Agenda item

            The Chief Executive submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

 

“1.0  Relevant Background Information 

 

         The first in this year’s series of corporate planning workshops was held on the 17th August in the Group Space (Ulster Hall) and attended by 30 Councillors plus Chief Officers. 

 

         The workshop was facilitated by Councillor Jon Huish.

 

         There were two sessions:

 

·         one about ‘place-shaping’ and potentially ‘game-changing’ projects that Members wanted to see delivered in Belfast on a NSEW and CityCentre basis.

·         one about the corporate themes – leadership, economy, environment, people and communities and improving services.

 

      This report sets out the direction given by Members at the workshop to guide further development of the corporate plan 2012-15 together with progress in developing the ‘investment package’ which members wish to use to communicate the Council’s commitment to tackling the effect of the economic downturn in the city. 

 

      A summary of the feedback provided by Members at the session on 17th August has been circulatedfor the Committee’s information, together with a initial draft outline of how an investment or stimulus package might be developed and presented. It is very much a first draft for Members consideration and direction, with additional work to refine its messages ongoing.

 

2.0    Place-shaping

 

2.1    Identification of projects

 

         The projects selected by Members for further focus fall into two categories – green, which are underway and amber/red which are at various stages of readiness from being ‘ideas’ to having fairly well established concepts. 

 

         Members asked that a process should be delivered to take these projects forward.  Members wanted to progress those projects which were ready to move forward but also to get other projects to a state of readiness where they might avail of potential funding opportunities or be the subject of advocacy by Members for funding.  In order to do this Members are asked to consider two steps – agreeing principles for taking projects forward and agreeing the process of engagement with Members around this. 

 

         Process in taking decisions about project investment forward

 

         At the workshop Members considered the steps that necessary to take a project from concept through to delivery, including concept design and agreement, potential funding arrangements; detailed design and costings; political approval, planning permissions; project planning, procurement,  contract management and delivery. 

 

         The next stage is therefore for Members to further consider the projects listed, testing them against the various stages of project delivery and providing further direction for officers.  In order to guide this process it is suggested that a set of principles be established so that scarce resources can be effectively targeted at realisable projects. 

 

         These principles will need to consider a number of issues such as:

 

·         concept plan

·         feasibility

·         design

·         funding

·         need for balance of funding across city

·         need to deliver against Council objectives

 

         In order to take forward further consideration of both the projects and the principles it is recommended that a set of the City Centre, North, South, East, West joint officer/Member working groups is established, these working groups will report back to a meeting of Party Group Leaders and Committee in November with an agreed set of principles and updates on all the projects considered.  

 

2.2    A place-shaping opportunity for Belfast - ERDF

 

         Linked to the place-shaping work is an opportunity for Belfast to benefit from funding from the ERDF with the potential to draw down up to 75% of the cost of specific types of capital projects aligned to supporting local economic development and the objectives of Invest NI.  To avail of the first tranche of funding, applications must be made by 30th October 2011 for expenditure up to December 2013.  Three of the projects focused on by Members at the place-shaping workshop, are in a position at the current time to be submitted by the deadline, these being:

 

·         Green economy business park, Northforeshore;

·         Innovation Centre at Forth River Business Park on Springfield Road;

·         Digital Hub.

 

         A separate report on the ERDF proposals will also be considered at this Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, seeking approval to make these applications and which also outlines the potential to attract significant tourism development funding for an extension to the Waterfront Hall to provide additional conference and exhibition facilities.

 

2.3    Leadership and governance

 

         Members stressed the need to create a long-term vision for Belfast, using mechanisms such as the masterplan process which will help guide future city development, identify opportunities and advocate for key city infrastructure and projects. 

 

·         An opportunity now exists to take forward the review of the masterplan connected to the further development of the Strategic Regeneration Frameworks with the Department of Social Development and other partners.  This would greatly help the creation of the more coherent and unified city framework that Members want to see in place.  Members are asked to approve further work on this issue with a report being brought back before Christmas.

 

2.4    Members also recommended the following:

 

(i)      A review of council governance and decision making structures to ensure that these are fit for purpose– Members asked that officers look at best practice elsewhere and come up with a series of options for consideration;

 

         The Council should actively advocate and build appropriate relationships with government and external organisations in order to ensure that the Council has the powers to determine ‘place’ and to increase the rate base.  Officers will continue to work with DoE and DSD in relation to planning and regeneration pilots and bring forward options for consideration by Members.

 

(ii)     A positive, coherent relationship with the Executive should be developed around key advocacy issues and the position of the Lord Mayor should be used to maximise the impact of advocacy.  Clear positions on city developments with significant potential to benefit the city and local communities should be brought to Committee, these should include – the move of the University of Ulster campus into Belfast; the rapid transit project; the creation of a digital hub, the development of Royal Exchange in the City Centre, the development of stadia at Windsor and Casement Parks.

           

(iii)    Party Leaders should be supported to work across parties to ensure that all strategic issues are taken forward effectively and to create positive and beneficial change.  Members felt that the contribution made by Jon Huish had facilitated discussions on strategic issues had introduced a needed element of challenge, it was proposed that such support should be continued throughout the remaining corporate planning process to enable effective dialogue at party leader and party group level.

 

2.5    Economy (discussion also drew upon the Development Committee workshop of 12 August)

 

         Members recommended that:

 

(i)      The new plan must have a strong focus on the local economy, including effective investment in key projects, support for job creation, support for small businesses, building the skills base and the most impactful use of the Council’s own procurement and employment practices to provide job and training opportunities for local people.

 

(ii)     Given the imperative created by the impact of the recession on Belfast, Members were keen that an investment or stimulus package should be drawn together as quickly as possible to demonstrate the Council’s leadership on tackling the effects of the downturn. 

 

(iii)    Officers have been working to develop a set of key messages around the types of intervention that members have requested and to quantify this investment in monetary terms an initial draft indicative outline of how an investment or stimulus package might be presented is attached at Appendix 3.  This is very much a first draft for comment/direction and further work is ongoing.

 

(iv)   In order to build on the momentum created on both the 12th and 17th August sessions, Members asked that the next workshop session should focus on the economy.  The date for this session has now been set as 28th September, commencing at 9.30am and concluding with lunch at 1.00pm, the venue is once again the Group Space in the Ulster Hall.  The session will be facilitated by Neil Gibson of Economic Forecasts, author of the Council’s city competitiveness research report.  The draft stimulus package will be discussed in greater detail and will be further developed with Members at this workshop. 

 

(v)    Members have also indicated that a consensus building city workshop or conference on the economy in the Autumn would allow the Council to share its ideas with partners and other stake-holders and communicate its commitment to investing in and supporting the local economy.  A proposal on the format and approach to this conference will be discussed further with Members at the economy workshop.

 

2.6    People and Communities

 

(i)      Key issues for Members in supporting local people and communities were:

 

·         Identifying measures whereby the Council can support local people to cope with the recession such as the support for debt advice and the measures described in the Council’s Anti-Poverty Framework.

·         The integration of services locally and maximising the usefulness of local community assets and social enterprises;

·         Good relations – needs to be more ‘upfront’ throughout the corporate plan and in particular a Council should commit to a strategy which enhances accessibility to all parts of the City, tackles interfaces and build confidence, trust and relationships. 

·         Building on and replicating the best features of successful local interventions such as measures to address anti-social behaviour and the installation of alley-gates.

 

(ii)     The third workshop session, scheduled to be held on 12 October will be devoted to the issue of people, communities and neighbourhoods.  It is intended that at this workshop Members can explore further the development of a better Council approach to working in and intervening in neighbourhoods and ways in which the good relations agenda, including work at interfaces can be better reflected in the corporate plan.  At this session members will also consider the policy framework which will underpin the implementation of the Local Investment Fund, previously agreed by the Committee; this will include the process and criteria for implementing the fund.  Finally the Anti-Poverty Framework which was the subject of recent consultation with Parties will be presented in its final draft form.

 

2.7    Environment

 

         Members want a continued focus on creating a cleaner, greener, city.  Key points included:

 

·         The need for a clear focus on the importance of green space in the city as a way of improving quality of life in all ways including health, supporting the local economy through events and improving the city’s offer to visitors, workers, students and investors;

·         The impact of all natural city assets should be maximised – greenways, parks, rivers and mountains;

·         The Council’s environmental commitments should not be passive but should be framed and delivered in such a way that they enlist the public and partners;

·         Transport is a key issue, including the need for constantly improving public transport and ultimately rapid transit infrastructure;

·         Ensuring that the city meets its waste management targets, reducing the amount of waste produced and improving recycling rates remains a priority.

 

         Proposals on actions and targets around the environment theme will be brought to SP&R, Parks and Leisure and Health & Environmental Services Committees in October and November.

 

2.8    Timeline for delivery of the corporate plan and future Member engagement

 

         The timeline for the remaining production of the corporate plan has been circulated for Members’ information.

 

3.0    Resource Implications

 

         The resource implications of taking forward the Council’s commitments as set out in the ‘investment package’ will be discussed further in line with the budget setting process for 2012-15.

 

4.0    Equality Implications

 

         Equality screening of all elements of the corporate plan will be taken forward throughout the process of its development

 

5.0    Recommendations

 

         Summary of recommended actions:

 

         Members are asked to agree the principles and process for taking forward the projects identified at the place-shaping workshop;

 

         Members are asked to agree the actions outlined for taking forward further work on the corporate plan themes including:

 

·         Creating a stimulus package for Belfast and organise a consensus building city workshop or conference on the economy in late Autumn, detail to be discussed further at the economy workshop on 28th September.  An initial draft indicative outline of how an investment or stimulus package might be developed and presented is attached at Appendix 3, which had been circulated for the Members’ information;

·         Take forward the review of the masterplan connected to the further development of the Strategic Regeneration Frameworks with the Department of Social Development and other partners;

·         Review council governance and decision making structures to ensure that these are fit for purpose;

·         Support Party Leaders to work across parties to ensure that all strategic issues are taken forward effectively and to create positive and beneficial change, this should include an external support and challenge role;

·         Advocacy - clear positions on city developments with significant potential to benefit the city and local communities, these should including the move of the University of Ulster campus into Belfast; the rapid transit project; the creation of a digital hub and the development of Royal Exchange should be brought to Committee;

·         Commit to a strategy for interfaces which builds confidence and relationships.”

 

            During discussion, the Members commended the report and made the following points:

 

·         the package needed to strike a balance between investment in the city through financial support for big construction projects and support for individuals struggling to cope with the recession;

 

·         the reduction in the levels of poverty and inequality needed to be more central in the document;

 

·         the Council should explore how it provides more focused advice, support and signposting services to those in debt and examine how it can through its own activities offer opportunities for internships, mentoring schemes and apprenticeships;

 

·         the Council needed to investigate how it could do more to address the issue of employability by working with relevant government bodies such as the Department for Employment and Learning and by introducing a city-wide bursary scheme;

 

·         more work was required on the contribution procurement and social clauses might make to providing opportunities to local firms and those not in employment;

 

·         the Council needed to drive the agenda for reducing health inequalities;

 

·         it was essential to explore the social economy and the potential to work with other bodies in that area;

 

·         rather than committing to a strategy for interfaces only, there should be a commitment to ensure that the good relations and equality strategy was considered in relation to all the projects across the City in which the Council was involved;

 

·         the Council needed to take on a greater civic leadership role and become the voice of the city in relation to advocating for the needs of its citizens and marketing the city for investment and tourism;

 

·         the Council should develop an international and external relations strategy, and form key relationships with bodies such as Invest NI and government departments to ensure that investment efforts were aligned and focused; and

 

·         there was a need to ensure that the identification of place shaping projects was spread fairly across the city and that key projects in the city centre, such as a civic square around the City Hall and the development of St George’s Market, were considered.

 

            In response the Chief Executive stated that in order to effectively deliver on the package the Council would need to agree a balanced programme of investment across the city which would gain political support; need to consider affordability in the context of agreement on the level of the rate and efficiency measures; and deliverability in terms of the detail of projects and programmes being sufficiently designed and specified to establish their financial consequences and delivery timetable.  He indicated that work was ongoing in terms of identifying funding streams to support the programme and that an effective engagement strategy with government departments and the private sector would have to be developed to optimise investment in the city.  He highlighted that work was also ongoing in relation to social clauses, procurement and marketing in the city and that further reports would be brought to the Committee.

 

            After further discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.