Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Strategic Policy and Resource Committee in March 2020, a new four year corporate plan had been agreed. In line with the corporate planning process, Committee Plans were due to be brought to in April 2020, however, due to the COVID pandemic, emergency planning procedures were implemented and corporate planning processes were suspended for 2020-21 to enable resources to be redirected to responding to the emergency response needs of the city.

            It was reported that, to recommence the corporate planning processes, an Annual Corporate Delivery Plan 2021-22 had been drafted and was due to be brought to the Strategic Policy and Resource Committee for approval in June. The Corporate Annual Delivery Plan would reflect the in-year deliverables against the priorities agreed as part of the four year corporate plan, plus some additional priorities that have arisen in response to the pandemic.

            The Strategic Director advised that the draft Committee Plan for 2021-22 (copy available here) followed the same structure and contains the commitments within the Corporate Delivery Plan which fell under the remit of the Committee, plus additional deliverables that had been agreed by the Committee, together with those relevant to the Standing Orders of the Committee. Whilst the Committee had a role to play across a number of the themes, the clear focus for the Committee was Inclusive Economic Recovery, with a number of key priorities that would help the people and businesses of Belfast continue to respond to, and recover from, the economic impact of the pandemic while also shaping the future development and sustainability of the city. Examples of this included:

·        Supporting the delivery of the Belfast Region City Deal, including the Destination Hub;

·        Supporting the city recovery and reopening, including the delivery of initiatives and programmes relating to the Department for Communities COVID19 Revitalisation Fund;

·        Leading on the Future City Centre Programme and its priority pillars across regeneration (including city centre living and connectivity/active travel); business and investment; culture and vibrancy; digital an innovation; positioning the city to compete and clean, green and safe;

·        Delivering on Inclusive Growth and recovery through employment initiatives, Employability NI, education-based youth support, promoting opportunities for developer contributions and social clauses, and supporting local businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises;

·        Working with key stakeholders to deliver on the priorities and projects within the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy;

·        Working with key stakeholders to bring forward and maximise the regeneration and development of the city, including housing development opportunities, to support the city’s goals for a sustainable and inclusive city;

·        Continuing to deliver the Cultural Strategy ‘A City Imagining’ and develop the new 10 year Tourism recovery plan;

·        Championing city infrastructure improvements to ensure sustainability for the future success of the city;

·        Working with stakeholders to bring forward improved, sustainable connectivity and active travel across the city, including the City Centre Connectivity Study;

·        Continuing to progress the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor; and

·        Promoting and marketing the city to position Belfast as a location of choice for business, investment, tourism and education to support the city’s goals for a sustainable and inclusive city.

            The Strategic Director advised that overall progress report would be submitted to the Committee in October/November 2021 and a year-end report in April/May 2022. He highlighted that the Committee Plan would be delivered in accordance with the cash limit of £18,237,846 agreed by the Committee in February 2021.

            He explained that, in order to deliver on the intensifying programme within the City Development and Regeneration Division, it was proposed to transfer the recurring programme budget into the staff budget to enable the recruitment of 3 additional Regeneration Project Officers (PO4). This additional resource was required to deliver on the key priorities as set out by this Committee and as included within the Recovery Framework, including priority areas within the Future City Centre Programme; working with partners to bring forward Connectivity and Sustainable and Active Travel including the City Centre Connectivity Study; targeted regeneration projects to help address dereliction and reimagination of the high street and working with partners to maximise the regeneration and inclusive growth potential of major developments across the city. He pointed out that this would be covered within the existing division budget and did not represent any impact on the rate.

            During discussion, one Member questioned if the proposal in relation to the Disability Accreditation Parking Scheme, in the name of Councillor McMullan, considered by the Committee in January, could be considered under the refresh of Car Parking Strategy. The Strategic Director advised that the issue would be examined in the future, but a timeline could not be confirmed at this stage. 

            The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        Approve the draft Committee Plan for 2021-22;

·        Note that six monthly progress reports will be brought to Committee to oversee progress against commitments in the Committee Plan, as agreed at Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in October 2019;

·        Agree to transfer recurring programme budget from within the City Regeneration and Development Division into employee budget to enable the recruitment of 3 Regeneration Project Officers to deliver on key priorities as set out by this Committee and as included within the Recovery Framework.  Committee to note that this does not represent any addition on the rate; and

·        Note that the proposal on Disability Accreditation Parking Scheme under Issues Raised in Advance by Members (by Councillor Mulholland of Councillor McMullan, January 2021) would be examined in the future, and that officers will investigate if it could be considered as part of the Car Parking Strategy Review.