Agenda and minutes

Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Browne and Councillor Long.

            The minutes of the meeting of 18th 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 5th January, subject to the amendment of the minute under the heading “Notice of Motion re: Energy Transition – Update” to provide that the remit of the proposed feasibility study for the development and delivery of the City Energy Strategy would be submitted to the Committee for its consideration prior to it being finalised.

No declarations of interest were reported.

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

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the development and implementation of the £105 million leisure assets capital programme and which outlined the key highlights since the previous update which had been submitted to the Committee in October.  The report highlighted the progress on procurement and delivery, community engagement and the progress in relation to the Robinson Centre and Clonduff Community Centre, the Andersonstown Leisure Centre and Templemore Swimming Centre and Brooke Activity Centre.

            After discussion, the Committee:

            Programme Level

(1)      noted that AECOM had now been appointed as a consultancy programme and project management lead; and

(2)      noted that the Stage 1 consultation and engagement in relation to the Brook Activity Centre and the Robinson Centre have been undertaken and had included twenty-three open consultation sessions, together with a series of focus sessions and that an analysis of the findings, which was currently underway and an update, would be submitted to the Committee and the Area Working Groups in due course.

            Specific Projects

(1)      Robinson Centre and Clonduff Community Centre – noted that it appeared that there was some confusion and misinformation about the current status of that project and plans for the Robinson Centre and agreed that an information leaflet update, to be placed in the community centre, would be produced;

(2)      Andersonstown Leisure Centre – noted that consultants had been engaged to provide a cost report in connection with examining options around the future location of the bank and the outcome of that report was awaited before the next steps were to be agreed; and

(3)      Templemore Swim Centre – agreed a consultation and engagement and procurement exercise would be undertaken to support the round 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

            The Committee considered a report which provided details of the progress on the work streams to enable the mobilisation of the new Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Limited company by 1st April, 2016.  The report provided an update in relation to the registration of the new company; the “reserved matters” decisions about the company which would be reserved to the Council; the establishment of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Limited Shareholders’ Committee; the recruitment of the Board of Directors; the Human Resource issues and Trade Union engagement and the relocation of the Ulster Orchestra.

            The Committee:

(1)      noted the progress that had been made across a number of work-streams, including the registration of the new company and organisational development, notably the implementation of the new structure;

(2)      authorised the Town Solicitor to negotiate the best terms for the Council in the contractual suite of documents to be finalised between the Council and the Company to enable the contract to “go live” on 1st April, 2016;

(3)      noted the establishment of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Limited shareholders’ committee and the process for appointing the additional Positions of Responsibility;

(4)      noted the actions in relation to the recruitment of the Chairperson and non-Executive Directors on behalf of the future Shareholders’ Committee, in consultation with the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the City Growth and Regeneration Committee;

(5)      authorised officers to develop service level agreements within the principles outlined in the report in order to offer services to the new company, whilst protecting the Council’s interests;

(6)      noted the early achievement of the conference/delegates target for 2016/17; and

(7)      agreed that a meeting of the new Shareholders’ Committee be convened in February.

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report in relation to the setting of the estimates and the district rate for 2016/17. 

            The Director reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 18th December, 2015, it had considered the proposed 2016/17 revenue budgets and cash limits for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the People and Communities Committee, the City Growth and Regeneration Committee and the Planning Committee and had agreed that the revenue budgets and cash limits for each of the Committees be referred to them for consideration during January, 2016.

            The report outlined the costs of running the Council in 2016/17, the cash limits for each of the Committees, details in relation to the Belfast Investment Fund, the Capital Financing Budget, the De-rating Grant, the Regional Rate increase, the impact on the ratepayer and the medium-term and other financial risks and the Efficiency Programme.

            After a lengthy discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Hargey,

            Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile,

            That the Committee agrees:

(1)      a cash limit of £38,911,608 for the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for 2016/17 which included voluntary redundancy savings of £650,000;

(2)      a cash limit of £75,681,091 for the People and Communities Committee for 2016/17;

(3)      a cash limit of £15,886,293 for the City Growth and Regeneration Committee for 2016/17;

(4)      a cash limit of £1,673,308 for the Planning Committee for 2016/17;

(5)      the rates contribution to the Belfast Investment Fund for 2016/17 to be increased by £500,000 with a revised total of £3,270,000.  The resultant available expenditure of £5,000,000 to be shared equally across the areas transferred from Lisburn and Castlereagh as part of Local Government Reform;

(6)      the capital financing budget of £18,091,901 for 2016/17;

(7)      that the increase in the district rate for 2016/17 should be 1.48%, based on an estimated penny product of 5,734,080 meaning a non-domestic rate of 25.8601 pence and a domestic rate of 0.3140 pence and that the amount to be raised through the district rate in 2016/17 would be £148,284,075;

(8)      to note the Director of Finance and Resources’ statement on the adequacy of the Council’s reserves position and robustness of the revenue estimates as required by the Local Government Finance Act (NI) 2011;

(9)      to note the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement as required by the Local Government (Capital Finance and Accounting) Regulations (NI) 2011; and

(10)    that a detailed report on the Efficiency Programme would be submitted to a future meeting.

            On a vote by show of hands nine Members voted for the proposal and one against and it was declared carried.

            The Committee considered a report which outlined the potential adoption of the Council’s City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy by the Department for Social Development as part of a wider approach to aligning the respective policies and priorities of both organisations for the regeneration of the City centre.

            The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed to request that the Department for Social Development formally adopts the Council’s City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 2nd November, 2015, had passed the following resolution:

      “This Council notes that Dublin will host the ninth World Meeting of Families and recognises the opportunity for the Republic of Ireland to host a Papal visit.  The Council further recognises the opportunity to coincide this with the Papal visit to Northern Ireland and therefore the Council extends a formal invitation to Pope Francis to visit Belfast.”

            The Committee was advised that a response from the Vatican had been received which had passed on its thanks for the renewed invitation and indicated that the invitation had been duly noted.

            The Committee noted receipt of the correspondence.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to:

-       Provide feedback on a recent meeting with the Minister for Education in the Northern Ireland Assembly, John O’Dowd MLA, to discuss a notice of motion on nursery provision in Belfast

-       Agree a series of follow-up actions from the meeting. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that Members: 

-       Note the feedback from the meeting with Minister O’Dowd

-       Agree to a follow-up meeting between the Chief Executive or her nominees and officials from the Education Authority to explore opportunities for greater coordination on planning on education issues in the Belfast area, in the context of the Belfast Agenda.

3.0       Main report

3.1      At the council meeting in October 2015, Cllr Mullan presented the following notice of motion:

            ‘This Council acknowledges the strategic aim of Belfast to become a first-rate ‘Learning City’ and supports initiatives which would create a culture that promotes all forms of lifelong learning. This Council calls on the Minister of Education to ensure the provision of free, pre-school, curriculum based nursery education places for all children in the year immediately before primary one; to ensure that they have a strong foundation for future learning and skills development, to reach their maximum potential, on a lifelong basis’.

3.2       The notice of motion was unanimously supported and it was agreed that an all-party group would seek a meeting with Minister John O’Dowd MLA to discuss the issue. A meeting took place on 9 December 2015.  The following elected members were in attendance:

-       Cllr Ciaran Beattie

-       Cllr Paula Bradshaw

-       Cllr Aileen Graham

-       Cllr Julie-Ann Corr Johnston

-       Cllr Kate Mullan

-       Ald Jim Rodgers.

3.3       Members raised a number of issues related to the matter with the Minister and his officials.  These included:

-       Clarification on planning process around the allocation of nursery school places in the Belfast area

-       Opportunities for improvements including starting the application process earlier in the year

-       Addressing the barriers to potential community-based nursery providers (principally legislative issues that mean significant cost implications for providers)

-       Clarification around the nursery curriculum

-       Potential opportunities for looking at specific activities within targeted areas, e.g. linked to regeneration and local employability activities, including potential to build on good practice

-       Opportunities for integrated pre-school provision.

3.4       Minister O’Dowd confirmed that the Education Authority was responsible for the administration of nursery provision and wider education provision up to secondary school level.  Officials acknowledged that there was no specific planning undertaken on a Belfast city level and indicated that they would be open to looking at how that could be done, in order to address some of the key educational as well as social and economic challenges in the city. 

3.5       Members will recall that one of the strands of the Belfast Agenda focuses on ‘Working and Learning’.  Under this theme, a number of key priorities are identified, including:

-       Addressing education inequalities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       This paper recommends that the Council lead on the development of a ‘smart city’ framework to support the delivery of priorities within the Belfast Agenda. Smart Cities is a collaborative partner approach between business, academia and public bodies to make use of new technologies and big data to better understand and tackle traditional urban and neighbourhood challenges. Many local authorities (including Glasgow, Dublin, and Manchester) have already established such frameworks in order to find new ways to address such issues as waste, energy, traffic and water management.

            Members are asked to approve a programme of work which, with support and co-investment from the Government’s Future Cities Catapult and other partners such as local SMEs, Invest NI, Queen’s University and the Ulster University, would seek to build Belfast’s smart city capacity while at the same time demonstrate a financial return on this initial investment through the delivery of a number of projects. This investment seeks to build on the city’s successful infrastructure investment in Superconnected Broadband and City WiFi.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Members are asked to consider and agree the following:

1.     To work with our public and private sector partners to develop a smart city framework for the city.

2.     To co-invest in a programme of work with the Government’s Future Cities Catapult to support the development of this framework whilst at the same time delivering four demonstrator projects that will deliver a financial return on the investment.

3.     To reassign existing resource to set in place an innovation team to design and deliver the programme over the next two years.

3.0       Main report

3.1      Key Issues

            A ‘smart city’ uses new technologies (such as apps, sensors, cloud computing), and big data to find innovative ways to tackle traditional urban challenges and support the city’s’ strategic objectives. Places such as Glasgow, Dublin, Bristol, and Manchester have established smart city frameworks to attract funding and investment in order to create smart, sustainable ways of addressing urban challenges such as waste, energy, traffic and water management.

3.2       For example, with a smart city framework in place, Glasgow City Council was able to attract £24 million from central Government to deliver a number of major projects including a sophisticated traffic management system for the city, visitor apps, smart street lights and neighbourhood air quality monitors.

3.3       The leadership role of the local authority has proven crucial in the development of these frameworks. All successful ‘smart cities’ need a partnership between the public and private sectors to ensure that the right infrastructure, systems and shared objectives are in place to encourage business, academia and public bodies to work together to create innovative solutions and services.

3.4       Belfast is well-placed to take a similar approach. Both of our local universities have strong   reputations in this field and the city has a growing digital SME sector that is eager to work with us (including the Centre for Secure Information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

            The Committee noted the contents of a report in relation to the Belfast Agenda update and Draft Corporate Plan for 2016/17 and agreed to hold a Strategic Planning workshop on or around 12th February, to which all Members of the Council would be invited, to discuss the on-going work on the Belfast Agenda and the Corporate Plan 2016/17 for the Council.  The workshop would also consider the leadership role of Members in taking forward and promoting the Belfast Agenda and key Council strategies, including the Corporate Plan and the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy.

            The Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1      Queen’s University are applying to Innovate UK’s Urban Living Partnership competition which is providing up to £400,000 to five cities to help them understand and better address complex urban and neighbourhood challenges. The competition aims to break down barriers between universities, local authorities and other partners in order to use innovative research to clearly understand the root causes of urban challenges that are difficult to address and co-produce sustainable change in urban living to benefit cities and their communities.

1.2       Partners have identified the issue of marginalised inner city neighbourhoods and the challenge of connecting communities into future growth opportunities through employability, skills and entrepreneurship as the theme of the Belfast bid.

1.3       The deadline for city applications was 21 January. Queen’s University have requested support for their bid from Belfast City Council. In the event of a successful application, they have asked the Council to work with them in designing and delivering a Belfast programme (which would begin in May 2016).  In advance of the deadline a letter of support has been sent from the Chief Executive providing support for the Queen’s application.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Members are asked to:

·        Note the purpose of the Urban Living Partnership competition and the aims of the proposed Belfast bid; and

·        In the event of a successful bid, to agree to the Council’s participation in the design and delivery of a Belfast programme.

3.0       Main report

3.1      Key Issues

            Innovate UK and the UK Research Councils want to work with up to five cities to support them in understanding and addressing key urban challenges. The aim is to break down barriers between universities and local government in order to use research, data, and national expertise, to clearly define the root causes of major challenges. As such the competition links well with the Council’s ambition to develop a ‘smart city’ approach in addressing the Belfast Agenda’s priorities.

3.2       Each partnership must be led by a local university and bring together a consortium of the local authority, service providers and other stakeholders. Full details of the competition can be found at the link below[1]. Up to £400,000 is available to each city for an eighteen-month ‘diagnostic’ phase to investigate a complex, inter-connected challenge(s) and then to set out delivery options. This first phase would include funding for a Council officer to work with the programme and  bring together local authorities with the foremost experts in urban research and innovation to diagnose an integrated challenge(s) facing their city and work with local communities and stakeholders to develop pathways to future solutions

3.3       Following on from this first (diagnostic) phase a second stage would then support a city delivery partnership and test practical solutions to the challenges. Government funding for this stage has yet to be confirmed but there are indications that substantial funding will be available to assist cities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6c

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Capital Programme is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. The rolling programme was approved by the Shadow SP&R Committee in January 2015. This report outlines –

·        highlights of current status of projects under the Programme

·        projects recommended to be moved/added on the capital programme – Anglers Cabin at the Waterworks to Stage 3 – Committed;  Cathedral Gardens – Redevelopment and upgrade and IT Programme – Asset Management System from Stage 1 – Emerging to Stage 2 – Uncommitted and the Belfast Model Flying Club – Tommy Patton Park to be added as an Emerging Project

·        specific project updates – Innovation Centre, Fleet Replacement Programme 16/17 and City Cemetery – HLF project

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to –

            General

·        note the update in relation to the Capital Programme as outlined in 3.1 and that the Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange site visits for Members/ Party Groups to any capital project.  Photos of projects are attached at Appendix 1.

            Proposed movements on the Capital Programme

·        agree that the Anglers Cabin at the Waterworks is moved to Stage 3- Committed and agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver. The Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that this project is within the affordability limits of the Council and agreed that a maximum of £30,000 be allocated (see paragraph 3.2)

·        agree that the Cathedral Gardens – Redevelopment and Upgrade and the  IT Programme – Asset Management System  are moved up a stage on the programme from Stage 1 to Stage 2 and that OBCs are now worked up for these projects which will be brought back to Committee before any final investment decisions are taken (see Paragraphs 3.7 and 3.9)

·        Cathedral Gardens – In addition Members are also asked to endorse their commitment to the redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens as part of Phase 3 of the Streets Ahead project (BSA3) and agree in principle to ringfencing an allocation (up to a maximum of £5m) as part of this subject to final confirmation of the costs, a satisfactory tender return and confirmation by the Director of Finance & Resources that the project is within the affordability limits of the Council.  Members are asked to note that the Council’s contribution as part of BSA3 will be ringfenced for use only within Cathedral Gardens and that the Gardens will continue to remain as asset of the Council (see Paragraphs 3.4-3.8)

·        Agree that the Belfast Model Flying Club in Tommy Patton Park is added as a Stage 1 – Emerging Project on the Capital Programme to allow an SOC and the costs to be worked up (see 3.10)

            Capital Programme Project Updates

-       Forthriver  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7a

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Members on a number of area related issues for Members consideration.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Members are asked to –

            Area Working Group Planning Sessions

·        note that the West and East AWG planning sessions are scheduled for the 28th and 29th of January respectively. A full report on the outcome of the workshops will be brought to a future SP&R meeting following completion

            Local Investment Fund  proposals

·        note that 4 projects which had previously been agreed for in principle funding (St. Paul’s GAC -WLIF2-11 and St. Paul’s ABC-WLIF2-12 – West AWG and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association – SLIF2-09 and Surestart Belvoir - SLIF2-11– South AWG) have now been scored by officers and all have successfully met the minimum threshold. It is recommended that these projects proceed to the Due Diligence stage of the LIF process

            Request for Council to act as Delivery Agent for other projects in local areas

·        Building Successful Communities – agree in principle that the Council acts as the delivery agent for the delivery of a playground project (Kids Together Outdoor Play Area) subject to due diligence being undertaken on the project including verification of costs, access issues and confirmation that there are no ongoing management or maintenance implications for the Council

·        Note that a number of letters of offer/contracts for funding have now been received for projects due to be funded under these initiatives and it is likely that more will follow in the coming weeks.  Members are asked to agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for projects being delivered under these streams with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver 

3.0       Main report

            KEY ISSUES

            AREA WORKSHOPS

3.1       The AWGs have recognised the need to think through the issues and context of their areas and agreed the need for a number of planning workshop sessions per area as a first step towards the development of local area plans and to allow Members to start to consider wider issues in their areas linking with the ongoing work on the Belfast Agenda, the outcomes framework and the forward Committee plans for People and Communities and City Growth.

3.2       Members are asked to note that the South and north AWGs have already held their workshops and both AWGs agreed that that they were very productive and that they should be the first in a series of such planning sessions. The West and East AWGs are scheduled for the 28th and 29th of January respectively. A full report on the outcome of the workshops will be brought to a future SP&R meeting following completion

            LIF Updates

            Projects recommended to be advanced to due-diligence

3.3       Members are asked to note that a number of projects which have previously received ‘in-principle’ commitment for funding have now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7b

            Port Health Unit, Corry Place –

            Lease Renewal

            The Committee agreed to the recommendation of the People and Communities Committee of 12th January, 2016 to the renewal of the lease for the Port Health Unit premises at Corry Place within the Harbour Estate from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners for a further 10 years from 1st November, 2015 at a reduced rent of £23,000 per annum.

            Proposed Grant of Easement to

            Victoria College, Belfast

            The Committee agreed to the recommendation of the People and Communities Committee of 12th January to approve the grant of an easement to Victoria College to provide access over Council-owned land at Drumglass Park for a proposed drainage pipe and manhole for future repairs and maintenance, for which the college would be wholly liable.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report and associated consultation response:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       This report provides a draft Council response to the Department of Finance and Personnel’s consultation paper on the ‘Review of Northern Ireland’s Non-Domestic Rating System.’ The consultation period ends on the 25 January 2016.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to:

·        Agree the draft Council response provided at Appendix 2.

3.0      Main report

3.1       Review of the Business Rates System

            In November 2013 the then Finance Minister, Simon Hamilton, announced to the Assembly his intention to undertake a full review of the non-domestic taxation system. It was intended that this would commence once the non-domestic revaluation had bedded in and would consider whether the current system is fit for purpose and whether there are alternative ways of raising revenue from those who do business in Northern Ireland.

3.2       In May 2015 Minister Foster announced to the Assembly her intention to proceed and in June 2015 the review was initiated with an Innovation Lab (or policy symposium) attended by a broad range of interest groups, business organisations, the voluntary sector, local government, academia and professional bodies.

3.3      In October 2015 the Department of Finance and Personnel published a consultation paper on the review which focuses on the current system of non-domestic taxation i.e. business rates, but also considers and welcomes views on any alternative system which could be used to replace or supplement part of the revenue currently from the business sector through the rating system.

3.4       Overview of the Consultation Paper          

3.5       Key Principles of the Review: The consultation paper set out key principles under which the suitability of alternatives or potential changes to the existing system will be considered. These key principles are that the system should be:

·        Revenue Neutral

·        Efficient and Cost Effective

·        Certain and Simple

·        Flexible

·        Equitable and Fair  

3.6       The consultation asks a number of questions in relation to the review. These cover areas such as:

·        the key principles of the review

·        the frequency of Non Domestic Revaluations

·        whether criteria / priorities should be applied to existing and future rate relief / exemption

·        the review of current rate reliefs exemptions

·        whether the rating system should be used to pursue economic development objectives

·        whether district councils should take on powers for granting reliefs

·        whether district councils should be able to strike separate domestic and non domestic rates

·        whether the system should tax the owner rather than the occupier of non domestic properties

·        whether there should be a derelict land tax

·        whether public sector organisations should pay rates

·        whether other forms of local tax should be pursued

3.7       A key area of the Council’s response is the use of the non-domestic rating system as an economic regeneration tool.  The response recommends that this should ideally involve a combined central and local government package of measures to support regeneration, especially in city centre areas. With relief subject to a proven business case, sectors to target could include hotel developments,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

            The Committee approved the public advertisement and delegated authority to the appropriate Director using pre-agreed criteria, to accept the most economically advantageous tenders for the following:

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To provide recommendations to harness the Council’s role as city leader, employer, and deliver and commissioner of services, in order to better address the risk of poverty faced across the city.

            The paper acknowledges the substantial existing work of the Council and its partners in addressing aspects of poverty and highlights the importance of taking a strategic and integrated approach, within the economic growth context of the Belfast Agenda, to maximise our combined contributions to social outcomes.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Members are asked to:

·        Note the current contribution that the Council makes in addressing aspects of poverty in its roles as civic leader, service deliverer, employer; deliverer of programmes and purchaser of goods and services.

·        To agree that the Council, in the creation of Belfast’s first community plan, works with its partners  to develop a joint approach to tackling poverty in the city that maximises the social impact of city growth and investment agenda.

·        To agree that the Council develops options to maximise the social value potential as employer and purchaser of goods and services in addressing aspects of poverty.

·        To agree that members conduct a workshop with  the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (as in initial step)  to support the development of a strategic and integrated approach to addressing issues of poverty and inequality within the economic growth context of the Belfast Agenda, to maximise our combined contributions to social outcomes.

3.0                   Main report

3.1      Key Issues

            Most governments, including the Northern Ireland Executive, agree that an individual or family is at risk of poverty if their household income is 60% less than that of the average household income. Under this definition more than 56,000 people in Belfast live in poverty. (In financial terms this works out at around £115 per week for a single adult with no dependent children or £195 per week for an adult with two dependent children.)

3.2       The 2013 ‘End Child Poverty’ report noted that nearly 28% of Belfast’s children are growing up in poverty (a figure that rises to more than 40% in our six most deprived wards). According to an Institute for Fiscal Studies report for OFMdFM, these numbers are expected to increase substantially by 2020.

3.3       Those most at risk include households headed by a lone parent with dependent children; pensioners wholly dependent on state benefits; ethnic minorities; people with disabilities; and people living around the interface areas. In addition, ‘In-work poverty’ is a growing problem in Belfast with nearly a quarter of the city’s employees earning less than the Northern Ireland Living Wage (£7.65 per hour).

3.4       The current role of Belfast City Council

            The Council, across all of its departments, has a substantial and proud track record of delivery aimed at addressing elements of poverty. We have a number of roles through which we support this work - civic leader; deliverer of services; employer; and purchaser. 

            The following, while not exhaustive, illustrates the breadth of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8c

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of the report is to:

-       Seek elected members’ approval to adopt the draft revised Social Clause Policy, as one element of a strategic and integrated approach to addressing issues of poverty and inequality within the economic growth context of the Belfast Agenda

-       Advise members of the social clause outputs achieved to date and identify future opportunities for the inclusion of social clauses within upcoming contracts.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that members:

1.      Adopt the revised draft Social Clauses Policy on an interim basis and agree with the proposal to review it within 18 months to take into consideration changes in the operating context across local and central government

2.      Note the outputs of social clauses for council contracts to date

3.      Note and agree the potential to vary the 12 month definitions of long term unemployed to 6 months, in the case of youth unemployed, or where there are specialist skills sets required on a case-by-case basis.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            Following committee approval in October 2013, the Council has been using social clauses developed in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation (CIFNI).  These clauses set out a series of agreed opportunities for work placements, apprenticeships and Training for Success opportunities, based on the labour value of the respective contracts.   The Council continues to actively seek to include social clauses in both Supplies and Services and Works Contracts and regularly monitors tenders to verify whether social clauses should be applied. 

3.2       A report on the council’s draft Social Clauses Policy was presented to SP&R committee on the 24th April 2015 and was subsequently referred back at the council meeting in May. On 22nd May 2015 the committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter.  The Committee also agreed to seek a meeting with the DCAL Minister in order to understand how DCAL was developing and managing social clauses.    This meeting has not yet taken place. 

3.3       In the interim, officers have been working closely with representatives from the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) who have just completed a review of the impact of social clauses within government contracts across all departments.  This review was undertaken in consultation with CPD, Government Departments, COPEs and business representatives.  The findings of the review recommended a number of changes to how social clauses are managed.  These included the need for improved monitoring (currently, social clauses within central government contracts are only measured at the end of the contract), need to explore additional opportunities for including social clauses as an evaluation criteria and the need for better integration of services to look at how social clauses can contribute to addressing key challenges such as economic inactivity. 

3.4       At a meeting of the Procurement Board – chaired by the Finance Minister – on 5 November 2015, the findings of the review were presented and a new ‘Buying Social’ approach was endorsed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8d

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to:

-       Update members on the re-baseline of the local multiplier model (LM3) used to measure the economic impact of the Council’s expenditure

-       Agree the recommendations of the study identifying approaches for increasing the council’s economic impact, aligned to the Belfast Agenda.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       It is recommended that Members:

-       Note the findings from the 2015 Economic Impact Study report

-       Give approval for the 2015 LM3 figure to be the Council’s baseline position for future comparison

-       Agree to the development of a social value procurement framework

-       Agree that this work should be looked at in the context of a strategic and integrated approach to addressing issues of poverty and inequality within the economic growth context of the Belfast Agenda, to maximise our combined contributions to social outcomes.

3.0       Key issues

3.1       In order to review and further enhance the volume of expenditure by the Council in the local area, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) was commissioned in 2013 to undertake a study of the Council’s spending.  The purpose of this work was to measure the economic impact of the Council’s investment and to identify ways to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefit derived from the spending.

3.2       The CLES study measured the economic impact of the Council’s expenditure using an economic multiplier model called LM3.  This involved analysing employee, supplier and grant expenditure and also incorporated a survey amongst each of these groups to understand how they further impacted the local economy through their own spending decisions.  Through this research, an expenditure baseline was created identifying where the Council’s spend is going and how this expenditure is being spent within a number of geographical boundaries.

3.3       At the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting in April 2015, members agreed that the Council should use LM3 as its preferred methodology to measure the economic impact of expenditure. Since 2013, an annual LM3 calculation has been undertaken to track the economic impact of Council expenditure.  In September 2015, CLES were commissioned to re-baseline the LM3, to take into account the changes to the Council arising from Local Government Reform (LGR), principally the boundary changes and staffing increases.

3.4       The initial CLES study in 2013 created a baseline to measure the Council’s economic impact across four geographic levels: Belfast boundary, Post-LGR Belfast, Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland using the LM3 model. These initial results were presented in November 2013, using 12/13 financial data and identified that for every £1 of council expenditure:

-       76 pence was spent or re-spent in the Belfast economy

-       £1.02 was spent or re-spent in the Greater Belfast Area

-       £1.35 was spent or re-spent in the regional economy

3.5       The 2015 re-baseline of the LM3, using 14/15 financial data, has identified that for every £1 of council expenditure:

-       70 pence is spent or re-spent in the Belfast economy

-       96  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8e

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

“1.0       Purpose of Report

1.1       This report asks Members to consider:

-     proposals to develop a strategic plan for the expansion of the Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes scheme;

-     proposals to develop an annual marketing and promotions plan;

-     the process by which future requests for expansion should be managed until such time as a strategic plan is in place; and

-     the current requests by DSD and Belfast Trust for additional docking stations outside of the core city centre area.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

1.   Agree that a strategic plan for the spatial expansion of the Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes Scheme, supported by an annual marketing and promotional plan, be developed and brought back to Committee before the summer (pararaph 3.5).

2.   Note that the strategic review and proposed marketing plan will consider future running costs and proposals to increase income, membership, usage and benefits of the scheme.

3.   Agree that, until such time as a strategic plan is agreed, future proposals by 3rd parties to fund expansion of the Scheme be assessed by officers against the noted criteria and brought back to Committee for consideration as required (paragraph 3.9 & 3.10).

4.   Approve the proposals made by Belfast Trust and agree that officers can engage with Belfast Trust to initiate delivery.

5.   Approve the proposals by DSD subject to final assessment by officers, approval of the relevant Building Successful Communities Fora and contracts for funding being agreed.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members will be aware that the capital costs of phase 1 of the Belfast Bikes scheme (300 bikes and 30 docking stations in the core city centre) were met by the DRD and that an additional 2 stations at Queen’s University and 1 at Titanic Belfast were subsequently agreed by the SP&R committee in June 2015 and opened in November. 

3.2       A six-year contract for operating and maintaining the current scheme was agreed with NSL in April 2015 and there is a related sponsorship agreement with Coca-Cola HBC for phase 1, initially for three years, which covers approximately 23% of the phase 1 operating costs.

            Strategic Plan

3.3       Belfast Bikes has proved extremely popular and the Council has received numerous requests for expansion.  There may also be opportunities to work in partnership and secure funding from other bodies if the scheme were to expand beyond its current boundaries.  At the SP&R Committee meeting in June 2015 SP&R Members therefore requested that officers explore options for expansion.  

3.4       In order for growth to be sustainable it is essential that any decision to expand is made within the strategic context of the scheme and is also closely aligned with our corporate ambitions for the city.  As such it is suggested that a strategic plan should be developed; informed by an evaluation of the existing scheme, user demand and experience from other schemes.  

3.5       This long-term strategy would consider a number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8f

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Good Relations Partnership of 11th January.

            The Committee was advised that the 6th World Congress on Mental Health and Deafness, comprising 300 delegates from around the world, had met in Belfast from 16th till 19th September, 2014.  The objective of the Congress was to address issues around equal rights for deaf people in mental health care, with the aim of agreeing a Pathway to Rights.  The outcome of the work was that a Belfast Statement had been produced.  The Committee was advised that the President of the organisation had submitted a request to the Council seeking its endorsement of the Statement which would reinforce the Council’s commitment to equality and the aims and objectives of the Council’s Disability Strategy.

            The Committee agreed to endorse and support the Belfast Statement on Mental Health and Deafness.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the development and roll-out of a Members’ Portal, an online information and knowledge tool, and which provided an update also on the work underway to develop and launch a new version of the “My Belfast” App.  It was agreed that the Members’ Development Working Group, or their nominees, act as a forum for initial testing/piloting and feedback on the Portal.

            The Committee was advised that, while the Council had had policies and procedures for the areas of data protection, freedom of information and records management since 2003, it was clear that those required to be updated in light of guidance which had been received from the Information Commissioners Office and on recommendations by the Council’s Audit, Governance and Risk Service.  Accordingly, new policy and procedures, copies of which were available on the Council’s website, had been developed to meet legal requirements and revised standards.

            The Committee was advised that the implementation of the policy would be through the ongoing staff programme and ad hoc assistance from the Information Governance Unit.  The Unit would liaise with Digital Services on taking forward the development and roll-out of the Council’s CRN system to manage the Council’s information queries.  In addition, further actions from audits on the development of related policies, for example, Freedom of Information, information security and retention and disposal were currently underway.

            While the staff training programme and draft policy and procedures helped the Council mitigate the risk around information governance, it was suggested, in the medium term, that a refresh of the Council’s 2008 Information Management Framework be carried out in the form of a corporate Information Governance Framework.  That would provide an overall architecture for how the Council captured, created, accessed, secured, managed and shared its information both internally and externally.  It would also help to better manage the information the Council held and facilitate compliance with both legislation and general principles of good information governance.  In that context it was important to note that, following Local Government Reform and, in particular, its role in relation to community planning, would result in the Council holding and sharing an even greater amount of sensitive information.

            Any information management framework would be structured around five main areas of information governance:

            1.     Information governance management

            2.     Records management

            3.     Information compliance

            4.     Information security

            5.     Data quality and assurance

            Appropriate policies and procedures would be developed to ensure its implementation throughout the organisation.

            The Committee approved the policy and procedures and agreed the development of a corporate Information Governance Framework.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the special meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel of 14th January.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the special meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel of 12th January.

            The Committee approved the undernoted requests for the use of the City

 Hall and the provision of hospitality:

            The Committee was advised that the Council’s Spring into Easter Festival would take place in the City Hall from 26th until 29th March.  Last year the Festival had attracted 23,000 visitors to the City Hall and its grounds.

            The Democratic Services Manager reported that, this year, the Council’s Events Team had requested, as part of the Festival, the use of the Council Chamber over the period of the Festival, both as part of the “Nearly True Tours” and also for three children’s theatre shows.

            The Committee granted use of the Council Chamber as requested.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council had for many years been represented at the Annual Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme events held in France.  This year would be the centenary of that battle and the Somme Association had requested that Councils wishing to participate in the event in 2016 make reservations by 31st January, given the anticipated high demand for places.  The Committee was advised that the Council normally reserved seven places on the annual visit, one for each Party represented on the Council and for the Chief Executive (or her nominee) and the same recommendation was  being made for the 2016 visit, subject to availability.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee was advised that the Sister Cities Summit would be taking place in Dublin in April and that a report would be submitted to the City Centre and Regeneration Committee in due course seeking authority for Members to attend.

            The Chief Executive reported that Mr. Joe Biden was expected to attend the summit in Dublin and sought the Committee’s authority to write to him to request him to visit Belfast on 23rd April.

            The Committee granted the authority sought.