Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Attwood, Humphrey, B. Kelly and Kyle.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 10th December, it had agreed to receive a presentation from the Belfast City Centre Management company in respect of its range of new initiatives and the development of its existing activities.

            It was reported that Mr. B. McGivern, Chairman, Belfast City Centre Management company, and Mr. Andrew Irvine, City Centre Manager, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            Mr. Irvine advised the Committee that Belfast City Centre Management sought to deliver additional services for the City centre on behalf of its core funders in order to contribute, in a measurable way, to the development of a cleaner, safer, more attractive and more accessible City.  He pointed out that the company had three main objectives, namely:

(i)   delivering direct City centre services;

(ii)  facilitating and assisting in the delivery of its funders’ City centre Initiatives; and

(iii)direct liaison with City centre businesses.

            Mr. Irvine indicated that the work of the company was extremely important to the success of Belfast City centre and was crucial in securing the support of the private sector for key Council initiatives.  He drew the Committee’s attention to a number of schemes which had been developed by the company, including the Belfast Against Night Disorder (BAND) scheme, the Retail Crimewatch and Radiolink Schemes,

the proposed Taxis Scheme, which he indicated was designed to clear revellers quickly from the City centre between midnight and 3.00 a.m. and would complement the Council’s Get Home Safe Scheme campaign, and the Urban Management Initiative, which sought to provide information to traders in respect of the Streets Ahead Programme.

            In relation to Belfast City Council events, the Centre City Manager reported that work was ongoing with the officers from the Development Department and that the Chamber of Trade and Commerce was seeking to deliver a co-ordinated “Belfast 2009 Events and Street Animation Programme”.  Mr. Irvine suggested that one of the biggest problems within the City centre was traffic management and he displayed for the information of the Members several photographs depicting problems associated with vehicles entering the restricted-access zone.  He indicated that there had been 29,000 illegal vehicle movements per month through the zone.  He then highlighted the problems of taxi parking within the City and, in particular, at the taxi rank adjacent to the City Hall.

            Mr. Irvine reported on his organisation’s work in relation to the Economy Activity of the City and the development of the character of the City.  He then addressed a number of issues which had been raised at previous meetings, including disabled access to the City centre, the Streets Ahead Programme, the proposed Taxi Scheme and the erection of Christmas lighting within the Castle Street area.

            Mr. McGivern advised the Committee that his organisation had had several meetings with Translink in relation to the traffic management of the buses throughout the City centre.  In relation to the Streets Ahead project, there were problems with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            The Committee was advised that representatives of the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce were in attendance and accordingly Messrs. J. Moore, D. Penick and N. Gordon were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            Mr. Moore advised the Members that the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce represented over 500 affiliated organisations and, in addition, it sought to support the interests of those businesses throughout the City who could not afford to be a member.  He stated that the current financial crisis was having a severe effect on the businesses within the City centre and there was a real fear that many could stop trading and shop premises would remain vacant.  He was therefore of the view that there was a need to ringfence and protect the City centre.

            Mr. Penick stated that, it was not only the City centre which was affected by the economic downturn, but other trading locations throughout the City and surrounding cities and towns.  He suggested that the problem would be exacerbated by the development of a large out-of-town retail unit at Sprucefield.  He pointed out that his organisation would welcome the John Lewis company locating in either Belfast or Lisburn City centre, but they were opposed to the inappropriate out-of-town location.

            Mr. Gordon suggested that a weak framework, in terms of the planning and development process, was having a detrimental effect on City centres and on smaller towns and villages throughout the province.  The loss of local shops providing goods and services had an inappropriately detrimental affect on older people and people who could not afford to travel to large out-of-town shopping centres.  He stated that there was a need to work together to encourage the development of the town/city centres throughout the province.

            The deputation then answered a number of questions in relation to the development of out-of-town shopping centres and the likely effect this would have on the City centre and arterial routes throughout the City.

            In relation to a question from a Member, the Principal Solicitor indicated that there was, at this point in time, no reason for the Council to seek a judicial review since no decision had been arrived at in regard to the planning application, and it appeared likely that the application would be subject to a local inquiry.

            In conclusion, Mr. Moore advised the Committee that the majority of the John Lewis Group’s operations were located in city centres throughout the rest of the United Kingdom and that he was of the view that the opportunities offered by the developer at Sprucefield had been made very attractive to the John Lewis Group.  He suggested that

the Minister for the Environment should release Planning Policy Statement 5 with immediate effect.  He pointed out that, since the development at Sprucefield would erode the rates base for the City, it would be appropriate for the Council to object to the development.  Mr. Gordon stated that there was a need for investment on brownfield sites and not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.