Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Webb.

            The minutes of the meetings of 5th and 19th February were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 4th March.

(The Chairman, Alderman Stalford, in the Chair,)

            No declarations were reported.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       ‘Backin’ Belfast’ Campaign

            Members will be aware that the Council and DETI have co-invested in a promotional marketing campaign called ‘Backin’ Belfast’.  BCC has contributed £400k towards a £1m campaign with the balance of funding from DETI delivered via BVCB and NITB.  The campaign is open to engagement from businesses all across Belfast.  The campaign has been funded through to end of March 2013 and is coordinated by Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB) with the animation programme being led and delivered by Council.

1.2       To date, some traders beyond the city centre have taken part in the campaign by forwarding offers and engaging in the social media activities linked to the Backin’ Belfast initiative.  However there are still opportunities for further engagement within the programme timeframe.  Belfast City Council has been directly encouraging businesses and local trader groups to engage in the campaign.

1.3       BCC also agreed last month to allocate the sum of £25k for East Belfast to participate in a complementary campaign to Backin’ Belfast.  Work has been completed with the local trader groups in East Belfast on developing a ‘Spend Local’ promotion which will take place on 23 March.  This will comprise a leaflet drop to local homes in East Belfast promoting the 23 March as a key date for special offers and on-street entertainment.

1.4       Members also asked that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee outlining the options available to the Council to address requests which might be submitted from traders affected by disruption in other parts of the city, outside of east Belfast.

1.5       Officers were asked to engage with businesses to understand the challenges that they were facing.  Given the timescales, it has not been possible to have a comprehensive engagement programme with all business group representatives.  However officers did manage to meet with a range of groups and/or their representatives, including:

-     West Belfast Traders’ Forum

-     Lisburn Road Business Association

-     Sandy Row Business Forum

-     Traders from Ardoyne area

1.6       In addition, officers were in attendance at a breakfast hosted by the Lord Mayor at which representatives of 9 traders’ groups were in attendance.  Discussions focused on the impact of the downturn on business as well as possible solutions.

2          Key Issues

2.1       Quantifying the impact of disturbances

            Members will be aware of the concerns of many traders – both city centre-based and across the city’s neighbourhoods – at the impact of the recent protests and associated disruptions on their businesses. A number of requests for additional support have been received by the Council. Officers and Members have met with a range of groups to gain an understanding of the key challenges and to consider what types of support may be required to help the businesses at this difficult time.

2.2       Key issues raised during those meetings include:

-     Reduced footfall especially in late afternoons resulting in shops closing early

-     Businesses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       At Development Committee of 8 May 2012, Members agreed to support the hosting of the Global India Business Meeting (GIBM) on 23-24 June 2013.

1.2       GIBM is a major international networking event that brings together over 350 chief executives from major Indian companies with their European counterparts to examine the potential for trade and investment between the two regions.

1.3       The GlBM is the foremost annual gathering of Indian business leaders and their global counterparts.  The event is to open to CEO’s of the world’s leading companies.

1.4       Horasis the event organiser has a partnership with leading Indian firms and uses this network to connect with other leading companies across the globe. The 2012 Global India event took place in Antwerp, Belgium on 24-25 June. Other cities which have recently hosted the event include Munich, Madrid and Naples.

1.5       As part of the GIBM, Belfast City Council is leading on the development of a wider India week to entice Indian visitors to stay longer as well as engage local communities in Indian culture and business opportunities locally.

2          Key Issues

2.1       GIBM

            Whilst Horasis is the organiser of the conference, BCC along with Invest NI (INI) are co hosts.  Horasis organises the programme and secures delegates.  BCC is in the lead in producing the event locally through event management and directing logistics.  BCC is also heavily engaged in inputting to the conference programme, securing local delegates, marketing and communications and organising the opening and closing headline events. 

2.2       Additionally BCC is in the lead in developing opportunities for local companies to benefit from the GIBM meeting and in creating tourism and hospitality packages to maximise economic return to Belfast.  Along with INI, BCC is also paying attention to potential invite lists and confirmed delegates in order to identify key contacts for bi-lateral programmes to be put in place where appropriate.  Through INI’s offices in India, advance contact is being made with a number of companies for lead generation which will be followed up directly during the conference itself to pursue trade and investment opportunities.

2.3       On 12 February, Frank Richter, chairman of Horasis visited Belfast once again for an update with the co hosts (INI and BCC).  Since the last update in November 2012, the Europa Hotel has been confirmed for the conference, with the opening ceremony and dinner in the City Hall and the closing dinner in Titanic Belfast.

2.4       In the last 2 months, the programme for GIBM has been revised, sections changed and Belfast has secured a stronger presence on the panels.  INI have been working with BCC as co host to identify key businesses that need to be invited to ensure maximum market exposure to India as well as investment from Indian companies. More than 250 CEO’s (mostly from India) have confirmed their attendance.  They are from organisations such as Mahindra Satyam (ICT), Wal Mar and Hero Motocorp.  The main programme consists of plenary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    Members will be aware that Belfast City Council has been playing a key role in supporting the development of the Creative, Digital and Technology sectors in Belfast, since 2004, through the work of the Economic Development Unit and more recently through the Council’s Super Connected Cities project and the IBM Smarter Cities Initiative.

1.2    Members will also be aware that, at the meeting of the Development Committee, 21 February 2012, a draft Memorandum of Understanding to advance the relationship with the Irish Technology Leadership Group on a permanent basis, was approved.

1.3    The Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) is a group of Irish and Irish American senior executives based in Silicon Valley, California who are active in the global technology industry. They work to promote industry linkages between USA and Ireland through a range of collaborative initiatives including trade visits, award ceremonies and events in both USA and Ireland.

1.4    Members have had initial conversations with INI representatives of some local companies and with Queens University, the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland Science Park and Digital Circle on the possibility of the Council leading a Belfast specific trade mission to the United States.  The focus of the mission would be on the digital / technology sector to further support the development of the initiatives outlined above and to help raise the profile of Belfast as an investment location. It is clear from these discussions that an opportunity exists to support Belfast based technology companies in the international marketplace, through participation on a trade mission to the west coast of America in particular.

2       Key Issues

2.1    It is now recommended to Members that Belfast City Council take the lead in scoping out and implementing a trade mission to Silicon Valley and the west coast of America in October 2013 and to gain the support of Invest Northern Ireland and Northern Irish Connections in the delivery of the project.

2.2    It is proposed that a total of 20 Belfast-based digital and technology companies participate on the mission and will be selected through an open and competitive application process.

2.3    It is proposed that financial support for company participation will be through existing Invest Northern Ireland channels or will be paid directly by the participating company.

2.4    Belfast City Council will help in generating contacts and business leads through our existing networks and those provided through the partner organisations. A showcase and a series of one to one meetings will be organised, in turn providing a unique platform from which local companies can target key businesses and potential clients based in the United States, with the aim of securing new business.

2.5    It is proposed Belfast City Council’s contribution to the trade mission will be up to a maximum of £20,000. It is envisaged these costs will contribute to travel, accommodation, Showcase and meeting facilitation.

2.6    The proposed trade mission will also provide Belfast City Council the opportunity to ‘sell’ the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee was reminded that the inaugural Belfast Restaurant Week, which had been supported by the Council, the Department of Regional Development, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme, had been deemed to be a significant success which had raised the profile of the City.  It was reported that the initiative had been nominated for a range of tourism and industry showcase awards in 2013, and that attendance at the ceremonies would afford a valuable opportunity for the Council to promote Belfast Restaurant Week 2013. The events for which the project had been nominated to are set out hereunder:

·         The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards Ramada Hotel – Friday, 15th March;

·         The Northern Ireland Tourism Awards - Belfast Waterfront Hall - Thursday 30th May; and

·         The Licensed and Catering News Awards - Europa Hotel - Friday 7 June.

            The Committee agreed that, if shortlisted, the Council would authorise the attendance at the ceremonies of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (or their nominees), together with three Members of the Committee who had been instrumental in promoting the event, as well as the Director (or his nominee). It was noted that the cost of attending each event would be in the region of £450.00.