Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       Members have expressed their desire to embed inclusive growth within the programme and project decision-making process of Council.  As a result, the draft Corporate Plan 2017-21 includes a commitment to ‘work to drive inclusive growth’ through the development and adoption of an inclusive growth framework. 

 

            The purpose of this report is to set out the proposed approach and timescales associated with the realisation of this commitment and embed inclusive growth in our portfolio approach of the Belfast Agenda. 

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

1.     Note the proposed approach and suggested timescale associated with the development of an inclusive growth framework.

2.     Agree to the commissioning of expertise to support Members to develop and implement an inclusive growth framework and action plan.

3.     Agree to participating in a Members’ workshop with a view to defining the inclusive growth priorities. 

 

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       The OECD states that inclusive growth is: ‘Economic growth that creates opportunity for all segments of the population and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity, both in monetary and non-monetary terms, fairly across society.’

 

            Recognising the importance of securing inclusive growth for Belfast, Members have engaged in a number of activities designed to support the development of an inclusive growth agenda. This has included a roundtable discussions facilitated by the RSA Commission on Inclusive Growth, work with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and a Rockefeller Foundation Resilient Cities workshop. This work has been complemented by the findings of a poverty report produced by the Belfast Youth Forum and by work by Ulster University’s Economic Policy unit on economic inactivity in the City.

 

            The evidence for an inclusive growth agenda is apparent. Despite the wider success of the Belfast economy over the last decade, and a range of public policy interventions, there in a clear challenge (Source: JRF):

 

 

·        376,000 people (21 per cent) in Northern Ireland are living in poverty;

·        The level of working age poverty at 20 per cent is equal to the highest recorded since 2002/03;

·        101,000 of Northern Ireland’s children (23 per cent) are in poverty;

·        63,000 pensioners are in poverty (21 per cent). 

 

3.2       This need for a set of new interventions to address growing economic inequalities has informed the priorities of the Belfast Agenda with inclusive growth being centre to the vision of the Community Plan. In particular evidence from partners and from the Belfast Conversation that informed the development of the Belfast Agenda, identified a set of particular challenges:

 

·        Growing levels of in-work poverty

·        Number of households in poverty

·        High levels of economic inactivity and long term unemployment

·        High claimant counts levels

·        Low skills and poor educational attainment, resulting in low paid jobs and poor progression

 

3.3       The outworking of this commitment within the Belfast Agenda has seen Council implement a range of programmes of work and interventions to support those most in need within our City.  This has included significant investment in employment and skills interventions, interventions to address barriers to employment, the adoption of the living wage, educational support programmes, investments in social enterprise and co-operatives, fuel poverty interventions, robust adoption of social clauses and early years support and intervention.

 

3.4       While the on-going implementation of the Belfast Agenda, the successful delivery of the Belfast City Region Deal and the outworking of the Local Development Plan will provide opportunities for all citizens of Belfast, members have expressed their desire to embed inclusive growth more clearly within the programme and project decision-making process of Council.  One such mechanism to ensure this is the adoption of an inclusive growth decision-making framework. 

 

3.4       Why an Inclusive Growth Framework?

 

            The RSA Inclusive Growth Commission and work by Metro Dynamics (with support from JRF) has resulted in the development of an inclusive growth decision-making framework.  This framework is designed to support the development of a bespoke inclusive growth approach, embedding inclusive growth within existing functions and ensuring that it is incorporated within the social and economic agenda of a decision-making authority.

 

            In essence, it is a technical led approach to creating an inclusive growth-led council.  On the basis of ‘what gets measured is what gets done’, it is intended to drive behavioural change in investment strategy, so that inclusive growth outcomes are at the heart of the prioritisation.  Furthermore, by leading the way in adopting a framework we can work with partners to progress the adoption of an inclusive approach throughout the City.

 

            We anticipate that the embedding of an inclusive growth framework for the Council will involve a number of steps :

 

3.5       Step 1: Defining inclusive growth for Belfast

 

            It is vital that that there is an agreed, and Belfast specific, definition of inclusive growth. To do this we must use data and evidence to determine challenges facing the city, and its population, and collectively develop a common narrative about the vision for change.   Doing this will ensure a common framework is in place for all policy and decision makers.

 

            To support this process we seek approval to host a Members’ workshop in May.  This workshop will explore the inclusive growth challenges within Belfast, examine in-depth the evidence and seek to agree the definition.

 

3.6       Step 2: Developing and adopting a Belfast City Council bespoke framework

 

            Building on the outworking of this workshop, and working with established experts and practitioners, officers we will develop an inclusive growth framework to ensure that inclusive growth is placed at the heart of policy, capital and programme decisions.  This will ensure that the Council has a practical and simple framework to use in future decision making to quantify the inclusive growth benefits of investments and interventions. 

 

3.7       Step 3: Assessing current interventions

 

            This step will involve an assessment of whether the Council’s and the actions of other agencies / partners are sufficient, along with the development of a plan to address deficiencies or build on strengths. 

 

3.8       Step 4: Measuring our progress

 

            Members will be aware the Community Planning and Smart Cities teams are currently working with Community Planning Partners to pilot a City Dashboard; it is proposed that the agreed measurements of inclusive growth form part of this dashboard.  This will enable Members to assess progress.

 

3.9       Step 5: Ensuring Delivery 

 

            The Director of City and Organisational Strategy, via the Council’s newly established Strategic Hub, will oversee the successful implementation and delivery of the Council’s inclusive growth framework.  The work of the hub in taking forward a number of workstreams, including: the ongoing delivery and implementation of the Belfast Agenda, the development of a comprehensive consultation and engagement agenda, including working with CNS to strengthen community and civic voice, will be critical in ensuring that Council’s ambitions in relation to inclusive growth are fully realised.

 

            In addition the commencement of the Commissioner for Resilience in June, will provide increased focused and momentum to the inclusive growth agenda. 

 

3.10     Proposed timescales

 

            It is proposed that the process begins with a Members workshop in May, leading to a programme of work that will take place over the next 12 months to embed inclusive growth throughout Council. 

 

3.11     Linked priorities

 

            There are a number of linked work streams already underway. These include the ongoing development of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) and the development of anti-poverty interventions.  In relation to the BRCD, the vision agreed by Council partners has inclusive growth at its core.  By adopting the various work streams above and working in collaboration with our BRCD partners, it is anticipated that we can integrate inclusive growth principles, particularly around the strand of employability and skills. 

 

3.12     Financial & Resource Implications

 

            To support Members in the delivery of an inclusive growth framework we anticipate initial development costs of approximately £30,000.  Provision for these development costs has been made in the 2018/19 budget.

 

3.13     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            Equality and good relations implications will be taken into account; equality screening will be undertaken in line with agreed Council policy.  However, it is anticipated that any collaborative efforts should have a positive effect on section 75 groups.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.