Agenda and minutes

            No apologies were reported.

            The minutes of the meeting of 9th April 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 May.

            Councillor Smyth declared an interest in relation to item 2(c) ‘Coach Operators Update’ in that his wife was employed by an organisation referenced in the report and left the meeting whilst the item was under consideration.

            Councillor R. McLaughlin declared an interest in relation to item 3(a) ‘Request to Present – Belfast City and Region Place Partnership (BCRPP)’ in that he was a member of the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and left the meeting whilst the item was under consideration.

            The information contained in the reports associated with the following three 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 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 provided the Committee with an update on the Vacant to Vibrant Scheme and outlined the recommendations from the Vacant to Vibrant Assessment Panel following the receipt and assessment of recent applications.

            The Committee:

i.       noted the update in relation to the Vacant to Vibrant Programme and that it would be supporting up to 58 businesses/organisations to locate or expand into long term vacant units; and

ii.      agreed the recommended city-wide grant award as outlined within Section 3.19 of the report.

            The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the ongoing work strands in relation to revitalisation funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) for the Sandy Row and Grosvenor Road areas.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development advised the Committee that a formal application would be submitted to DfC in respect of funding for the proposed Grosvenor Road Revitalisation Scheme and outlined the potential eligibility criteria, subject to DfC approval.

            Several Members thanked the officers for the work that had been undertaken to date in relation to support for the areas of Sandy Row and Grosvenor Road.

The Committee:

i.       noted the update on the DfC funded Sandy Row Revitalisation Scheme;

ii.     noted the update on the potential DfC funded Grosvenor Road Area Revitalisation Scheme; and 

iii.    agreed the potential eligibility criteria for the Grosvenor Road Area Revitalisation Scheme, as outlined within the report, subject to DfC approval.

            The Senior Manager Culture, Tourism and Events provided the Committee with an update in relation to hop-on hop-off coach provision within the city centre and the development of a Voluntary Code of Conduct for tour operators.

            She reminded the Committee that, at its meeting in May, 2024, it had agreed, in principle, to sign up to a draft Code of Conduct along with Visit Belfast, other statutory agencies and operators.

            It was reported that there had been continued engagement with operators and partners through a Visit Belfast coordinated forum to develop the Voluntary Code of Conduct and associated endorsement mark for operators.

The Committee approved;

i.       the continued engagement of Council officers with the Visit Belfast coordinated forum;

ii.      that the Council be a signature on the Voluntary Code of Conduct for hop-on hop-off coach operators; and

iii.     the use of an endorsed quality mark by compliant operators.

The Committee considered a request from the Belfast City and Region Place Partnership (BCRPP) to present at a future meeting an update on its current programme of work, proposed activities for 2025/26 and its priority issues and objectives for moving forward.

The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from BCRPP representatives at its meeting in June, 2025.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report / Summary of Main Issues

            The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update on funding received from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to support connectivity, placemaking and active travel projects aligned with A Bolder Vision Key Move of Embracing the River. This paper also provides an update on three public realm improvement works schemes, currently under design development and funded or part funded utilising Developer Contributions: Blackstaff Square, 5Cs and Little Patrick/Little York Street.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to:

                                             I.   Note the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) funding received to support the development of the Under the Bridges project and Sailortown-Titanic Quarter Bridge proposals and the timeframes associated with the next steps.

                                           II.   Note the update on progress in relation to the Little Patrick/Little York Street, 5Cs and Blackstaff Square Developer Contributions schemes and the timeframe for the associated planning applications.

3.0       Main report

3.1       DfI Active travel funding

            In January 2025 Members were advised that Council submitted applications for the DfI Greenways and Active Travel Enabling funding to avail of within the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years and, subject to funding approval, approved the progression of the projects outlined below.

3.2       The Letters of Offer were received from DfI on 21 March 2025 for the three projects, Under the Bridges, Sailortown-Titanic Quarter Bridge and the Belfast Bikes expansion, with full expenditure required by 31 March 2026.

·        Under The Bridges (UTB): Expanding on the ‘North-South Spine’ project following the Waterfront Framework, UTB seeks to improve connectivity provision including new public realm, active travel infrastructure and reimaging open spaces under the M3 bridges.

·        Sailortown-Titanic Quarter Bridge: Improving connectivity provision with a focus on active travel infrastructure and associated public realm provision.

·        Belfast Bikes: Introduction of e-bikes into the scheme; supply and commissioning of 300 new pedal bikes and 100 e-bikes

3.3       Under The Bridges (UTB)

            Expanding on the ‘North-South Spine’ project following the Waterfront Framework, the UTB project seeks to provide a safe connectivity between the City Centre and the Sailortown / City Quays area including new public realm, active travel infrastructure and reimaging underutilised spaces under the M3 bridges to improve safety and to bring forward innovative outdoor leisure uses that can provide amenity space for local residents and users of the area. This project is being brought forward in conjunction with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, as a co-client for the delivery of the project. As detailed in January 2025, the funding will build upon the initial feasibility study and progress the technical design development for Under the Bridges placemaking and connectivity project to RIBA Stage 3, including Planning approval of a viable proposal that can be used to seek future capital funding. In line with the RIBA Plan of Work, preparation of design information to Stage 3 would include:

·        RIBA Stage 3 Report

·        Outline Specification

·        Cost Plan

·        Planning application submitted

3.4       In order to meet the DfI spend deadlines, procurement for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

            The Strategic Director, Place and Economy submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report and associated appendices in relation to the Committee’s End of Year Report for 2024/25 and the draft Committee Plan for 2025/26.

            During discussion, in relation to the draft Committee plan for 2025/26, a Member suggested that the plan should include a focus on progressing proposals in respect of commercial assets, including Belfast Zoo, Belfast Castle and Malone House, with a plan to move them toward more sustainable models.

            The Member highlighted that, given the Committee’s role in relation to regeneration and the updates provided to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the City Regeneration Members’ Working Group, it should receive more regular updates on regeneration and development issues.

Accordingly, the Committee:

i.       noted the contents of the End of Year Report for 2024/25;

ii.      approved the draft Committee Plan for 2025/26, subject to additional performance information being brought to the Committee meeting in June and provision being made in relation to consideration of the long-term sustainability of commercial assets;

iii.     approved the priority work areas and budget allocations as set out in the Culture Development and Tourism and Events Workplans for 2025/26; and

iv.    approved the 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 £35,000; and

v.     agreed that it should be provided with more regular updates in relation to city regeneration and development issues and to recommend to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that the requirement for the City Regeneration Members’ Working Group be reconsidered.

            Councillor de Faoite raised concern in relation to a recent announcement by the US President that he would authorise the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to immediately begin the process of imposing a 100 percent tariff on films produced outside of the US.

            At the request of Councillor de Faoite, the Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the Minister for the Economy, the UK Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism and the Irish Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport to highlight the importance of the local film and creative industries to Belfast and its concern in relation to the potential impact of any proposed US tariff on films produced outside of the US.