Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Alderman Copeland.

            The minutes of the meeting of 2nd December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 8th January.

            Councillor R.M. Donnelly declared an interest under item 2.b. ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls - Regional Change Fund Letter of Offer Extension 2025/26’ in that she was employed by an organisation in receipt of funding under the terms of the fund. She left the meeting whilst the matter was under consideration.

            The information contained in the report associated with the following two 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.

The Committee was advised that the content of the ‘restricted’ reports and any associated discussion should be treated as ‘confidential information’ and that such information could not be disclosed as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.  

            The Committee agreed, in accordance with Section M12 of the Council’s Financial Regulations, to write off an outstanding debt in the sum of £9,500.

            The Director of City and Neighbourhood Services reported that The Executive Office (TEO) was in the process of developing the next delivery plan in support of its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework (EVAWGSF). The delivery plan would, subject to ministerial approval, encompass a two year period, from April 2026 to March 2028. He informed the Committee that it was anticipated that the Regional Change Fund would be extended over that period and, accordingly, TEO had requested that the existing arrangement for the disbursement of funding and monitoring arrangements between TEO and the Council would be extended over that period to enable the implementation of the new delivery plan.

            The Committee noted the receipt of the request from TEO and agreed that the Council would support the delivery of the EVAWGSF through the continuation of the existing Regional Change Fund contracts and to provide multi-annual funding up to March 2028; and then manage a collaborative process to consider regional provision and identify any additional need for future regional investment. In addition, the Committee:

·        noted that the overall Regional Change Fund delivery budget was expected to total a sum of £1,200,000 per annum, however, there existed a potential for that fund to increase, should additional extra need for investment be identified and budget secured;

·        noted that, subject to the approval of a business case and budget, TEO would seek to issue the Local Change Fund and Regional Change Fund Letters of Offer to the Council in 2026; and

·        accepted the planned extension to the 2025/26 Letter of Offer for the Regional Change Fund to mitigate against any risks to business continuity of programme delivery, noting that that extension was for a period of three months to ensure business continuity and provide security for staff currently in place.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th February, 2025, it had adopted the undernoted motion, which have been moved by Councillor Abernethy and seconded by Councillor Maghie.

      “This Council recognises the vital role of trees in enhancing the health and well-being of people and communities, addressing climate change, and supporting biodiversity; commits to raising awareness among residents about these benefits and to actively support efforts to plant and protect the right trees in the right places and for the right reasons, ensuring that everyone can share in the benefits trees provide; and, will commit to exploring how we can educate and raise awareness of trees, the role they play in all our lives across Belfast.

In addition, the Committee agrees that officers would submit a report which would provide the following:

·        an update on the Tree Strategy, including the ‘One Million Trees’ initiative;

·        seek to identify sites within the Council’s estate where additional trees and plant could be maintained; and

·        an outline as to how communities and electoral areas could become involved further in the life of trees in our city.”

            Accordingly, the Committee considered the undernoted report:

            The Belfast Tree Strategy

3.3       The Belfast Tree Strategy was produced with the aim of managing and improving the city’s tree-scape over the next 10 years, focussing on protecting, enhancing, and expanding the Council’s woodlands, hedges, and trees, connecting people to nature, and ensuring that they continue to be a major asset to everyone who lives in, works in, and visits Belfast city.

3.4       After an extensive public consultation exercise which involved a public questionnaire and the facilitation of five public workshops at locations across the city, the Belfast Tree Strategy was launched on the 5th October 2023 at Belfast Botanical Gardens. 

3.5       The Tree Strategy set out 37 key actions which will be delivered over the life of the Tree Strategy, and aligned with the key actions, a commitment was given to undertake an independent review of the Tree Strategy after year one and thereafter, once every 3 years until 2033.

3.6       In December 2024 the Council completed its first independent review/audit of the Belfast Tree Strategy. The audit process was designed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to help stakeholders responsible for the planning and management of urban trees and forests, and to ensure trees and forests are accounted for and well-integrated into relevant planning, management and governance activities at the local level.  The audit of the Tree Strategy included a scorecard of which Belfast scored a total of 42 points out of 50 which is ‘Very Good’ (71-85%) The next independent audit will be undertaken in 2027.

3.7       Tree canopy cover across Belfast averages 18.6%, as measured by Google satellite data. This ranges from 20.8% in urban and suburban areas, to 15.0% in rural areas. The Ward with the highest tree cover in Belfast is Bellevue, with 43.9% tree cover and the lowest is Ardoyne with just 4.6%. The average tree canopy cover  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11a

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which provided an overview of the Department for Infrastructure’s draft Road Noise Action Plan for 2023/28. In addition, the Committee adopted a Council response to an associated consultation exercise in the matter and agreed that it be submitted in advance of the closing date of 22nd January, subject to further amendment, if any, by the Council at its meeting on 2nd February, 2026.

            The Committee considered correspondence which had been received from the Blackstaff Residents’ Association requesting that consideration be given to erecting a metal arch incorporating the wording ‘John Stewart Bell Entrance’ over the Olympia Drive entrance to Olympia Leisure Centre. The Members were reminded that, at its meeting on 10th October 2017, the Committee had acceded to a request to rename that particular entrance to the centre in honour of John Stewart Bell. That decision had been taken after consultation with the local community and in recognition of Mr. Bell’s achievements as a world-renowned physicist; and to mark his links to the Village area. Accordingly, a plaque had been erected at the site, however, the residents’ association was now requesting that a more fitting and permanent tribute be erected.

            The Committee agreed, in principle, to support the request subject to a further report being submitted for consideration that would outline, amongst other things, planning considerations and projected costs. It was noted that the report would provide also an overview of the corporate policies and processes which oversaw the consideration of such ad hoc requests. 

            The Committee agreed to erection of a second street nameplate in Irish at Delhi Street, Lagmore Downs and Rosetta Avenue.

            The Committee noted the progress which had been achieved to date in respect of the Draft Belfast Off-Street Parking (Public Car Parks) Order 2026. The Committee noted also several updates which related to city centre off-street car parks, debt recovery matters relating to unpaid Penalty Charge Notices and a graduated approach to parking enforcement.

            St. Patrick’s Day Parking

            Arising from discussion, a Member reminded the Committee that, on St. Patrick’s Day 2025, forty-seven individuals had received fines for parking in Council-managed off-street car parks. That was despite the fact that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) had opted not to enforce parking penalties on individuals who had been fined for parking in its on-street carparks on that date. He indicated that the situation had caused confusion, given that the date was a bank holiday, and he proposed that the Council consider providing free parking in its off-street carparks on St. Patrick’s Day in 2026.

            The Committee was reminded that such a proposal, if approved, would result in a loss of income to the department and that Members were unaware of the actual extent of that loss. It was suggested that the Committee might defer consideration of the matter to enable a report to be considered outlining how such a loss of income could be offset from within a departmental underspend.

            After further discussion, it was agreed that a report be submitted to the meeting in February outlining how off-street car-parking charges might be waived on St. Patrick’s Day 2026, subject to the identification of an appropriate underspend from within the departmental budget to offset any loss of income.

            It was agreed also that a letter be forwarded to Translink requesting that consideration be given to providing additional services along arterial routes on St. Patrick’s Day to cater for service users and to encourage additional use of public transport on that date.     

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 4th November 2025, it had agreed that a report be submitted for consideration that would outline the current staffing and capacity levels relating to the Environmental Health Service, particularly regarding roles associated with responding to planning consultations; and that the report would include also reference to the role of the Building Control Service in enforcement matters.

            Accordingly, the Director of City Services outlined the main aspects of a report in this regard and, after discussion, the Committee noted the information which had provided, together with a range of Members’ comments in relation to the matter.

The Committee noted an amendment to the location of an alleygate in Rosetta Park.

            The Director of Open Spaces, Resources, Fleet and Transport outlined the principal aspects of a report which sought approval for funding allocations to be included within the estimates of expenditure for 2026/27, subject to approval by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee as part of the rate-setting process. The requests are set out below:

·        Belfast Hills Partnership (BHP)

            The Committee was reminded that the Council had, since 2011, supported the BHP by providing annual funding in the sum of £36,900. The Director highlighted that the Partnership had indicated that was operating under increasing budgeting constraints which BHO had sought to address by cutting operating costs and securing additional funding. He added that both Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council had indicated that that it would increase its contribution to BHP by 30% in 2026/27. Accordingly, it was recommended that the Committee authorise a contribution to BHP in 2026/27 in the sum of £47,970, which represented an increase of 30 per cent.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation and agreed that an annual funding contribution of £47,970 be provided within the departmental estimates for the Belfast Hills Partnership in 2026/27.

·        Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB)

            The Committee was reminded also that, since 2014, the Council had provided annual funding to KNIB in the sum of £55,000. The Director reported that KNIB had advised that its  current financial model was no longer sustainable and, accordingly, a request had been made that the Council consider increasing its contribution in 2026/27 by 10 per cent, which represented an increase £10,250, bringing the annual contribution to £65,250.

            The Committee agreed that an annual funding contribution of £65,250 be provided within the departmental estimates for 2026/27 for Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

·        Belfast Healthy Cities

            The Committee was informed that Belfast Healthy Cities had requested funding in the sum of  £81,294 for 2026/27, which remained unchanged from the amount which had been provided in 2025/26.

            The Committee agreed that an annual funding contribution of £81,294 be provided within the departmental estimates for 2026/27 for the Belfast Healthy Cities.  The Committee agreed also to accede to a request from Belfast Healthy Cities that a letter of endorsement be provided by the Council to assist in its application to partake in Phase VIII of the European Healthy Cities Network.