Agenda item

European Cycle-Friendly Employer

            Accreditation Scheme

            The Director of Economic Development advised the Committee that a new cycle-friendly accreditation scheme for employers had been launched in Belfast on 19th April, 2018. He explained that the scheme was aimed at encouraging staff to commute to work by bike and had been developed to provide a European standard for cycle-friendly companies.  He advised the Members that it was being run by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) across Europe and that it would be delivered in the UK by Cycling UK and supported by Sustrans. 

            He outlined to the Members that the scheme recognised that encouraging staff to cycle for business journeys helped to improve staff health and could help boost productivity.  He also pointed out that the outline detail of the scheme indicated a contribution towards delivering a number of the outcomes of the Belfast Agenda in particular ‘Belfast is a vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable city’.

            The Committee was advised that officers from across the Council were liaising with Sustrans and Cycling UK regarding further detail of the Cycle-Friendly Accreditation Scheme and a that follow up report would be submitted for its consideration at a later date.

            Belfast Bicycle Network Plan

            The Director reminded the Members that the Council had responded to the public consultation on the Draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan in January 2017, and he suggested that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) be invited to a future meeting to discuss the plans for its implementation, in order that the Council could highlight any potential areas for consideration. 

            During discussion, the Committee agreed that NI Greenways also be invited to attend that meeting.

            The Director reported that, while the DfI had made progress on developing the cycling network in the city centre, there was a lack of progress on a coherent bicycle network city wide.

            In response to a number of Members’ queries, the Strategic Director of Place and Economy undertook to clarify the detail of the Council’s formal submission to the consultation on the Draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan, ensuring that it had a city wide focus based on previous council reports and submissions.

            Active Belfast Initiative

            The Director outlined to the Committee that the Council had committed to work at a strategic level to promote physical activity, including cycling, through the work of the Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) and the Active Belfast initiative. He explained that the Active Belfast Partnership had developed and agreed a new overarching strategy for physical activity called ‘Get Active Belfast’.

            He provided the Members with an overview of the strategy and explained that the first of seven pledges in the strategy was to ‘create an integrated active travel network’.

            The Committee was advised that a ‘Task and finish’ subgroup had been established, with key stakeholders having been asked to commit to three meetings, with a view to producing a collective action plan by mid-2018. 

            After discussion, the Committee:

·        noted the emerging detail of the Cycle-Friendly accreditation scheme;

·        agreed to invite the Department for Infrastructure and NI Greenways to a future meeting to discuss the plans for the implementation of the Bicycle Network Plan and agreed Council priorities;

·        noted that the Strategic Director of Place and Economy would clarify the detail of the Council’s formal submission to the consultation on the Draft Belfast Bicycle Network Plan, ensuring it had a city wide focus based on previous council reports and submissions; and

·        noted the ongoing partnership work of the Active Belfast initiative and the work of the ‘Task And Finish’ subgroup.