Agenda and minutes

            No apologies for inability to attend were reported.

            The minutes of the meeting of the Committee of 12th January 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 February.

            Councillor McMullan declared an interest in respect of item 5(a) on the agenda, under the heading ‘External Market Application - Banana Block’, in that he was on the Eastside Partnership Board.

            The information contained in the report associated with the following two items was 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 five 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 Economic Development informed the Committee of the contract status of the Continental Market and the intention to issue a new procurement exercise in the coming months and gave the Members an overview of the impact the 2021 Christmas Market had on the city.

The Committee:

·        Noted the contract status of the Continental Market and the intention to issue a new procurement exercise in the March 2022, subject to approval by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee;

·        Noted the early feedback on the 2021 market and performance in previous years; and

·        Noted the emerging issues for consideration as part of the upcoming procurement exercise and agreed with the proposals included in the report. 

            The Director of Economic Development and the Culture and Tourism Senior Manager provided the Committee with an update on the outcome of the most recent two-year cultural multi-annual grants funding process.

            The Committee:

·        noted the contents of the report and agreed to the recommendations for cultural multi- annual grants 2022-2024 and extension of Pathfinder grants; and

·        agreed to operate and exercise Delegated Authority for small grants including Arts and Heritage Project Funding and Community Festivals Fund 2022/23.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy reported that correspondence had been received from the Minister for Infrastructure and Translink in response to a Motion which had been passed by Council at its meeting on 10th January, which requested the implementation of a pilot scheme of free public transport for young people in Belfast.

The Committee:

·        noted the correspondence as set out in the report; and

·        agreed to write to the Finance Minister, with reference to the Council’s ambition for a greater allocation of funding towards public transport infrastructure.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy referred to the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy (BCCRIS) which had been produced by Belfast City Council in 2015 and had, subsequently, been adopted by the Department for Communities and represented the agreed regeneration policy for the city entre and outlined the aspirations for continued growth and regeneration.

            He informed the Committee that the Belfast City Centre Regeneration Tracker provided a snapshot of regeneration activity during 2021 and provided the Members with a presentation which outlined progress linked to each of the undernoted eight core policies of BCCRIS:

·        Increase the residential population;

·        Increase the employment population;

·        Manage the rental offer;

·        Maximise the tourism opportunity;

·        Create a regional learning and innovation centre;

·        Create a green centre, accessible to cyclists and walkers;

·        Connect the surrounding city; and

·        Enhance shared space and social impact.

The Committee noted that a further comprehensive summary report on the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy would be brought back to the Committee, which would provide a detailed update on the various thematic areas, projects and Special Action Areas as identified within BCCRIS.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development reported that the Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, and the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D., had announced the launch of an all-island Strategic Rail Review in April 2021 and that a consultation paper had been subsequently published in November, which aimed to consider how the rail network on the island of Ireland could improve sustainable connectivity between major cities, enhance regional accessibility and support balanced regional development.

            She pointed out that the New Decade New Approach Deal, which had been published in 2020, to restore the power-sharing Executive included a commitment to achieve greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, by road, rail and air, and that officers had, through the Department for Infrastructure and the initial consultancy team, provided the outworkings from the pre-feasibility stage into the Strategic Rail Review and would continue to engage through these forums and report back to the Committee at the appropriate stages.

            She referred the Members to the Council’s consultation response to the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which invited respondents to rank a number of policy opportunities that a better connected and high-speed rail network would present for an island economy.  She informed the Committee that the Council response ranked the policy opportunities in the following order:

1.     Improve All-Island connectivity between major cities;

2.     Foster economic activity;

3.     Contribute to decarbonisation;

4.     Encourage sustainable mobility;

5.     Achieve economic and financial feasibility; and

6.     Enhance regional and rural accessibility.

            She stated that, in line with the timeframes of the consultation, the response had been submitted with a caveat that the response would remain subject to agreement by the Committee and subsequent ratification by full Council at its meeting in March.

            The Committee:

·        Approved the Council’s consultation response submission to the All-Island Strategic Rail Review;

·        Noted that the response had been submitted by the closing date of 21 January 2022, on the basis that it would remain subject to the approval of this Committee and subsequent Council ratification in March; and

·        Noted that the expansion of rail halts along the Shore Road, previously agreed by Council in its response to the BRT Phase 2 - Draft Consultation, would be included in the final response.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to consider the Council’s response to the public consultation by the Department for Communities (DfC) in relation to the Draft Housing Supply Strategy.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to:

·        Note that DfC has published a consultation on the Draft Housing Supply Strategy with a closing date of 9th February 2022 for responses.

·        Approve the draft response to the consultation for submission to DfC, noting that this has drawn upon the extensive Call for Evidence Council submission from July 2021 (as per Council ratification in September 2021), as well as comments from Members at the CG&R Committee Housing Led Regeneration Workshop on 26th January 2022. Given the deadline for submission the response will be submitted as draft pending Council ratification in March 2022.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Draft Housing Supply Strategy

            Members will be aware that the Communities Minister announced in her statement to the Assembly on 3rd November 2020 that officials were to commence work on the development of a fundamental Housing Supply Strategy (HSS), as a key part of the housing programme to help meet Programme for Government commitments to reduce housing stress and increase housing supply.

3.2       In May 2021, the Minister launched a public Call for Evidence (CfE) to inform this new Housing Supply Strategy. Council submitted an extensive response to the Call for Evidence in July 2021.  This response was brought via Party Group Leaders and CG&R Committee in August 2021 and the final response ratified by Council in September 2021.

3.3       Members will recall that the Department outlined the development of HSS would be delivered in six phases as follows:

            Phase 1 - Pre-development work (completed)

            Phase 2 - Call for Evidence and Research Review (completed)

            Phase 3 - Engagement (completed)

            Phase 4 - Data synthesis (completed)

            Phase 5 - Triangulation of Evidence/Policy Options (completed)

            Phase 6 - Consultation on Draft Housing Supply Strategy

3.4       This current and final phase, phase 6 Consultation on Draft Housing Supply Strategy, emphasises the central role of people, places, and communities in considering and delivering on housing needs and demands. The Department have advised that collaborative working across central and local government and with the private and voluntary and community sectors, as well as the lived experiences of a range of users, have been used to help shape solutions to help ensure the Strategy will make a difference to the challenges facing the housing supply system. Responses to the questions within this consultation will be analysed, along with any other sources of evidence and information to help finalise the Housing Supply Strategy

3.5       The department published the consultation on the Draft HSS on 8th December 2021 with a closing date of 9th February 2022. The Department has highlighted that it welcomes and encourages responses from all interested parties, and they are keen to hear from a wide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Director of Economic Development provided the Committee with an update on the work that was being carried out to support local commercial districts through the Supporting Vibrant Businesses Destinations Programme.

            He reminded the Committee that, at its meeting in October 2021, the Members had been advised that, following discussion with the Department for Communities, an opportunity had been identified to secure resources through the DfC Revitalisation Programme and that the Enterprise and Business Growth Team had subsequently secured funding of £475,000.  He reported that the funding would be supplemented by a £30,000 contribution from Council resources for the delivery of advice and support to assist with the scheme and that the pilot initiative aimed to support up to ten business association to a maximum of £40,000 each for expenditure on a range of eligible activities.

            He reported that the initiative would operate over a 21-month period and would have a two-stage application process and outlined the basic eligibility criteria to the Committee.

            He informed the Committee that the Enterprise and Business Growth Team had been coordinating the programme of work in partnership with the City Regeneration and Development Team with input from officers across the Council, DfC and DfI.

            He added that Communications and marketing activity had commenced to raise awareness of the scheme and that officers had been receiving expressions of interest and were engaging with applicants, offering guidance and advice, as required.

            The Committee:

·        Noted the update on the work to support the delivery of area-based Vibrant Business Destinations;

·        Noted that the pilot initiative was currently open to Expressions of Interest from local business/traders groups located outside the city centre and Business Improvement Districts; and

·        Noted that this work intended to complement a wider programme of support and activity that was taking place within the city centre, including the targeted interventions to address vacancies and previous business support interventions through the Revitalisation Programme.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Committee on the ongoing DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme including an Extension of Time to the Programme and the reallocation of underspends.  To also update Members on upcoming Ministerial Advisory Group Design Review Workshops and the ‘Connecting Communities in North Belfast to the Wider Regeneration of the City’ Seminar being organised by Healthy North Belfast

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Committee Members are asked to:

·        Note that an Extension of Time has been formally granted for the DfC Covid -19 Revitalisation Programme until September 2022.

·        Note the current level of underspend within the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme and reallocation of funding to the Church Lane & Linen Quarter schemes.

·        Agree the reallocation of underspend from the Council funded (Non-Recurring money agreed at June 2021 SP&R) from the Business Cluster and Community Grant Scheme underspend to the previously agreed Linen Quarter Bid projects, with the remaining underspend to be allocated to the wider Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme.

·        Agree that given timescales, and in line with the CG&R Committee approval in August 2021 that future underspends realised within the programme are utilised to meet additional costs on previously agreed and committed projects, that this Committee delegate authority to the Director of City Regeneration and Development to reallocate the remaining unallocated underspend  and any further underspends to meet cost increases on previously agreed and committed projects and to report back to this Committee retrospectively.

·        Note the proposed Ministerial Advisory Group Design Review Workshops and agree the attendance of the CG&R Chair and Deputy Chair or their nominated representatives.

·        Note the upcoming ‘Connecting Communities in North Belfast to the Wider Regeneration of the City’ seminar which is being held on 9 February.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Background

            The CG&R Committee have received regular updates and provided approvals relating to the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme, providing updates on the £4.039m capital programme including providing approvals on time and budget implications. In August 2021 Members were updated on the Extension of Time to the programme from September 2021 to March 2021, and Members agreed that any further underspends realised within the Programme are utilised to meet any additional costs incurred on previously agreed and committed projects with updates on these reallocations to be brought to this Committee at a future date.

3.2       Main Report

            Extension of Time

            A summary status update of the projects within the Programme are included within Appendix 1 of this report. Members are asked to note in particular the status of the Castle Place Kiosk and the Entries Phase 2 which are at risk of overrunning the Programme deadline of March 2022 due to ongoing Statutory Process. While officers are working with the Statutory Agencies to bring these issues to a close Members are asked to note that an Extension of Time until September 2022 has been requested and approved by DfC to enable these matters to be addressed. The remaining elements of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Director of Economic Development informed the Committee that an application had been received on behalf of Firefox Events for a market to be held in Banana Block at Portview Trading Centre, Newtownards Road, and that the application requested that the market be held monthly from February to December 2022, involving up to 40 traders at each event.

He pointed out that the purpose of the market was to showcase the range of food and drink produced in Northern Ireland and that it would operate on Saturdays, from 2pm to 7pm, therefore, it would complement and not compete with the offer at St. George’s Market. 

He advised the Committee that the organisers had a strong working relationship with Eastside Partnership and other local stakeholders and that the businesses and residents in the area were fully supporting of the application.

The Committee granted a market licence to Firefox Events to hold monthly Saturday afternoon markets in the Banana Block, Portview Trade Centre, between March and December 2022

The Director of Economic Development reported that, as part of the City of London Corporation’s (COLC) regional strategy, it had committed to engage with cities across the United Kingdom, of which Belfast was one.  Since the launch of the strategy, Belfast City Council had been working collaboratively with COLC to cultivate a positive working relationship and partnership to foster innovation, growth and economic prosperity. 

He reported that a series of events had been delivered to showcase Belfast as a location of choice for the Fintech sector and that a further event had been scheduled to take place on 8th March, 2022 at the Guildhall, London.  He informed the Committee that the aim of the event was to publicise Belfast and the region’s leading role in Financial Services and Fintech, and to highlight future investment opportunities stemming from City Deal investments, such as, the Global Innovation Institute and Digital Twin.

He stated that event attendees would include senior representation from key stakeholders across the sector, fund managers and representatives from financial services and fintech businesses from Belfast and London.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Long,

            Seconded by Councillor Howard,

      That the Committee agrees to note the update on the aim of the event and the broad itinerary and approves attendance at the event by the Lord Mayor, Chair and Deputy Chair of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee or their nominees.

On a vote, sixteen Members voted for the proposal and one against and it was declared carried.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Members on the investment model for the cultural strategy and to set out proposals for a dedicated programme of work to support artist-led organisations in the city.

2.0       Recommendations

            The Committee is asked to:

-       Agree to open a new funding scheme for artist led organisations to provide financial and development support as set out at 3.7 subject to officer recommendations being approved at a future meeting of Committee.

-       Agree to develop long-term options for the sustainable provision of artist studios in the city aligned to the priorities of the cultural strategy to be presented to a future meeting of Committee.

-       Agree to write to the Department for Communities and Arts Council of Northern Ireland to request that a joint response is taken forward to the current crisis in studio provision.

-       Agree for officers to operate a rolling support programme of micro-grants to artist-led organisations as set out at 3.13 to be approved by delegated authority.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       A City Imagining cultural strategy for Belfast recognises the need for long-term commitment over a decade in order to drive transformation. It presents a dynamic model for change to ensure resilience to external factors and potential social, economic and environmental shifts.  While the full impact of Covid-19 still remains unknown and the level of change to the city’s cultural and community infrastructure is uncertain, the strategy remains valid presenting a strong framework for a robust and long-term recovery plan

3.2       In support of the ambitions set out in this strategy an Investment Model was agreed with phased implementation. To date this has resulted in the introduction of a number of funding strands and employment opportunities for cultural organisations and practitioners. These have included:

-       Cultural multi-annual grants

-       Small grants including Community Festival Funding

-       Micro-grants and Leadership Awards

-       Creative Bursaries

-       Pathfinder Development Awards

3.3       The diversification of the investment model recognised that the one sizes fit all model of funding does not deliver the best outcomes for the city and fails to increase the sustainability of the sector. Therefore, the design of these new programmes has been based on engagement with the sector and learnings from other cities. However, from the outset it was recognised that a targeted programme of support was required for artist studios and maker-spaces. This in part is due to the value of artist-led spaces not being effectively captured through traditional metrics such as income generated through ticket sales or audience figures. With the cultural multi-annual grants (4 year and 2 year) being agreed in February 2020 it was agreed that an alternative form of funding would be developed for artist-led spaces with the latest audit identifying 17 studios/ artist-led organisations in Belfast directly supporting an estimated 450 artists. Belfast City Council’s current support programmes do not include any of these organisations as annual or multi-annual  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy provided the Committee with an update on the Notices of Motion which had been assigned to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee and referred the Members to five Motions which had been recommended for closure.

            The Committee:

·        Noted the updates to all Notices of Motion that the Committee was responsible for; and

·        Agreed to the closure of five Notices of Motion.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members will be aware that, as part of Local Government Reform in 2015, responsibility for business start-up and support for under-represented groups in the field of enterprise support transferred to councils.

1.2       The Department for Communities (DfC) has recently launched a consultation on The Local Government (Performance Indicators and Standards) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022.  This consultation outlines proposed changes to how business start-up activity is measured.  The purpose of this report is to provide members with an update on the consultation, identify the impact for Belfast City Council and set out a proposed response to the consultation on behalf of the council. The response will be submitted, subject to full Council approval.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to:

·        Note the current consultation process and the implications for Belfast City Council

·        Approve the outline response to the consultation on The Local Government (Performance Indicators and Standards) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022, as set out in section 3.8.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members will be aware that, as part of the transfer of functions and Local Government Reform, responsibility for business start-up and support for under-represented groups in terms of enterprise support transferred to councils.  With the transfer of responsibility came a nominal financial allocation deemed appropriate to support delivery of the relevant services and based on existing budget allocations. 

3.2       At this time, DfE set the job targets based on the 2011-2015 Programme for Government (PfG) target for the existing start-up programme (‘Go for It’). This was to create 6,500 local jobs, or 1,625 jobs per year.  These jobs were then split across each council area, based on an economic appraisal carried out at that time.  These job targets have remained in place since that date. For Belfast City Council, the annual performance target through the Go For It programme is 325 jobs created through the development of a client-led business plan.

3.3       The Department for Communities has now launched a consultation on The Local Government (Performance Indicators and Standards) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022, to take account of proposed changes to these targets.  The consultation period runs to 28 February 2022. The purpose of this consultation is to align targets with activity being delivered through the Regional Business Start-up Programme 2021-2023.

3.4       For Belfast City Council, there is no amendment to the annual job target figure, with the target remaining as 325.  This is in line with the current annual programme targets in the Go for It Programme. As such, we have no specific objection to the current proposal, on the understanding that it is a short-term measure that will be reviewed in 2023.  However we consider that there is an opportunity to use the existing consultation exercise to formally raise a number of concerns about the methodology associated with target setting, in order to ensure that there is alignment with the work underway across all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

            The Director of Economic Development requested that the Committee would agree to receive a presentation from Visit Belfast at its meeting in March 2022.

            The Committee acceded to the request to receive a presentation from Visit Belfast.