Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported from Aldermen Ekin and R. Newton and Councillors Hendron, Mac Giolla Mhín, McVeigh, A. Newton and Reynolds.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report, together with the Department for Social Development’s consultation document on the above-mentioned matter, a copy of which was available on the Council’s Modern.gov system:

“1          Background Information

1.1       The Department for Social Development (DSD) has launched a public consultation on the Government’s proposals for an Urban Regeneration and Community Development policy framework for Northern Ireland. The consultation runs until 25th October.

1.2       The DSD states that the new framework will:

-        shape the strategic direction of urban regeneration and community development policy over the coming years, and

-        set out clear priorities for urban regeneration and community development programmes, both before and after the operational responsibility for these is transferred to councils under the reform of local government.

1.3       Following the public consultation DSD say they will assess all existing Government policies and programmes to ensure compliance with the new Framework while all new policies and programmes will be developed within this context.

2          Key Issues

2.1       In the introduction to its draft framework DSD note that it will shape the strategic direction of urban regeneration and community development policy over the coming years: ‘It will set out for DSD and its partners, clear priorities for urban regeneration and community development programmes, both before and after the operational responsibility for these is transferred to councils under the reform of local government.’ As such, when adopted, the framework may have immediate policy implications for the role of Belfast City Council in urban regeneration and community development work in the city.

2.2       The consultation is structured around a number of questions that focus mainly on:

-        Their stated objectives and enabling objectives

-        The use of an outcomes model

-        Their definitions of ‘urban’, ‘regeneration’ and ‘community development’

2.3       The special meeting will be facilitated by CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies) – a Manchester-based charity and consultancy with a strong background in urban regeneration and community development.  CLES have been asked to collate the responses from Members and officers and, incorporating good examples of practice and policy elsewhere, assist in preparing a draft Council response.

4          Recommendations

Members are asked to:

1.      Consider the content of the consultation document; and

2.      As part of the facilitated meeting, identify any key issues which should inform the corporate response.

            The Director outlined the principal aspects of the consultation document and reported that Mr. M. Jackson and Ms. S. Longlands, representing the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, were in attendance to make a presentation in respect of the consultation and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman (Alderman Stalford). 

            Mr. Jackson provided the Committee with an overview of the consultation and outlined its key aims, strengths and weaknesses.  He indicated that four key policy objectives had been identified within the document, which were:

·        to tackle area-based deprivation;

·        to strengthen the competitiveness of towns and cities;

·        to improve the linkages between areas of need and areas of opportunity; and

·        to develop a more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.