Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillor Kyle and Councillor Walsh.

            The minutes of the meeting of 11th November were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st December.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee agreed to the schedule of monthly meetings for the period from January to December, 2016, commencing at 5.15p.m.:

·        Wednesday, 13th January;

·        Wednesday, 10th February;

·        Wednesday, 9th March;

·        Wednesday, 13th April;

·        Wednesday, 11th May;

·        Wednesday, 8th June;

·        No meeting in July;

·        Wednesday, 10th August;

·        Wednesday, 14th September;

·        Wednesday, 12th October;

·        Wednesday, 9th November; and

·        Wednesday, 7th December.

            The Committee also noted that additional special meetings would be scheduled when required.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from NI Water to attend a future meeting.  The Chief Executive reminded the Members that it had previously agreed to hold a special meeting to discuss the city’s water infrastructure in response to the presentation from the Director of Property and Projects at its last special meeting.  The Chief Executive also suggested that the Committee might invite the Belfast Public Hire Taxi Service to the same meeting to discuss recent issues. 

            The Committee agreed to invite both NI Water and the Belfast Public Hire Taxi Service to a special meeting which would be scheduled for January.

            The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from the Ulster University’s

Centre for Economic Policy at its meeting on 13th January.

            The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from The MAC at its meeting on 13th January.

            The Committee was advised that Mr. B. McGivern, BCCM Chairman, Mr. A. Irvine, City Centre Manager, Mr. H. Black, President of the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and Mr. C. Suitor, Chairman of the Belfast One BID were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to:

-       Introduce the presentation to this committee by Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM), setting out their proposed priority actions for the financial year 2016/2017

-       Outline the associated financial contribution requested from the Council towards the operational costs, in line with Council priorities for city centre regeneration.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       It is recommended that Members:

-       Note the proposed future role for BCCM, as set out in a recent independent review

-       Agree the priority actions for the organisation for the coming year, in line with Council priorities for city centre regeneration, and agree that Council officers should work with BCCM staff to agree specific activities to deliver on these priorities

-       Agree the financial contribution of £190,000 for core funding for the financial year 2016/2017, subject to approval of the requisite budget in the estimates in January 2016, and subject to agreed actions being undertaken and targets met

-       Agree a contribution of £30,000 towards the employment of a BIDS Development Officer from Economic Development Unit estimates, subject to BCCM finding the match funding from other sources.

3.0       Key issues

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council has supported BCCM since its establishment.  The organisation performs a range of operational functions that contribute towards City Centre vibrancy, safety and security and public space management. 

3.2       BCCM is funded from a range of sources, but its key funding partners are Belfast City Council, Department for Social Development and the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce. 

3.3       BCCM provides services within a defined boundary in the City Centre area, stretching from Shaftesbury Square to the end of Royal Avenue/York Street.  A section of that area is now part of the boundary for the Belfast One Business Improvement District (BID), which will be operational from April 2016.  The BID focuses on providing additional services to businesses located within the agreed boundary.  Work is currently underway to define the services the BID will support.  However, it is important to note the BID services must be additional to those already provided by statutory partners, as established by defining a baseline of current service delivery.  BID partners are of the view that Council support for BCCM – although a discretionary activity – would constitute existing baseline services and therefore, there is an expectation the Council would continue to resource a similar level of service provision in the City Centre.   The BID will then plan its activities to operate in addition to these core services.  This approach is consistent with how BIDs are developed in other areas.

3.4       At present, BCCM’s work is focused round three key themes,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

            The Head of Economic Initiatives and International Development advised the Members that a funding request had now also been received from the Cathedral Quarter Trust (CQT) to support the development of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the Cathedral Quarter. 

            She outlined that work was now under way to create a BID which would cover the Cathedral Quarter area of the city, involving around 600 properties.  The Members were advised that the draft business plan for “Destination CQ” had been launched in late November 2015, with the ballot opening on 3rd March 2016 and closing on 14th April 2016.  If the ballot was to be successful, it was anticipated that the Destination CQ BID would generate an annual income of around £300,000 from the levy.  The draft business plan contained a range of priority actions under four themes of Create, Celebrate, Invite and Inspire. The Members were advised that the main driver would be to maintain and develop the vibrancy of Belfast’s cultural district.

            The Committee was reminded that, in September 2015, the CQT had asked the Council for a sum of £29,000 towards resourcing the development of the Destination CQ BID but that the Council had not been in a position to provide that level of funding at that time. The Trust had now submitted a request for £10,000 towards the development work, and was seeking match funding support from both the Department for Social Development (DSD) and Tourism NI (£30,000 in total being sought).  The Head of Economic Initiatives and International Development advised that this funding was available within current budgets.

            After discussion, the Committee:

1.     noted the request for support which had been received from the Cathedral Quarter Trust for resources towards the development work on the “Destination CQ” BID;

2.     agreed to allocate £10,000 from existing budgets towards the activity, in the current financial year, subject to CQT attracting match funding from other funders; and

3.     agreed that the bid ballot should be run by a third party, Electoral Reform Services, and noted that all costs associated with the ballot will be paid by the BID.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of the report is to:

-       Update Members on the transfer of local economic development functions from DETI/Invest NI to the Council under Local Government Reform (LGR)

-       Provide an overview of the proposed way forward for the delivery of business start and social entrepreneurship support

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that Members:

-       Note the work undertaken to date to develop a regional business start programme and secure ERDF funding for this programme

-       Approve the recommendation to extend the delivery of the Regional Start Initiative until October 2016, or until the new regional business start programme is operational, whichever is earlier

-       Note the work undertaken to develop a pipeline of support from start up through to business growth, incorporating specialist support for social entrepreneurship

-       Approve the proposal to develop a programme of activity for social enterprises start-up support, to be met through the transferring budget.

3.0       Main report

3.1      Transfer of functions update

            As Members will be aware a number of economic development functions transferred from DETI/INI to councils in April 2015.  These included:

-       Enterprise awareness (with a particular focus on under-represented groups and targets of areas of disadvantage)

-       Start a business activity (referred to as Go For It programme)

-       Social enterprise (referred to as the Social Entrepreneurship Programme - SEP)

-       Youth enterprise.

3.2       As a result of this transfer, councils are now responsible for the associated job creation targets identified by the Northern Ireland Executive.  For the current financial year this equates to a target of 325 jobs promoted for the Belfast City Council area.  The primary mechanism for the council to achieve these targets is through the Go For It programme. There are currently no additional targets for councils in relation to social entrepreneurship and enterprise awareness. The budget transferred to council to deliver the associated functions and targets is £411,984 in the current financial year. This allocation will be used in its entirety for the delivery of the transferring functions.

3.3       To allow for a period of transition, it was agreed that Invest NI would develop a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with all councils to continue the delivery of the Go for It and Social Entrepreneurship Programmes (SEP) until the conclusion of their contracts.  Since April 2015, there have been over 330 business plans created and 264 jobs promoted in Belfast through the Go for It programme.

3.4       Whilst there was no opportunity to extend the SEP beyond its contract end date of July 2015, there has been a level of flexibility with the Go For It programme, with potential for an extension until October 2016.  Currently the contract has been extended until March 2016, pending a decision from councils as to the content and format of a regional business start programme to replace this initiative.   

3.5       The eleven councils recently commissioned an appraisal and business case to inform future business start support.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1      The purpose of this report is provide Members with an update on the status of the proposed transfer of Urban Regeneration and Community Development powers, and associated budgets, from the Department for Social Development (DSD) to Council in April 2016.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to note the contents of the report including:

(i)       the decision taken by Full Council on 1 December 2015, to call for the NI Assembly to undertake an early review of the decision taken by DSD not to transfer regeneration powers in April 2016;

(ii)      the urgent meeting requested between a all-party deputation from the Council and the Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, to examine all what alternative arrangements could be put in place to enable the Council to utilise key regeneration functions on behalf of DSD in the event of the non-transfer of these powers;

(iii)    correspondence to be issued to DSD seeking agreement permitting the use of/transfer of assets at nil cost to the Council to enable physical regeneration projects to happen at both a city and neighbourhood level; and

(iv)    the work underway by the Council to support and stimulate the further development and regeneration of the city including the lobby for greater devolution to city-regions.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       As Members will be aware in April 2016, the Council was due to become the regeneration authority for the city and to inherit additional powers and budgets from the Department for Social Development (DSD).  This would have included an enhanced responsibility for, among other things, leading both citywide strategic urban regeneration and smaller scale area-focused neighbourhood regeneration activity through the utilisation of comprehensive development powers. The Council would have also been given responsibility for developing and delivering the successor programme to Neighbourhood Renewal and the allocation of a substantial revenue grant funding package.

4.0       Key Issues

4.1       On the 26 November 2015, the Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA confirmed that the transfer of regeneration powers to councils as planned in April 2016 would now not happen.  This is the second time the planned transfer has been postponed with the original transfer scheduled for April 2015 as part of the wider Local Government Reform process. This time round, however, there is no future date set out as to when (or even if) these important functions would transfer back to local councils.

4.2       The non-transfer of key regeneration functions, particularly Comprehensive Development Powers and the ability to acquire land for regeneration purposes, will seriously hamper the ability of the Council to take forward major investment, development and regeneration plans; unlocking and realising the potential of flagship schemes (e.g. North East Quarter, Northside) and reinvigorating key areas in the city (e.g. Linen Quarter, Cathedral Quarter, Western Quarter). It will constrain the ability of the Council to fully deliver Members’ ambitions and priorities emerging from the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy, support investment in the city centre which will grow  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5a

            (Ms. E. Henry, Assistant Tourism, Culture and Arts Manager, attended in connection with this item)

            The Head of Economic Initiatives and International Development reminded the Committee that, at its meeting in August 2015, it had given approval to commence the process of developing a new action plan for the period 2016-2020 to support the Cultural Framework for Belfast. The Cultural Framework had been developed in 2012 and was based around 4 key themes, namely, Distinctly Belfast, Inspiring Communities, Attracting Audiences and Strengthening the Sector.

            She advised the Members that, following a significant programme of sector engagement, a new draft Action Plan for 2016-2020 had now been developed and that, since August 2015, the following work had been undertaken:

·        A series of sector workshops focused on Heritage, Inspiring Communities, Attracting Audiences, Developing People and International Connections;

·        A “State of the sector” survey carried out to establish the current position of the cultural sector in Belfast; and

·        Meetings with a number of key stakeholders, including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Tourism NI and Visit Belfast.

            She reminded the Committee that a significant issue for the cultural sector had been the level of public funding compared to other parts of the UK and Ireland and in recent years that had continued to decline.  She highlighted, therefore, that this was likely to increase the requests submitted to the Council for support but that there was no additional budget available for grant funding.  In response to this situation, she advised the Committee that the Council would continue to provide support and deliver development programmes to help organisations diversify their income streams and secure funding from other sources.  This was outlined in the Strengthening the Sector theme of the Action Plan.

            After the Assistant Tourism, Culture and Arts Manager had addressed a number of the Members’ questions, the Committee:

1.     noted and agreed the contents of the Cultural Framework for Belfast – Draft Action Plan 2016-2020 (available on modern.gov) as a basis for public consultation; and

2.     agreed to consider the revised version of the Action Plan after the conclusion of the consultation exercise in April 2016.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       Over the last year Council Officers have been working with the local organising committee, who operate under the auspice of Athletics Northern Ireland, in their bid to secure the 2017 Twenty-Four Hour World Endurance Championship.  This paper contains a request for approval of an underwriting letter of support in order that the organisers’ bid can be endorsed by United Kingdom Athletics (UKA), which in turn will allow the submission to be presented to the International Association of Ultrarunners (IUA) in order to secure the event for Belfast

1.2       For Councillors’ information, the IUA operates under the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Committee is asked to consider whether

·        a letter of support, underwriting up to a value of £50,000, the bid for the World 24 Hour World Championship in 2017,should be issued by Council to United Kingdom Athletics.  This will enable the bid to go in-front of the International Association of Ultrarunners in order to secure the event for Belfast.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            This event would be staged from the 30 June to the 2 July 2017, and would attract approximately four hundred participants, accompanied by four hundred coaches and support staff.  It is also estimated that the event would attract around 1,000 spectators and create approximately 5,000 bed-spaces, which in turn would generate £364,000 additional economic activity for Belfast.

3.2       The main race elements of the event would take place in the Council owned Victoria Park, with the opening and medal ceremonies being staged at Belfast City Hall.  Both these elements are subject to Council approval.  Three hundred of the proposed competitors would come from out-of-state and the event would be in keeping with the Belfast Agenda, in that the Championship would not only help the local economy through tourism bed-nights, but would portray the city as an active and vibrant place to visit.

3.3       To date Council Officers have issued general letters of support to assist the local organisers, who operate under the auspice of Athletics Northern Ireland.  However, United Kingdom Athletics have now indicated that they will not support the bid unless an underwriting commitment is made by a commercial sponsor or public body.  The total cost of staging the event is £78,761 and the organisers have secured £28,761 from commercial sponsors and other sources, including personal loans.  However, the local bid group has been unable to gain an underwriting commitment for the outstanding £50,000, thus Belfast City Council is being to act as guarantor for the bid up to the amount stated £50,000.

3.4       Financial & Resource Implications

            The organisers have given assurances that they will address the cash shortfall prior to the event.  Any underwriting arrangement agreed by the Council would be subject to a final business case and legal contract. They have also stressed that the likelihood of Belfast City Council being asked to pay the full £50,000 is low, with the Council’s commitment likely to be £10,000,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

            The Interim Director of Development reminded the Members that the Council’s International Relations Framework promoted civic and business linkages in key global markets, including China.  He explained that one of the main partners was the Confucius Institute at the Ulster University. The Committee was advised that, on 18th February 2016, the Confucius Institute, in partnership with the Culture Office of the Chinese Embassy in London, planned to hold a celebration to mark the Chinese New Year. The Institute was inviting the famous Chongqing Sichuan Opera House to perform the Sichuan opera for a Belfast audience. The Members were advised that this event would bring senior officials from the Chinese Embassy in London to officially recognise Chinese New Year and, in particular, the opening of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast.  The Director advised that an audience of 3,000 people was expected to attend the event.

            The Committee was advised that the overall budget for hosting the event was an estimated at £24,000 and that the Institute had requested a sum of £4,000 from the Council.

            The Committee agreed that Council support be provided, up to a value of £4,000, towards the Chinese New Year 2016 celebrations and noted that this was available from within the council’s International Relations budget.

            (Ms. L. Leonard, European and International Relations Manager, attended in connection with this item)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is to seek approval for an outward Nashville visit in March 2016 (11-16 March 2015).

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that the Committee:

·        agrees to the Nashville visit, with participation of the Lord Mayor and Chair of the Nashville Steering Group or their nominees, and the development of a 2015/16 action plan through the Nashville Steering Group and noted that a budget of £5,000 from the International Relations budget has been set aside for work on Nashville, including this visit.

3.0      Main report

3.1       Members may be aware that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the Mayor of Nashville and the Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1994 to promote cultural, tourism and business development opportunities between the two cities. 

3.2       There was limited activity in the early days due to limited resources locally and changes in the political environment in Nashville, but around 2010 there was renewed interest in expanding the link from local partners who had made some progress in developing their own bilateral links with partners in Nashville.  These include:

-       Staff exchanges, joint research and host visits between Queen’s University and Vanderbilt University

-       Establishing and building on the Belfast – Nashville Songwriters Festival

-       Participation in the annual Music Cities Irish Festival

-       Development of links between Ulster University and Google Fibre to facilitate exchange programmes

-       Development of links with Ulster and Belmond Universities

-       Exploration of healthcare links and conventions between the NI based EU Connected Health Alliance and the US Commercial Service

-       Exploration of partnerships between Visit Belfast and the Nashville Visitor and Convention Bureau.

3.3       The council convened a steering group of interested stakeholders including Ulster and Queen’s Universities, Invest NI, Visit Belfast, Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI, Generator NI, BBC and Belfast Nashville Songwritiers.  They agreed to a collective programme of activities covering a wide range of issues including education, economic development, genealogy and cultural tourism. 

3.4       Individual partners have been working on their respective areas of collaboration such as QUB’s links with Vanderbilt University and the successful Belfast-Nashville Festival.  The challenge has been to consider whether and how the Council can add value to those links and, as such, whether there needs to be a focus on exploring opportunities for additional links with Nashville and what the Council’s role should be in that regard. 

3.6       In September 2015, Nashville elected a new Mayor – Megan Barry.  The Mayor’s Office has indicated an interest in exploring opportunities for further mutual linkages between Nashville and its partners, including Belfast.   The Sister Cities lead in Nashville has been in regular contact and has confirmed that a delegation from Nashville will travel to Belfast before the Sister Cities Summit in Dublin (April 2016).

3.7       In order to establish relationships with the new Mayor and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6d

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

            “1.0     Purpose of Report

         To update Members on the £10 million submission to the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) competition for NI to become a regional exemplar for the uptake of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs). The bid, which is 100% funded, is led by the Department of Regional Development Ecarni team, and Department of Environment in conjunction with local Councils. Belfast City Council is the lead Council.

2.0   Recommendations

          Members are asked to:

·        Note the measures outlined in the NI ecarni bid

·        Agree that Council will sign the NI Ultra Low Emission ‘charter’ as part of the bid process

3.0   Main report

3.1   The UK Climate Change Act introduced in 2008 sets a target of 80% reduction in green house gas emissions by 2050. As the transport sector is responsible for around 20% of the UK’s emissions particular focus is being placed on the transition to alternatively fuelled vehicles in order to meet this target.

         In early 2015 £35 million was allocated to a ‘Go Ultra Low City Scheme’ to encourage city regions to take a lead role in the transition to electric and other ultra low emission vehicles. This is an opportunity for a city/region to build an international reputation for the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles – a major growth market and technology over the next fifteen years.

         In April 2015 the DoE/DRD E-car team proposed leading a regional bid to the scheme in partnership with Belfast City Council. Following an initial application the Northern Ireland bid (ecarni) was shortlisted with ten other UK cities; four of which will be allocated up to £10 million.

         The NI bid is designed to contribute to the wider sustainable transport vision for the region. It will use targeted policy and financial incentives, alongside strong marketing and innovative ICT to inform and monitor measures, to promote and build momentum for a major change in the uptake of ULEVs across the region. Since April the DRD e-car team have been working with the public and private sector to draft the bid, which includes the following measures:

1.     Put in place a Diesel to Electric vehicle scrappage scheme to encourage the switch to EV’s to owners of pre-2006 diesel vehicles which emit very high levels of pollution.

2.     Provide incentives for an EV motability scheme to encourage greater uptake of EV as the car of choice for eligible customers.

3.     Create an EV salary sacrifice scheme for NICS with further implementation to the wider public and private sector

4.     Create a strong marketing and communications campaign  which will increase the awareness of ULEVs , promote the individual measures and develop an online digital platform which will act as a ‘one stop shop’ for EV drivers.

5.     Develop a Northern Ireland Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Strategy and international  policy  guidance which  focuses on the development of short , medium and long term polices and measures to encourage the uptake of ULEVs including where appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7a