currently working with DfC with a view to formally submitting the action plan for review and approval in early August. 

3.2       Strategic Assessment & Action Planning Process

            Between February and June this year, the interim Belfast LMP undertook a Strategic Assessment of employability, skills, provision and local labour market conditions in Belfast.  This exercise was undertaken to inform the priority areas of investment within the action plan. 

3.3       The LMP action plan is based on:

·        A statistical assessment of labour market data and insights relating to both supply (those seeking work) and demand (nature/scale/type of job opportunities), with very local level data generated by Queen’s University, Belfast

·        Consideration of key policy documents including the Draft Programme for Government  Outcomes Framework, the Belfast Agenda, Belfast City Council’s Inclusive Growth Strategy and the draft skills strategy, in order to ensure alignment

·        Input from the interim Belfast Labour Market Partnership members to shape and tailor emerging interventions.

3.4       The action plan is for an initial period of 18 months from September 2021 until March 2023 with a subsequent 3-year action plan to be submitted for the period from April 2023 onwards.  The current draft structure of the plan is focused on four priority areas of intervention.  As previously noted, these are:

·        Quickly back to work: Ensuring a co-ordinated response to the substantial number of people in the city who have been or are risk of being made employed, especially as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on helping people to move quickly back into employment and/or training (with a view to future employment);

·        Increasing Opportunities: Empowering those furthest from the labour market to succeed through quality support, especially those who will be considered long-term unemployed as a consequence of COVID-19, as well as the economically inactive;

·        No-one Left Behind: Targeting of those disadvantaged groups through the delivery of an integrated, comprehensive, inclusive, holistic and local employability approach; and

·        Catching Up: Supporting access to careers pathways,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            The purpose of this report is to:

-       Update Members on the investment programme that supports the cultural strategy, A City Imagining 2020-2030.

-       Seek approval for the opening of the cultural multi-annual two-year scheme in September 2021 for funding from 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2024.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

-       Note the contents of this report and agree to open cultural multi-annual grants in September 2021 for Arts and Heritage organisations and Events and Festivals for funding from 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024 subject to final recommendations being agreed by Committee in February 2022.

3.0       Main report

            Members will be aware that at a meeting of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee on 28 August 2019 a new ten-year cultural strategy for Belfast, A City Imagining, was agreed. As part of this strategy a new investment approach was approved including phased implementation of new funding programmes. Similar to the Belfast Agenda, the recommended investment model for culture proposed a new partnership approach to supporting the cultural sector, with the aim of sustaining and developing accessible cultural activity and infrastructure across Belfast. This investment is central to creating positive cultural, social and economic impacts for the city, delivering on our overall targets for the period, positioning Belfast as a regional driver, and creating the conditions for long-term transformation.

3.2       As included in the strategy, the aims of the cultural investment model are to:

-       support the cultural life of the city by enabling citizens to be active, dynamic and creative agents of change

-       invest in the cultural and creative sectors skills development and capacity for production and innovation

-       position Belfast as an international testing ground for new approaches to cultural engagement, development and placemaking

-       establish Belfast as a cultural destination.

3.3       The first phased implementation of the cultural investment model commenced with the opening of a competitive funding programme for cultural multi-annual grants for the period April 2020 to March 2024. It was agreed that these multi-annual grants would cover two main areas:

-       Arts and heritage organisations, which have a year-round programme of cultural activity (Anchor four-year grants and Enable two-year grants)

-       Festivals and events organisations, which have a festival or event with an audience of 65,000 or more (Imagine four-year grants), or an audience of 10,000 or more (Activate two-year grants) by end of grant period. 

3.4       These two strands of funding, Arts and Heritage and Festivals and Events, each with two tiers of investment available (two-year and four-year) replaced previous core multi-annual funding for arts and heritage and previous one-off funding agreements to events and festivals awarded on an annual basis via the Committee process. 

3.5       The Arts and Heritage strand of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

            The purpose of the report was to provide Members with an update in regard to the Zoo performance during Q1 (April-June) of the 2021-22 financial year, under the following areas:

·        Visitor Services;

·        Education Services;

·        Animal Collection;

·        Marketing and Events, and

·        Financial performance.

            In relation to Visitor Services, it was reported that the zoo had remained closed to the public at the start of Q1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and reopened on 30th April as an outdoor attraction only, with a takeaway catering service provided in the zoo’s small Treetop Café located the top of the zoo. The indoor animal houses (excluding the Rainforest House) had reopened to the public on 24th May.

            The Business Manager explained that the zoo had implemented a range of health and safety measures in line with Covid-19 requirements and several zoo initiatives remained unavailable during Q1 due to health and safety requirements.

            She advised that, upon reopening at the end of April, the zoo had seen significant visitor demand with the majority of weekends throughout May and June being fully booked. During Q1 the zoo welcomed 84k visitors over the two-month period it was open. She advised that this was an increase of 54% compared to average number of visitors (May-June) since 2014, even with the daily capacity restrictions in place.

            She informed the Committee that the requirement of advance booking had helped with increased visitor demand, as people were planning in advance and were committed to visiting the zoo on their selected date. She confirmed that the zoo intended to keep this, in at least some form, even when Covid-19 restrictions were reduced or removed in future.

            In relation to Education Services, she stated that the zoo had a small education team with two staff members. Due to limited staff resources and the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, a normal education service was not available during Q1. School groups were accommodated on a reduced basis with self-guided visits only available.

            The Business Manager highlighted that, regarding Animal Collection / Welfare, the zoo celebrated the birth of five Fijian banded baby iguanas which hatched in early January, marking the first new addition to the zoo of 2021. She also highlighted that a health and safety refurbishment of Belfast Zoo’s sea lion pool in 2021 within the aquatic habitat was completed with fresh water being changed to saline water which enhanced the welfare of the animals.

            Regarding Marketing and Events, the Committee was advised that the emphasis during Q1 was heavily focused on generating awareness that the zoo was ‘Now Open’, it also promoted its new Changing Places facility for visitors with disabilities and reopened its sea lion viewing window which was closed to the public for several years.

            It was reported that the zoo welcomed several babies during Q1, including the birth of a giraffe calf, Ballysheen, in front of hundreds of visitors, a critically endangered bongo and six Madagascar tree boas.

            The Committee was provided with an update on the Financial performance for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Members on the progress of the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme and to seek approvals to proceed with the recommendations regarding reallocation of budget lines within the overall programme. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Note the updates on the DfC Revitalisation Programme projects contained within this paper and the continued importance of the use of streets and spaces to assist businesses and communities as part of a wider programme of work focused on Reimagining the Public Realm. 

·        To note the challenges and risk around delays in delivery, the request to DfC for an extension and the agreement, via a Letter of Variance process, to extend funding spend period to March 2022.

·        To note the outcome of the Castle Place Hub procurement, with project costs now exceeding the current budget allocated;

·        To note the DfI commitment to 100% funding Adelaide Street project and the proposed condition to reallocate Adelaide Street budget of £100,000 to Castle Place Hub scheme.

·        To note the £45,000 underspend of the Connectivity Scheme in Church Lane area following a procurement exercise and agree to reallocate this underspend to Castle Place Hub project.

·        To agree that any further underspends realised are utilised to meet any additional cost increases on previously agreed and committed projects.

·        To note the progress made with the E-cargo bike pilot and the appointment of a suitable operator to carry out the pilot project.

·        To note the progress of the Covid-19 Business Grant, the potential underspend and to approve the reallocation of underspend to the overall Revitalisation Programme budget.

·        To note the current position regarding the Business Cluster and Community grant scheme and the ratified decision at full Council 1 July to allocate Council monies towards the remaining applications (subject to the applications due diligence process).

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       The CG&R Committee have received regular updates and provided approvals relating to the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme - a £4.039m programme funded via DfC to bring forward and deliver a range of economic, cultural and physical interventions to support businesses to trade efficiently during the Covid-19 restrictions and to maximise and create more outdoor space for businesses. To date a total of £2.250m has been spent or directly allocated to delivery partners up to the end of June 2021. The following sections provide an outline of certain works still in progress and programme challenges, with Appendix 1 Table providing a summary overview of the overall programme.

3.2       To date, some eight interventions/projects have been completed including marketing, branding, public safety messaging and communication activity; animation activity; revenue funding support for additional street cleansing and neighbourhood safety; and the replacement of the Belfast Bikes fleet with 450 new smart bikes. The first of the physical interventions completed and recently launched  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7b

            The Members of the Committee were informed that correspondence had been received from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the following two consultations relating to accessible/disabled park bay proposals within the city:

·        St Jude’s Parade - DfI propose to remove an accessible/disabled parking bay outside No. 26 St Jude’s Parade and provide an accessible/disabled parking bay outside Nos. 24 and 28 St Jude’s Parade. This proposal was in response to the bay outside No. 26 no longer being required and two subsequent applications from local residents for accessible parking bays outside Nos. 24 and 28.

·        80 Willowbank Gardens - DfI propose to remove an accessible/disabled parking bay outside No. 80 Willowbank Gardens as it was no longer required.

            It was reported that these proposals would contribute to the provision of accessible parking and/or on-street parking in the respective localities and in the case of St Jude’s Parade should provide improved accessibility for motorists with limited mobility.

            In accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Members agreed that the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to note the two proposed schemes as outlined.

            The Committee was provided with a quarterly update on the Notices of Motion. It was reported that the Committee was responsible for 11 active Motions and Issues Raised in Advance.

            The Committee was reminded that, given the current pressures in responding to the pandemic, it had been difficult to afford the usual time towards progressing Motions. Nevertheless, there had been progress in a number of items and it was suggested that the following 4 Motions be now closed:

Category 1 Recommended Closures (Notices of Motion which contained an action that had been completed):

- Sustainable Transport (Ref number 43). The Committee was reminded that a further report was considered by the Committee in May 2021 and a range of potential impacts and issues were discussed such as increased vehicles in shared bus/cycle lanes, segregated cycle provision, hackney and public hire vehicles, convenience for the public as well as the impact of vehicles on air pollution and the need for better transport options. The Committee, at its meeting in May, noted that the proposed Notice of Motion as set out would not be taken forward.

Category 2 Recommended Closures (Notices of Motion have become Council policy or absorbed into a strategic programme of work):

- Air Passenger Duty (Ref number 58). It was reported that this motion would be considered in the context of the new draft 10 year Tourism Plan, which would be included on the Committee agenda for consideration in September 2021.

- Economic impact of retail closures and job losses (Ref number 92). The Committee was reminded that the Future of the City Committee Workshop on 25th May, 2021 provided an update on the current economic impact of Covid-19 on the city, including job losses and the vacancy rates in the city centre. This information was directly informing the Future City Centre Programme. Whilst this programme was initially developed around the key findings and recommendations outlined in the Pragma Consulting retail analysis, given the significant challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Future City Centre Programme had been recast to help address the issues impacting on the city centre and is aligned with the wider Belfast: Our Recovery framework priorities. The Committee was advised that it would continue to be monitored to reflect the changes in the city which would involve analysing the recent trends influencing the city centre and the impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic, with a future report being submitted to the Committee, together with regular updates on the Future City Centre programme of work as it progressed.

- Belfast Bikes – pilot Rolloe scheme (Ref number 102). As noted in the committee report of June 2021, Officers had been working with the company on the viability of pilot scheme and regular updates would be brought back to the Committee. The Committee was advised that this would be integrated into the Belfast Bikes programme of work.

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8b

            Councillor McMullan suggested that the Committee invite representatives from the 20s Plenty Campaign, which advocate for a speed limit of 20mph to be normal on residential streets and in town and village centres, to present their work at a future meeting.

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to agree to invite representatives of the 20s Plenty Campaign to present its work at a future meeting.