Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0  Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1    This report is to provide an update on work in relation to developing a Belfast city-region ‘deal’.

2.0    Recommendations

2.1   The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the progress towards developing a Belfast city-region proposal.

3.0    Main report

         Background

3.1    Strategic Policy and Resources Committee agreed in November 2015 that the Council should seek to influence the development of the next NI Executive Programme of Government and Investment Plans.  This included commissioning expert assistance to articulate the case for a Belfast city-region ‘deal’ or devolution package.  This was consequent to a Notice of Motion entitled ‘City Growth’ agreed by Council earlier in 2015.

3.2    This is directly connected to work ongoing in relation to City Centre regeneration, and it is argued that, given the appropriate freedoms and flexibilities, city-region devolution could enable greater and more widely distributed economic growth, as well as the dramatic improvement of public services. 

3.3    Subsequently, officers have completed an initial review of the various approaches to greater devolution for cities in England, and more recently, in Scotland and Wales (available on modern.gov).  This largely focuses on three main areas of support from central government:

-       funding;

-       transfer of powers and;

-       increased cooperation.

3.4   Given the links to Westminster, the Chief Executive has also had discussions with the Belfast MPs and the Secretary of State to outline the Council’s ambitions in this regard and seek their input.  In addition, as part of the agenda for the Belfast Strategic Issues Group, all the Permanent Secretaries have also been briefed.  The paper shared with the stakeholders is available on modern.gov.  Broadly speaking, all meetings have been positive and generated support for the Council’s direction and initiative on the matter.

3.5   As part of the process, the Council is developing a robust evidence-based business case to argue for greater devolution for the Belfast city-region. To this end, ResPublica has been commissioned to develop a preliminary report on what a Belfast-region devolution deal might look like.  They have a strong track record in working with cities, including Glasgow and Liverpool, in securing additional freedoms and flexibilities in a devolution package.  ResPublica has produced a preliminary paper, available on modern.gov.

3.6    In addition, given the importance of strong city-regional linkages, Centre for Cities has been commissioned as ‘honest broker’ in facilitating dialogue with neighbouring Councils and the business community, as well as other interested parties including Derry and Strabane Council. 

3.7    The draft report on the Belfast-region ‘asks’ for devolution will be presented to SP&R Committee in April.   Following this, and subsequent to the Assembly elections, there will be a series of political briefings and community engagement to advocate and build support for a Belfast city-region deal and develop the detail required for a phased implementation.

         It is anticipated detailed discussions with the NI Executive will take place later in 2016, to identify opportunities to integrate the Council’s ambitions into the Programme for Government.

3.8    Financial & Resource Implications

         None at present

3.9    Equality or Good Relations Implications

         Any emerging ‘deal’ will be subject to equality and good relations screening.”

            In response to a Member’s question regarding City Deals in Great Britain, the Director of Development clarified to the Committee that Glasgow’s City Deal included eight surrounding areas in addition to the city centre.

            A further Member suggested that perhaps the Council could organise an event for the local MLAs, MPs and Council representatives from those areas which surrounded Belfast, that is, the Metropolitan area, in order to explain how a City Deal for Belfast would help to create positive outcomes for their areas in addition to the benefits for Belfast.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.