Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       Members will be aware that in 2012, Council adopted the Holyland and Wider University Area Strategic Study. The recommendations ofthe study were two-fold:

 

·        To grow Belfast’s reputation as a Learning City and destination ofchoice for students requires a city-wide strategy forstudent housing that will promote choice and fit-for-purpose accommodation.

·        To restore the Holyland by gradually reintroducing affordable, single household accommodation and improving the quality ofthe environment, whilst working towards developing a new approach tomanaging the area.

 

1.2       An Action Plan to progress these recommendations was presented with the final Strategic Study Report. Subsequent update reports have been presented to Committee, which have provided Members with progress achieved in relation to the recommendations.   

 

1.3       In summary, the short and medium term recommendations within the Strategic Study have been implemented. The longer term recommendations have been incorporated into Council’s long term (10-15 years) strategies, which are being progressed via the Local Development Plan and the Belfast Agenda. The Local Development Plan’s strategic theme of ‘shaping a liveable place’ promotes development to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities, neighbourhoods and place whilst the Belfast Agenda’s strategic priority ‘living here’ focuses on making life better for all our residents. Further information regarding the Holyland and Wider University Area Strategic Study and its recommendations can be found on Modern.gov

  

1.4       Through the Learning City Interagency Group (formerly the Holyland Interagency Group), a Programme of Work has been developed to deliver short to medium term projects, that include actions to restore the physical and social integrity of the Wider University Area. 

 

1.5       The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update, on the work of the Learning City Interagency Group during the period 2017 / 2018 and to present the Programme of Work in relation to 2018 / 2019.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

·        Consider the contents of the report.

·        Note the progress to date in relation to the work delivered through the Learning City Interagency Group and endorse the future Programme of Work to address ongoing issues on a city wide basis.

 

3.0      Main report

 

            Key Issues

 

            Learning City Interagency Group Terms of Reference

 

3.1       In September 2016 the Learning City Interagency Group revised its Terms of Reference and Governance Model, widening its scope, to make Belfast a Learning City and address the opportunities and challenges faced by communities within new and existing university neighbourhoods across the City. A copy of the Learning City Interagency Group Terms of Reference and a list of current organisations that make up the group can be found on modern.gov

 

            2017 / 2018 Programme of Work

 

3.2       A number of agreed work streams deliver the operational plans for the Learning City Interagency Group and are captured in a Programme of Work that is overseen by the Learning City Interagency Group.

 

3.3       The work streams in the 2017 / 2018 were as follows:

 

·        Learning City

·        Restoring Integrity (physical) of the Wider University Area

·        Restoring Integrity (social) of the Wider University Area

·        Delivery and Enforcement

·        Communications and Media

 

3.4       An update in relation to the key actions in the 2017 / 2018 Programme of Work is as follows:

 

·        Through continued, effective partnership working with the higher education institutions across the city, procedures to manage student behaviours have been introduced which include induction and disciplinary procedures.

·        Work is being undertaken with partners to review the effectiveness of legislation and byelaws, relevant to addressing antisocial behaviour. On 17 April 2018 the Department of Justice launched an eight week public consultation to review the current criminal legislation framework to tackle anti-social behaviour, including on-street drinking. A corporate Council response has been prepared in relation to this consultation which was presented to Committee on 5 June 2018. Several physical and environmental improvement projects have been delivered or are in the process of being delivered which include:

 

                                                       (i)     graffiti removal in partnership with Probation Board NI;

                                                      (ii)     tree planning through the Local Investment Fund;

                                                    (iii)     regeneration of the area known as ‘Horsey Hill’ to develop a corridor to link local green spaces;

                                                    (iv)     capacity support to assist the delivery of community led projects;

                                                      (v)     community clean-ups; and

                                                    (vi)     a South Belfast circular economy project is being considered to encourage recycling rates.

 

·        Multiagency advance activity planning around key dates and events across the city was developed, which included St Patrick’s Day planning. This robust planning process supported effective operational management of city wide events. Following monitoring and evaluation, learning from activity planning in relation to events has been incorporated into future planning, to further enhance existing procedures around event management.

·        Engagement with licensed premises owners has been undertaken and, where relevant, targeted interventions in relation to problem premises has been carried out.

·        Through the development of the Local Development Plan, work continues to ensure that Belfast becomes a more liveable and attractive city to support sustainable, resilient communities.

·        Preparations remain ongoing to transfer the HMO function to Council in April 2019.

·        Through the development of proactive communication protocols, communications in relation to city events was successfully managed. 

 

3.5       More information on the work completed can be found in the latest update report on modern.gov

 

3.6       Members will be aware that a Community Campus Regeneration Forum (CCRF) has been established. The aim of this Forum is to support the identification, capture, delivery and monitoring of community, social, economic, equality and environmental benefits and issues resulting from the relocation of the Ulster University Jordanstown Campus to Belfast City Centre. The Learning City Interagency Group has developed close links with the Forum, through liaison between Council Officers and representation at relevant meetings. This has enabled sharing of best practice and learning, and these connections will continue to be applied and reviewed during 2018 / 2019.  

 

            2018 / 2019 Programme of Work

 

3.7       The Learning City Interagency Group has developed a 2018 / 2019 Programme of Work.

 

3.8       The work streams within the 2018 / 2019 Programme of Work are similar to 2017 / 2018, to reflect ongoing needs across the city, enabling continuity of delivery in relation to ongoing programmes and activities. The 2018 / 2019 PACT Plan is currently being reviewed and will be considered at the Learning City Interagency Group meeting on 14 June, to ensure that it compliments and reflects the work streams contained in the 2018 / 2019 Programme of Work.  

 

3.9       The 2018 UK Town and Gowns Association (UKTGA) biannual conference is being held in Belfast on 19 and 20 November. The core principle of UKTGA is to enhance experience through consistency, ongoing support and improved standards for students and long term residents living in off-campus communities.

 

3.10      In conjunction with UKTGA and Queens University Belfast, Council has been invited to shape the conference agenda to ensure that key issues relevant to Belfast are included for discussion.

 

 

 

3.11      Human Resources

 

            In terms of supporting the delivery of the Learning City Interagency Group and the associated Programme of Work, this is through existing Council staff, with no additional costs to the ratepayer.   

 

3.12      Financial and Resource Implications

 

            At this time there are no financial or resource implications associated with this report.

 

3.13      Equality or Good Relations Implications /

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

            At this time there are no equality, good relations or rural needs assessment implications associated with this report.”

 

            The Committee noted the progress in relation to the work delivered through the Learning City Interagency Group and endorsed the future Programme of Work to address ongoing issues on a citywide basis.