Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alderman McCoubrey and Councillor Whyte.

            The minutes of the meetings of 9th and 23rd February were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council, at its meeting on 4th March, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            No declarations of interest were recorded.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following four items is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following four items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Members were also reminded that the content of ‘restricted’ reports and any discussion which took place during closed session must be treated as ‘confidential information’ and that no such information should be disclosed to the public as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Code of Conduct.  

            The Members were reminded that the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, at its meeting on 8th February, had agreed to reallocate £280,000 of funding which had previously been ringfenced for the Belfast 2024 Programme to the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund and agreed to refer the decision of the funding reallocation to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.  That decision was ratified by Council at its meeting on 4th March. 

            Accordingly, the Director of Property and Projects submitted a report outlining the proportional allocation of the funding for each area in line with the previously agreed funding allocation model.

            The Committee:

-        noted the reallocation of £280,000 into the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund; and

-        approved the allocation of the funding in the context of the agreed funding allocation model and the agreed project pathway.  

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the programme and progress to date; an overview of the programme activities and milestones in 2024; an update on the visitor experience and content development and on programme governance, including the role of the Belfast Stories Contracts Manager.  The report also sought approval for a study visit for the Members of the Belfast Stories Working Group and approval to ring fence/set aside up to £2m of the City Deal Reserve for mobilisation costs related to the programme.

            The Committee:

-        noted the revised programme and progress since June 2023;

-       noted the programme activities and milestones for 2024;

-       noted the update on the visitor experience and content development;

-       noted the project governance update and agreed to commence the procurement of a Contracts Manager via SIB;

-       agreed for a study visit to be arranged for Belfast Stories Members Working Group, proposed for August 2024; and

-       agreed to ring fence/set aside up to £2m of the City Deal Reserve to allow for mobilisation costs, similar to the monies set aside for the Leisure Improvement Programme.

            The Committee noted the appointments of Mr Stephen Leonard and Mr Jim Girvan to the posts of Operational Director of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

(Ms E. Clarke, Belfast 2024 Programme Director, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Director of Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided a further update on the Belfast 2024 Programme.

            The Committee:

·        approved an uplift to The Walk’s contract for Little Amal from £225k to £245k to deliver the Newry leg of the programme – and noted that this would be offset by Newry Mourne and Down’s contribution towards costs;

·        noted the developments for partnership programme with Oliver Jeffers Studio in collaboration with Nerve Centre; and

·        granted delegated authority to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Belfast 2024 Programme Board, to sign off budget reallocations within the approved budget lines for Belfast 2024.

            The Members were informed that the Standards and Business Committee, at is meeting on 22nd February, had considered the following motion which had been received for submission to the Council on 1st March:

“This Council recognises the need to bring forward significant quantities of high standard, affordable housing to meet the increasing demand and alleviate the current housing crisis facing people in Belfast.

This Council commits to supporting Cohousing Schemes as an innovative solution to meet the needs of people who are unable to buy within the current system or for whom traditional housing does not meet their needs. Cohousing schemes can create diverse and sustainable communities, providing high quality, affordable housing.

The Council will actively seek to identify suitable sites within its own land that could be used for Cohousing and include provision for Cohousing within any development site it brings forward that is appropriate for housing.”

            The motion had been proposed by Councillor Groogan and seconded by Councillor Smyth.

            The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 13(i), Notices of Motion which commit the Council to expenditure must be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration and report. 

            The Committee noted that the Notice of Motion had been received and agreed that the request be included in any subsequent report which would be brought to Committee in relation to the Strategic Sites Assessment. 

            The Members were informed that the Standards and Business Committee, at is meeting on 22nd February, had considered the following motion which had been received for submission to the Council on 1st March:

“That this Council will lead the way in Northern Ireland, adopting robust, transparent and accountable processes for gender pay gap recording and reporting.

The TUC calculated that in 2023 in the UK, the day when the average woman stops working for free compared to the average man is the 23rdof February. The average woman in paid employment effectively works for free for nearly two months of the year compared to the average man in paid employment. Average figures disguise wider disparities, for instance the gap tends to widen if a woman is a mum, or works in education, finance or insurance.

There is no legal obligation to record and report gender pay gap data in Northern Ireland. However, if we don’t transparently measure pay by gender, how can we understand and address structural inequalities in our organisation?

Therefore, this Council will record and report:

·        Its mean gender pay gap in hourly pay

·        Its median gender pay gap in hourly pay

·        The proportion of males and females in each pay quartile

·        A statistical overview of progression/promotion rates for male and female staff

And will use guidance such as the UK Government Equalities Office - What Works guidance to address the gap.

After the first gender pay gap report, the Council will move to include Disability and ethnicity pay reporting.”

            The motion had been proposed by Councillor T. Brooks and seconded by Councillor F. McAteer.

            The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 13(i), Notices of Motion which commit the Council to expenditure must be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration and report. 

            The Committee noted that the Notice of Motion had been received and agreed that a subsequent report be brought to Committee outlining a detailed consideration of the Notice of Motion and the potential costs implications, with the report to include those measures which were already in place. 

            The Deputy Chief Executive/Strategic Director of Corporate Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1             To update Members on a number of City Innovation projects and opportunities including details of the draft Belfast/Sejong ‘Innovation Twins’ roadmap and the associated visit by the Lord Mayor to South Korea in April.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1The Committee is asked to:

1.      Note the outline itinerary for the Lord Mayor’s Innovation Twins mission to South Korea in April which is fully funded by DSIT.

2.      Approve the signing of an ‘Innovation Twins’ roadmap as a basis for further direct and bi-lateral development work with the city of Sejong on a number of initiatives.

3.      Approve the signing of a specific MoU with Sejong City Council to explore opportunities for net zero collaboration with the Belfast Climate Commissioner.

4.      Approve a letter of support to Ulster University for its bid to establish £2.5 million Digital Healthcare Technology Accelerator in Belfast including potential in-kind contribution.

5.      Note that officers will work with Queen's University on a £5 million Systems Approaches to the Transition to Net Zero bid.

6.      Approve Belfast City Council officer participation in the annual programme of the All Island Smart Cities Forum.

7.      Note progress on the development of the City Hall immersive experience and that details on the proposed experience will be presented to Committee in the coming months.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Smart Belfast urban innovation programme encourages collaborative innovation between government (both local and regional), industry, SMEs, academia and our communities. Evidence indicates that cities with strong collaborative innovation partnerships are more adept at attracting research funding and investment; and are much better equipped to develop solutions to complex urban policy challenges. The Smart Belfast programme relies primarily on third-party funding sources and in-kind contributions from participating partners. Below are details of the current significant initiatives, a number of which require Member approval.

3.2       Republic of Korea Innovation Twins programme

            The Innovation Twins programme is fully funded by DSIT and facilitated by Connected Places Catapult. It’s designed to build relationships between four cities with existing urban innovation programmes (Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool) and their South Korean counterparts with the aim of fostering long term collaborations that can generate trade, FDI and knowledge exchange. South Korea has one of the most successful innovation economies in the world and has ambitions to build much stronger trade and exchange relationships with Europe and north America.

3.3       Belfast City Council and its Innovation City Belfast partners, including Invest NI’s team in South Korea, have been working with Sejong city officials to agree a joint roadmap that would be of benefit to both cities. A long-list of proposals for the roadmap was developed with partners over the past eighteen months which has now been shortlisted to seven initiatives which both cities want to progress. Members should note that these are all still at a formative stage, and each will require further work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Director of Finance reminded the Members that, in February 2024, the Director of Human Resources had presented a report to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on the introduction of an apprenticeship programme for the Council.  That report had highlighted two potential areas where this could initially be introduced, namely, Fleet and Resources and Digital Services.  The Committee had noted the content of the report and agreed that a further report be submitted on how such a programme could be financed.

That report had also highlighted the full year costs of the initial programme would be approximately £77k per annum, including salary and training costs.  That equated to an ask in 2024/25 of approximately £45k.  These initial apprenticeships would last for 3 years at a total cost of approximately £231k, subject to nationally agreed pay awards.

The Director of Finance explained that, as referred to in the Director of Human Resources’ report, there currently was no budget for the programme, either departmentally or centrally.  Normally a review of the year-end financial position would take place and if there were funds available these would be set aside in a specified reserve to fund this for 2024/25.  However, it was likely that the recruitment process would need to commence before the year end position was known. So to ensure the recruitment of the programme could go ahead in a timely manner, the Director of Finance proposed the following financial options:

1)     Agree to realign £45k from specified reserves to this scheme for 24/25;

2)     If funds were available at year end, replenish the specified reserve; and

3)     Incorporate the future funding requirement into the medium-term financial plan currently being devised.

            As part of the medium-term financial planning, further discussions would be held with the Director of Human Resources and relevant Directors regarding the expansion of the apprenticeship programme into other areas.

            The Committee agreed to funding the 2024/25 apprenticeship programme from realignment of specified reserves, with the costs for future years being incorporated into the medium-term financial plan.

            It agreed also that a further report be submitted to the Committee outlining how the apprentices would be recruited.

            The Strategic Director of City and Organisation Strategy submitted the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to provide members with an update on the proposed amendments to the performance indicators to be included in the Council’s 2023-24 Performance Improvement Plan following discussions and engagement with the NI Audit Office (NIAO) and Department for Communities (DfC).

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        agree to the recommended changes to the performance indicators to be included in the Performance Improvement Plan 2023-24.

·        provide approval for officers to update and publish the Performance Improvement Plan 2023-24 following final agreement with DfC and NIAO.

3.0       Main Report

            Background

3.1       Part 12 of the Local Government (NI) Act requires Councils to agree improvement objectives on an annual basis and publish these in the form of a Performance Improvement Plan.  In August 2023, Members agreed the Performance Improvement Plan 2023-24, which contains our commitment to securing continuous improvement as well as delivery of five improvement objectives. The Act also requires us to monitor and report on progress in an annual assessment of performance.

            Improvement Plan 2023-24

3.2       In August 2023, the SP&R Committee approved the Performance Improvement Plan for 2023-24. It was then published on the council website as required by legislation. To date, Council has provided two quarterly delivery updates to the NIAO for 2023-24 and was in the process of compiling a Quarter 3 report. However, following recent feedback, engagement and discussions with senior officials within the NIAO and the DfC, officers have been working to revise and amend a number of our performance indicators to ensure that we can report on our progress and performance more effectively going forward. 

3.3       The Improvement Plan 2023-24 sets out the following improvementobjectives:

3.4       Each improvement objective is supported by a range of actions and milestones that we are required to report on quarterly. Several KPIs and targets are also attributed to help us evidence the extent to which we have achieved our objectives.

            Officers have engaged with the CMT and brought a report to Audit and Risk Panel on the 5 March, to outline and agree the approach and next steps to revising the KPIs within the current Performance Improvement Plan 2023-24, subject to SP&R approval of the changes and final agreement with the DfC and NIAO.

3.5       A revised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to present the draft Council performance improvement objectives for 2024- 25 and to seek Committee approval to issue these for public consultation, in line with our statutory performance duty obligations.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to agree the draft performance improvement objectives for 2024-25 and, subject to any amendments, approve their issue for public consultation in line with statutory guidance. The proposed improvement objectives for 2024-25 are as follows:

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council has a statutory duty to agree performance improvement objectives and develop an annual performance improvement plan, which must be published by the 30June each year.  The performance improvement plan doesn’t represent everything that the council plans to do but focuses on a small set of key improvement priorities, as informed by the evidence base and engagement feedback.  

3.2       The new performance improvement objectives are aligned to the key themes and priorities identified within the new refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan.  This provides a balanced approach to identifying improvement objectives that contribute to improving services, council functions and the quality of life for residents/ communities.  Members should also note that the council’s strategic and collective partnership commitments to deliver shared city outcomes for the citizens of Belfast and the continuous improvement of internal organisational priorities will continue to be delivered and enhanced as part of the Corporate Plan and the Belfast Agenda.

3.3       We will formally consult on the performance improvement objectives using the online YourSay Belfast platform for a period of 8 weeks and will use a range of other communication methods to raise awareness and encourage participation/ reach e.g., posters located within community centres, leisure centres and libraries, social media related activity, signposting via established networks, for example Community Planning Partners (CPP) and other Council networks.

3.4       A copy of the draft improvement objectives and indicative actions that we propose to deliver during the coming year, have been included in Appendix 1, for illustration purposes.  

            Next Steps

3.5       Councils are legally required to consult on their improvement objectives and to publish a Council Improvement Plan by 30 June each year.  Subject to approval, we will issue the performance improvement objectives for public consultation for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Strategic Director of City and Organisational Strategy submitted the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To update Elected Members on the Customer Focus Programme and the Customer Hub.

1.2       For Elected Members to note the intention to use bulk text message as a communication channel for upcoming changes to waste collections over the Easter Bank Holidays.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the update and the intention to use bulk text messaging as a communication channel for changes to waste collections.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Customer Focus Programme and Customer Hub

            The Customer Hub was set up as part of the Customer Focus Programme and went live in April 2021 during COVID lockdowns. Whilst the Hub has been in place for almost three years, staffing establishment levels remain the same as April 2021, despite significant increases in customer contact across all contact channels.

3.2       The Customer Hub has been able to provide improved service despite increasing volumes through the promotion and improvement of our digital channels and making these automated. This is across channels such as web forms and email, whilst delivering service levels via phone calls and in person visits. The Customer Hub handles around 70% of all calls to the Council and around 60% of all customer contacts including email and web forms.

3.3       The Customer Hub experiences significant service issues with massive increases in volumes when there is major disruption to operational services such as waste collections.

3.4       At present the range of services that have been onboarded to the Customer Hub are:

·        Resources and Fleet Waste Collections

·        Resources and Fleet Waste Management

·        Open Spaces and Street Scene

·        Complaints

·        General Enquires

·        Switchboard

3.5       Customer Hub Contact Volumes

            The Customer Hub on average deals with of 550 phone calls per day. The Hub also processes emails and webforms of around the similar volume and would regularly handle around 1,000 – 1,200 customer contact per day.   During high periods of demand, such as significant service disruption (Inclement weather, Bank Holidays etc) the Customer Hub can experience significantly more calls, which can be challenging.

3.6       Customer Hub volumes and channels of contact is provided below for Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. As you will note there is a significant increase in the volume of customer contact processed at the Customer Hub in comparison to the same quarter last year, an increase of around 5,000 more contacts which is a 30% increase, this is across all contact channels, phone, web form, and in person visits to the Cecil Ward Building.

3.7       The graphic below depicts the increase in customer contacts from Q3 2022 to Q3 2024, a breakdown of the contact channel in the pie chart and a breakdown of the services in the bar chart.

3.8       It should be noted that telephone contact has also increased significantly from 9,000 contacts in Q3 2022 to 12,000 contacts in Q3 2023. The capability to answer such an increase in calls has been achieved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes over 200 capital projects with investment of £150m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. The Council’s Capital Programme forms part of the Physical Programme and is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. This report presents an update on the 2024/25 Capital Programme and associated capital financing, as well as requests for stage movement approvals under the Capital Programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to –

            Capital Programme and Capital Financing 2024/25

·        note the update on Capital Financing as outlined in 3.3 below and the update on the Capital Programme for 2024/25 at 3.5 below and in Appendix 1

·        agree to hold Party Group Briefings to update Members on the status of projects along with the emerging implications for future capital investment decisions and in particular the potential impact on the future district rate in line with the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan to inform the future proposed workshop on capital priorities.

·        Capital Programme Movements –

o   Dual Language Street Signs - Gaeltacht Quarter project– agree to move the project to Stage 2 – Uncommitted to allow the options to be fully worked up, with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

o   St George’s Market – New Stalls project– agree to move the project to Stage 2 – Uncommitted to allow the options to be fully worked up, with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

o   Waste Plan – Expansion of Glass Collection Scheme project – agree to move the project to Stage 2 – Uncommitted under the Waste Plan to allow the options to be fully worked up, with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

o   Belfast Blitz Fire Service Permanent Acknowledgement project – note that this project has been moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted to allow the options to be fully worked up, with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Capital Programme

            Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme – a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves existing Council assets or provides new council facilities. Members will recall that the detailed Physical Programme Half Year Update was presented last month and that the Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange a site visit to any projects that have been completed or are underway.

3.2       Capital Programme and Capital Financing 2024/25

            The Council incurs both capital expenditure and capital financing costs in the delivery of its Capital Programme:

·        Capital Expenditure is the expenditure incurred in the actual delivery of contracts e.g. the actual payments to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

            The Committee:

i)       Blythefield Park - Licence Variation to NITHCo

·        approved an extension to the Permitted Hours on lands at Blythefield Park held under licence by NITHCo.

ii)     Botanic Gardens (Lower Section) – Licence to Friends of the Field

·        approved the grant of a Licence between the Council and Friends of the Field for use of portion of land at Botanic Gardens.

iii)    St George’s Market Unit 2 – Lease Renewal

·        approved the renewal of a Lease at Unit 2 St George’s Market.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meetings of the South Area Working Group of 19th February, North Area Working Group of 27th February, West Area Working Group of 28th February and East Area Working Group of 28th February and 7th March 2024 and adopted the following recommendations:

North Area Working Group

·        Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund - the North Belfast Area Working Group recommended to the Committee that the request from the Belfast Orange Hall to use the NRF allocation to progress with a reduced scope of works be approved.

West Area Working Group

·        Belfast Investment Fund - the West Belfast Area Working Group recommended to the Committee that Glencairn Community Project be moved to Stage 3 - Committed.

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of the report is to present members with an update on the work underway to implement a robust approach to longer term financial planning in compliance with the CIPFA Financial Management Code.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the work to be completed to agree priorities for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       SP&R at its meeting on 19 January 2024 agreed to an update report on the development and implementation of a Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

3.2       Integrating and aligning strategies with resources is central to financial resilience and stability as the impact of actions or decisions on one or more of these strategies will have an impact on the others. The key planning processes in the Council are:

3.3       Financial Planning - Revenue Estimates – August to January

            The striking of the district rate by 15^th February each year is a statutory requirement set out in the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland)2011.  The financial planning process each August with the issuing of High-Level Guidance to Chief Officers, after consultation with Members.  After consideration of draft estimates, each Standing Committee considers their cash limit for the following financial year as recommended by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. Full Council must ratify the Council estimates before 15th February each year.

3.4       The revenue budgets for 2024/25 have been approved by Council in February and provide the cash limit available to each Chief Officer for delivering services. The Council’s Financial Regulations require each Chief Officer to deliver a balanced budget by the year end. Should the need for unbudgeted expenditure arise during the year, the Director of Finance will assess funding options for the proposal which should only proceed with his approval.

            Corporate Planning

3.5       The four-year corporate planning cycle is timed around the electoral cycle so that a new plan is agreed for the April following the local government elections. This gives elected Members approximately nine months to work with Officers in establishing the priorities for the Council over the next four years.  At its meeting on 18^th August 2023, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee approved a report on the proposed approach and timeline for the development of the 2024 – 28 Corporate Plan and accompanying Committee and Departmental Plans for 2024-25 as follows:

·        Party Group Leaders, Committee Chairs and Chief Officers Workshop – late September 2023

·        Committee Planning Workshops – early October 2023

·        Draft Corporate Plan/Committee Plans/Departmental Plans – (CMT 8th November 2023)

·        All Member Workshop – November 2023

·        Strategic Policy and Resources Committee – 24th November and 15th December

·        Draft Corporate Plan and Committee Plans to Committee – January/February 2024

·        Eight Week Public Consultation Period – February/March 2024

·        Final Four Year Corporate and Committee Plans agreed – April – May 2024

3.6       The corporate planning process is ongoing and the revised timeline for the completion of the Corporate Plan and the accompanying Committee and Departmental  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

            The Director of Finance reported that the Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011 required the Council to adopt the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  In doing so, the Council was required to agree a minimum revenue provision policy annually and to set and monitor a series of Prudential Indicators, the key objectives of which were to ensure that, within a clear framework, the capital investment plans of the Council are affordable, prudent and sustainable.

            At the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 9th December 2011, the Members approved the Council’s Treasury Management Policy which was based on the CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice.  The Treasury Management Policy required that a Treasury Management Strategy be presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on an annual basis and that it be supported by a mid-year and year-end treasury management report. Recent changes in the CIPFA Prudential Code recommends best practice that treasury management reports are submitted on a quarterly basis.

            The Capital Strategy, incorporating the prudential indicators, was included as Appendix A to the report, while the Treasury Management Strategy and treasury management indicators have been included as Appendix B.

            The comparison of “Gross Debt” to “Capital Financing Requirement” (CFR) was the main indicator of prudence when considering the proposed capital investment plans of

the Council.  Estimated gross debt should not exceed the CFR for the current year plus two years.  The Council’s estimated gross debt position was comfortably within the CFR in the medium term.  The Director of Finance therefore considered the estimated levels of gross debt as being prudent.

            He explained that Table 10 (Appendix A) showed the estimated financing costs for capital expenditure as a percentage of the estimated net revenue stream for the Council, based on the medium term.  These illustrated that, in the medium term, capital financing costs would represent an average of 6.27% of the Council’s net running costs.  On this basis the Director of Finance was satisfied that the level of capital expenditure was affordable.

            The Finance Act required the Council to set an affordable borrowing limit, relating to gross debt.  The Prudential Code defines the affordable limit as the “Authorised Borrowing Limit” and gross borrowing must not exceed this limit.  Table 8 (Appendix A) sets out the recommended “Authorised Borrowing Limit” for the Council as being £145m for 2024/25.

            The Committee:

·        noted the contents of the report and the prudential and treasury management indicators included within the appendices to the report.

And agreed:

·        The Authorised Borrowing Limit for the Council of £145m for 2024/25 and The Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25, which had been included as Appendix B to the report.

            The Committee:

·       approved the public advertisement of tenders as per Standing Order 37a detailed in appendix 1 (table 1);

·       approved the award of STAs in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions as detailed in appendix 1 (table 2);

·      approved the modification of the contract as per Standing Order 37a detailed in appendix 1 (table 3); and

·      agreed that reports be submitted to a future meeting in relation to the contract on facilities management arrangements at the Mary Peters Track and the off street car parking enforcement:

Table 1: Competitive Tenders

Table 2: Single Tender Actions

Table 3: Modification to Contract

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

            The purpose of this report is to update Members on two proposals for funding which were agreed at the People and Communities Committee meeting held on 6th February 2024 relating to a request from the Belfast Advice Group and for summer schemes with children with additional needs.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Consider the request to fund the Citywide Tribunal Service as detailed below; and

·        Consider the request to provide funding for summer schemes for children with additional needs

3.0       Main Report

3.1       At the People and Communities Committee held on 6th February 2024, it was agreed that two requests for funding would be brought forward to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for approval. The requests are outlined below.

3.2       Belfast Advice Group

            Following a presentation from the Belfast Advice Group and the noting of a report outlining a range of information attached at Appendix 1, it was agreed that the Group’s request to fund the Citywide Tribunal Service to the sum of £269,063 for 2024/25 and to build in a recurring additional annual cost of living uplift of 3% to the award for generalist advice provision including 23/24 would be brought forward to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for its consideration. Given the balance in existing reserves the request for BCTS equals £78,410  for 24/25 and the uplift requires £30,000. This means a total request of £108,410 in 24/25.

3.3       Summer schemes for children with additional needs

            Members also noted a report outlining a proposal for additional funding to procure specialist providers to facilitate four additional summer schemes for children with additional needs, with a view to delivering the schemes in summer 2024, one in each area of the city, with discussion to take place with the relevant Area Working Groups and the Belfast City Youth Council in advance of any locations being agreed. The proposed cost to facilitate the four schemes is £80,000.

3.4       Financial & Resource Implications

            As detailed above, the request to Belfast Advice Group’s request to fund the Citywide Tribunal Service to the sum of £269,063, and the request to fund summer schemes for children with additional needs is £80,000.

3.5       Members should note that for the 24/25 year there is no additional budget to enhance generalist advice service provision beyond the agreed level of £999,657. Therefore an additional £30,000 is required for 24/25.

3.6       The anticipated available budget for BCTS in 24/25 is £70,400 from DfC, but council is not yet in receipt of a Letter of Offer for 24/25. There is £120,253 in the Tribunal Service reserve, assuming that the £70,400 from DfC is allocated, an additional £78,410 is required from Council for 24/25 to fund the BCTS to the requested level.

3.7       The request for funding for the BCTS has been received annually since the service was established in 2012. The recently completed Review of Advice Services in Belfast presented to Members in December 2023,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

            The Committee noted the key issues arising at the meeting and approved and adopted the minutes of the Audit and Risk Panel of 5th March 2024.

            The Committee was advised that a funding request had been received from the organisers of the Antrim half marathon for the staging of 5km race and a 1 mile race in Belfast.  The event would be featuring an appearance by Joshua Cheptigi, the current Olympic 5000m champion. The event will also feature elite mile races for men and women.

It was currently being supported by the Ulster University and officers were aware that the organiser had made applications for funding support from Tourism NI, but that request was still being considered.

The event would be televised and was a paid for event, with the following entry prices for participants, Adults £22, and Students £15.

The organiser had requested a contribution of £80,000 from Belfast City Council towards the organisation of the event.

The event promoter had suggested the economic impact would be in the region of £2.7m. Although the Council did not have an independent verification or test of this proposed level of return.

30 April ‘24 1 May – 26 May

The Director of Economic Development informed the Members that there was currently no budget or officer resource assigned to this activity.

            He explained that, given the significant workload planned for the Events Team in delivering Belfast 2024, ongoing bidding and organising for Fleadh and Euro’s 2028 as well as the Council’s delivered events such as Christmas, Lord Mayor’s Day, and the Maritime Festival, the addition of this event would place significant unplanned work pressure on staff.  As a result of this and the fact that funding for the event had not been planned for within current departmental budgets, it was recommended that the Committee does not accede to the funding request.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes and recommendations from the Shared City Partnership Meeting held on 11th March 2024, including:

            Shared City Partnership Membership (Verbal Update)

·        That members note the verbal update provided by the Good Relations Manager.

The Executive Office Asylum Dispersal Funding Update

• The Partnership agreed to recommend to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that it approves that the remaining £70,000 of Asylum Dispersal Money be used to procure four further projects to support the localised community integration and inclusion of asylum seekers in Belfast.

Segregation and the Environment Research Report

• The Partnership agreed to recommend to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that, following full Council approval, the research report is launched, published and that the recommendations within the report are progressed.

Peace IV - Secretariat Update

• The Partnership agreed to recommend to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that it note the contents of the report and the appendices.

PEACEPLUS – Theme 1.1 - Local Action Plan Update

• The Partnership agreed to recommend that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee note the contents of the report.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders’ Consultative Forum of 14th March.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations in respect of those applications received up to 8th March, as set out below:

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the City Centre Working Group of 1st March.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Disability Working Group of 13th March.