Agenda and minutes

An apology was received from Councillor McDonough-Brown.

            The minutes of the meetings of 14th January and 9th February, 2026, were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 9th February, 2026.

            In relation to the item ‘Vacant to Vibrant Programme Update’, Councillor Groogan declared an interest in that her employer was in receipt of a grant through the scheme. As this item did not become the subject of debate, she was not required to leave the meeting.

            Councillor McCabe declared an interest in relation to the item ‘Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 Update’ in that her employer was referenced within the report. As this item did not become the subject of debate, she was not required to leave the meeting.

            Councillors Groogan and McCabe also declared an interest in the items ‘City Imagining Investment Programme - Cultural Multi-Annual Grants’ and ‘Financial Reporting - Quarter 3 2025/26’ in that they were associated with organisations which had applied for cultural multi-annual grant funding and left the meeting whilst this item was under consideration.

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is to present the request for funding from Visit Belfast for the 2026-2027 financial year and to set out the organisation’s strategic development and operational delivery, focused on supporting tourism growth.

Members should note that Visit Belfast will be in attendance at Committee to present the detail of its 2026-2027 business plan. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·         Note the draft Visit Belfast business plan 2026-2027. The overall funding requirement for Visit Belfast in the coming financial year has been taken account of in the revenue estimates that have already been approved by Council.

·         Approve and agree a funding allocation of £2,143,073 for 2026-2027, subject to the development of a funding agreement, priority areas of activity and agreed targets.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members will be aware that Visit Belfast was established by Council as the principal destination marketing and visitor servicing organisation for the city of Belfast. Visit Belfast leads on the tourism marketing activities and targets both the leisure and business tourism markets.  It is a membership organisation with more than 500 partner businesses across the wider hospitality industry.  Visit Belfast works on behalf of its funders and partners and with a range of public and private partners including Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland and Belfast Chamber to promote Belfast as a tourism destination.

3.2       Visit Belfast is a public/private partnership.  Its current Chairperson is Marie-Thérèse McGivern; and Belfast City Council has four Councillor representatives on the Board: Councillor Sammy Douglas, Councillor Eric Hanvey, Councillor Tomás Ó Néill and Councillor Séanna Walsh. Also represented on the board are members from the private, public and community sectors.

3.3       The tourism and hospitality industry in Belfast has been going from strength to strength as Belfast continues to drive the regional tourism economy; in 2024, the most recent published Local Government District tourism statistics by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), Belfast hosted 1.5 million overnight trips accounting for 31% of all overnight trips to Northern Ireland generating tourism spend of £469 million, which is 43% of Northern Ireland overnight tourism spend.  There are no tourism day visitor statistics available at this time.

3.4       Council has worked with Visit Belfast to continue to rebuild city tourism which has resulted in Belfast’s visitor economy being stronger and more competitive in a market context that has been challenging.  The city has charted a strong recovery, yet challenges such as staffing, higher costs of doing business within the tourism and hospitality sector and the knock-on impact on hospitality opening hours in the city remain.

3.5       The inclusion of tourism as a key growth sector in the City Region Deal, acknowledged the fact that the sector is already a significant economic generator but recognises the need for significant additional investment in order to sustain growth.  The Council’s 10-year plan for tourism in the city;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following seven 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 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.

            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 Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Vacant to Vibrant Programme and sought approval for citywide grant awards as recommended by the Vacant to Vibrant assessment panel following receipt of recent applications.

The Committee:

i.      noted the update in relation to the Vacant to Vibrant Programme which would be supporting up to 75 businesses/organisations to locate or expand into long-term vacant units; and

ii.     agreed the recommended citywide grant awards as outlined within the report.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meetings on 11th and 24th February, 2026, it had agreed to defer consideration of the Cultural Multi-Annual Grants for 2026-28, to enable further information to be provided.

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided further information in respect of the allocation of the grant funding and set out a range of options for both strands of the grant scheme, namely Festivals and Events, and Arts and Heritage.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Nelson,

Seconded by McDonough-Brown,

      “That the Committee agrees to defer the cultural multi-annual grants for 2026-28 to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to seek additional funding for the scheme.”

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Bunting,

Seconded by Councillor R. McLaughlin,

“That the Committee agrees the approach to the cultural multi-annual grants for 2026-2028, as set out within option six of the report.”

            On a vote, twelve Members voted for the amendment and six against and it was declared carried.

            During discussion, the Strategic Director of Place and Economy advised that further detail would be brought back to the Committee in respect of the allocation of funding.

            After discussion, the Committee:

i.      noted the contents of the report; and

ii.     agreed the approach to the cultural multi-annual grants for 2026-2028, as set out within option six of the report, and that a further report would be submitted to a future meeting on proposed funding allocations.

            The Committee considered a report which provided a quarterly update on the performance of St. George’s Market for Quarter 3, 2025/26, set out the St. George’s Market Business Plan for 206/27, provided an overview of the 2025 Christmas Continental Market, and outlined two requests for external markets licences.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting in November, 2025, it had agreed the introduction of a storage charge fee for St. George’s Market from 1st April, 2026. The Director of Economic Development advised that, following recent engagement with the market traders, a request had been received from the traders for the introduction of the storage charge fees to be deferred until 1st June, 2026. The Director outlined the request and the financial implications of a deferral for the Committee’s consideration.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Lyons

Seconded by Councillor McKay, and

      Resolved - That the Committee agrees to defer the introduction of the St. George’s Market storage charge fees until 1st June, 2026.

            During discussion, a Member highlighted the ongoing engagement with traders and suggested that the Committee undertake a site visit to St. George’s Market. A Member also requested that further information be brought back in relation to the market’s governance arrangements.

            During further discussion, in relation to the future procurement process for the Christmas Market, a Member requested that the potential to expand the Market be included as part of the process.

Accordingly, the Committee:

i.      noted the markets performance and financial update for Quarter 3, 2025/26;

ii.     noted the St. George’s Market Business Plan for 2026/27;

iii.    approved the granting of two external markets licences as set out within the report;

iv.   agreed that the introduction of the St. George’s Market storage charge fees be deferred to 1st June, 2026;

v.     agreed to undertake a site visit to St. George’s Market;

vi.   agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting in respect of St. George’s Market’s governance arrangements; and

vii.  agreed that the potential to expand the Christmas Market be included as part of the future procurement process.

            The Director of Economic Development provided the Committee with an update on the performance of Belfast Zoo for Quarter 3 of 2025/26 which included visitor and education services, animal collection, marketing and events, and financial performance.

            The Committee noted the update on the performance of Belfast Zoo for Quarter 3 of 2025/26.

            The Director of Economic Development provided the Committee with an update on the performance of the Belfast Bikes Scheme for Quarter 3 of 2025/26 which included the operator contract, operational performance, marketing activity, expansion of the scheme and sponsorship.

            During discussion, a Member highlighted the need to ensure that docking stations were fully resourced, particularly when large events were being held within the city such as the upcoming Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

In response to a Member’s suggestion, the Director agreed to explore the potential to engage with other Councils in respect of expanding the scheme beyond the city’s boundary.

During further discussion, the Operations Development Manager advised that further information would be brought back to the Committee in respect of a Member’s query on the operator’s annual survey.

            In relation to the planned expansion of the scheme, a Member requested that Belvoir be considered as a potential location for a docking station.

Accordingly, the Committee:

i.      noted the update on the performance of the Belfast Bikes Scheme for Quarter 3 of 2025/26; and

ii.     agreed that, as part of the planned expansion of the scheme, Belvoir would be considered as a potential location for a docking station.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the Committee’s financial position for Quarter 3 of 2025/26.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Nelson,

Seconded by Councillor Lyons, and

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to submit a request to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to explore the potential for additional funding to be allocated to the Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme.

Accordingly, the Committee:

i.      noted the report and associated financial reporting pack; and

ii.     agreed that a request be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to explore the potential for additional funding to be allocated to the Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy provided the Committee with an update on the preparations for the delivery of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, which included progress and emerging issues in relation to licensing, food provision, engagement, cultural programming and visitor accommodation.

            The Committee noted the update on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 24th February, 2026, the Standards and Business Committee had referred the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor de Faoite and seconded by Councillor McKeown, to the Committee for its consideration:

“Belfast City Council acknowledges the thriving and inclusive arts and cultural scene in Ballynafeigh and the benefits this brings not just to the local area, but to the city and region more widely;

·         notes the growing aspiration in the community, particularly emerging through the Open Ormeau Community Visioning project which took place in 2025, for a dedicated arts and cultural space in Ballynafeigh, recognising the strong local interest in the arts, music and culture, and the area's increasing status as a destination for both residents and visitors to Belfast;

·         and therefore agrees to fund a feasibility study to examine the potential for a dedicated arts and culture space in Ballynafeigh, working with Open Ormeau and the local community.”

            Councillor de Faoite highlighted the Open Ormeau community visioning project and the emergence of an aspiration within the local community for an improved provision of arts and culture within the Ballynafeigh area.

            At the request of Councillor de Faoite, the Committee agreed to invite Open Ormeau to attend a future meeting to provide further information on its community visioning project and in relation to a potential feasibility study.

            Accordingly, the Committee agreed:

i.      that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would outline a detailed consideration of the motion, including potential cost implications; and

ii.     to invite Open Ormeau to attend a future meeting to present on its community visioning project and the potential for a dedicated arts and culture space in Ballynafeigh.

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the ongoing work of the Innovation Factory, a council-owned enterprise workspace operated by Oxford Innovation on behalf of the Council since its opening in 2016 to address historically low levels of entrepreneurship within West Belfast, inspire young people considering self-employment, and act as a catalyst for wider regeneration of a site that had been derelict for more than two decades.

            The update provided an overview of the centre’s performance for 2025/26 and set out Oxford Innovation’s Annual Service Plan for 2026/27. It was reported that Council officers had worked closely with Oxford Innovation to streamline processes, review targets, capitalise on collaboration opportunities, reduce duplication of effort, improve operational efficiency, and identify opportunities for shared delivery with council teams and partner organisations to maximise revenue generation and reduce the financial liability to the council for the centre.

            The report recommended that the centre’s management team attend a future meeting to provide Members with a more detailed overview of its work and the plans for 2026/27.

            The Committee:

i.      noted the contents of the report; and

ii.     agreed that the centre’s management team attend a future meeting to provide an overview of the work of the centre and its plans for the coming year.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

The purpose of this report is to provide a quarterly progress update on delivery as part of the council’s new International Relations Framework 2025-2028, as agreed at the November 2025 Committee meeting and to seek a number of outlined approvals required to progress imminent and planned activity in the first part of the year.

2.0       Recommendations

            Members are asked to:

·         Note the progress of the first quarter delivery of the International Relations Framework (November 2025 to March 2026);

·         Note proposed activity for April 2026 to March 2027, as set out in Appendix 1, including opportunities for Member engagement;

·         Approve the participation of the Lord Mayor and an officer in a civic visit to Sister City Nashville in April 2026 at a cost of £4,000;

·         Approve the proposed EU engagement activity, including participation of an All-Party delegation and one officer in the annual European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels October 2026, as well as the payment of the 2026 Eurocities Membership fee. Costs in respect to this activity include £8,000 for the proposed Brussels visit in October plus Eurocities annual membership of £15,000;

·         Approve the purchase of a one-year pilot CRM system as a means of tracking and measuring the impact of international activity at a cost of around £7,000; and

·         Approve Council’s annual participation in the New York New Belfast event, including stakeholder sponsorship, travel and attendance for the Lord Mayor, the Chief Executive, senior officer (or nominees) and one accompanying officer at a cost of £15,000.

3.0       Main report

3.1       At the November 2025 meeting of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee, members approved the International Relations Framework 2025 – 2028, along with an action plan for 2025/26 activity.

3.2       The three-year “framework” document is intended to be a supporting document to other key strategies and plans such as the Belfast Agenda, the Corporate Plan and Local Development Plan – setting out how priority objectives and ambitions in those documents can be achieved through international connections, networks and opportunities. Its purpose is to identify areas of collaborative advantage and help focus resources on opportunities that can maximise return on investment, in keeping with city priorities.

3.3       As part of this Framework, it was agreed that there would be quarterly reports back to the Committee outlining progress and key activities over the previous three months as well as a look ahead to the coming quarter, including opportunities for

            Member engagement.

3.4       Quarterly progress highlights November 2025 to March 2026

Since approval of the new framework, a range of international relations activities has been undertaken by council teams and their partner organisations or are scheduled to take place before the end of the month.  Under the themes of the framework, key activities include:

Trade and Investment

·         Participation in the November 2025 inaugural China/NI Economic Summit event, co-hosted by Invest NI, the Chinese Consulate and Chinese Chamber UK.  The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided a progress update on the development of the Local Economic Partnership, a key element of the Department for the Economy’s Sub-Regional Economic Plan and which set out the proposed priority work areas which would cover creative sector incubation support, capital investment for creative growth, and business growth and innovation support.

The Committee:

i.      noted the update on the work being undertaken as part of the Local Economic Partnership;

ii.     noted and endorsed the emerging priority work areas, as set out within section 3.6 of the report; and

iii.    agreed that officers further engage with the Department for the Economy based on the emerging priority work areas, with a view to secure resources to support delivery.

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the ten Notices of Motion and Issues Raised in Advance which it was responsible for, and which recommended the closure of the motion ‘Gary Moore Statue’, as the project had been added to the Council’s Capital Programme.

The Committee:

i.      noted the update on the Notices of Motion and Issues Raised in Advance that it was responsible for, as set out within Appendix 1 of the report; and

ii.     agreed to the closure of the motion ‘Gary Moore Statue’ (ID 425), as outlined within section 3.3 and Appendix 1 of the report.