Agenda and minutes

            No apologies were received.

            The minutes of the meeting of 21st August, omitting those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, 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.

            No declarations of interest were recorded.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following 5 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 Committee meeting during discussion of these 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 Committee considered a report which provided an update on the assessment of the key financial factors which influenced the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for 2021/22 - 2023/24 and the rate setting process for 2021/22, together with an overview of the priorities and work in progress to establish the 2021/22 – 2023/24 Efficiency Programme.

            The report highlighted the main business as usual cost pressures, that is, externally imposed increases to the Council’s pay bill, the future revenue running costs resulting from capital investment, external economic factors and external income.  It provided details also on committed priorities, such as, the waste plan, the City Deal, physical programmes, the cultural strategy and CPI uplifts, growth priorities and the rate base.  The Director of Finance and Resources concluded by outlining the next steps in the rate setting process.

            In response to a proposal by a Member to include an amount of finance on the rate base year on year to fund the next phase of the alleygating scheme, the Director explained that this would have to be considered as part of the overall rate-setting process and included as an emerging project within the capital programme.

            After further discussion, the Committee noted the challenges to be taken into consideration as part of the annual and medium term rate setting and that a further report on progress will be brought to Committee in October; and agreed:

·         that an Allegating ‘Phase 5’ scheme (of approx. £500k in value) be considered as an emerging project in the capital programme and as a priority potential growth proposal for the capital financing framework to be agreed during the rate setting process; and

·         contact be made with the Housing Executive and the Department of Justice to discuss other options/possible funding for alleygating schemes.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 21st August, an update was provided on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Council’s financial position and a strategy to address the forecast deficit and the mitigation measures which had and would be taken as the situation evolved.  Accordingly, the Director of Finance and Resources submitted a further report which presented the impact of recovery decisions on the latest forecasted deficit.

            The Committee noted the contents of the report.

            The Committee was reminded that the Belfast Destination Hub (BDH) was Belfast’s key project under the tourism and regeneration pillar of the Belfast City Region Deal (BRCD).

The City Deal would seek to deliver a series of internationally visible transformative tourism products to encourage visitors to choose Northern Ireland, stay longer, spend more and support the delivery of permanent jobs across the region. It would also be a huge local cultural and educational asset.

            Within the BRCD, the Destination Hub mirrored the ambition of the Belfast Agenda and Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy (BCCRIS) to deliver a second world-class visitor attraction to generate additional tourist spend and footfall in the city centre. The BDH ambition was to establish Belfast as a leading cultural tourism destination.The timeframe for completion was 2026.

            At the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting in June 2019, in line with Treasury recommendations, and in recognition of a project of this scale, scope and complexity, agreement was given to move forward with a new phase of development that comprised of a number of work strands. This included the establishment of a robust governance structure; the production of a Treasury compliant Business Case; further work on site identification; further concept development and a strategic communications framework. To deliver a project of this magnitude for the city and the region, resources were allocated to deliver these work streams.

            The Committee then proceeded to receive a detailed presentation on the Outline Business Case, the site acquisition, the spatial assessment and the concept development from Wendy Langham, Programme Director, and Eimear Henry, Senior Manager, Culture and Tourism.

            The Committee:

1.     noted the progress made in relation to the Destination Hub concept; and

2.     agreed that the site identified be the preferred site and authorised officers to examine options for its acquisition, with a report to be submitted to a future meeting.

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the recovery of Council services, a snapshot of the current status of frontline services and indicative re-opening times for those services that remain suspended. 

            The Committee noted the updated position in relation to recovery of services.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 21st August, it had agreed:

1.     to rescind its decision of 19th June to award a Single Tender Action (STA) for six months to Bryson Recycling for the Kerbside Recycling Contract and agreed, instead, to award the STA for a period of 12 months; (with the possibility of extension);

2.     to the commissioning of an options appraisal on the arrangements for future waste collections as soon as possible, to be completed and submitted to the Committee for consideration within 2 months;

3.     that a monthly update be submitted to the Committee on progress; and

4.     that Bryson Recycling be asked to attend a future meeting of the Committee with a view to improving performance.

            In addition the Committee had requested that a Waste Workshop be held.

            Accordingly, the Committee considered a update report which indicated that the contract had been extended until 31st July, 2021, that, in relation to the commissioning of the options appraisal, officers had been granted approval, due to the very short timescales, to engage support and the independent services of APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Performance Networks, with work on this currently ongoing; and that the workshop had been provisionally scheduled for 12 noon on 7th October.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed to receive a presentation from Ms. Aileen Monahan, Assistant Director Business Development, Bryson Recycling.

            Ms. Monahan provided an overview of the organisation’s turnover and indicated that it operated at ten sites with 280 employees.  She stated that Bryson Recycling had been working in partnership with the Council since 2001 and highlighted the work which had been undertaken, such as the initial trial to 8,000 households through to the establishment of a Collaborative Circular Economy in 2016. She then reviewed the current activities which included kerbside collections from 58,000 households and the employment of 30 frontline collection staff, plus support staff. 

            She stated that Bryson Recycling was owned by the Bryson Charitable Group and was Northern Ireland’s leading social enterprise and Leading provider of: care services for vulnerable people; employment and training initiatives for long term unemployed; energy advice, tackling fuel poverty; and sporting activities to promote healthy living recycling services.

            She then outlined the organisation’s vision, its role in the local circular economy and the challenges which had been presented by the COVID-10 pandemic and the solutions and actions undertaken in response.  She concluded by stating that Bryson Recycling would continue to work in partnership with the Council through social sourcing to find solutions to handling waste in a ways that are not just about maximising profit but about maximising the positive impact on the environment, the local economy and society.

            The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Ms. Monahan for attending and she left the meeting.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

The Committee was advised that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion had been proposed by Councillor Pankhurst and seconded by Councillor Hutchinson:

“This Council agrees to bid for the National Armed Forces Day to be held in Belfast in June 2022.”

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

Moved by Alderman Kingston,

Seconded by Alderman Dorrian,

      That the Committee agrees approve the motion to bid to host Armed Forces Day 2022 and a report on how this would be facilitated, resourced and managed be brought back to the Committee.

            On a recorded vote, ten Members voted for the proposal and ten against:

            Casting Vote

            There being an equality of votes, the Chairperson, Councillor Black, exercised her second and casting vote against the proposal and it was declared lost.

            The Committee was advised that the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Murphy and seconded by Councillor Beattie at the Council meeting on 1st September, had, in accordance with Standing Orders, been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“That this council consider promoting a procurement policy that supports the principles of a real living wage and respects the rights of workers including the right to form and participate in trade unions.”

            The Committee agreed that a report on how this would be facilitated, resourced and managed be submitted to a future meeting.

            The Committee was advised that the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor McLaughlin and seconded by Councillor Beattie,at the Council meeting on 1st September, had, in accordance with Standing Orders, been referred to the Committee for consideration:

“This council agrees to work in partnership with other public sector bodies, the Belfast Chamber of Commerce and the private sector to develop a Summer Youth Employment Programme.

This programme should be aimed at 14-21 year olds primarily from areas of multiple deprivation from across the 4 quarters of the city. The programme will last 6 weeks.

This paid internship will aim to give the young kids of this city a decent wage, improve their skills and qualities, develop experience and hopefully lead to employment opportunities for kids from lower socio economic backgrounds in sectors that they know, enjoy and excel in.

In developing this programme, Belfast City Council should look to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s programme as a model of good practice in this field, which even during the COVID crisis offered 8,000 posts to young people across the city of Boston.”

            The Committee agreed that a report on how this would be facilitated, resourced and managed be submitted to a future meeting.

            The Committee was advised that, at the Council meeting on 1st September, the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Smyth and seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor McCusker, had been referred to the Committee for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 13(f):

“This council notes the closing of the needle exchange facility on Botanic Avenue following on from the closure of the Boots facility in City Centre earlier this year.  This council will invite the Public Health Agency to its next meeting of the People and Communities Committee to address these worrying closures of much needed facilities and what longer term strategy it has in place to:

1.     address drug use and misuse in the City Centre,

2.     drive forward a civic conversation of drug classifications, legislation and decriminalisation,

3.     develop harm reduction models that save lives

4.     and proactively addresses the concerns of local residents.”

            The Committee agreed that the Public Health Authority be invited to present to a future meeting of the People and Communities Committee to address the issues raised in the motion.

            The Committee was advised that the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor O’Hara and seconded by Councillor Groogan had been referred to the Committee for consideration by the Council at its meeting on 1st September:

“The Belfast Agenda has an ambition to be a welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive City for all. While we have made significant progress there are opportunities for enhancing this work. This council recognises the work that has been undertaken particularly by many in the community and voluntary sector to improve relations and realise the Belfast Agenda. However, gaps remain, including through the allocation of funding. 

This Council recognises the scourge of Hate Crime and Incidents in the City. In 2019/2020 there were 694 Hate Crimes and 758 Hate Incidents reported to Police in the Belfast District Area on the basis of sexual orientation, race and religion.  We appreciate that there is a significant underreporting of hate crimes and incidents.  There were 98 hate crimes and incidents on the basis of transgender status and 171 crimes and incidents on the basis of disability status across all of Northern Ireland.

This Council recognises that it has a statutory duty to address Good Relations but also recognises that this is on the limited basis of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion and racial group. This only covers some of the hate crime categories yet we understand that to tackle hate and intolerance we must promote good relations between those groups who experience hate but are not covered by the Good Relations duty.

This Council therefore commits to:

·         Supporting the extension of the Good Relations duty to the hate crime categories

·         Write to the Executive Office requesting flexibility in its Good Relations funding and request that the Executive Office consider extension of its Good Relations duties to the hate crime categories

·         Council officers scope internal mechanisms re good relations and equality and diversity funding to fund more proactive work in addressing hate crime and fulfilling the ambition of the Belfast Agenda.”

            The Committee agreed that a report on the issues raised in the motion be considered, in the first instance, by the Shared City Partnership.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report

1.1          To provide Members with an update on the significant work to be taken forward by the Council and working across government and with city partners to support the city and its communities to respond and recover from the Covoid-10 pandemic.  The strong commitment by Council to support communities, businesses and vulnerable people during these challenging times is set out in the attached draft document: ‘Belfast: Our Recovery’.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to: 

                                (i)        Note that the Committee will receive a presentation on the key elements of the Belfast: Our Recovery’ plan for the city as set out within this report;

                               (ii)        Consider and endorse the Belfast: Our Recovery’ and note the priority areas of focus and the associated support, interventions and programmes committed to within the framework.

                              (iii)        Agree that Party Group Leaders’ and the Chief Executive signatories be included in the Foreword to demonstrate the strong cross-party commitment and support to the city recovery.

                              (iv)        Agree that the Belfast: Our Recovery’ be published as a live and evolving framework – implementation plans will be adapted as circumstances change and as informed by continued engagement with communities and city stakeholders and partners. 

                               (v)        Note the intention to proactively engage with communities, central government, key decision makers and private sector to intensify the focus on our priorities for recovery and to secure the necessary support and resources to underpin our work.

3.0       Main report

3.1       In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, authorities are rightly focused on minimising the human cost, providing relief to their communities and delivering essential day-to-day services.  Another major challenge for the Council and city partners is to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their local economies, so that businesses can once again thrive and provide employment opportunities, minimise potential job losses and retain the vibrancy of local communities and the city centre.

3.2       Members will be aware that we are still in the midst of a significant pandemic emergency with new localised restrictions recently introduced within the city to reduce the spread of the infection rates and to manage the significant risks which exist.

3.3       There is clearly a significant civic leadership and convening role for the Council to bring together key partners and work with communities to respond to the current emergency situation, ensuring the necessary measures are taken to keep citizens safe, whilst retaining critical services.  

3.4       It is evident that there will be lasting structural changes to the city’s economy, its infrastructure, its environment and to its communities, and this will likely result in financial and economic uncertainty for some time.  There is a significant risk that existing inequalities, including emotional health and wellbeing, social isolation, addictions and poverty will be further amplified during this period.

3.5       The Belfast: Our Recovery document seeks to mitigate the immediate and short- term impacts of the pandemic, including, for example job losses, the need for skilling and reskilling to access employment opportunities,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members are reminded that in May 2020 the Committee was provided with an update on the Customer Focus Programme which included an overview of work being undertaken to support the Covid 19 Recovery programme. Members were also advised that, due to programme resources being redirected, a review of the programme plan was required and would be reported to a future committee.

1.2       This report provides an update on further activity in support of Recovery and provides an update on the programme plan and the channel shift strategy which is a key tenet of the Customer Focus programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to: 

1.     Note the update on support provided to the Recovery Programme.

2.     Note the Chanel Shift Strategy summarised.

3.     Note the update on the programme plan and the overview attached at Appendix 2.

4.     Note the planned work on services for Elected Members which have been progressed to outline design stage as part of the future blueprint attached at Appendix 3.

5.     Note update on the Council’s new website and telephony upgrade.

6.     Note that staff and Trade Unions have been engaged and will continue to be consulted as we move to implementation.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Update on support for the Recovery Programme

            Members will be aware that, during the Covid-19 emergency, the Customer Focus Programme diverted resources to support the Community Response Hub and established a customer contact centre in response to requirements for food distribution and referrals for welfare support. The contact centre also supported the recovery of Birth Registrations and switchboard operations.

            The Community Response Hub and contact centre have now been stood down and the booking line for Birth Registration and operation of switchboard have reverted to Legal and Civic Services.  There have been many lessons learned from the response to Covid 19 which has enabled us to test our customer focus principles and has evidenced the strong commitment and resilience of all staff involved.

            As part of recovery of Council services, including the Council’s main switchboard service, we are routinely monitoring customer contact and adapting our communication with customers as required to manage our contact channels effectively. Analysis of telephone call volumes confirms that the Council continues to experience high volumes of calls. In order to manage telephony effectively and to ensure our customers have a positive experience, the highest volume of calls (Waste Collections) has been directed away from switchboard. This means the welcome message that customers hear when they contact the Council has been changed to promote the use of our website to encourage customers to use our online services and to direct calls to the appropriate service.

            Staff from the Customer Focus Programme together with Continuous Improvement, Legal and Civic Services, Digital Services, Marketing and Corporate Communications and departments are continuing to support the Council’s Recovery Programme and how customer channels are being managed.

3.2       Delivery of the new future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1          This report is to provide an update to Committee on the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD).

2.0       Recommendations

            The Committee is asked:

·         Note the programme overview, the update in respect of each of the pillars and the progress that has been made in Outline Business Case (OBC) development.

·         Note the key strategic challenges ahead and the importance the BRCD Programme will play in the region’s recovery from the Covid-19 emergency.

·         Note the update in respect of the BRCD Council Panel.

3.0       Main report

            Programme Overview

3.1       The SP&R Committee in June were provided with an update on the early stages of the BRCD team getting the programme moving again following delays due to the pandemic.  Since then, meetings of the Executive Board, Advisory Boards, Finance and Communications Forums have now all resumed via Microsoft Teams.

3.2       The Executive Board and the Advisory Boards for each of the investment priorities have been reviewing and challenging the BRCD programmes and projects to ensure that they are strongly aligned with the emerging Economic Recovery Strategy. Partners have also worked intensively to progress the development of business cases across all the pillars of Investment, ensuring that key stakeholders and government partners continue to be engaged despite the communications challenges presented by the COVID crisis.

3.3       The timeline for developing OBCs for all the capital projects that were outlined in the Heads of Terms has understandably had to be reviewed.   As a result the BRCD partners’ very ambitious target of having all business cases completed and deal documents drafted by September 2020, is no longer achievable. The partners remain determined to have a deal in place so that funding can start to flow from 1 April 2021 and discussions are ongoing with the NI and UK Governments and BRCD Partners in relation to the revised timeline to sign a ‘Deal Document’.

3.4       As outlined in the previous report the NI Executive announced £350m match funding for the BRCD, confirming the commitment to an overall investment package from the UK and NI Governments and the BRCD partners of approximately £850M.  Governance arrangements have now therefore been established by the UK and NI Governments to oversee the development of the City and Growth Deals across N. Ireland. Discussions are also ongoing with the Department of Finance to inform the Financial Agreement element of the Deal Document, but this work can only be completed when OBCs have been completed and detailed consideration has been given to issues such as timescales for implementation and affordability.

3.5       Communication and engagement continues to be a priority both at a project and programme level. However, planned work on strategic engagement, including both business and political engagement has been delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Briefing documents outlining key economic and social benefits of each project and overall BRCD programme are currently being updated to support the engagement activities that will take place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4c

            The Committee noted a report which outlined the projects that have been prioritised as part of the Digital Services programme of work 2020-21. It excluded business as usual activities that were operating successfully with a small amount of staff on site to provide physical support on a rota basis and with the remaining staff working very effectively from home.

            The Committee was reminded that Belfast City Council was a member of the UK100 Resilient Recovery Task Force – a network of city Mayors (or their nominees) - aimed at influencing outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review and other government stimulus post-Covid 19, as well as influencing UK government’s climate targets at COP26, the UN Climate Change conference in 2021. 

            The Council joined the UK100 Resilient Recovery Taskforce in July, and its first meeting of city Mayors and their nominees took place in August.  At that meeting, it was agreed that the network would produce a submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).  Senior officers from each city council met last week via virtual workshops to agree the submission.  The work was aligned with Core Cities submission.

            Appendix One to the report contained the declaration, which strongly reflects Belfast City Council’s discussions on inclusive recovery.  The main narrative and ‘asks’ in the declaration are: 

-       The development of a Net Zero Development Bank to fund UK infrastructure aimed at driving the transition to a net zero economy

-       Investment in upgrading the electricity grid.  (Note: we have asked that the Energy Regulator in Northern Ireland is referenced in the declaration.)

-       A government led target to decarbonise buildings and heat (a focus on retrofit very similar in ambition to the Innovation and Inclusive Growth Commission)

-       Speed up transition to electric vehicles

-       An enhanced devolution settlement- making reference mainly to devolution of powers in England, but we have asked for the document to specifically reference the need to robust powers for Councils.

            The Committee would be aware that the Council continues to engage with Core Cities and a number of other structures to influence CSR outcomes and this declaration was just one of several avenues being pursued to fund climate-resilient stimulus.

            The Committee approved Belfast’s support for the ‘declaration’ and supported its submission, with the aim of influencing Comprehensive Spending Review outcomes.

            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 seek approval from the SP&R Committee to propose the introduction of a new Standards Committee, the designation of the City Solicitor into a new ‘Monitoring Officer’ role responsible for all issues in relation to standards to ensure the Council, its officers and elected Members maintain the highest standards of conduct in all that they do.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       It is recommended that Members:

(i)    note the attached report.

(ii)   provide approval in principle to establish a Standards Committee and to designate a Monitoring Officer as in the main report below.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Background

            It is proposed that the Council introduces additional arrangements to ensure that the Council, its officers and elected Members maintain the highest standards of conduct in all that they do.  Such arrangements could include the establishment of a new Standards Committee, the designation of a ‘Monitoring Officer’ responsible for all issues in relation to standards, and the introduction of a number of new governance arrangements aimed at promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by Councillors and officers.

            The establishment of such arrangements would demonstrate a firm commitment on behalf of the Council to promote, sustain and safeguard the conduct of Members within the Council and the probity of all the Council’s proceedings. 

            Research into strong ethical leadership in the public sector (and local government in particular)[1] suggests that those councils with good records of ethical conduct show evidence of strong Member / officer relationships.  They demonstrate a culture of partnership and joint ethical leadership led by a Standards Committee (including its independent/lay members) in concert with party group leaders (political) and senior officers (managerial).

            It is proposed to create a similar regime to the model used in Wales where the Public Sector Ombudsman has encouraged councils to introduce Local Resolution Arrangements to provide an opportunity for relatively minor complaints and issues to be resolved ‘in-house’ without the need for referral to the Ombudsman’s office. 

3.2       Standards Committee

            It is proposed that the Council establish a Standards Committee whose main functions would be to promote, sustain and safeguard the conduct of Councillors within the Council and the probity of all the Council’s proceedings.  This  would include considering and making recommendations to the Council on the contents of the Code of Conduct for Members, the Members/Officer protocol and providing advice and guidance on standards in general across the Council.

            Appointment to such a Committee would be made in the normal way as prescribed by Schedules 1 and 2 of the 2014 Act.  The size of the Committee will need to be agreed.

            It is recommended that the Standards Committee appoint a number of independent Members whose views are to be sought and taken into account before any recommendations are made by the Committee (as is the case in similar Committees in England, Wales and Scotland).  Such independents would be required to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5a

            The Committee considered the following 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 the existing Council facilities or provides new Council facilities. This report seeks approval to move the reservoir Safety Programme to the next stage of the capital programme; seeks a decision from members on an electric vehicle to replace the current Lord Mayor vehicle; and asks Members to agree a request for permission to carry out aerial footage over Belfast Zoo.

2.0        Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is requested to –

·         Project Movement - Agree that the Reservoir Safety Programme is moved to a Stage 3 committed project, with a maximum £1.6m budget allocated;

·         Fleet Programme - Lord Mayor’s Car - agree the Audi E-Tron as the Lord Mayor’s new electric vehicle

·         agree the request for permission for aerial footage over Council lands at Belfast Zoo.

3.0        Main report

            Reservoir Safety Programme

3.1       Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a 3 Stage approval process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by SP&R. This provides assurance as to the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project.

3.2       Members are reminded that the reservoir safety programme is an agreed Stage 2-uncommitted project on the council’s Capital Programme. This programme has emerged from a number of safety reports conducted in relation to addressing safety issues associated with reservoirs - the Waterworks upper, Waterworks Lower and Alexandra Park reservoirs are within the scope of the programme. An outline business case has now been completed and a preferred option identified the necessary approach to dealing with statutory safety requirements, and associated costs.

3.3       Members are asked to agree that the Reservoir Safety Programme moves to Stage 3 Committed and it is recommended that a maximum budget of £1.6m is allocated.  The Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed the affordability of this project due to the importance of statutory safety requirements around reservoir management.

            Fleet Replacement Programme - Replacement of the Lord Mayor’s Car

3.4       At the SP&R Committee meeting on 21st February the Committee ‘agreed to replace the Lord Mayor’s car with a fully electric model, with the final decision on the type of model to be agreed by the appropriate Council Manager’.  At the Council meeting on 2nd March this decision was amended to provide that the final decision on the type of model to be selected be taken by the SP&R Committee.

3.5       Members are reminded that the key issue remains around acquiring a replacement vehicle that achieves value for money, offers reliability given the commitments of the Lord Mayor’s Office and fulfils the function of a civic vehicle fit for high profile office (security of both Lord Mayor and Chain; wide ranging travel needs from short to long distance journeys). Members are also reminded that usage, based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

Parkgate Avenue Off Street Car Park – Renewal of Licence Agreement

            The Committee approved a new licence with the Directors of Argento Contemporary Jewellery Ltd for a right to pass and repass across Parkgate Avenue Car Park.

            The Committee approved:

·         the public advertisement of tenders as per Standing Order 37a detailed in Appendix 1 (Table 1) of the report; and

·      the award of STAs in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions as detailed in Appendix 1 (Table 2) of the report:

Table 1 – Competitive Tenders

Table 2- Direct Award Contracts (Single Tender Action)

            The Committee:

·         approved the submission of the Council’s Annual Monitoring Return to DAERA for 2019-2020, on a holding basis, subject to ratification by the Council at its meeting on 1 October; and

·         noted the recommendations from the Review of the Implementation of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 and that the Equality and Diversity Unit will co-ordinate their implementation.

            The Committee was informed that, in February, the Housing Executive’s Board had approved the draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26. Subsequently the Housing Executive had undertaken an external consultation exercise to seek feedback on the strategic direction the organisation has set out in the document.  

            The Strategy strongly supports the NIHE commitment to continue to work with existing partners and stakeholders to maximise and complement our contribution to improving housing related services for older people. This includes statutory and voluntary organisations, health and social care trusts, local councils and community planning partners.

            The NIHE requested that responses provided focus in particular on the four strategic themes set out in the strategy and the accompanying high level action plans. The four high level themes are:

1.     Planning for the future;

2.     Promoting and maintaining people’s dignity;

3.     Providing housing advice for older people; and

4.     Promoting participation

            The corporate response followed the structure of the draft strategy issued by the NIHE. This response encompasses input from officers in City and Neighbourhood Services, Place and Economy, Civic and Legal Services and Resilience.  It also reflected input from the Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership and members of the All Party Older People’s Group.

            The Committee:

a)    noted the content of the corporate response to the NIHE draft Older People’s Housing Strategy 2020/21 – 2025/26; and

b)    approved the submission of the corporate response to NIHE, and that it be submitted on a holding basis, subject to approval by Council, to meet the submission deadline of 25 September 2020.

            The Committee noted the key issues arising at the meeting, noted the Annual Governance Statement at Appendix 2 of the report and approved and adopted the minutes of the Audit and Risk Panel of 8th September, 2020.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders Consultative Forum of 10th September.

            The Committee was advised that the Local Government Staff Commission (LGSC) had requested feedback on amendments to a revised Code of Conduct which had been developed by a working group, comprising representatives from Councils, the NIHE, the Department for Communities and the Trade Unions.  The draft revised code is attached at Appendix 2 to the report.  The amendments had been made to take account of best practice following a review of examples of similar Codes of Conduct in other public sector bodies and to address issues which Councils had reported in operating the current Code.  

            The consultation closes on 30th September 2020 and the working group would meet to consider the responses received.  The final amended Code of Conduct for Local Government Employees would then be approved by the Commission before being issued as a statutory recommendation to Councils for implementation.

            The Committee was advised further that Corporate HR, Legal Services, Audit, Governance and Risk Services, Marketing and Corporate Communications and Digital Services have input into the proposed response attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

            As well as suggestions for subject matter to be included, clarification on terminology and language used, the draft response also highlights the following:

·         the need for the Code to explicitly state that Councils need to ensure that supporting guidance and policies for managing conflicts of interest and gifts and hospitality are up to date, clearly communicated and well understood and that they are vitally important in underpinning the Code.

·         that Belfast City Council agrees that the final amended Code of Conduct for Local Government Employees be approved by the Commission before being issued as a statutory recommendation to Councils for implementation.   However, it should remain the case that individual councils are free to decide upon specific arrangements for the implementation of the code within their respective organisations.

·         that it would be helpful to have clarity on the future status of the model Code as a “statutory recommendation, when the Commission is dissolved.

            The working group has also sought feedback on whether the Code of Conduct should contain guidance on council employees participating in political activity depending on their role in the council.

            The code accepts at the outset that staff are entitled to hold political opinions.  However, it would be extremely difficult to define a set of circumstances/ or roles within which an employee could or could not participate in political activity.  If specific employees were prohibited from engaging in any political activity or opinion then this could be subject to challenge.   It is the view that paragraph 4.3 in the Code is wide enough to allow for some discretion and consideration on a case by case basis. 

            In the response it is also suggested that the Code should require that employees must declare this planned activity and seek permission before proceeding.

            The Committee approved the draft response to the Local Government Staff Commission’s consultation exercise on a revised Code of Conduct for Local Government Employees. 

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Working Group on the Climate Crises of 14th September.

            The Committee agreed to the submission of an application to the Ulster History Circle for a blue plaque for Olaudah Equiano - former slave, merchant, author and abolitionist who lived in Belfast in the winter of 1791-1792 - on Waring Street where he lived and worked from while in the city- or at another suitable location - and to meet the costs of its installation.

            It was agreed also that a report on how other events/people during that period of history could be recognised and/or commemorated be submitted to a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to establish a Babyloss Awareness Week Virtual Book of Remembrance from 9th-15th October.