Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Ekin and J. Rodgers.

            The minutes of the meetings of 3rd, 15th and 22nd 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 1st March, subject to:

(i)   the amendment of that portion of the minute of the meeting of 22nd February under the heading “Relocation of Belfast Welcome Centre – Economic Appraisal” to provide that further sites within the City be considered as options for the relocation of the Belfast Welcome Centre;

(ii)  the amendment of the minute of 15th February under the heading “Options for Development of Conference Facilities in Belfast” to provide that other parts of the City, particularly the North Belfast Foreshore, be considered as options for the development of future conference facilities; and

(iii)the variation of the minute of 22nd February under the heading “Presentation by Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau” to provide that a letter be forwarded to the Minister with Responsibility for Enterprise, Trade and Investment expressing concern in relation to the increase in air duty taxes, which had become effective on 1st March, and the subsequent effect that this increase would have on the number of tourists choosing Belfast as a destination.

            The Committee agreed, given the number of items due for consideration at the meeting, to consider only the first eleven items on the agenda and to adjourn to a date later in the month.

(Pursuant to the Committee’s decision of 22^nd February, to receive presentations from the Employers Forum and the Employees Services Board)

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 22nd February, it had noted that requests for financial support had been received from both the Employers’ Forum and the Employment Services Board.  The Director of Development reminded the Members that the Employers’ Forum, which had been established in 2003 and which operated within the West Belfast and Greater Shankill areas, was seeking financial assistance in the sum of £40,000 from the Council towards the establishment of a City?wide Employers’ Forum.  Regarding the Employment Services Board, the Director reminded the Committee that its funding from the Department of Employment and Learning was due to cease in March, 2011 and that the organisation was seeking assistance, in the sum of approximately £60,000, from the Council to enable it to continue operating.  It was pointed out that the Committee had agreed, at its meeting on 22nd February, to defer consideration of the matter to enable presentations to be provided by representatives of both organisations.  Accordingly, it was reported that Mr. T. Mervyn, Employment Services Board, Mr. N. Gray, representing the Henderson Group and Ms. D. Timony representing the Employers’ Forum, were in attendance to provide presentations in this regard.

            Mr. Mervyn provided an overview of the work of the Employment Services Board and provided information on its membership and its achievements to date.  He gave an insight into the key work and initiatives which the Board had undertaken and explained that it aimed to provide a high quality service to individuals who had experienced unemployment on a long-term basis.  He added that the organisation faced a number of challenges given the economic downturn and that North and West Belfast, together with the Greater Shankill, would be affected disproportionately should the services provided cease to exist.

            Ms. Timony then gave an overview of the work of the Employers’ Forum and gave a number of examples of how the Forum had enabled individuals to secure long?term employment and outlined the benefits that would be accrued in extending the work of the Forum across the City.  She indicated that such a move would complement the Council’s desire to address employability and skills and to encourage further private sector growth across Belfast to assist in the project.

            In response to a Member’s question, Mr. Mervyn agreed to circulate attendance figures for recent meetings of the Employment Services Board and he acknowledged that the membership list circulated required updating.  Further Members expressed concerns regarding the types of jobs which had been created and indicated that their long-term viability was questionable given the limited skill-base which they addressed.  Mr Mervyn agreed also to provide a breakdown on the average duration of the jobs created, in addition to the age and gender breakdown of those persons who had secured employment through the organisation.  The deputation thanked the Committee for receiving them and they retired from the meeting.

            A prolonged discussion ensued, during which a number of Members pointed out that no provision had been made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

            The Committee considered the contents of a report which provided a quarterly update on various projects and initiatives as agreed within the 2010/2011 Departmental Plan.  The Director of Development referred to a project which the Council would deliver, in conjunction with the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, regarding the provision of promotional banners throughout the City centre.  He pointed out that, since the financial year was due to end on 31st March and, given that there had been a delay in the commencement of the project, it may be necessary to transfer £100,000 from the 2010/2011 Departmental budget to the Bureau to enable it to utilise the money on the Council’s behalf and oversee the project.  He stated that he had consulted with the Director of Finance and Resources who had indicated that such a step would be feasible and he requested the Committee’s authority to, if necessary, transfer £100,000, prior to the end of the financial year, from the Departmental budget to the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau so as the project outlined could be delivered on the Council’s behalf.

            The Committee noted the information provided and granted the authority sought.  It was agreed that an All Party Working Group be established to consider the design work carried out to date on the project and make recommendations thereon to Committee.

            The Committee noted a report which contained a summary of financial indicators regarding the Department’s financial performance during the third quarter of 2010/2011.

            At the request of Councillor Stoker, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter to enable Party Group Briefings to be provided prior to the Committee’s meeting on 13th April.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

1.       Relevant Background Information

1.1     Belfast and the wider region have the potential to win new investment and business opportunities due to a number of investments in the digital infrastructure in recent years, most notably Project Kelvin and British Telecom’s ‘Next Generation Broadband’ Programme.

1.2     The city of Derry/Londonderry recently started to develop a digital strategy in light of the potential opportunities on offer as stated in the Digital Northern Ireland 2020 interim report.  Funded by Derry City Council, Interreg and ILEX, the Digital Derry Strategy aims to:

1.   Raise awareness of the digital media sector

2.   Implement local initiatives to support business growth

3.   Animate digital content networks

4.   Raise the profile of the sector in the city.

1.3     The bandwidth capacities and speeds are already being used as a selling point in promoting the region as a potential investment location.  A recently commissioned report entitled ‘Digital NI 2020’ focuses on identifying new opportunities for the local economy arising from this investment.   A copy of this report is attached as Appendix 1.

          This infrastructure investment is also being used as a platform for establishing and developing a range of business support mechanisms, focused on helping hi-tech companies to start-up, develop international contacts and increase access to investment. 

2        Key Issues

2.1     The consultation exercise carried out in developing the Digital Northern Ireland 2020 strategy confirmed that there was significant potential to capitalise on opportunities in a number of areas.  These include:

1.   The use of advanced communications for our key business sectors.

2.   The use of advanced communications for community and social development.

3.   The foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities in our ICT and Digital Media sectors.

2.2     It identified the key selling points which put Northern Ireland in ‘pole position’ in terms of economic growth and provide a unique local and regional offering in terms of business development and inward investment compared to other parts of the UK and Europe. These are:

1.   Fibre coverage across Northern Ireland to all major urban and business centres.

2.   Dual links to North America from the island of Ireland, with full interconnection between the fibre networks in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

3.   Opportunity for a large number of businesses to have direct fibre access, thereby giving them access to very high speed communications of 1gigabyte and beyond.

4.   Opportunity for fibre networks to extend into residential accommodation providing higher speeds to interactive services and social activity.

5.   Availability of research expertise through high quality universities and research centres.

6.   Shortest latency across the Atlantic, resulting in faster and larger communications between Northern Ireland and USA.

2.3     There are significant opportunities for BelfastCity Council as well as businesses located within the council area.  These opportunities will be captured through the BelfastMasterplan and Integrated Economic Strategy for Belfast although practical action needs to commence in the short term.

2.4     Belfast City Council currently runs a series of initiatives and programmes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1  Relevant Background Information

1.1The Department of the Environment published a consultation document in November 2010 seeking views on the Draft Planning Policy Statement: PPS 16 Tourism. The proposed policy will introduce strategic planning guidance for tourism development in Northern Ireland.

      Draft PPS 16 sets out the Department’s proposed planning policy for both tourism development and the safeguarding of tourism assets. The aim of the PPS is to manage the provision of sustainable and high quality tourism developments in appropriate locations within the built and natural environment.

      The Planning and Transport Unit has drafted a response with input from Council Departments to provide Belfast City Council with the opportunity to influence new strategic planning policy guidance on tourism development. Consultation responses should be submitted to the Department on or before the 25 March 2011.

2    Key Issues

2.1It is widely recognised that the tourist industry is of major importance both at a national and local level generating economic prosperity and employment. Belfast plays an important tourism role as a ‘gateway’ to Northern Ireland and a destination in its own right. In 2009 they were 9.3 million visitor trips to Belfast and the value of direct tourism spend in Belfast City during 2009 was calculated as £451 million.

2.2              The production of new planning policy guidance for this important sector of the economy offers the opportunity to ensure the Department provides clear planning policy to support tourism developments both in the main urban areas and where appropriate in the countryside.

2.3              A summary of the main objectives of the policy are as follows:

-     To facilitate sustainable tourism development in an environmentally sensitive manner;

-     To safeguard tourism assets from inappropriate development;

-     To utilise and develop the tourism potential of settlements by facilitating tourism development of an appropriate nature, location and scale;

-     To sustain a vibrant rural community by supporting tourism development of an appropriate nature, location and scale in rural areas; and

-     To ensure a high standard of quality and design for all tourism development.

2.4              The proposed Council response is set out in Appendix 1 for consideration and a summary of the main issues are as follows:

-     The objective to ensure a high standard of quality and design for all tourism development should be welcomed also the need to safe guard tourism assets from inappropriate development.

-     The emphasis of the draft policies outlined in PPS 16 is on the regulation of tourism development rather than adopting a balanced or more proactive approach to the facilitation of development and the promotion of quality tourism proposals. A more balanced approach may be considered more appropriate.

The role of the development plan in tourist development is considered in the policy. The Council made representations during draft BMAP process for the plan to have a more proactive policy approach to tourist development in the city. In the absence of tourism opportunities being included in the current development plans  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       The purpose of this report is to advise Members of progress with respect to:

1.2       1.  Continental Market Report

            Members will be aware that a report was taken to Committee and then Council in September 2010 where it was agreed to go out to tender for another term for the Continental Market in Belfast.  The current contract for the Continental Markets held in front grounds of City Hall ended December 2010.  It had been intended that the new contract would start in the new financial year with the first Continental Market planned for May 2011.

1.3       2.  Markets Footfall and Economic Impact Figures 2010

            Surveys were carried out recently by Millward Brown Ulster on behalf of Belfast City Council’s Development Department - Markets Unit.  The survey covered the 2010 Christmas Continental, St George’s and Smithfield Markets. 

1.4       3.  Markets Usage

            Members will be aware that at the January 2011 Committee it was agreed that the Sunday Market would become a permanent fixture in the Markets calendar, subject to a positive review after an initial 12 months.  St George’s also hosts the weekly Friday and Saturday markets.  Event booking days are currently Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with some events booked for Sundays during 2011.

1.5       4.  Markets Policy

            Members will be aware that a briefing session took place on Friday 28 January 2011 on a draft Markets policy which would give the opportunity for private operators to operate markets in Belfast.

2          Key Issues

2.1       1.  Continental Market

            A review of the Continental Markets in Belfast has just been completed.  It included an analysis of the financial and operational arrangements of the continental markets in Belfast.  The review made a series of recommendations as to new conditions to be included in the new tender and contract.

2.2       The new tender for the Continental Markets is reducing BelfastCity Council’s expenditure; increase current income and aims not to reduce the economic impact the Continental Markets bring to the City.  The new tender will specify an increase on the fee payable to council, (on top of the addition to the set fee there will also be a proposal for profit sharing of the pitch fees, also being payable to council).  The new tender contract will ensure expenditure that council would have previously paid, will now be paid by the contractor, including set up and promotional costs.

2.3       The new tender will also specify that the new contractor will reimburse the council for units of electricity used.

2.4       A new electricity supply system is planned for City Hall grounds and it is anticipated this will be in place for the May Continental Market.  With lead in time of approximately 4 weeks and then advertising of the new tender, there is now inadequate time available to complete the new tender and ensure a contractor is in place in time for the Continental Market in May 2011, therefore Committee approval is sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 11th August, 2010 it had agreed to accede to a request from Shopmobility Belfast for annual funding in the sum of £25,000, subject to that organisation being notified that no direct financial support would be provided in future by the Development Department. In addition, the Committee was reminded that, at the meeting of the Council, on 1st September, 2010 the portion of the minute relating to Shopmobility had been amended to provide that a further report in relation to the Council’s future funding options to the organisation be submitted for consideration in due course.

            Accordingly, the Director of Development reported that Shopmobility was funded by a range of public and community organisations, principally the Department for Regional Development, the Department for Social Development and the Belfast Health Trust.  He reminded the Committee that the Council had provided direct funding to Shopmobility over the past decade, on the basis that the services it provided would help enhance access to the City centre and thus increase economic turnover. However, Belfast was the only local authority in Northern Ireland to provide funding on that basis. It was noted that other organisations throughout the City provided similar services and, should the Council continue to provide direct funding to Shopmobility on an arbitrary basis, it could leave it open to legal challenge.

            The Director of Development reported that, in essence, the Committee had two options available to it; namely, to adhere to its decision of 11^th August, that is, that direct funding would no longer be provided, or to consider an alternative method of providing indirect funding to Shopmobility. He reminded the Members that, at its meeting on 22nd February, the Committee had endorsed the contents of a Belfast City Centre Management’s Business Plan for 2011/2012. That Plan, within its Strategic Aims and Objectives, had stated, amongst other things, that Belfast City Centre Management would seek to “promote city centre accessibility” for all citizens and to work with disability groups to that end. Therefore, the Director suggested that the Committee might wish to consider the feasibility of entering into a Service Level Agreement with Belfast City Centre Management who, in conjunction with Shopmobility, would work to deliver that aspect of the Business Plan with Council support. However, Belfast City Centre Management had indicated that, whilst they would be happy to work on behalf of the Council in this regard, they would be unable to provide a financial contribution. Therefore funding from Council, up to a maximum of £25,000 per annum, would be required in future years from to oversee this Service Level Agreement for the agreed programme of work.

            After discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor Kingston,

Seconded by Councillor Garrett and

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to authorise the Director of Development to explore the feasibility of entering into a Service Level Agreement with Belfast City Centre Management and, if appropriate, provide funding to that organisation, up to a sum of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Committee agreed to note the contents of a report which provided Members with an update on the progress to date of the Council’s membership of the QUESTOR Industry/University Co-operative Research Centre.

            The Committee was reminded that Creative Legacies was an organisation which had been established to enhance development and outreach initiatives for shared cultural space throughout Belfast and was delivered through the Council’s Tourism, Culture and Arts Unit and funded by Peace III.  As part of its programme, five pieces of shared public art were to be installed throughout Belfast and it was reported that a piece entitled ‘Moving Forward’ had been created by young persons from the ‘The Klub’ in conjunction with the artist Daniella Balmaverde. The artwork reflected a number of issues pertinent to the community within East Belfast and, accordingly, the views of the Members were sought on where the piece of art should be displayed.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed that ‘Moving Forward’ be erected outside the Ballymacarratt Recreation Centre on the understanding that it could be moved to other positions within East Belfast at future dates.

            At this point of the meeting the Committee adjourned its business and agreed to reconvene on Monday, 28th March at 4.30 p.m.