Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       To provide an end of year progress update (Appendix 1) on the key actions contained in the 2021-22 City Growth and Regeneration (CG&R) Committee Plan, as agreed by this Committee in June 2021.

 

1.2       To present to Committee the draft City Growth & Regeneration Committee Plan for 2022-23 (Appendix 2).

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

            The Committee is asked to:

 

·        Note the content of the end of year report; and

·        Approve the new draft City Growth and Regeneration Committee Plan for 2022-2023.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

3.1       The 2021-2022 Committee Plan and the draft Plan for 2022-23 were both developed in the context of the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Belfast Agenda. Consequently, the Committee Plan contains the commitments within the Corporate Delivery Plan, which fall under the remit of the Committee, plus additional deliverables that have been agreed by CG&R Committee and are relevant to the Standing Orders of the Committee.  The Plan sets out the main priorities and programmes of work that the Committee is overseeing to maximise the Council’s contribution to the Belfast Agenda and delivering a sustainable and inclusive recovery.

 

3.2       Whilst the CG&R Committee have a role to play across a number of the Belfast Agenda themes, the focus for this Committee has been on City recovery and reopening. Work has also continued to deliver on longer term plans for the city, with key priorities that will 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. 

 

 

3.3       Committee Plan Progress 2021-22

 

            While the Committee has received regular updates on progress for specific programmes and initiatives, Appendix 1 sets out an overview of progress against the main commitments in the Committee Plan 2021-2022, with examples highlighted below:

 

·        Delivery of £4.039m DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme including the award-winning Belfast Entries programme.

·        Continuing to develop A Bolder Vision Strategy with DfC and DfI including the completion of the public consultation exercise.

·        The acquisition of two heritage buildings, one as the site for the flagship Belfast Stories project and 2 Royal Avenue with delivery of subsequent meanwhile use.

·        Securing additional funding for active travel enabling infrastructure, Belfast Entries Phase 2 and development of tactical regeneration programmes for the SW Quarter, the 5C’s and Castle Street area.

·        Vacant to Vibrant Programme: includes launch of an EoI to inform the viability of a £700k capital grant scheme for the city centre.

·        Progressing the Strategic Site Assessments Phase 1 and 2, including regeneration concept plans to PAD stage on a number of city centre sites, and the establishment of a joint public sector housing group, as the appropriate vehicle to drive forward Phase 2 though an agreed methodology.

·        Engaged 760 individuals through Enterprise awareness activity supporting them to progress to start a business, including targeted support for 143 women.

·        656 individuals were engaged in business start-up activity, 454 of those developed a business plan through the Go For It programme, supporting the creation of 279 jobs

·        Provided test trading opportunities for 49 new businesses and 13 social enterprises through our dedicated start up space at St George’s Market.

·        56 Social Enterprises and Co-operatives organisations were supported with one-to-one mentoring, advice and guidance. Six of these were new co-operatives.

·        Social Economy Incentive Fund launched, 11 winners receiving a share of £60,000.

 

 

·        Supported almost 700 businesses through 1-2-1 mentoring and access to masterclasses and workshops across a range of areas including improving tendering skills, developing digital marketing strategies and managing cashflow.

·        Launched the Digital Surge programme in partnership with the 10 other councils, providing digital capacity support for businesses with significant growth potential.

·        Launched the Vibrant Business Destinations programme in partnership with DfC to drive footfall and create vibrancy in areas outside of the city centre.

·        Of the 816 people who participated on an Employment Academy since April 2021, 454 people have successfully completed and 342 have secured employment so far, representing an into-work rate of 75%.

·        Our GCSE support programme was significantly disrupted over the last two years but, since September 2021, 362 young people have engaged on the programme.

·        Supporting 166 young people who have or are at risk of dropping out of the education system, employment or training through our Youth Support Programme.

·        The Labour Market Partnership (LMP) action plan was submitted to DfC and a letter of offer was received. Work is now under way on delivery of priority interventions.

·        Produced a draft tourism plan for Belfast, ‘Make Yourself at Home’ and undertook a 12-week public consultation to refine the plan.

·        Achieved UNESCO City of Music designation & developed a music strategy for Belfast.

·        Provided £3.08m funding for Arts, Heritage, Festivals and Events through 117 grants.

·        Completed cultural mapping of the city including an infrastructure audit.

·        Developed a Co-design Framework for culture, arts and heritage and relaunched an Annual Event Programme as Covid restrictions were lifted.

 

3.4       Draft Committee Plan 2022-23

 

            An Annual Corporate Delivery Plan 2022-23 was approved by Council on 4th April 2022.  The Corporate Plan reflects 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 plan is structured as follows: Our services; Inclusive economic recovery; Community recovery; Environmental recovery; Strategic planning frameworks; and Organisational foundations. A series of priorities fall under each theme, each with a number of committed deliverables for 2022-23.

 

3.5       The draft Committee Plan for 2022-23 (Appendix 2) follows a similar structure and contains the commitments within the Corporate Delivery Plan which fall under the remit of the Committee, plus additional deliverables that have been agreed by CG&R Committee and relevant to the Standing Orders of the Committee. Highlights include:

 

·        Progressing the 'A City Imagining Plan' Festival 2022 and the 2023 programme.

·        Delivering the UNESCO City of Music actions.

·        Delivering ongoing support for businesses as part of the City Recovery Programme.

·        Developing a Regeneration Programme Framework for key regeneration projects.

·        Providing Council input and strategic direction to major regeneration and development projects; and continuing to progress city wide strategic opportunities.

·        Progressing the Bolder Vision for Belfast.

·        Work to establish a new entity to support and bring forward priority investments on the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor.

·        Starting delivery of the 10-year Tourism recovery plan ‘Make Yourself at Home’ including support local tourism and delivering an accessible tourism programme.

·        Continuing to promote sustainable tourism via the Global Destination Sustainability Index - the Green Tourism Accreditation; and working with supply chain businesses.

·        Deliver the Annual Events programme.

·        Provide support for people to start and also to grow local businesses.

·        Support and promote opportunities for Social Enterprises and Cooperatives.

·        Developing options for institutional investment to augment city growth ambitions; and working via the

 

Renewed Ambition Programme to promote Belfast as a place to invest.

·        Continuing to progress the Future City Centre Programme and priority areas under the Belfast

City Centre Regeneration & Investment Strategy including physical regeneration and environmental improvements.

·        Delivering a major new attraction at the Zoo with the development of a new Lion/Big Cat Enclosure.

·        Continuing to progress Belfast Stories.

·        Developing an overarching programme to coordinate our approach to access, active and sustainable travel and connectivity

·        Support young people (most in need) to progress through education, into employment.

·        Delivering Employment Academies in priority sectors, and Enterprise Pathways with intensive, person-centred support for those further back in the labour market.

·        Delivering the Belfast Employability and Skills Action Plan as part of the LMP.

·        Maximise residential development opportunities to promote city centre living.

·        Managing the Development Brief marketing and development process for the INW Northern Cluster and continuing to progress each of the cluster sites.

 

3.6       Progress Reports

 

            Following agreement on the draft Committee Plan, as well as in-year reports on a number of priorities, officers will bring an overall progress report against all commitments in the Committee Plan in October 2021 and a year-end report in April 2022.

 

3.7       Financial and Resource Implications

 

            There are no financial implications associated with this report. The Committee Plan will be delivered in accordance with the cash limit of £19,461,512 as highlighted in the Key Expenditure section, on page 16 of the Committee Plan.

 

3.8       Equality or Good Relations Implications /

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

            Strategies, programmes and actions within the Committee Plan are developed and delivered in consultation with the Council’s Equality & Diversity Unit and subject to appropriate equality, good relations and rural needs assessment.”

 

The Committee:

 

·        Noted the content of the end of year report; and

·        Approved the new draft City Growth and Regeneration Committee Plan for 2022-2023.