Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported on behalf on Councillors Bunting, Hanvey, McAteer and McDonough-Brown.

            The minutes of the meeting of 15th April, 2026, were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 5th May, 2026.

            Councillor Groogan declared an interest in relation to the item ‘Vacant to Vibrant Programme Update’ in that her employer was in receipt of a grant through the scheme. Councillor Groogan also declared an interest in relation to the item ‘2 Royal Avenue Update’ in that she had recently engaged with organisations which had expressed an interest in respect of the long-term use of 2 Royal Avenue’s ground floor. The Member was not required to leave the meeting for either item.

            In relation to the item ‘Neighbourhood Tourism Investment Programme’, Councillor Groogan declared an interest in that her employer was referenced within the report and she left the meeting whilst this item was under consideration.

            Councillor R. McLaughlin declared an interest in relation to item ‘Request to Present - Belfast City and Region Place Partnership’ in that he was on the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. As this item did not become the subject of discussion or debate, he was not required to leave the meeting.

            Councillor Black declared an interest in relation to the item ‘Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Update’ in so far as her employer was partnered with Queen’s University Belfast who presented at the Bank of Ideas event but was not required

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

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            Members were also reminded that the content of ‘restricted’ reports and any discussion which took place during closed session must be treated as ‘confidential information’ and that no such information should be disclosed to the public as per Paragraph 4.15 of the Code of Conduct.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the Vacant to Vibrant Programme and which sought approval for recommendations from the Vacant to Vibrant assessment panel following the receipt and assessment of recent applications.

            The report also recommended an extension to the programme’s Match Maker Service and an amendment to the eligibility criteria section of the Vacant to Vibrant Guidance Notes.

            The Committee:

i.        noted the update in relation to the Vacant to Vibrant Programme which would be supporting up to 82 businesses/organisations to locate or expand into long term vacant units;

ii.      agreed the extension of the Match Maker Service provision;

iii.     agreed the recommended citywide grant awards as outlined within the report; and

iv.     agreed the recommended amendment to the eligibility criteria within the Vacant to Vibrant Guidance Notes as outlined the report.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development provided the Committee with an update on the expression of interest process for the future long-term use of 2 Royal Avenue’s ground floor and outlined proposed next steps for Stage Two of the process.

            The Committee was reminded that at it its meeting in April, 2026, it had agreed to defer consideration of the proposed next steps for Stage Two of the process to enable further engagement to be undertaken, and that Stage One of the process be closed following the Council meeting in May and the associated call-in period. The Director advised that Stage One would close in line with the agreed timeline and that further engagement had taken place with Members, including a roundtable discussion on 23rd April, 2026.

            The Director set out the proposed next steps for Stage Two of the process which would include a request for businesses/organisations to submit detailed proposals and business plans. She also provided the Committee with an overview of the proposed scoring and assessment criteria.

            She highlighted the limited timeframe for Stage Two of process given the key interdependent timelines for the various activities associated with 2 Royal Avenue which would include the completion and outworkings of the building’s condition survey, the expiration of the current meanwhile use contract and the PEACEPLUS funded works to the first floor of the building.

The Committee:

i.        agreed the proposed next steps for Stage Two of the Expression of Interest process for the future long-term use of the ground floor of 2 Royal Avenue, as set out within the report, including the request for detailed proposals and business plans, and the proposed scoring assessment and criteria;

ii.      noted the proposed timelines for the Stage Two of the process as set out within the report; and

iii.     noted the interdependent timelines for the various activities associated with 2 Royal Avenue including the duration of the current meanwhile use; completion and outworkings of the condition survey; and the PEACEPLUS funded works for the first floor, which would all underpin the criticality for timely decision making in relation to the ground floor long term use.

            The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the continued development of neighbourhood tourism within the city. The report set out the draft findings from the development work on Tourism Development Plans for North and South Belfast and highlighted the ongoing work in respect of a Development Plan for the Greater Shankill area. The report also set out the proposed strategic direction and delivery approach for 2026/27, which would include funding to support delivery through EastSide Partnership and Fáilte Feirste Thiar, subject to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee’s approval of funding for neighbourhood tourism at its meeting in May, 2026.

            During discussion, the Senior Manager for Culture and Tourism answered questions from the Members in relation to the Tourism Development Plans for North and South Belfast, and the Greater Shankill area.

            In response to a Member’s request, the Senior Manager advised that further information would be provided to Members in respect of the stakeholder engagement which helped inform the development of the plans for North and South Belfast.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor Duffy,

Seconded by Councillor Ó Néill, and

      Resolved - That the Committee agrees to:

i.        defer consideration of the proposed strategic direction and phased delivery approach as set out within the Tourism Plans for North and South Belfast to enable further information to be provided to Members; and

ii.      that approval be sought from the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for the funding of £300,000 for neighbourhood tourism.

Accordingly, the Committee:

i.        noted the contents of the report, which included progress to date on neighbourhood tourism development and the findings from the Neighbourhood Tourism Investment Programme;

ii.      agreed to defer consideration of the proposed strategic direction and phased delivery approach as set out within the Tourism Plans for North and South Belfast;

iii.     agreed that approval be sought from the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for the funding of £300,000 for neighbourhood tourism;

iv.     agreed that the approach to support neighbourhood tourism delivery would be outcome based and consistent with the existing approach adopted in East and West Belfast, with the delivery aligned to the Council’s neighbourhood tourism and cultural investment programmes and local area plans; and

v.      approved the continuation of funding to EastSide Partnership and Fáilte Feirste Thiar to support neighbourhood tourism delivery, coordination, and capacity building across the city.

            The Committee was provided with an update on a range of operational matters, including programming and engagement, for the delivery of the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

            During discussion, Council officers answered a range of Members’ questions in relation to resourcing for street cleansing across the city, parking, accommodation, signposting and street dressing, and the development of the citywide fringe programme to ensure activity would extend beyond the city centre into neighbourhoods and communities.

Proposal

Moved by Councillor de Faoite,

Seconded by Councillor Lyons, and

      Resolved – That the Committee agrees that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would explore the potential to expand participatory budgeting in respect of community arts and culture events.

            After discussion, the Committee:

i.       noted the progress to date on the development of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann; and

ii.      agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would explore the potential to expand participatory budgeting in respect of community arts and culture events.

            The Committee acceded to a request for representatives of the Belfast City and Region Place Partnership (BCRPP) to present at its meeting in June, 2026.

            The Committee considered a report which sought approval for a market licence to be granted to Urban Events to hold a Titanic Quarter Night Market Evening on 6th and 7th August, and a Titanic Quarter Food Festival on 8th and 9th August, 2026, as part of a programme of complementary activity during the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and to hold a series of Sunday markets in Writers’ Square from 28th June to 30th October, 2026.

The Committee approved:

i.        an external market within the Titanic Quarter as part of the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann; and

ii.      a series of Sunday markets at Writers’ Square.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

            The purpose of this report is to advise members of a range of activity undertaken in 2025/26 to support the development of new and existing businesses across the City. The report sets out key priority areas of work for the 2026/27 financial year, seeking approval of activity to support the delivery of the targets under the ‘Our Economy’ pillar of the Belfast Agenda. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the work undertaken and outputs delivered in the financial year to date

·        Agree the priority work areas presented for the 2026/27 financial year and approve the allocations from the existing 2026/2027 Enterprise and Business Growth budget as set out in sections 3.4-3.10

·        Note and endorse the financial contribution to support the ongoing development of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (work to be coordinated through Newry, Mourne and Down District Council) up to a maximum of £45,000

·        Note and endorse the contribution to support the ongoing delivery of the Northern Ireland Entrepreneurship Support Service (Go Succeed) and the achievement of the Council’s statutory target up to a maximum of £317,415.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       2025/26 Update

            Members will be aware that within the 2026/27 period, the Enterprise and Business Growth team has been working to develop and deliver a range of activity to support the growth and development of new and existing businesses across the city, aligned with the ‘Our Economy’ pillar of the Belfast Agenda. 

3.2       Since April 2025, the team has been working with partners to develop and deliver interventions that address the City’s challenges in relation to low levels of business start-up, innovation, competitiveness, and productivity.  Some of the key achievements in 2025/26 include:

·        Enterprise awareness activity: engaged 1258 individuals through community outreach activity targeting under-represented groups including people with disabilities, individuals who are economically inactive, females and young people providing them with tools to overcome barriers to take positive steps to starting a business. We also enabled test trading opportunities for 48 new businesses through our dedicated start up space at St George’s Market and many of those are seeking to trade at the market on a more regular basis or are exploring alternative retail outlets for their products.

·        Start a business activity: 900 individuals recruited onto the ‘Start’ stage of Go Succeed availing of nearly 5,000 hours of 1-1 mentoring support focused on business plan development and business fundamentals.

·        Support for Social Enterprises and Co-Operatives: 54 organisations were supported with one-to-one mentoring, advice, and guidance. We again delivered the Social Economy Incentive Fund in late 2025, with an available pot of almost £90,000 to support social economy businesses to bring forward their business growth plans.  There were 49 eligible applications for the SEIF, with 22 applicants invited to pitch for funding, 17 applicants were successful with just under £90,000 awarded to support growth goals.

·        Growing a business: 435 existing Belfast businesses supported on the ‘Growth’ and ‘Scaling’ stages of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.