Agenda item

            The Director of Development provided the Committee with an update on the upcoming Peace and Beyond Conference, which would take place in Belfast from 10th-12th April.

            He pointed out to the Members that 10th April, 2018, would mark twenty years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and that the British Council was working with both Queen’s University and Ulster University, as well as the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, to host a major conference in Belfast to mark the event. 

            The Director explained to the Members that the objective of the Conference was to bring together policy makers and peace practitioners from around the world to share reflections on the experience of various peace processes, with the events building on the Northern Ireland experience of, and expertise in, conflict resolution and peace building. 

            He outlined to the Committee that the British Council had invited a number of individuals who had played a key role in the Good Friday Agreement negotiations to attend, including former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton.  The Members were advised that, while a decision on whether President Clinton would attend the Conference had not been confirmed, a number of senior representatives involved in peace-building in South Africa, Libya, Colombia, Serbia and Lebanon had already confirmed their attendance.       It was pointed out to the Members that the event would attract more than 200 international visitors to the City.

            The Director highlighted to the Members that one of the main aims of the Conference was to highlight the key role played by local organisations and institutions in building and securing the peace process in Northern Ireland.  He explained that one day would be dedicated to a series of site visits, including the Girdwood Hub and the Innovation Factory, which would also offer an opportunity to showcase and highlight the role that Belfast City Council played in supporting local communities to build sustainable approaches to peace and to encourage inclusive economic growth within the City.

            He advised the Members that the opening reception for the Conference would take place in Belfast City Hall on 10th April, with a proposed budget allocation of £20,000 towards cultural animation and hospitality at the opening event.  He explained that the funding had been set aside in departmental estimates for 2018/2019. 

            The Committee was advised that the British Council had offered to provide six complimentary tickets for elected Members to attend the Conference.  During discussion, a Member suggested that the Committee request additional complimentary conference tickets to enable independent Councillors, who were not members of one of the six main political parties, to also attend.

After discussion, the Committee:

1.     noted the update on the upcoming Peace and Beyond Conference which would take place in Belfast from 10-12th April 2018;

2.     noted that the opening reception would take place in Belfast City Hall on 10th April 2018 and agreed a budget allocation of up to £20,000 towards cultural animation and hospitality at that event.  The funding had been set aside within existing Development Department budgets;

3.     agreed to accept the offer from the British Council to provide six complimentary tickets, to include the attendance of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson (or their nominees) and a representative from each of the other four main political parties to avail of the other complimentary tickets; and

4.     agreed that a request be made to the British Council for additional complimentary tickets for other Councillors to attend the Conference.