Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The Committee held its annual planning workshop on 6 March 2017 to shape the upcoming work of the Committee and the new Corporate Plan. This was informed by the Council’s budget setting process for 2017/18.  The workshop also provided the opportunity to consider the Committee’s role in maximising the Council’s contribution to delivering the Agenda.

 

1.2       The Belfast Agenda has at its core a commitment to inclusive growth.  The Committee is familiar with the four main priorities in the Belfast Agenda which demonstrate the centrality of growing the local economy to improving quality of life in Belfast. It sets out an ambition for growth and opportunity that includes four headline goals to focus on the economic and social growth of Belfast so that by 2035:

 

-       Our city is home to an additional 70,000 new residents

-       Our urban economy supports 50,000 more jobs

-       There will be a 50% reduction in the life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived neighbourhoods

-       Every young person leaving school has a destination that fulfils their potential

 

1.3       The Committee has already noted that delivering the ambitions in the Belfast Agenda will require a significant uplift in the investment and resource commitment from the Council to ensure that, along with partner organisations, we develop appropriate support, services and programmes to grow the economy, improve the skills base, support city development and enhance the ‘lived experience’ in the city.  

 

1.4       The draft Committee Plan (available on modern.gov) draws together several annual delivery plans previously agreed by Committee (such as city centre development, support for businesses, employability & skills, tourism and the cultural framework).  It sets out the main priorities and programmes of work that the Committee will oversee during 2017-18 to contribute to the delivery of the Belfast Agenda.

 

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

-       Approve the draft City Growth & Regeneration Committee Plan 2017-18; and

-       Agree to receive a further economic briefing, which includes consideration of the Belfast’s position post Brexit from the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) at a future meeting.

 

3.0       Main report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       The City Growth and Regeneration Committee is responsible for:

 

-       The development and implementation of strategies, policies, programmes and projects directed towards regeneration and growth of the city in the context of outcomes agreed in the community and corporate plans and other corporate strategy decisions.

-       Oversight of the exercise of Council functions in relation to economic development, urban development, tourism, culture & arts, European and international relations, car parks, city markets, city events, Belfast Castle, Malone House and Belfast Zoo.

 

3.2       With input from Prof Neil Gibson (UUEPC) the planning workshop on 6 March 2017 provided an opportunity to set the Council’s ambitions and Committee’s progress and priorities within the current economic context and outlook.  The purpose of the workshop was to translate the priorities of the Belfast Agenda into a work plan for the Committee to deliver in 2017/18.

 

3.3       To achieve the city ambitions to grow the economy and develop the city, Members agreed the need for a step change in what we do and how we work and a corresponding uplift in investment in 2017/18. In particular this will enhance small business and investment support and align it with the Smart City framework and employability and skills programmes, including the Belfast Works programme, which focuses on developing skills and employment opportunities for those furthest from the labour market.

 

3.4       The draft Committee Plan indicates the main programmes of work and aligns them to the priorities and work-streams identified in the draft Belfast Agenda that will deliver on the four pillars of: Growing the Economy, City Development, Working & Learning and Living Here.

 

3.5       The draft Committee Plan outlines the key actions, milestones and Lead Director responsible for the delivery of programmes and projects.  However, as Committee is aware many of these programmes and projects are cross-cutting and therefore require the involvement of more than one Council service, as well as engagement and partnership with city partners and communities. 

 

3.6       The Committee has approved several reports on the key areas of work over the last two months which have been included within this annual draft Committee Plan; therefore the following provides a brief summary of the broad areas of work.

 

3.7       Growing the economy

 

-       Developing an integrated sustainable approach to inclusive economic growth and investment

-       Shaping the development of a Growth Deal for the City-Region; including strengthening the case for the transfer of regeneration powers to local government and enhanced devolution for employability & skills

-       Maximising the city’s connections to drive growth by delivering the International Relations Framework; and progressing the Belfast Business Support scheme and  Investment Advice/Concierge Service

-       Making it easy to do business in Belfast by developing and delivering a comprehensive small business service to help those wishing to start a business, existing businesses that wish to grow to export, accelerating growth for priority sectors; and encouraging foreign owned businesses to invest in the City.

 

3.8       City Development

 

-       Delivering the City Centre Regeneration & Investment Strategy, including the development of comprehensive masterplan frameworks to better connect the city and developments, and supporting and delivering the key strategic city centre projects

-       Supporting city centre governance arrangements to co-ordinate regeneration efforts, such as the Joint Regeneration Board, and stimulate market interest in city development opportunities through the £18.7m City Centre Investment Fund

-       Developing and submitting a joint bid for the 2023 European Capital of Culture with Derry City and Strabane District Council

-       Delivering the integrated Tourism Strategy and developing the city’s tourism offer

-       Developing a city centre based world class visitor Belfast Story destination hub, that complements the current offer and connects to the wider city experience

-       Delivering a successful market-facing strategy to promote and position Belfast, building commitment for a city brand identity and maximising opportunities for investment, tourism, study and regeneration

 

3.9       Working & Learning

 

-       Delivering the Employability & Skills Framework; including the development of a Belfast employability pathway model (Belfast Works).

-       Increasing engagement with the education sector and better understanding the needs of those furthest removed from the labour market to identify opportunities to help address the city’s educational and skills inequalities. 

-       Working with the further and higher education institutions to ensure alignment of course provision to meet industry needs

 

3.10     Living Here

 

-       Delivering the Cultural Framework and developing a new approach to culture, festivals and events

 

3.11     Central to this is ensuring that strategies and frameworks connect neighbourhoods to the city centre and that the whole city can enjoy the benefits.  An important aspect of this will be the development of a Regeneration Engagement Strategy for the city centre, and ongoing efforts to engage with partners, business and communities to take a co-design and co-delivery approach to progress these programmes.

 

3.12     Regular updates on progress with key programmes will be brought back to Committee.  A separate item on the Committee agenda proposes a new more accessible infographic-style format that is currently being developed to support this process.  In the first instance this will be applied to the key Council programmes designed to contribute to growing the economy.

 

 

3.13     Financial & Resource Implications

 

            The Committee Plan will be delivered in accordance with the cash limits previously agreed by Committee and approved by Council in February 2017.

 

3.14     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            Programmes and activities contained within the Committee Plan will be subject to appropriate equality and good relations considerations.”

 

            A Member stated that, while the input from Professor Gibson from the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) had been very informative to date, it would also be useful to hear other perspectives on Brexit.

 

            During discussion, and in response to suggestions from Members, the Committee agreed to hold a Special meeting to discuss Belfast’s position post-Brexit, with Prof. N. Gibson, UUEPC, Dr. T. Healy, Nevin Economic Research Institute, and Dr. S. Nolan, Trademark, being invited to attend.

 

            A Member highlighted the importance of the enterprise outreach and engagement programme which would target under-represented groups.

 

            A further Member raised concerns regarding a recent article in The Irish News which stated that the Council had been storing wooden pallets for use on a bonfire in Hope Street.  He requested that information be provided on what Council resources had been used to store the pallets and any legal implications which the Council might be open to as a result of any damage or injury to property or members of the public from that bonfire.

 

            The Chief Executive advised the Committee that the issue of bonfires would be discussed at a meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel with the Party Group Leaders the following day and, as part of ongoing engagement on those issues, a further briefing at the Inter Agency Group partners and Party Group Leaders Forum had been scheduled for the following week.

 

Proposal

 

            Moved by Councillor Beattie,

 

            Seconded by Councillor Magee,

           

      That the Committee requests that a report be submitted to the next Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the issue of bonfires.

 

            A further Member stated that the issue of bonfires was not relevant to the item which was under consideration and asked that the Chairperson make a ruling on whether the issue was relevant.  The Chairperson ruled that the issue was relevant, in that bonfires could impact upon the City’s economy.

 

Amendment

 

            Moved by Alderman McGimpsey,

 

            Seconded by Alderman Spence,

 

      That the Committee refers back to the agenda, and that no report be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

 

            On a vote by show of hands, eight Members voted for the amendment and eleven against and it was declared lost.

           

            The original proposal standing in the name of Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor Magee was put to the meeting, when nine Members voted for and none against and it was declared carried.

 

            Accordingly, the Committee:

 

1.     agreed the draft City Growth and Regeneration Committee Plan 2017-18; and

2.     agreed to hold a Special meeting on Brexit and the economic impact, with Professor N. Gibson, Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC), Dr. T. Healy, Nevin Economic Research Institute, and Dr. S. Nolan, Trademark, being invited to attend; and

3.     requested that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the issue of bonfires.