Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is outline the approach for a public consultation as agreed at Special Council on 11 October 2019.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that Members approve the approach for the public consultation as set out below.

2.2       In view of the time within which decisions will be required, the Committee is asked to agree to the suspension of call-in.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       The Council agreed a Language Strategy 2018-2023 which aspires to create a place where linguistic diversity is celebrated and respected. The Strategy includes five distinct language workstrands:

·        Irish Language

·        Ulster-Scot Language

·        Sign Languages

·        New Communities’ Languages

·        Languages and communications for disabled people

            It also includes a commitment to adopt the use of Irish and Ulster Scots in signs, and in particular where, 'it will be seen primarily by users of Irish / Ulster-Scots'.

            Key Issues

3.2       At a Special Council meeting on Friday 11 October 2019, Council agreed to engage in a citywide consultation in respect of bilingual and/or multilingual naming and the type of signage to be used in the centres designed to have a citywide catchment, together with local consultation.

3.3       It was agreed that Strategic Policy & Resources Committee would be given delegated authority to approve the consultation framework. This will enable the timeframe of the consultation to meet the deadline for ordering the signage for Andersonstown Leisure Centre, which is due to open to the public in April 2020.

3.4       A public consultation document has been prepared on the Council decision on 11 October 2019 on whether to erect bilingual / multilingual external naming and internal directional signage in the four citywide leisure centres which are being delivered as part of the first three phases of Council’s £105m Leisure Transformation Programme: Andersonstown, Lisnasharragh, Olympia and Templemore (see Appendix 1). Each of these centres has been designed to provide state-of-the-art, specialised facilities for the benefit of users across the city and beyond. Each centre will focus on a particular leisure / sport domain.

3.5       The consultation asks respondents to indicate their preference for the use of English, Irish and/or Ulster-Scots by considering each leisure centre in turn for external naming signage and also internal directional signage. Examples of internal directional signage are for changing rooms, toilets, reception. It is also proposed that internal directional signage should include pictorial signage to enhance accessibility, for example, to our new communities and disabled people.

                        Public Consultation Format

3.6       Consultation will include both staff and members of the public. A variety of quantitative and qualitative methods will be employed to ensure widespread and meaningful engagement, including the following:

·        Engagement events will be arranged in the local area of the four leisure centres: (Andersonstown, Lisnasharragh, Olympia and Templemore).

·        Belfast City Council staff and GLL staff will receive an online survey and have the opportunity for face-to-face engagement.

·        An online questionnaire survey will be made available for the public, along with hard copies for those who are unable to access the material electronically.

·        Engagement with disabled communities including the Council’s Disability Advisory Panel.

·        Focus Groups engaging with Irish Language and Ulster Scots communities.

·        Engagement with the Council’s Equality Consultative Forum.

·        Engagement with the Council’s Migrant Forum.

·        Engagement with external consultant by arrangement.

·        Published on Belfast City Council website and Council social media channels.

            The consultation will aim to open on 1 November 2019 and close on 10 January 2020 to enable the results to be analysed and for recommendations to be made to Strategic Policy & Resources Committee in January 2020.

3.7       Financial & Resource Implications

            The cost of the activities related to the public consultation are covered within existing budgets.

3.8       Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            The promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations are key principles within which the Language Strategy is delivered. The screening document will be included as part of the public consultation and comments incorporated into an updated screening.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.