Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Keenan.

            The minutes of the meeting of 3rd December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 6th January, subject to the omission of the minute under the heading ‘Olympia Community Centre’ which, at the request of Alderman Patterson, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

            It was noted that a special meeting of the Committee would take place at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday, 30th January, at which representatives of the Department for Regional Development would provide an update in respect of the Belfast Rapid Transit system.

            It was agreed that all Members of the Council would be invited to attend the meeting.

            The Committee agreed that Councillor Hutchinson be appointed to the Hammer and Woodvale Community Centre Committees.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 6th January, had referred a notice of motion in respect of the above-mentioned matter, which had been proposed by Councillor Attwood and seconded by Councillor McCarthy, to the Committee for consideration.

It was noted that a report in this regard would be submitted for the Committee’s consideration at its meeting in February.

          (Alderman Patterson attended in connection with this item.)

            Pursuant to the decision of the Council of 6th January, the Committee reconsidered the undernoted minute of the meeting of 3rd December:

“The Committee considered the undernoted report:

            Background Information

 1.1   Members will recall that the SP&R committee agreed ‘in principle’ to progress both the Olympia and Andersonstown Leisure Centres to Stage 2 of the Capital Programme to form the first phase of the citywide leisure transformation review

1.2    In order to inform the investment decision for the Olympia project, in June members agreed that external support should be commissioned to carry out an optional appraisal on community provision and support requirements for the area.  The research should develop options; determine the strengths and weaknesses of the identified options;ensure options are framed within the overall strategic framework and action plan for area wide development; provide outline costs for each viable option and to highlight and explore the potential sources of capital and revenue funding; andidentify the resources required to carry through and ultimately the prospects for success.

1.3    The report outlining the shortlist of options was presented to committee in October.  Given the complexity, committee requested the report to be deferred to allow for party briefings. The purpose of this paper is to summarise any comments and / or concerns in relation to the identified options for the future delivery of community centre and service support for the Olympia/Windsor/Village area of the city in the context of the broader regeneration of the Olympia/Windsor stadium.

2       Key Issues

2.1    The option appraisal was commissioned in order to inform any Development Committee decision on the best approach to address any gap left in community service provision as a result of the planned closure of the Olympia CC as part of the broader Stadia Development.

2.2    The consultants completed an area profile in order to inform supply and demand and communicated findings from their community engagement exercise.  To summarise, this identified 6 options around 3 primary areas:

2.3    Do nothing:  This is based on the current council consideration to develop the site i.e. where there would be no Council-managed community centre or services on site (with the exception of the play areas accommodated within the stadium redevelopment) and no replacement centre or services elsewhere in the local area.

2.4    Extend Existing Service Provision:  Options 2 & 3 relate to the relocation and extension of existing service programmes both within other BCC community centres, bookable space in the new Leisure facility and other community sector facilities in the area.  These options relate to any conclusion that there is adequate current provision for community bookable space in the area.

2.5    The remaining options relate to any alternative conclusion which proposes there is a demonstrable need for additional community space in the area.  The report considers 2 potential methods:  support for existing community organisation’s plan to extend community space (Option 4) or alternatively council consideration of new community build (2 possible locations – Options 5 & 6)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            (The Director of Finance and Resources attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered a report, which had been prepared by the Director of Finance and Resources, in respect of the Committee’s estimates of revenue expenditure for the financial year 2014/2015.  A copy of that section of the report, in so far as it applied specifically to the Development Committee, is set out hereunder:

Development Committee

A spending limit of £19,144,021 is recommended for the department in 2014/15 which represents a decrease of £181k or 0.94% on the 2013/14 budget.  The budgetary intentions of the Department for the next year are:

Community Services

The amount provided for in the 2014/15 Community Services budget estimate has decreased by £25k.  The estimate is based on the continuation of activity at a similar level to the previous years, with some re-focusing required in line with the newly developed BCC Community Development Strategy.  It is also based on a consistent level of anticipated income from DSD through its regional Community Support Programme in advance of any agreed budget for BCC post Local Government Reform.

City Events and Venues

The service budget for 2014/15 has been reduced by £182,156 to £3.74m. The estimates for 2014/2015 cover the net cost of operating the Belfast Waterfront and the Ulster Hall, the annual events and sports events schedule and Support for Sport grants.

During 2014/2015 both the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall will continue to provide world class entertainment and conference facilities that will promote the cultural and economic regeneration of Belfast.

As part of the Council’s Strategic Investment Programme an application has been submitted to fund the new extension at the Waterfront Hall.  The external funding application is now in the final stages and if funding approval is received in 2013, building works will commence in 2014 and continue for a period of 18 months.  In absence of a construction schedule and final design plans it is impossible to predict the impact of these works on venue operations however based on information available at September 2013 it is hoped that normal activity will be possible.  The retention of the Auditorium, Studio and front of house bar and gallery areas is firmly embedded in the current design scheme, however, it has been indicated that there will be the closure of some of the smaller meeting/dressing rooms and an impact on staff office accommodation. The Revenue Estimates for 2014/2015 have been prepared on that basis.  On appointment we will work proactively with the successful contractor to protect business continuity throughout the period.

Within City Events, this period would see the continuation of the annual programme of events, Big Screen and sports funding.  In addition to this programme, there would be additional one-off projects during this period.  These include: Giro d’Italia (9 to 12 May 2014) and the UK National Piping Championships (14 June 2014).  These events, along with contractual  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on the 22nd October, it had agreed to receive a presentation from Atkins Consultants regarding the development of a Belfast Access Strategy and to ascertain Members’ views in relation thereto. Accordingly, the Committee received Ms. L. Dougan, representing Atkins Consultants, who provided an overview of the initial research which had been undertaken in this regard.

            Ms. Dougan advised the Committee that the Access Strategy would seek to underpin a number of Council-led initiatives, such as the Belfast Masterplan, the Investment Programme, together with the Centre City Regeneration Strategy and Investment Plan.  She indicated that the overall aim of the project would be to support the commercial, retail and leisure industries in Belfast. In particular, she reported that the strategy would seek to address issues relating to a wide range of matters, including public transport, current road provision, cost effectiveness and urban design within the City.  

            During discussion, Members raised the following issues and requested that they be considered as part of the development of the Access Strategy:

·        the need to consider car parking provision within the context of public transport availability and accessibility;

·        the introduction of parking schemes on land, such as church car parks, to promote shopping initiatives;

·        the feasibility of the introduction of an integrated ticketing system for public transport;

·        the need to address the requirements of disabled persons who used public transport;

·        the safety requirements of pedestrians and cyclists, together with the provision of adequate street lighting and furniture;

·        the provision of ‘real time’ passenger information at bus stops and stations;

·        the implementation of measures which would assist with traffic flow at peak times;

·        the upgrading of the linkages between the George Best Airport and the City centre;

·        the adoption of a coherent strategy for the provision of cycle lanes;

·        the need to address issues of ‘connectivity’ within future road schemes; and

·        the requirement to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Belfast on the Move project.

After discussion, during which it was agreed that the views of local communities would be essential in the development of any Access Strategy, Ms. Dougan thanked the Committee for receiving her and it was noted that a further presentation on the development of the Strategy would be provided in due course.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report, together with an associated business plan for Belfast City Centre Management for 2014/2015:

2         Key Issues

2.1      BCCM have developed an action plan which sets out the range of activities to be undertaken in the course of the year, along with the associated budget for the delivery of this programme of work.

2.2      The work of BCCM covers three areas:

·        Delivering BCCM city centre services

BCCM delivers its own services which add value to the city centre.  These include management of the city’s festive lighting, Café Culture operating agreements, City Centre Beat policing, Radio link, City Safe Crimewatch scheme, dressing of vacant shop windows, city banner dressing in the core retail area, and providing an education programme to businesses on Business Improvement Districts.

·        Facilitating the delivery of funders’ City Centre Initiatives

BCCM assists Belfast City Council and other funders with initiatives such as City Centre Performance Measurement, Belfast in Bloom, Waste Management, Streets Ahead and the re:Store initiative.

·        Direct liaison with city centre businesses

BCCM provides a channel for communication between the private sector businesses in the city centre and central and local government.

2.3      The work of the organisation crosses a number of council departments and services, principally within the Development and Health and Environmental Services Departments.  The Director of Environmental Health chairs the Public Space Management group while the Director of Development and Head of Economic Initiatives – along with elected members – are represented on the board.  Other officers across the council are also represented on other working groups.

2.4      The proposed budget for the year totals around £715,000.  The budget assumes a financial contribution of £190,000 from Belfast City Council.  The budget also assumes additional income from other public and private partners, principally Department for Social Development (DSD) - £157,000 and private sector contributions (directly and through Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCTC) - £108,000. 

2.5      April 2013 to March 2014

           The BCCM Board wishes to indicate to the Committee their appreciation of Council’s funding of £190,000 during the present financial year.  BCCM provides quarterly performance reports to BCC which demonstrate that this has been a successful year, with the company’s business plans being delivered in full, save only a few projects which are delayed due to circumstances beyond the control of BCCM. 

2.6      Despite a very difficult economy for the private sector in the city, BCCM has been able to use its core funding from BCC and DSD to leverage £315,700.00 of private sector funding for City Centre projects during 2013/14.

2.7      BCCM has attracted £155,000.00 of DSD core funding the present financial year, and has an application lodged with DSD for core funding of £157,000.00 in the 2014/2015 year.  Members should note that DSD provide further project funding to BCCM, including £67k in the present year for an Environmental Improvement scheme in College Square East

2.8      During 2013/14 BCCM has engaged with issues which were not originally tabled in their business plans, including:

-        Dressing double  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

1         Relevant Background Information

1.1      The Belfast Dublin Economic Corridor is a term used to describe the geographical area between both cities recognising the economic wealth and future potential that is created from the concentrations of business, industry, educational institutions, technology and transport infrastructure and other capital developments located in this area.

1.2      Over the last 10-20 years a number of research reports and analytical discussion pieces have emerged on this concept.  These have included reports by the University of Ulster, the Centre for Cross Border Studies, the joint CBI/IBEC Council, the Irish Planning Institute and John Yarwood, a former Director of the Urban Institute at University College Dublin. Recommendations within the various reports and emerging from the seminars and workshops held have centred on how both cities and the 2 governments could capitalise on the latent potential of the area by consciously promoting the Belfast Dublin economic corridor in policy terms and developing a range of initiatives to build up its economic strength even further.

1.3      The idea behind the Belfast Dublin economic corridor is essentially to build up the economic strength of the area to create a poly centric city region on a scale large enough to compete with the major urban clusters of continental Europe.

1.4      Between 2001 and 2002 University of Ulster held 2 conferences in association with other Irish Universities and the Harvard Graduate School of Design on major planning challenges affecting the key urban locations.  The central theme focused on partnership, prosperity and place identifying the need for the delivery of sustainable development of the Belfast Dublin leg of the Eastern seaboard corridor as they defined it.  They pointed out that this is the geographical area where development pressure is most apparent and where economic growth is evident thereby requiring a coordination of policy and practice to promote it as a location of choice for investors, entrepreneurs and successful companies.

2         Key Issues

2.1      Following recent discussions between the Lord Mayor of Belfast and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, a proposal has emerged to re-invigorate the concept of the Belfast Dublin economic corridor to bring new economic opportunities to both cities and the wider corridor region in between.  Whilst new updated research and analysis would be required to investigate the potential in depth, in the first instance discussions could take place with a wider range of partners in Belfast and Dublin to ascertain interest in working together to develop the corridor proposal.

2.2      Initial discussions have taken place between officers of Dublin City Council and the Director of Development and the Head of Economic Initiatives on how such a project might be developed.  There are already significant areas of commonality in the key economic sectors that are being promoted and in the technology and communications infrastructure required to support business development. 

2.3      Some examples of initiatives that could be developed in concert are the super connected broadband and digital projects; rapid transit and other public transport infrastructure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Committee agreed to receive, at its meeting on 5th February, a presentation from Deloitte consultants which would outline the initial findings arising from its strategic review of St. George’s Market, together with a range of potential options which had been identified for further consideration by the Council.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

1.1      Members will be aware that one of the key commitments in the Council’s Investment Programme 2012- 2015 is that the Council will work with city partners to promote Belfast proactively on the international stage to attract trade and investment, increase visitor and student numbers and build the networks necessary to support growth. 

1.2      Over the last year work has been undertaken to develop a draft International Relations Framework that seeks to shape how city stakeholders can work together in a stronger and purposeful way to maximize the economic impact for Belfast as a whole.

1.3      This framework and a 2 year plan were agreed by Members at the August Development Committee.  At this time,  Members requested an update at a later stage in the year, outlining delivery of the action plan, highlighting additional areas of work that have arisen as the year progresses and resources to deliver these.

2         Key Issues

2.1      In summary, the aims of the International Relations Framework are as follows:

-            To maximise economic return for Belfast.

-            To increase the economic benefits of marketing Belfast internationally.

2.2      The following objectives are intended to help increase the economic benefits of developing a city-wide approach to proactively market Belfast internationally:

-            Deliver increased economic return to Belfast through collaborative international promotion.

-            Develop meaningful international partnerships and civic relationships to support Belfast’s growth.

-            Promote the attractiveness of the city for business, education and tourism.

-            Create the optimum mechanisms for international promotion of Belfast.

2.3      The framework sets out:

-            targets for each of the three primary market segments – trade and investment, tourism, education and learning;

-            key actions for each of the geographical target areas - China, Europe, India, North America.   

2.4      The agreed action plan is appended for the period 2013 – 2015.  It identifies the suggested role of Council as a co-ordinating partner and presents proposed priority actions for Council at this stage.   Joint Projects emanating from other stakeholders have yet to be added to this plan which will occur during the next phase of consultation.

2.5      Proposed outcomes and annual targets for BCC are outlined in the Framework, focusing on Business & Leisure Tourism, Education, Learning & Talent and Trade & Investment. This includes longer term outcomes and annual targets which will be achieved most effectively by Council working with key stakeholders in the delivery of the Framework.  As the regional driver, Belfast has a key role to play in helping to deliver a number of regional targets; however, it is important to recognise the targets and longer term outcomes need to be agreed with city stakeholders as they can only be achieved in partnership. 

2.6      Key actions proposed and underway under International Relations for the current year are tabled below.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 20th November, 2012, it had agreed to commission a study into the economic impact of the Council’s expenditure and to identify means by which it could maximise the local economic, social and environmental benefits provided by such spending. Accordingly, the Committee considered the contents of a report, together with the economic impact study, which had been prepared by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies in this regard.

The Director outlined the principal aspects of the report and indicated that the study had analysed employee, supplier and grant expenditure and had also incorporated a survey to determine how the local economy had benefitted through the Council’s expenditure.  He added that analysis of the information had identified how expenditure was distributed within the boundary and this would assist the Council to target its expenditure in a more strategic manner in light of the Review of Local Government. He indicated that the key findings of the report had established that, for every £1.00 pound of Council expenditure:

·        76 pence was spent or re-spent within the current Council boundary;

·        80 pence was spent or re-spent within the Council’s post Local Government Reform boundary

·        £1.02 was spent or re-spent within the Greater Belfast area; and

·        £1.35 was spent or re-spent within the regional economy.

The Committee noted the information which had been provided and noted further that the full contents of the Economic Impact Study were available on the Council’s Mod.gov system.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

1.1      The ongoing Renewing the Routes Programme has delivered local regeneration projects at targeted locations across the arterial routes of Belfast since 2004. The Programme has facilitated the investment of approximately £6.5 million across these key routes and neighbourhoods.

1.2      The Committee agreed a four year rolling programme for the continuation of local regeneration across the target areas of the city in February 2012.

1.3      The purpose of this report is to provide updates in respect of:

-        Progress of works under our current agreed programme in Ormeau and Newtownards Roads

-        Progress on the development of the Department of Social Development (DSD) funded local regeneration programme on Newtownards Road and on Lower Ormeau incorporating Cromac Street

-        Update on 2013/2014 programme on Oldpark Road and Andersonstown Road

-        Update on additional working using underspend monies to maximise Council’s investment in Sandy Row, Castlereagh Street, Antrim Road and Grosvenor Road

2.1      Newtownards Road Update 

           The commercial improvement programme is the main emphasis of work on the Newtownards Road (from Bridge End to Witham Street). The Newtownards Road scheme is being delivered in two phases, the Council funded programme (£150,000) is now complete with around 37 units receiving cosmetic improvement; and the DSD funded programme (£155,000) which will target around 35 further businesses by March 2014.

2.2      Renewing the Routes Ormeau Road Update

           Work is now complete on Ormeau Road (from Ormeau Embankment to Ravenhill Road Roundabout). Cosmetic upgrades to 31 commercial properties are now complete. The work to the commercial properties was supplemented by the completion of environmental improvement schemes on some of the road’s prominent buildings including Ballynafeigh Orange Hall and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association.

2.3      Ongoing collaboration with DSD: Update on Cromac

           Street/Lower Ormeau Road and Newtownards Road

           In May 2013, Committee supported a joint programme of regeneration activity in partnership with DSD’s Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO), on the basis of a funding offer, to extend our current work by implementing a commercial improvement scheme from Cromac Street to Stranmillis Embankment incorporating Lower Ormeau and add value to our current work on the Newtownards Road from Bridge End to the junction at Albertbridge Road with the support for £310,000.

2.4      The DSD funded programme on the Newtownards Road (£155,000) is targeting approximately 35 businesses who are currently signing up to the programme. On site work is currently underway on a number of units and it is anticipated works will be completed by March 2014. As part of the wider local regeneration activity on the road, a number of vacant sites have been identified and council is working with local stakeholders and statutory partners in developing projects to address the issues presented by the underutilised areas. 

2.5      Similarly on Cromac Street/Lower Ormeau Road programme (from Cromac Street to Stranmillis Embankment), approximately 27 businesses are targeted as part of the commercial improvement programme. Negotiations with shop owners are currently underway with traders responding positively to the proposed commercial improvement programme.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

            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 including the Council’s Super Connected Cities project and Belfast Tech - the first Council led trade mission to the west coast of America.

1.2      To continue to support this high growth sector and build on the momentum created through the Belfast Tech Mission, we are now in the process of developing a series of new initiatives for 2014.

1.3      The recent Belfast Tech mission saw over 50 SMEs apply for 20 places to participate and resulted in new sales, clients and partnerships secured among local companies and venture capital organisations and businesses in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.  Following the success of this mission, discussions have taken place with the participating companies, the University of Ulster, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Invest Northern Ireland and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to opportunities for further development and support.

2         Key Issues

2.1      It is now recommended to Members that Belfast City Council take the lead in scoping out and implementing a number of projects which are outlined as below.

2.2      Health Hack 2014

           Health Hack NI is a Weekend event that brings together clinicians, developers, designers, business people and other interested parties to work on problems or ideas that improve health.  The 2014 event is due to take place on the 22 and 23 February at the Northern Ireland Science Park and will engage with clinicians (including consultants, GPs, Nursing Staff and NHS managers), technologists and entrepreneurs to produce high quality software that improves health. Clinicians will be encouraged to bring problems and ideas and technologists, their skills.  In advance of the weekend, these ideas and problems will be captured, discussed and prioritised using online collaborative tools (e.g., a Wiki). Developers may form teams in advance to address a selected problem or they may be matched with an appropriate clinician on the day.  All software will be produced using freely available technologies and will be released to the clinical community on a flexible Open Source license.

2.3      The project will support 20 local SMEs from the developer community and will help increase engagement between NHS, industry and universities; expose the NHS to applications of modern and emerging technologies and expose industry/students to the real challenges of the NHS.  It will also provide good PR for the Council and the Super-connected Belfast project; create reusable technology components for Healthcare and provide opportunities for local SMEs to access new funding through the Small Business Research Initiative with a focus on Health and well being.  The total cost of the project is £6050 and is being delivered in partnership with Queen’s University and Kainos Software.  The finance requested from Council is £4450.

2.4      Belfast Technology Conference 2014

           The inaugural Belfast Technology  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

            The Director reminded the Committee that the Council held a licence to operate a branch of the World Trade Centre in Belfast.  He explained that the licence gave the Council the right to use the World Trade Centre brand and enabled it to develop and deliver a series of activities under its auspices.  He provided an outline of the range of initiatives which had been delivered in this regard. 

            The Director pointed out that, whilst the holding of a licence to operate a World Trade Centre did not require the establishment of an operational centre, the proposed extension to the Waterfront Hall to incorporate new conference facilities, together with exhibition space, could present the Council with an opportunity to utilise the World Trade Centre licence and brand.  He therefore recommended that the Committee agreed to retain ownership of the licence until that option had been explored fully and authorise the payment of $10,000 (approximately £6,200) to renew the annual licence fee. 

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee noted the contents of a report in respect of the Council’s Community Festivals Fund for 2014/2015 and agreed, subject to final confirmation of the actual figure by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, to accept an offer of match funding in the sum of approximately £72,000 to assist the Council to administer the scheme in 2014/2015.