Agenda item

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership Meeting held on 11th March 2019, including:

·        authorising the rescope of BPR5 Supporting Communities – Roma element;

·        agreeing the areas selected for the BPR3 Transform for Change project on the basis of the Belfast Interface Project and approve the selection criteria for the remaining areas;

·        agreeing that officers would submit a report to a future meeting of the Partnership regarding potential programmes which supported the research findings of the research into the experiences of the Muslim community in Belfast in relation to the recommendation regarding civic leadership, a subgroup  comprising of Elected Members, Independent Members of the Partnership, the Lord Mayor, the Council’s Corporate Communications and a representative from the Executive Office should be established to consider how this aspect could be strengthened;

·        that the matter on the Motion on anti-Semitism would be deferred to enable officers to obtain advice from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland as to whether it would be appropriate for the Council to specifically adopt a definition in respect of one particular group and not other  minority groups living in Northern Ireland;

·        that a letter be sent to the PSNI from the Chairperson of the Shared City outlining the importance of its representation on the Partnership and seeking a nominee to fill the current vacancy;

·        that correspondence be sent to Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce to establish if it was still wishing for representation on the Partnership and, if so, seeking a nomination;

·        that letters be sent to each of the four main church leaders relating to Belfast requesting confirmation that each was content with the arrangement, as previously agreed by the Council, and seeking views on the sequence in which each church should be represented. The leaders would be advised that nominees should be aware of and involved in good relations work which would be relatable to Belfast. This approach would enable the four-year cycle to commence in June to be aligned with the beginning of the new four-year term for Council;

·        to  commence work on the good relations audit 2019 using the approach outlined in the report;

·        to note that initial work will commence prior to receiving a Letter of Offer from The Executive Office in respect of the District Council Good Relations Programme 19/20 to allow for timescales to be met developing estimates for next year’s plans;

·        to adopt the proposed model for a 2019 Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme and the Review Panel’s recommendation in respect of the 2018 programme;

·        that consideration be given to adopting a protocol in relation to the appointment of  the individual assessor on the review panel;

·        to officers submitting an update in respect of the Council’s current governance arrangements around the Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme to a future meeting;

·        that officers engage in discussions with the Council’s Corporate Communications Section, with a view to formulating a communications plan around the positive outcomes of the Bonfire and Cultural Expression Programme; and

·        to note the overall indicative amounts for Tranche 1 of the Good Relations Small Grants Programme and the Summer Intervention Programme which would be subject to the delegated authority of the Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services and further clarification from TEO regarding the level of funding being awarded for 2019/20 for Summer Intervention Funding.