Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported on behalf of Councillor McReynolds.

            The minutes of the meeting of 2nd and 20th August were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st September, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            Councillors Beattie and Lyons declared an interest in relation to agenda item 4(a) – Local Government Boundary Commissioner – Provisional Recommendations, insofar as it related to the boundary of the Harbour Ward, on the basis that they were on the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, and left the meeting for that part of the discussion.

            The High Sheriff, Councillor Long, declared an interest in relation to agenda item 4(e) – Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Proposed Corporate Action Plan and agenda item 8(a) – Response to Consultation on the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill, on the basis that they made reference to the Department of Justice, where his wife was the Justice Minister, and left the meeting whilst they were being presented.

            The Chairperson (Councillor Groogan), together with Councillors Carson, Garrett and Murphy, declared an interest in relation to agenda item 2(g) – Assets Management, insofar as it related to Connswater Community Centre, on the basis that they were members of the Planning Committee and would be considering an  application for the Centre, and left the meeting for that part of the discussion.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following ten 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 Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Director of City Services (Resources and Fleet) provided the Committee with details of the latest developments around the Council’s residual waste disposal arrangements, in the context of the decision by Alpha Resource Management not to extend the existing arc21 contract for the provision of landfill disposal, post January 2022, under the existing terms and conditions. The Director sought the Committee’s approval to implement an interim solution, pending the outcome of the arc21 interim residual waste treatment contract and in the longer term, the Residual Waste Treatment Project. 

            Accordingly, the Committee agreed:

                                     i.          to recommend that arc21 enter into formal contractual negotiations with Biffa Waste Services Ltd. to deliver interim landfill arrangements for a period of six months, commencing on 1st February, 2022;

                                    ii.          to transfer disposal arrangements to Biffa Waste Services Ltd., subject to negotiations reaching a satisfactory conclusion and the payment of the gate fee proposed within the report; and

                                   iii.          that officers organise in the autumn a workshop for all Members on residual waste disposal and future options.

            The Committee agreed also that any new landfill contract awarded by arc21, in which the Council was a participant, would include a clause that waste would be pre-treated before it entered the ground.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th June, it had been agreed that the annual allocation of £500k for the Summer Community Diversionary Festival Programme be retained, with a view to delivering the Programme later in the year.

            The Committee was reminded further that the Council, at its meeting on 1st July, had agreed that:

“due to the exceptional circumstances of this year and the fact that it is now July, that the open call for the Summer Community Diversionary Festival Programme is suspended for this year only.  The funding, which is already included in the annual budget, is allocated to the same groups which were awarded funding following the open call in 2019, with the same amount again being ear-marked for each.  These groups will be required to submit application forms which will be subject to due diligence, the application process will be opened to these groups immediately, that there be no fixed closing date so that applications can be assessed as they come in and funding awarded.  Mindful that of the fact that some, though not all, events are planned for August, authority be delegated to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to hold a special Committee meeting on 2nd August to approve grants for those applications approved by then.  All planned events obviously must be compliant with Covid restrictions at the time, with the use of Council Parks for approved events in August granted, if required, and that call-in on this matter be suspended.”

            The Director of City Services informed the Members that, whilst the diversionary and festival fund was a rolling programme for 2021/22, officers had stipulated deadline dates for the submission of applications, to ensure that there was sufficient time for a preliminary assessment in advance of them being presented to the Committee. She confirmed that the only application which had been received by the latest deadline date of 10th September related to The Hubb, which had requested funding of £44,051.50. If approved, the Hubb’s allocation would be capped at £44,000, which was the maximum amount which could be awarded for this project.

            She provided details of the project and the assessment score and confirmed that, if approved, officers would provide the applicant with a funding agreement and terms of grant, similar to that which had been issued in 2019. There was, however, the potential, based on the final documentation submitted, for changes to be made to the proposed programme and/or a reduction in funding to ensure compliance with the relevant Council policies and procedures.

            The Director added that, since all those groups which had received funding in 2019 had submitted an application for 2021, there would be no requirement for further submission dates.

After discussion, it was

Moved by Alderman Kingston,

Seconded by Councillor Pankhurst,

      That the Committee agrees to allocate up to a maximum of £44,000 to The Hubb to deliver its community diversionary festivals programme.

            On a vote, thirteen Members voted for the proposal and six against and it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services

            The Committee agreed that the selection panel for the re-advertised post of Strategic Director of City and Neighbourhood Services would consist of the Chairperson of the Committee (or her nominee), Councillor Murphy (as the nominee of the Deputy Chairperson), Councillor Bunting, the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Executive. 

Head of Inclusive Growth and Anti-Poverty

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th June, it had agreed that the selection panel for the post of Head of Inclusive Growth and Anti-Poverty should comprise Councillor O’Hara (as the nominee of the Chairperson), Councillors McLaughlin and Pankhurst, the Chief Executive (or her nominee) and another Council Director.

The Committee was reminded further that, at its meeting on 20th August, it had been informed that Councillor Pankhurst would be unable to participate in the selection panel and that he had been unsuccessful in securing a replacement from his Political Party. The Committee had noted that the Alliance Party would, in the first instance, seek to nominate a Member to sit on the selection panel.

The Chief Executive reported that the Alliance Party has also been unable to nominate a Member and confirmed that the Head of Human Resources had been appointed to the panel. Her appointment fulfilled the panel’s requirements in terms of community background and gender balance.

The Committee noted the change in the membership of the panel.

Post of Chief Executive

The Committee noted that proposals would shortly be presented to the Party Group Leaders on the process for appointing a replacement for the current Chief Executive, who would be leaving her post early in 2022.

The Chief Executive reminded the Members that reports had, in the past, been presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee around the strategic use of Council land assets to bring forward regeneration opportunities, including the potential for institutional investment to help drive regeneration at scale, as aligned to Belfast Agenda growth ambitions and the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy. 

She reported that recent engagement with institutional investors and other cities had identified a number of partnership-based regeneration schemes between institutional investors and councils and referred, for example, to those in Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle. In addition, the recent Innovation and Growth Commission ‘Reset for Growth’ report had highlighted the need to create a re-imagined, liveable, mixed use city core, with a strong focus on quality residential schemes, and had emphasised the need for public bodies to engage actively with the market and with investment partners in order to deliver on this ambition. 

In terms of progressing these discussions further, the Council had sought legal and professional commercial advice to establish a robust and compliant process to fully engage with the investment/development market, with a view to procuring a suitable partner to unlock the investment and regeneration potential which existed across a number of strategic assets in the city centre initially and to develop a partnership which could deliver on further regeneration across the city.

The Chief Executive explained that the legal advice had included a thorough review of potential procurement routes and had proposed the following phased approach to engagement and evaluation:

Stage 1: Pre-soft market testing preparation

Stage 2: Soft market testing (to inform Stage 3)

Stage 3: Expressions of Interest stage

Stage 4: Evaluation

Stage 5: Appointment of preferred bidder and contract close

            She pointed out that it was recognised that, to bring forward regeneration and development at scale, with a focus on housing regeneration, would require significant funding and stressed the importance of engaging with investment partners.  Based on the legal and commercial advice, it was proposed that the Council proceed by way of a soft market testing exercise, followed by an expression of interest exercise, to determine investor/development partner interest. The soft market testing exercise would involve targeted engagement with identified potential institutional investors/strategic development partners in relation to the Council’s identified sites.  The feedback from this would inform the detail of the expression of interest exercise and help to understand the viability, scale and phasing potential, the nature of subsequent partnership/joint venture arrangements and investor requirements to bring forward development at scale. The proposed soft marketing testing and expression of interest process would not, she pointed out, bind the Council and the outcome of this exercise would be presented to the Committee before any decisions would be made.

            The Chief Executive concluded by providing details of five sites which had been identified through the ongoing Strategic Site Assessment process and confirmed that those would be deemed suitable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee noted a report providing an update on the progress being made across each of the operational areas in implementing the City Hall Recovery Plan. 

            The City Solicitor submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report presenting options for the language or languages to be used in naming and signage in those leisure facilities designated with a City-wide catchment.

            He reminded the Committee that, in accordance with the decision taken at the special meeting of the Council on 11th October, 2019 around dual-language signage, a City-wide consultation had been undertaken, to inform the approach to be adopted in respect of Andersonstown, Lisnasharragh, Olympia and Templemore Leisure Centres, which were deemed to have a City-wide catchment. The Committee had subsequently, at its meeting on 24th January, 2020, granted approval to erect bilingual external naming and internal directional signage in Andersonstown Leisure Centre.

            He reported that Mr. J. Kremer, an equality consultant, who had been commissioned by the Council, was in attendance to outline the findings of the consultation exercise.

            Mr. Kremer reviewed the consultation methodology and provided details on the number of responses which had been received.  In terms of the results, he confirmed that there had been overall support for bilingual naming, using English and Irish. However, where more local consultation had been undertaken, strong opposition and views had been expressed in relation to Lisnasharragh and Templemore Leisure Centres. In terms of Olympia Leisure Centre, the consultation had not provoked the same reaction at that time. However, he and Council officers had met subsequently with local community representatives who had expressed strong views against bilingual signage in English and Irish. 

            The City Solicitor pointed out that Mr. Kremer had met with officers from the Legal and Civic Services and the Physical Programmes sections to review the results of the consultation and the views which had been expressed by local communities and Party Group Leaders. In light of those, the following options had been drafted for the Committee’s consideration:

1.     to retain the current use of English only at the centres;

2.     to use bilingual or some element of bilingual signage at the centres (English and Irish);

3.     to use tri-lingual or some element of tri-lingual signage at the centres (English, Irish and Ulster-Scots);

4.     to use multi-lingual or some element of multi-lingual signage at the Centres (English, Irish, Ulster-Scots and the language of the predominant new community in the City Council district, as informed by information on languages in new migrant communities in Belfast);

5.     the use of pictorial signage is recommended;

6.     to have a single sign at the point of entry (the main directional sign) in the formats suggested at options 2, 3 or 4, with the remaining signs in English and pictorial format, as a way of delivering balance;

7.     it is recommended that the signage under consideration is wayfinding only.  

            After discussion, it was

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by Councillor Murphy,

      That the Committee agrees:

                                              i.          to erect bilingual external naming and internal directional signage at Olympia Leisure Centre, with a report on the detail and appearance of that signage to be submitted to a future meeting;

                                             ii.          that a report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Director of Physical Programmes submitted for Committee’s consideration a report seeking approval in relation to the following asset related disposal, acquisition and estate matters:

          i.       Land at Upper Whiterock Road

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of a recommendation to dispose of this site to Radius Housing Association to enable further discussions to take place around access to the Belfast Hills.

         ii.          Beechvale Farm

The Committee agreed to proceed with the disposal of approximately 108 acres of agricultural land and to retain the former farmhouse dwellings, outbuildings and surrounding land (circa 3 acres) and the remaining land (circa 22 acres) and access laneways.

(The Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Walsh, in the Chair.)

       iii.          Connswater Community Centre

The Committee agreed to grant to Sustrans a temporary licence to place a storage container on Council land at Severn Street, for an initial period of up to nine months, with the potential to extend the agreement for a further nine months thereafter.

(The Chairperson, Councillor Groogan, in the Chair.)

       iv.          Ormeau Park

The Committee agreed to grant a retrospective easement to the Department for Infrastructure which had, when placing a pedestrian crossing on the Ormeau Embankment, erroneously encroached onto Council land, close to the entrance to the Ormeau Park.

(report to follow)

            The Committee noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

            The Committee was provided with details of the revised programme for the delivery of the Belfast Destination Hub and, accordingly, adopted the recommendation within the report to:

                             i.          approve the extension of the date for the payment of the remaining balance for Site 10 from 31st December, 2024 to 31st December, 2026; and

                            ii.          approve the corresponding proposal for the indexation of the final balance payment from 1st January, 2025.

The minute for this item has been restricted due to commercial sensitivity. The restriction will be lifted in due course.            

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Councillors Beattie, Keenan and Kennedy.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor McMullan and seconded by Councillor Mulholland:

“Changing Places are specialised toilet facilities which make public places and spaces accessible and inclusive for everyone, including children, adults and older people with complex needs or mobility issues.

Where they are not provided, people are changed on a toilet floor, which is dangerous, unhygienic and undignified. Without them, people may be excluded entirely from certain public spaces.

The Council notes its commitment in the Belfast Agenda to deliver an accessible City for all and its unanimous support for a COVID-19 response and recovery inclusive of disabled people, older people and carers in July, 2020.

It further recognises the importance of Changing Places toilets in delivering our vision of an accessible and inclusive Belfast.

The Council notes that Building Regulations in Northern Ireland only require standard accessible toilets to be provided. Despite discussion to add Changing Places toilets to these regulations, there is currently no requirement for these facilities. As a result of this, Changing Places are not usually provided as a matter of course, even in new buildings.

This Council will, therefore, develop a Changing Places toilet facility policy for Belfast City Council, with input from disabled people, older people and carers, to include the following:

·        The Council will commit to include a Changing Places facility in every new building in which the public will have access to its services and where public toilet provision is available for others.

·        The Council will also make every effort to include Changing Places facilities when it extends or extensively refurbishes an existing Council-owned building. These schemes will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the early stages of feasibility/design to establish whether there is an opportunity to install a Changing Places.

·        It will review where such facilities could be installed on the Council Estate (e.g. playgrounds) and put a plan in place to ensure that all inclusive playgrounds are equipped with such a facility.

·        It will ensure that organisers of all large-scale public events (e.g. concerts, festivals, family days) with a license from the Council will have a fixed or portable Changing Places unit as part of the design of the event.

·        Where the Council is organising a large public event, it should be considered if it can take place at a venue that already has a Changing Places facility and include a mobile/portable facility, if a permanent Changing Places toilet is not available.

·        For smaller public events, these should be advertised early and adequately communicated with the option to request access to a Changing Places facility whereupon they can be moved or have a mobile/portable facility provided.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred without discussion to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            The Committee adopted the motion and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing details on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Smyth and seconded by Alderman Copeland:

“This Council notes the legal and social movement globally for the ‘Rights of Nature’, which aims to strengthen protections for people, place and planet.

It believes that ‘Rights of Nature’ can help inspire an innovative rethinking about how to create regenerative, not extractivist, economies while also making human and other living communities safer, stronger and more resilient.

The positive work already being done by Council staff and groups on the climate emergency and biodiversity crises are commendable, but we recognise the need for a rights-based approach to nature.

It is proposed that, over the next twelve months, the Council will collaborate with civic society to explore what rights of nature mean for the people and economies of the region and to investigate how Rights of Nature could be expressed in community plans, corporate plans, improvement objectives and other strategic frameworks. In particular, the Council will, in the next twelve months, hold community workshops and work with the local community and stakeholders to draw up a Declaration for the Rights of Nature for the City, to be brought back before the Council for adoption.

It is also requested that a report, authored in collaboration and with input from the local community, be brought to the Council in relation to embedding ‘Rights of Nature’ as a keystone concept into the Council’s operational practices, planning processes and long-term decision-making.

Mindful of our mutual environmental obligations under the Espoo Convention, we call on all councils in Northern Ireland to also explore ‘Rights of Nature’ for their council areas.”                       

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            Councillor Smyth spoke in favour of his motion, following which the Committee adopted the motion and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing details on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Beattie and seconded by Councillor McLaughlin:

“After multiple incidents, including the tragic incident in Ballysillan on 11th July, this Council agrees to remove all bonfire materials from Belfast City Council assets, unless permission has been granted through an application process.

A bonfire application must include:

·        permission being requested by a constituted organisation;

·        a risk assessment provided by the applicant and agreed with the PSNI, Fire Service and landowner (BCC);

·        Public Liability Insurance;

·        an Event Management Plan;

·        a commitment to ensuring that there will be no burning of any toxic materials (e.g. tyres);

·        an Entertainments Licence;

·        the demonstration of sufficient consultation with local residents; and

·        a site cleansing plan.

In addition:

·        The display or burning of offensive materials such as flags, emblems, effigies, and posters will not be permitted and a commitment must be provided. Any breaches will impact upon future applications; and

·        Bonfire Beacons will be preferred, unless an applicant can demonstrate the necessity and safety of a non-structured bonfire.

Any failure to follow an open, transparent, robust and successful application procedure for a bonfire will result in the Council requesting the support of the PSNI to provide protection to our contractors for the removal of materials.

Applications must be received three months before a planned event.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred without discussion to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Amendment 1

Moved by Alderman Kingston,

Seconded by Councillor Bunting,

      That Councillor Beattie’s motion be replaced with the following:

 “This Council:

·        recognises that July bonfires are a legitimate and long-standing tradition within the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist community;

·        supports all efforts to encourage self-regulation and responsible management of bonfires and beacons, free from hazardous or offensive material;

·        will not support bonfires which pose a serious risk to property or life nor the burning of hazardous materials which pose a serious risk to health and/or the environment;

·        will work with local communities, elected representatives, collaborative networks and statutory partners to encourage safe and responsible bonfires, where these are locally wanted; and

·        will continue to provide and to encourage the use of beacons in agreed managed circumstances where these are wanted by local communities as an alternative to a traditional bonfire.”

            On a vote, six Members voted for the amendment and eleven against, with one “no vote”, and it was declared lost.

Amendment 2

Moved by the High Sheriff (Councillor Long),

Seconded by Councillor McDonough-Brown,

      That Councillor Beattie’s motion be replaced with the following:

“This Council will conduct an immediate review of the 2021 bonfire season, to be completed in time for the Committee meeting in November, to include Elected Representatives, statutory agencies and bonfire builders, in order to highlight issues which will need to be addressed.

The Council agrees to write to the Executive Office asking for the FICT report to be published, along with an action plan, as this will help inform the Council's view moving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Garrett and seconded by Councillor Murphy:

“Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses and workers have re-evaluated and re-assessed the issue of work life balance and productivity.

It has been almost 100 years since Trades Unions secured workers the right to a weekend and it is important that, as part of the economic recovery, we consider how we can modernise the working arrangements to the benefit of workers and employers.

There are numerous examples from across the world where a four-day working week has been successfully trialled, leading to increases in positivity and an improved work life balance.

The latest trial from Iceland has been hailed as an 'overwhelming success', with productivity remaining unchanged or actually going up and the health and wellbeing of workers improving significantly.

The Council agrees, therefore, to work alongside Trades Unions and other relevant bodies, to bring forward a plan within twelve months to implement a trial under review within our own Council workforce, based on best international examples and practices elsewhere.

The Council agrees also that progress and implementation reports be presented to the Council on a quarterly basis, to support and inform any policies being progressed within the Department for Economy or other relevant bodies elsewhere.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred without discussion to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            The Committee adopted the motion and agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing details on how it would be facilitated, resourced and managed.

            The City Solicitor submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1            The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the progress of all motions for which it is responsible.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

·        note the updates on all motions for which it is responsible; and

·        agree to the closure of 30 motions and Issues Raised in Advance, as outlined in paragraph 3.8 below.

3.0       Main Report

            Background

3.1       Members will recall that the first update on motions was presented to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in March 2021.

3.2       This report provides an overview of the progress on those motions and Issues Raised in Advance which remained open following the March 2021 update and new motions which have been approved by the Committee since March 2021.

            Motion Updates

3.3       There are currently 95 active motions and Issues Raised in Advance for which the Committee is responsible.

            Closure of Motions and Issues Raised in Advance

3.4       At the SP and R Committee meeting on 20th November, it was agreed that motions could be closed for one of two reasons:

·        Category 1

·        Motions which contained an action that has been completed and recommend they are closed.

All motions within this category contained a specific task that has since been complete.  It is worth noting that, when Committee agree to action a motion, there are sometimes additional actions agreed alongside the motion.  As these are not technically part of the motion, they are taken forward through normal committee decision making processes.  The motion can, therefore, be closed, but additional actions related to it will continue to be progressed and reported to the committee.  These additional actions are not contained in this report but will be noted in the live database moving forward.

·        Category 2

Motions which have become Council policy and recommend they are closed. 

These motions did not contain a specific task that could be complete.  Instead, they were more strategic in nature and required changes in Council policy and/ or strategy for long term outcomes.  Those listed within this category have all been agreed by Committee and are now either Council policy or are currently being implemented through a Council strategy that is managed by a Standing Committee through the corporate planning process. 

3.5       Following an update of those motions and Issues Raised in Advance on the live database, it is recommended that Members approve the following Motions/Issues for closure.

            Category 1 Recommended Closures:

·        No Grey Zone Campaign (Reference Number 10) 

PCSP procured a ‘Talking about Consent’ project and advised that this project would include the PSNI’s ‘No Grey Zone’ messaging. Work is ongoing by PCSP regarding talking about consent and the aspect regarding premises could be taken forward once our premises are being used fully post COVID-19. Lead Officer has advised once final meeting has been convened we will report back via PCSPs.  The motion can be closed and work taken forward via  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

            The Committee considered the following report and draft Council response to the Local Government Boundary Commissioner’s provisional recommendations on the review of local government boundaries in Northern Ireland:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to update the Committee on the Local Government Boundary Commissioner’s Provisional Recommendations which are out for public consultation and to seek retrospective approval for the attached Council response which was provisionally approved by Party Leaders Consultative Forum on 16th September. The Commissioner had invited written feedback and suggestions by 21st September.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                                         i.          note the report;

                                                        ii.          approve retrospectively the attached response to the Local Government Boundary Commissioner (which has been provisionally approved by Party Group Leaders Consultative Forum) on 16th September; and

                                                      iii.          agree that officers make representations in line with this response on behalf of the Council at the public hearings scheduled for late September / early October

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

            On 27th July 2021 the Local Government Boundary Commissioner published the Provisional Recommendations for the Review of Local Government Boundaries in Northern Ireland. These Provisional Recommendations will now be the subject of public consultation. The closing date for written feedback and suggestions about these proposals is 21st September 2021.

            The Commissioner’s office has indicated that the process is about independently ensuring electoral equality and fairness across Northern Ireland, with the aim that all the wards within a district should, as far as possible, have a similar number of electors. The Statutory Rules governing the review are set out in the Local Government Act (Northern) Ireland Act 1972, as amended. 

            After the initial consultation period a series of 11 public hearings will be held in each council area facilitated by Assistant Commissioners. The public hearings, which will be subject to public health guidance at that time, will be held in late September and early October.  To maximise public participation in the hearings, and to mitigate against any public health restrictions that may be in place, these events will be in a hybrid format allowing for both in person and online participation.

3.2       Previous Local Government Boundary Review – 2008

            The previous Local Government Boundary review took place in 2008.  At that time the Final Recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commissioner (Dick Mackenzie) included the placement of the area containing Forestside shopping centre and the Castlereagh Council Civic HQ building within the new Belfast district boundary. 

            However, the NI Executive made amendments to the Final Recommendations which resulted in Forestside and the adjacent Castlereagh Council Civic HQs remaining within the new Lisburn and Castlereagh council area.

3.3       Local Government Boundary Review (2021 – 2022)

            Provisional Recommendations – Belfast

            On 27 July the Local Government Boundary Commissioner published the Provisional Recommendations for the Review of Local Government Boundaries in Northern Ireland.

            District Boundary – Belfast

            The LG Boundary Commissioner recommends that the district boundary line should remain unchanged. 

            Wards

            The LG Boundary Commissioner recommends that Belfast district should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

            The Committee was informed that the city of Nancy would, on 25th and 26th October, be hosting the next meeting of the France – United Kingdom Local Government Forum. It was intended that this would be an in-person meeting, however, it could change to a hybrid or virtual one nearer to the time.

            The Chief Executive pointed out that the theme for days one and two of the forum would be “Reinvigorating Franco-British Cooperation and Exchange” and “Green Transition: Global Challenges and Local Responses” respectively and that NILGA was inviting nominations from Northern Ireland councils to speak at the event. She added that some funding had been agreed between NILGA and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with any additional travel and subsistence costs to be met from existing Departmental budgets.

            Accordingly, she recommended, given the subject matter, that the Committee approve the attendance at the France-United Kingdom Local Government Forum of the Chairperson of the Brexit Committee, the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Climate Crisis and the City Solicitor, as the Senior Reporting Officer for Brexit.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       This report is to inform the Committee of a proposal by the Management and Leadership Network (MLN) to host a prominent climate business conference ‘Sustain Exchange’ in Belfast, with up to 400 business leaders, ahead of the COP 26 conference. The report also requests retrospective approval for a funding agreement to be put in place between the Council and the event organiser, with the value of £10,000. The event will be planned to coincide with the arrival of BEIS -sponsored Planetmark’s Carbon Battle Bus. Both events will simultaneously promote the Road to Zero and Together for the Planet campaigns.

1.2       Furthermore, in relation to the COP26 programme, which runs from 1st to 12th November in Glasgow, permission is being sought for the Chair of the All Party Working Group on the Climate Crisis (Councillor Smyth), and the Chair of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (Councillor Groogan) to attend events should the opportunity for a delegation to attend arise.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to support this business focused climate conference by retrospectively approving that a funding agreement to the value of £10,000 be entered into with the event organiser, a report having previously been submitted to and approved by CMT and Party Group Leaders.

2.2       The Committee is also asked to approve the attendance of the Chair of the All Party Working Group on the Climate Crisis (Councillor Smyth) and the Chair of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (Councillor Groogan) at events during COP26 in Glasgow, should the opportunity for a delegation to attend arise.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

            The United Nations COP 26 Climate Summit in Glasgow in November will bring a sharp focus on the role of the business community on delivering on global net zero GHG emissions by 2050. It will also challenge business to radically reduce their environmental impact both directly and indirectly through their supply chains. It is a truly transformative time for businesses as they address climate risks and identify new opportunities in the green economy. The transition is not straightforward. Businesses need help in securing cleaner power, heat and transport solutions. They need help in navigating new markets to find more environmentally sustainable solutions in their supply chain, and they need to do it fast. There has never been a more important time to find specialist help to navigate the transition, and to educate inform and engage by sharing the existing knowledge and exemplar experience of those at the forefront of the transition.

            Purpose and Format of Event

3.2       The event will be planned to deliver on the objectives above and will connect local business leaders with international thought leaders with those at the forefront of the transition locally.

            The event will ideally take place as a hybrid event with the Carbon Bus campaign that will bring 100 local leaders (primarily business leaders but also those from the public, NDPB and third sectors) together in-person for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to invite the Committee to note that the Council has made a submission to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – ICLEI reporting platform, which is a global reporting framework to assess progress against climate ambitions at city level. A number of global climate campaigns require a submission to CDP – ICLEI as a prerequisite to joining – we will explain what each entails and request that Members approve Belfast’s participation in these campaigns. This will support marketing and publicity linked to COP26 (1st – 12th November 2021), provide access to networks of good practice, toolkits, and support for Belfast in determining and reaching our city targets.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to note:

                                                         i.   that the Council has made the first annual submission through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – ICLEI reporting platform. This submission will be assessed by CDP, with feedback and a score provided to the city by the end of 2021, which will inform the submission in 2022; and

                                                ii.          that officers will take forward the Council’s participation in a number of global campaigns described in this report, with updates to be provided on an annual basis on the annual CDP – ICLEI submission and campaign progress.

3.0       Main Report

            Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – ICLEI submission

3.1       In July 2021, the Council made the first annual submission to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – ICLEI reporting platform. This was undertaken to support baselining of activity and emissions in Belfast, and to enable full participation by Belfast in global climate action campaigns such as the Race to Zero, which links to COP26, the Race to Resilience, the Global Covenant of Mayors, and the WWF One Planet City competition. All of these campaigns require members to have made a submission through a recognised reporting mechanism, of which CDP – ICLEI is perhaps the most well-known. The survey consisted of 59 questions across the following categories:

-       Governance and Data Management

-       Climate Hazards and Vulnerability

-       Adaptation

-       City-wide Emissions

-       Emissions Reduction

-       Opportunities

-       Energy

-       Transport

-       Food

-       Waste

-       Water Security

3.2       As Belfast has made a submission to CDP – ICLEI, the city is now eligible to participate in a number of global campaigns which are set out below. The benefits of these campaigns are as enablers for local activity, by giving access to good practice, climate finance partnerships, city networks with a focus on climate and reaching net zero. In joining these campaigns Belfast will be part of global efforts to reach net zero, which will in turn enhance our reputation and allow us to share our progress both locally and globally. For the last 5 years Belfast has been a member of the Global Resilient Cities Network (previously 100 Resilient Cities) which presented opportunities to access additional funding, participate in peer learning initiatives, and to lever support from experts in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

            The Committee considered the following report and approved the accompanying Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement for 2020/21 and the suggested actions to be taken forward by Council Departments:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to set out for Committee approval a corporate action plan to meet the obligations of the Modern Slavery Act, 2015, including the updating of the annual Transparency Statement.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                                         i.          agree to the proposed actions based on the NILGA guidelines, which are to be taken forward by various Departments; and

                                                        ii.          approve the updated annual Transparency Statement.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Background

3.1       The Modern Slavery Act 2015 aims to address slavery and trafficking by enhancing support and protection for victims, giving law enforcement the tools needed to target today’s slave drivers and ensuring perpetrators can be severely punished. It also includes a provision to encourage organisations to ensure their supply chains are slavery-free, known as the Transparency in Supply Chains arrangements (‘TISC’).

            Key Issues

3.2       The Council has voluntarily published an annual Modern Slavery Transparency in Supply Chains statement on our website since 2015. This sets out what an organisation has done to ensure there is no modern slavery in their supply chains or any part of their business. This year, the annual Transparency Statement has been significantly refreshed by Commercial and Procurement Services to reflect current guidance on its content and layout. An updated version for 20-21 is set out in Appendix 1 belowand will be published well before the deadline of October 21. Please note that due to business pressures in Governance and Compliance Services the update of last year’s statement was delayed.

3.3       In July 2018, the Home Secretary undertook an independent review of the MSA and made recommendations, one of which was to strengthen Section 54 by extending the requirement to publish Modern Slavery Statements to government and the public sector.

3.4       In July 2019, the UK Government launched a consultation on measures to strengthen the TISC arrangements, and recently published its proposals on how it plans to take this work forward. Many of the proposed changes will require legislative change which the UK Government hopes to take forward later in 2021. The proposed changes will see a strengthening of the TISC arrangements for commercial businesses, and will, for the first time, extend them so they apply to the public sector.

3.5       The Northern Ireland Department of Justice conducted a consultation exercise, which closed in May 2021, relating to the extension of the TISC arrangements to the public sector in Northern Ireland.

3.6       In accordance with Section 12 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, the Department of Justice publishes an annual Modern Slavery Strategy. The most recent Modern Slavery Strategy for 2019-2020 is the third strategy published by the Department of Justice and a consultation on the 2021/22 Modern Slavery Strategy recently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       To submit for the Committee’s approval a draft Council response to the Draft NI Flood Risk Management Plan 2021 – 2027 for submission to the Department of Infrastructure.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to approve the draft consultation response and to note that any additional comments will be incorporated in the response.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       The Draft Flood Risk Management Plan states that in recent years, flooding has presented considerable challenges to both people and communities directly affected and to those providing emergency responses. Flooding can have potentially devastating impacts, on human life and health, damage to property, pollution to rivers and the sea and severe effects on economic activity, infrastructure and the environment. Flooding is also becoming more frequent and climate projections indicate that changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and more severe extreme weather conditions will increase its occurrence in the future.

3.2       Members will be aware that the Council has led on the development of the Belfast Resilience Strategy (December 2020), and has established Belfast Emergency Preparedness Group. In addition, the Council is currently developing the Belfast City Council Climate Plan, which will address both adaptation and mitigation, and Council is closely aligned with the planning and delivery of the Living with Water Programme.

3.3       The implementation of the Floods Directive, through the first six-year cycle of Flood Risk Management Planning, set out a catchment-based approach to the management of flood risk. It provided a more systematic, holistic and sustainable way of assessing, mapping and planning to manage flood risk than had been done previously. This was initiated in Northern Ireland by a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment completed in 2011 (PFRA 2011) followed by preparation of Flood Hazard and Risk Maps in 2014. The information from these two stages culminated in the development of objectives and measures under the headings of Prevention, Protection and Preparedness, in the first cycle Flood Risk Management Plans, published in December 2015.

3.4       We are now well into the second cycle of Flood Risk Management Planning, the first stage of which was the Northern Ireland Flood Risk Assessment (NIFRA 2018). Flood Hazard and Risk Mapping was then reviewed and updated in December 2019. Accordingly, the second cycle Draft Flood Risk Management Plan has been issued for public consultation and the Council is now preparing to submit a response.

3.5       The second cycle Plan differs from the first cycle Plans in that there is now a single Plan covering the three River Basin Districts (RBD) for the six years from 2021 until 2027. Surface water flooding has been given greater emphasis because of the predominance of flooding from this source in recent years, and because the NIFRA 2018 indicated that potential damages from surface water flooding could be greater than from other main sources. In preparing this draft Plan the Department of Infrastructure worked in partnership with NI Water, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of:

·        the North Belfast Area Working Group of 25th August;

·        the West Belfast Area Working Group of 26th August;

·        the East Belfast Area Working Group of 2nd September; and

·        the South Belfast Area Working Group of 6th September.

The Committee was informed that the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership was working with the local community to develop the Colin Heritage Walking Trail across the Colin area. The trail would include a series of six interpretative panels providing information on notable landmarks and historical figures from that area. The Partnership had submitted a request to place panel number 4 in Páirc Nua Chollann, the Council’s new park in Colin. That panel would commemorate the life and achievements of Mr. Frank Pantridge, who together with Dr. John Geddes and Mr. Alfred Mawhinney, had invented the portable defibrillator.

It was pointed out that the other five interpretive panels would not require approval by the Council as they were not being placed on its land.

The Committee acceded to the request from the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership to place the aforementioned panel in Páirc Nua Chollann.  

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes 170 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. This report requests agreement on implementation of procurement processes in relation to the Capital Programme (Fleet Programme) and non-recurrent programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                       i          agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated for the agreed Fleet Programme for 2021/22 and 2022/23, with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver;

                                     ii          agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for any non-recurrent projects for 2021/22 and non-recurrent projects under re-allocated reserves as required, with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver; and

                                   iii          note that the Leisure Transformation Programme has been shortlisted for an international award for ‘Social project of the year’ by the Association of Project Management with the winner to be announced in November.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

3.1       Capital Programme - Fleet Programme 2021/22 and 2022/23

            Members will know that the Council needs to run and maintain a substantial fleet in order to deliver its services. There is a rolling allocation of £2.2m towards the Fleet Programme for 2021/22 and £2.2m for 2022/23 under the Capital Programme at Stage 3. Members are asked to note that the Fleet Programme has been developed in conjunction with Council departments and reflects the service needs of the organisation. Members are asked to note that there are ongoing issues caused by the high age profile and condition of the fleet operating well beyond its recommended operational life cycle.  Members are asked to note the agreed Fleet Programme for 2021/22 and 2022/23 and agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated, with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

            Non-recurrent projects 2021/22 and non-recurrent re-allocation funding

3.2       Members will be aware that the incremental nature of the capital programme allows the Council the opportunity to allocate an element of the 2021/22 capital financing budget to finance a number of one-off (non-recurrent) projects within year. It is recommended that this is focused on progressing projects which the Council is required to take forward either from a health and safety perspective and/or a legislative perspective.Members will also recall their decision in June 2021 to re-allocate the year-end surplus for 2020/21 to progress emerging projects and essential projects which did not have a recurring budget. These projects are now being developed. This included additional funding towards fleet.  Members are asked to agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

            The Committee:

·        approved the public advertisement of tenders as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 1 below;

·        approved the award of Single Tender Actions in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 2 below;

·        approved the modification of the contract as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 3 below; and

·        noted the award of retrospective Single Tender Actions in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 4 below.

Table 1: Competitive Tenders

Table 2: Single Tender Actions

Table 3: Modification to Contract Term

Table 4: Retrospective Single Tender Actions

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th December, 2020, it had agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting providing information on the savings to be derived from ceasing the production of Members’ corporate diaries and Christmas cards and the process for donating those savings to a chosen local charity each Christmas.

            The City Solicitor reported that the combined annual cost of purchasing corporate diaries and Christmas cards was £8,212.80 and stated that, in advance of committing resources to developing a process for making donations to charities, it would be preferable to obtain direction from the Committee on how it wished to succeed.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Garrett,

            Seconded by Councillor Beattie and

      Resolved - That the Committee agrees to cease the purchase of corporate diaries and Christmas cards and to include the resulting savings within an overall allocation of £10,000 from current budgets to be distributed equally each year amongst the Lord Mayor’s four chosen charities.   

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

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to present to the Committee the Statement of Accounts of the Council, including the Annual Governance Statement, for the period ending 31st March 2021.

1.2             The Statement of Accounts are an important element of the council’s overall corporate governance framework as they provide assurance to Members and ratepayers on the stewardship of the council’s finances and its financial position.

1.3       The Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021, as attached, have been prepared in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2020/21 based on International Financial Reporting Standards and the Department for Communities Accounts Direction, Circular LG 08/21 dated 11th March and 24th June 2021.

1.4       I can confirm that the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021 has been prepared in the form directed by the Department for Communities and, in my opinion, the Statement of Accounts give a true and fair view of the income and expenditure and cash flows for the financial year and the financial position as at the end of the financial year.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to

                                              i.          approve the Council’s Statement of Accounts and incorporated Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2021; and

                                             ii.          agree that this report should not be subject to call-in (as indicated above) because it would cause an unreasonable delay which would be prejudicial to the Council’s and the public’s interests given that the statement of accounts must be published by 30th September 2021.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            Audit Opinion

3.1       It is the Local government Auditors’ opinion that:

·        the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with relevant legal and statutory requirements and the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2020-21, of the financial position of Belfast City Council as at 31 March 2021 and its income and expenditure for the year then ended; and

·        the statement of accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with the Local Government (Accounts and Audit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the Department for Communities directions issued thereunder; and

·        the part of the Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Department for Communities directions made under the Local Government (Accounts and Audit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015; and

·        the information given in the Narrative Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2021 is consistent with the financial statements.

            Reserves

3.2       General Fund

            The credit balance on the General Fund has increased to £54,924,106 (of which £40,929,092 relates to specified reserves).  The movement on the reserves balance is summarised in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Summary of Reserves Position

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to update members on:

                                              i.          a request from traders at St George’s Market for a four-week rent free period due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions; and

                                             ii.          the financial implications of any decision to waive the stall fees for a further four-week period.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to consider the request from St. George’s Market traders to waive stall fees at St George’s Market for a further four weeks from 1st October 2021, with an associated loss of income of £31,000, based on current rent figures for the market.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Members will be aware that St George’s Market was closed to the public due to COVID-19 on a number of occasions over the last eighteen months, most recently between December 2020 and April 2021. 

3.2       Taking account of the difficulties faced by the traders during the previous periods of lockdown and subsequent limited re-opening, the Council agreed a rent-free period for St George’s Market traders from July 2020 to December 2020.  This resulted in a loss of income of £233k to the Council.  Members also agreed a further 12-week rent-free period from the end of December 2020.  As the market went into lockdown following this decision, this rent-free period commenced when the market re-opened on 19 April 2021.  This meant that the traders at St George’s Market did not pay daily rent for their pitches until 9 July 2021.  This 12-week rent-free period has meant a further loss of income to the Council of £143k.

3.3       Following the July 2021 re-opening, the capacity in the market was limited in order to comply with the Northern Ireland Executive’s social distancing requirements for retail premises.  This meant that no more than 350 visitors at a time could access the market.  Staff had to manage the capacity by putting in place queuing arrangements and actively managing the social distancing requirements within the market.  As a result, visitor numbers were around 40% of pre-COVID-19 figures.  Given the reduction in capacity, the traders at St George’s Market expressed a concern about their ability to generate income.  As a result, they made a request for the Council to consider a further rent-free period of four weeks.  In the interim, traders have been paying rent on their stalls in line with the existing fee rates.

3.4       Since the initial request was made by the traders, Government guidance on social distancing has changed.  This means that the current capacity in the market building at any one time has increased from 350 to 550 visitors.  Since this expanded capacity has been in operation, footfall numbers in the market have increased.  However, like all retail outlets, some restrictions remain both in market capacity and also in our ability to offer the full ‘market experience’ in terms of live music performances and other animation.  As further announcements are made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership of 6th September, including the recommendations:

                               i.          to approve the delivery of a Leadership Development Programme to progress the recommendations contained within the COVID research report, at a cost of £10k and as budgeted for in the Good Relations Action Plan 2021/22;

                              ii.          to agree ‘in principle’ the Shared History, Heritage and Identity narratives for the Section 1 panels – Clarendon/Glencairn for inclusion in the project publication and to delegate authority to the Programme Board and Capital Project Board to agree on the locations, with a report to be submitted to the Partnership meeting in October;

                            iii.          to note the updates to the District Council Good Relations Plan Action Plan 2021/22;

                            iv.          to note that the North Belfast Friendship Club has been awarded £1,960 to facilitate meetings of the North Belfast Friendship Club through the Strategic Intervention Programme within the District Council Good Relations Plan Action Plan 2021/22;

                             v.          to agree the modifications to the Good Relations Action Plan 2021/22, as detailed under the update on the Council's District Good Relations Action Plan 2021/22; and

                            vi.          to assist with the cost for the storage of donations relating to the NI Refugee Resettlement Scheme, with an award of £300 for 2021/22 and an additional £300 for the 2022/23 financial year. 

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with an update on the Dual Language Street Sign Policy.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is requested to note the report

3.0       Main Report

            Background

3.1       By way of brief background and as reported previously to the Committee, the Council on 7th January ratified a decision taken by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 23rd October, 2020 to adopt a new policy position in respect of the Dual Language Street Sign Policy. 

            (Whilst the initial decision of 23rd October had been called-in, counsel opinion subsequently found that the grounds for call-in had not been satisfied).

3.2       Following this decision, an officer working group was formed, comprising officers from Governance and Compliance Services, Equality and Diversity Unit, Building Control, Good Relations, Legal Services and Place and Economy Policy who developed a new proposed revised policy incorporating the changes agreed.

3.3       In April 2021, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee approved this proposed revised policy which incorporated the following key changes:

·        The trigger for a consultation of the occupiers of a street will be an application to the Council by a resident / residents of the street or an Elected Member representing that District Electoral Area, as opposed to an application from anyone, supported by a petition of 1/3 of occupiers. In order for further consideration as to the erection of a second language street sign to take place, the threshold for the percentage of residents responding positively is 15% instead of 2/3;

·        People not returning a reply are no longer deemed not to be in favour of the application;

·        Each application will be equality, good relations and rural needs screened;

·        Members may want to consider whether they will exercise their residual discretion at the point when an application is received and decide as to whether to progress that application to the stage of surveying the street in question or not.

3.4       The following key principles agreed previously were also incorporated into the new policy:

1.     That the policy will be used for the promotion of language rights and for the benefit of linguistic communities.

2.     That the principles of equality, promoting good relations and respect will underpin the application of the policy in addition to the rights promoted by the policy itself:

·        Based on legal advice, each application will be subject to an equality, good relations and rural needs screening;

·        The Council retains an overriding residual discretion to take the particular circumstances of each application into account in deciding whether or not a second language street name plate should be erected. In summary, there may be circumstances when notwithstanding the consultation response it may be appropriate to depart from the policy when there are clear reasons for doing so. Guidance will be provided to Members on the factors which should be considered when using this discretion; and

·        As is the case at present, the Council will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

            The City Solicitor informed the Members that the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill had, on 5th July, been introduced into the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Bill would give effect to the Justice Minister’s desire to improve the operation and effectiveness of the justice system and would have at its core the key themes of:

                                      i.          enhancing public safety by implementing certain elements of the Report of the Gillen review of serious sexual offence cases and from a review of the law on child sexual exploitation and sexual offences against children; and

                                    ii.          improving services for victims of trafficking and exploitation. 

                  He reviewed the main provisions within the Bill and reported that the Committee Stage would commence in September, with the Committee for Justice seeking comments from interested parties by 24th September. Whilst officers had not identified any objections to the Bill nor any evidence which would inform its content, it was felt that the Council should submit a brief response welcoming the provisions within the Bill. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee approve the following response for submission to the Committee for Justice:

“The Council has reviewed the content of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill and is supportive of the provisions outlined in the Bill.  It particularly welcomes the inclusion of live streamed images in the definition of exploitation for sexual purposes and the creation of a new offence of adults masquerading as children online and also welcomes the broadening of the definition of the abuse of power definitions, which are long overdue”.

                  The Committee approved the response.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Customer Focus Working Group of 8th September.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders’ Consultative Forum of 16th September.

            The City Solicitor informed the Committee that the Department of Finance had, on 28th July, initiated a consultation on its intention to implement amendments to the technical guidance accompanying local Building Regulations, to provide that new/relevant large buildings commonly used by the public were fitted with changing places facilities.

            He explained that changing places were facilities where people with profound and multiple disabilities could avail of toilet and personal hygiene amenities designed specifically for their needs.

            He pointed out that the draft response to the consultation had confirmed that the Council would support the mandatory provision of changing places toilets under Building Regulations, as a positive way of increasing inclusion for service users and their carers.  

            He went on to state that, following the introduction of similar regulations in England and issues which had been raised around the financial challenges associated with voluntarily providing changing places toilets in existing premises, a £30 million fund had been launched in July, to be distributed through local authorities. He suggested that, in addition to responding to the consultation, the Committee might wish to write to the Minister of Finance requesting that a similar fund be established in Northern Ireland for retrospective installations in existing premises.

            The Committee approved the following response for submission to the Department of Finance and agreed that a letter be forwarded to the Minister of Finance, as suggested:

COUNCIL RESPONSE

The questions below are extracted from the online questionnaire which must be completed with the approved response. Information will be made publicly available, unless we request otherwise, and state a rationale for the information being kept out of the public domain.

The consultation opened on 28th July and will close on 20th October, 2021

Q1 Do you support the proposal to introduce criteria for Changing Places Toilets (CPT) facilities provision (in addition to the current accessible sanitary provisions), in certain buildings through building regulations statutory guidance?

We support the provision of CPT facilities in new buildings and those created by a material change of use for the category of buildings indicated. It is the view of Belfast City Council that a statutory requirement for such a facility would be the best way to ensure maximum provision. Whilst an amendment to technical guidance would be  easier for the Department to implement this will allow scope for building owners and their designers to submit justifications for non-provision on the basis of proposed occupancy and detailed use at the design and construction phase. These justifications would have to be considered under the functional regulation which requires ‘Reasonable provision’.  This may appropriately justify non-provision at the design and construction stage but may not cater for the occupancy and specific use over the life span of the building.  Changes to how a building is occupied or used over its lifespan may not re-engage this requirement unless the purpose group of the building changed. In this regard we consider mandatory provision for CPT facilities under Building Regulations to be the preferred option.

In addition, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

            The Committee noted the key issues which had been discussed at the meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel of 14th September and approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Working Group on the Climate Crisis of 21st September.

The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations made in respect of those applications received up to 10th September, as set out below:

(Councillor Garret to propose that the Council participate in the BT 'adopt a kiosk' scheme for the preservation and transformation of unused telephone kiosks)

            Councillor Garrett drew the Members’ attention to BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme which provided local councils, registered charities and other organisations with an opportunity, for a fee of £1, to transform unused payphone kiosks. He pointed out that he was aware of several such kiosks in his area and suggested that they could, for example, be used as a defibrillator station or put to other uses by community groups.

            The Committee agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting on the feasibility of joining the scheme and outlining the options open to the Council for the removal of the kiosks, should a decision be taken not to proceed.

(Alderman Kingston to propose that the City Hall be illuminated in an appropriate colour to mark Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October)

            The Committee agreed, at the request of Alderman Kingston, that the City Hall be illuminated in an appropriate colour on the night of 18th October to mark Anti-Slavery Day.

            At the request of Councillor Heading, the Committee agreed that the lights of the City Hall be dimmed for a short period of time on the night of October 6th to mark the removal of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit.