Agenda item

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       This report provides a six month progress report on the key actions contained in the City Growth and Regeneration Committee Plan, as agreed by Committee in April, 2018.  It provides an update on progress with the key actions, in particular highlighting the work undertaken in terms of jobs growth, skills development, cultural investment and regeneration and development. 

 

1.2       In total, over the last six months, 1,868 jobs have been created directly or indirectly, 1,905 individuals have been supported through employability interventions and 1,243 businesses have been supported to either start-up, grow or develop their international profile.

 

1.3       The Plan draws together several annual delivery plans; such as city centre development, support for businesses, employability and skills, tourism and the cultural framework.  It sets out the main priorities and programmes of work that the Committee if overseeing to maximise the Council’s contribution to delivering the Belfast Agenda that, at its core, has a commitment to inclusive growth.

 

1.4       The Belfast Agenda 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 66,000 new residents;

-       our urban economy supports 46,000 more jobs;

-       there will be a 33% reduction in the life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived neighbourhoods; and

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

 

2.0      Recommendation

 

2.1       The Committee is requested to note the content of the report and that officers are continuing to progress the actions within the City Growth and Regeneration Committee Plan 2018-2019, as agreed by the Committee in April, 2018.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

            Key Issues

 

3.1       The 2018-2019 Committee Plan was developed in line with the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Belfast Agenda. The Belfast Agenda has at its core a commitment to inclusive growth and the importance of growing the local economy to improve the quality of life. The Committee contributes to the delivery of all 4 work-streams; however, Growing the Economy, City Development and Working and Learning are the focus of the Committee’s responsibilities.  The Committee therefore continues to take the lead in ensuring that there is connectivity between the need for economic growth and the purpose of this growth – to connect people to opportunity and reduce inequality. 

 

3.2       Last month, the Committee noted the progress reports for the Growing the Economy, Working and Learning and International Relations annual work programmes.  The Committee also receives regular updates on specific programmes of work identified in the Plan to ensure progress on delivering the Council’s investment and commitments to deliver on the Belfast Agenda. 

 

3.3       An update against each of the main action areas in the Committee Plan has been circulated to Members. Key programmes of work will continue to feature regularly on the Committee agenda during the remaining period of the plan.

 

3.4       The Committee will note that significant resource and effort has been redirected to respond to, manage and re-vitalise the city centre because of the recent fire at Primark Bank Buildings.  This effort will continue for the reminder of the financial year and into the longer term.  Our plans and initial efforts in this will shape our future approach, which is likely to result in a reconfiguration of our priorities for city centre development, regeneration and investment.  This will refresh the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy.

 

            Overview of Progress:

 

3.5       A critical deliverable over the first six months of 2018/2019 has been the production and submission of the Belfast Region City Deal propositions for Employability and Skills, Regeneration and Tourism and Infrastructure.  The Committee will continue to receive updates on the City Deal as work progresses.

 

3.6       Particular highlights for the 2018-2019 Committee Plan include:

 

            Growing the Economy

 

-       Created 174 jobs as a result of our engagement with 446 businesses and individuals to encourage them to start new businesses.  This includes the creation of 17 jobs in social enterprises / co-operatives.

-       Supported 533 indigenous businesses through our initiatives to encourage business to grow and increase their productivity, which has led to 246 new jobs.

-       10 Belfast based high growth start-ups participated in the  MassChallenge accelerator bootcamp in Boston

-       Launched the Belfast: City for Investment’ support service to investors for a 2 year pilot period. 50 enquiries from potential investors are currently being managed.

-       Working with Visit Belfast and Tourism Ireland, participated in Belfast’s first Tourism Showcase in Shenyang, with 87 attendees from tourism, media and operators sectors. The Lord Mayor also promoted Belfast at the World Cities Winter Conference.

-       Delivered two successful Twilight Markets, with each Twilight Market attracting footfall of around 20,000.

-       Contributed to the Members Workshop on developing an Inclusive Growth Framework with a draft Framework to be developed by the end of the year.

 

            City Development

 

-       Completed the East Bank Development Strategy and the Inner North West Masterplan final draft completed (being reported to this Committee), with aligned Delivery Plans being progressed. 

-       Ongoing liaison with public sector, developers, housing providers, community groups and key stakeholders to shape and influence key city centre regeneration, development and investment projects. Includes a joint BCC/DfC Regeneration Group; a Developers Forum; and various Project Boards & Reference Groups.

-       Proposals progressed (including planning application) for the redevelopment of the former Belfast Telegraph building as a BCC/Private Sector Joint Venture project.  

-       City Centre Car Parks Baseline Review of BCC car parks undertaken with a strategic sites assessment of car park sites currently being progressed.

-       Destination Hub draft Outline Business Case prepared and incorporated as part of the Belfast Region City Deal proposition

-       ‘Meanwhile use’ animation programme commenced for specific areas of the city centre (including Castle Street and North Street)  This is now being factored into a wider city centre animation and meanwhile use programme in response to the Bank Buildings Primark fire and city centre recovery efforts.

-       Belfast at MIPIM 2019 launched in October 2018.  To date, around 20 organisations have signed up to join the Belfast at MIPIM delegation. Work is continuing to build on this and develop the programme. 

-       Secured agreement to take forward an approach to invest in local areas to support the development of high quality, sustainable local tourism products

 

            Working and Learning

 

-       139 participants have been engaged in the Employment Academy programmes, with 72 securing employment.

-       Completed significant employer engagement to develop a range of new academies in hospitality, tourism, health and social care.

-       Awarded match funding to five European Social Fund (ESF) projects, which has led to engagement with 1,766 participants.  This has resulted in 577 achieving qualifications and 375 entering employment.

-       In total 1,905 individuals have been supported through employability interventions and 1,554 young people engaged through career support activities.

 

            Living Here

 

-       Delivered the City of Music Summer Season animation programme across the city

-       Delivered Open Heritage Belfast, a programme of heritage themed activities to coincide with European Heritage Open Days, in partnership with Ulster Architectural Heritage that attracted an audience of approx. 1,500.

-       Delivered the City Events programme with attendance levels, to date, reaching approx. 135,000 and an estimated economic impact of £1.9m.

-       Awarded a total of £330k small grants which benefitted 58 arts and cultural organisations and commenced the Resilience Programme with 14 large scale arts organisations successfully participating

 

            Highlights for the Next Six Months

 

3.7       The following provides a summary of some of the key deliverables over the next six months.  This is in line with the Committee Plan and the annual work plans agreed by Committee in March and April 2018.

 

-       Confirmation on the Belfast Region City Deal and commence delivery on the resultant outworkings, including the Destination Hub visitor attraction

-       Develop the Council’s Inclusive Growth Framework including the key contribution of City Growth & Regeneration Committee

-       City Centre Business Recovery Programme and enhanced animation programme  - ongoing implementation and development to assist businesses to remain resilient in the aftermath of the Bank Buildings fire and to drive footfall.  

-       Deliver a focused regeneration programme to revitalise and accelerate the city centre economy with a particular focus on those areas most impacted by the Bank Buildings fire.

-       Agree delivery plans (in conjunction with partners) for projects and initiatives aligned to the Inner North West Masterplan, the East Bank Strategy, Greater Clarendon Masterplan, the Strategic Sites Assessments and other strategic policies and plans.

-       Launch and deliver a range of new Employment Academies – hospitality, tourism, health and social care; and the ‘Access to Opportunity’ employability programme, targeting under-represented groups

-       Deliver the Friendship Four ice hockey tournament  and Basket Ball Hall of Fame competition

-       Hold the Eastern Economic Corridor Conference in February 2019

-       Establish the Belfast Tourism Co-ordination Group to co-ordinate and integrate public and private tourism programmes in Belfast

-       Progress with the refresh of the tourism strategy and priorities identified as a result of the mid-term review

-       Build on an agreed cultural narrative for Belfast to deliver the Belfast Culture 2023 programme and a new festival and events strategy

-       Agree the Belfast Enterprise Framework

-       Deliver a successful pitch and programme for Belfast at MIPIM 2019

 

3.8       To ensure the continued growth and regeneration of the city centre and to enable the benefits of this growth to be felt by local businesses, people and communities it is essential that the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy remains relevant and continues to provide a cohesive framework for development and regeneration.  Refreshing the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy will therefore be a priority.  This will harness the commitment and response to the initial recovery efforts in order to revitalise the city centre and connections to the surrounding areas to ensure that it delivers on the Belfast Agenda ambitions..

 

3.9       Financial and Resource Implications

 

            Progress is in line with the agreed Committee Plan, annual work plans and associated Departmental budgets.

 

 

3.10      Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

            Programmes and actions within the Committee Plan are developed and delivered in consultation with the Council’s Equality & Diversity Officers.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.