In pursuance of the Committee’s decision of 11th June, to receive a presentation from representatives of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.
Minutes:
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 11th June, it had agreed to receive a presentation from representatives of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) in respect of the state of independent retail trade in Belfast. Accordingly, it was reported that Mr. Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive (NIIRTA) was in attendance and he was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.
Mr. Roberts advised the Committee that the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association had been set up to protect and enhance the local independent retail sector and played a vital role in supporting independent retailers in towns and city centres. He stated that developments by large national and international chain stores could have a negative impact on the local economy and jobs and may contribute to the deterioration of the local character of towns and city centres. Mr. Roberts advised the Committee that 51% of all traders in Northern Ireland operated in the independent retail sector. However, the high streets in many of the cities and towns in Northern Ireland were dominated by the same multi-national chain stores. In contrast to this, the independent retail sector provided specialist products or services, catered for niche markets and was a major factor in attracting visitors to the City centre. Many of these independent retailers had, in the past, provided much needed employment and investment even during the periods of civil unrest in the City. He pointed out that the continuation of the smaller, independent retailer was now under threat from the growth of large-scale out-of-town developments.
In this regard, Mr. Roberts drew the Committee’s attention to the report entitled ‘Nightmare on Every Street’ which had been commissioned by the NIIRTA and compiled by Mr. Donald McFetridge, Lecture in Retail Studies, University of Ulster and Special Adviser to the Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development which had set out the case for supporting the local retail sector in towns and city centres. Mr. Roberts reported that his Association wanted to see vibrant and dynamic town centres at the heart of local economic development. As such, the Association had called upon the Minister of the Environment to publish Planning Policy Statement 5, which sought to promote the regional role of Belfast and Londonderry and gave recognition to Sprucefield as Northern Ireland’s only out-of-town regional shopping centre, as soon as possible in order to demonstrate that the Northern Ireland Executive supported fully local retailers and family businesses as had been promised in the Programme for Government.
Mr. Roberts expressed the view that out-of-town developments had not only hampered the development of small provincial towns but had had an adverse effect also on the arterial routes within Belfast, many of which were suffering as a result of such developments.
Mr. Roberts stated that he believed the way forward was to create a partnership between the various government departments responsible for town and city centre development, the Council and representatives of the independent retail sector. This partnership would seek to address the needs of the entire community in relation to economic regeneration.
Mr. Roberts answered various questions from the Members in relation to his presentation, thanked the Committee for receiving him and retired from the meeting.
The Committee noted the information which had been provided.