Agenda and minutes

An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Hendron.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Democratic Services Officer reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th June, 2011, it had agreed to appoint eight Members to represent the Council on the West Belfast Partnership Board, viz., six from Sinn Fein and two from the Social Democratic and Labour Party. Those appointments had reflected the proportional strengths of the parties in the Upper and Lower Falls District Electoral Areas at the Local Government Elections in May, 2011. 

            It was reported that correspondence had since been received from the Chief Executive of the West Belfast Partnership Board indicating that it had undertaken a review of its governance arrangements.  The letter pointed out that the representation on the Board from the Council should have been made up of six Council Members, rather than eight. The Board had therefore requested that the Council amend its representation accordingly.

            The Committee agreed to reduce the Council’s representation on the Board from eight to six and, in accordance with the proportional strengths of the parties in the Upper and Lower Falls areas following the Local Government Elections in 2011, agreed that it would be represented by five Members from Sinn Fein and one from the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 4th March, the undernoted notice of motion, which had been moved by Councillor McCarthy and seconded by Councillor Mallon, had been referred to the Committee for consideration:

      “This Council notes with interest the Department for Social Development’s publication of the ‘High Street Taskforce Report’ which highlights the adverse impact on city and town centres by what is perceived as an 'imbalanced spatial planning policy’ which high street retailers have stated entices shoppers away from the city and town centres to out-of-centre shopping centres;

      It recognises that the Regional Development Strategy (2035), adopted by the NI Executive in 2012, states under SFG3 that Belfast City Centre should be enhanced and that the role of Belfast City Centre as the primary retail location in Northern Ireland should be supported and strengthened;

      It notes the advice of the DoE Minister to the planned Public Inquiry into the planning application for a department store, nineteen other retail units and a number of restaurants at Sprucefield outside Lisburn, which would restrict future retail developments there to outlets selling only bulky goods; and endorses the integrated policy approach from DoE, DSD and DRD which will strengthen and protect the position of Belfast City Centre and town centres across the North.”

            In the absence of Councillor McCarthy, Councillor Keenan provided an overview of the aims and objectives of the notice of motion. He emphasised the relevance of the motion in light of the Review of Public Administration and the prime opportunity it would present to enhance Belfast’s position as the economic driver for the region.

            After discussion, the Committee endorsed the notice of motion as set out. 

            In accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations, the Director sought the Committee’s authority to have a number of outstanding accounts amounting to £5,761.14 written-off, a schedule of which had been submitted for the Committee’s information.  He pointed out that all reasonable measures had been undertaken to recover the debts.

            The Committee granted the authority sought.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1     The Council secured £698,700 funding in August 2011, towards the provision of a Belfast Public Bike Hire Scheme as part of the Department for Regional Development (DRD) Active Travel Demonstration Projects fund. The development of a Public Bike Hire scheme is identified as a partnership project in Belfast City Council’s Investment Programme 2012-2015. The Council proposes to work in partnership to develop a public bike hire scheme that encourages increased use and facilitates active travel in Belfast.

1.2     An Outline Business Case (OBC) for a Belfast Public Bike Hire scheme was commissioned by the Strategic Investment Board in conjunction with the Department for Regional Development and Belfast City Council and completed in July 2011.  The OBC suggests that a public bike hire scheme would be viable for Belfast based on experiences and evidence from other cities. The Outline Business Case estimated the funding will cover the costs of the physical infrastructure for a midsized scheme providing up to 300 bikes and up to 30 docking stations in city centre locations. 

1.3     The Council aims to develop a 3^rd generation public bike hire scheme characterised by:

-         public access bikes situated on public spaces with a standard robust design;

-         a network of docking stations and bikes throughout city centre locations;

-         a self service model;

-         flexible rental periods with tariffs to encourage short term rentals; and

-         a scheme with the potential to expand to other parts of the city.

2       Key Issues

2.1     Geographical coverage of the Public Bike Hire Scheme

         Based on the approved funding bid, the first phase of the Belfast Public bike hire scheme will give priority to the core city centre area as designated in the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. Based on experience elsewhere docking stations should be located no more than 300-500 metres apart at key strategic locations. Belfast City Centre boundary covers 3.611 km² and one docking station should cover a buffer area just over 0.1 km². It is recommended that consideration is given to extending the coverage to include parts of Titanic Quarter and up to the Queens Quarter area if it can be accommodated within the current funding arrangement. The Council wish to develop a scheme which has the potential to expand to other parts of the city and to cater for city events.

2.2     Siting of Docking stations

         Bike Hire Docking Stations need to be located at frequent intervals and placed at strategic locations. It is essential the docking stations are visible, easy to find and should not impede pedestrian or vehicular movements.

2.3     The process to identify suitable sites in Belfast City Centre for the bike hire docking stations is currently underway. A number of criteria have been identified in order to select the most appropriate sites considering the following elements:

-         Employment clusters / high footfall areas

-         Cultural / tourism destinations

-         Educational destinations

-         Inner city residential areas

-  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the proposed road works at the Dee Street Bridge, the Boyne Bridge and further works as part of ‘Belfast on the Move’ project. In addition, the report outlined a range of changes which had been proposed in respect of urban clearway restrictions on the Lisburn, Stranmillis and Malone Roads.

The Committee noted the information provided and agreed that a letter be forwarded to the Department of the Environment’s Road’s Service indicating that, in order to assist in the promotion of the retail sector, it was of the Committee view that urban clearway restrictions should be eased specifically on the Lisburn Road.

            The Committee was advised that the Department for Regional Development had carried out a consultation in 2012 which had explored the viability of all public and private hire taxis being permitted to use designated bus lanes. It was reported that, arising from the exercise, the Department was proposing that all public and private hire taxis would be permitted to utilise bus lanes and that this amendment would be implemented in due course.

            The Committee noted the information provided

            The Committee considered the contents of a Festivals Forum Action Plan and was advised that the aim of the Action Plan would be to influence and increase the awareness of the contribution which festivals could make to the City. 

            The Committee endorsed the Action Plan, a copy of which was available on the Council’s Modern.gov website.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1     Members may be aware that European Social Fund (ESF) Priority One provides financial support to promote training and other activities to assist long term unemployed people obtain sustainable employment. Funding is awarded through an open call for projects.  Successful applicants are allocated funding on condition that they can provide 35% match funding from another public sector source. 

1.2     At the February 2012 meeting of the Development Committee, Members agreed to provide match funding for four European Social Fund projects.  Three projects were managed by community-based training providers, namely Stepping Stones; Upper Springfield Development Trust (USDT) and Time Associates while the fourth project was led by Belfast City Council, with Lisburn City Council as a project partner. 

1.3     The ESF projects are funded through Department of Employment and Learning (DEL).  Match funding must be secured on an annual basis.  Requests for match funding for these projects in the financial year 2013-2014 have now been received by Belfast City Council. 

1.4     Although the original letters of offer from DEL were issued on the basis of a three year programme, DEL have now written to all project promoters to confirm that they can offer funding to the approved projects for an additional year (2014-2015) should the project promoters wish to take this offer up.  Equally, they have confirmed that they are in a position to offer an uplift of 25% in the funding available to interested projects.  In both instances, these offers are based on the project being able to draw in the appropriate levels of match funding.

2       Key Issues

2.1     HARTE

         To date, 88 participants have completed the programme gaining a total of 625 Level 2 qualifications in industry recognised fields such as customer care, health and safety, food hygiene, World Host and team leadership.  This equates to more than 7 vocational qualifications per participant.  In addition, some participants have gone on to ‘next steps’ training on topics such as ‘service of food at a table’ and ‘preparing and serving wines’.  These participants have gained a total of 273 additional qualifications in these areas. 

2.2     34 participants have obtained employment and 12 are awaiting further interviews or are going through selection process.

2.3     In the coming year, it is planned that there will be 4 HARTE programmes, involving 60 long term unemployed people.  Participants will be provided with accredited training and will be given dedicated pre-employment support and mentoring to help them find a job within the relevant field.  The project has a target of 24 people into employment in the 2013-2014 financial year.

2.4     In the application made to DEL the estimated total project expenditure for the coming year will be £142,000.  European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) will provide £92,000 of the costs and Lisburn City Council will contribute £15,000.  To continue the HARTE programme it is therefore anticipated that a match funding contribution of £25,000 will be required from Belfast City  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Director informed the Committee that the annual Eurocities Social Affairs Forum would take place in Katowice, Poland, on a date to be confirmed in April, 2013. He explained that the theme for the event would be ‘Neighbourhood Approaches to Promoting Social Inclusion, Local Activation and Local Initiatives.’ He provided an overview of the keynote speakers, together with the range of topics which would be explored at the various sessions and workshops.  He indicated that the conference would provide valuable opportunities for the Council’s representatives to discuss key issues relating to social affairs and emerging European Union funding opportunities.

The Committee agreed, given the content of the forum, that a representative of the Council’s European Working Group (or their nominee) be authorised to attend the event.