Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported on behalf of Councillors Bunting and Groogan.

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

            The information contained in the report associated with the following item 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 item as, due to the nature of the item, 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 the ‘restricted’ report and any discussion which took place during the 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 reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 4th June, 2025, it had agreed to defer consideration of the Council’s response to the outcome of the York Street Interchange Placemaking and Active Travel Review (PATR), as presented to the Committee by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), to a special meeting in June, 2025.

            The Director submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which summarised the main issues raised by Members following DfI’s presentation to the Committee on 28th May, 2025, and during discussion at its meeting on 4th June, 2025.

            The Director highlighted that the report outlined recommended key points for inclusion in a Council response to the Minister for Infrastructure.

            During discussion, the Director advised that additional issues raised by the Members would be included as part of a formal response from the Council.

            After discussion, the Committee:

i.      agreed the Council’s position in relation to the outcome of the Department for Infrastructure’s York Street Interchange Placemaking and Active Travel Review, as outlined within section 4 of the report; and

ii.     agreed that the Council’s position be formally issued to the Minister for Infrastructure.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 4th June, 2025, it had received a presentation from representatives of the Belfast City and Region Place Partnership (BCRPP) which provided Members with an update on the BCRPP programme of work for 2024/25 and the proposed approach for 2025/26. Following the presentation, the Committee had agreed to defer consideration of the Council’s investment towards the delivery of the BCRPP 2025/26 programme of work, to a special meeting in June, 2025, to enable further detail to be provided in respect of community engagement.

            The Director submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the work of the BCRPP in relation to community engagement and recommended, as set out in the report, that the BCRPP consider the establishment of a Community Forum/Reference Group to provide a mechanism for representatives from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sectoral Advisory Panel for Community Planning to engage with members of the BCRPP.

            During discussion, several Members welcomed the update which had been provided and the recommendation, as outlined within the report, to the BCRPP that a Community Forum/Reference Group be established.

            In response to a Member’s query, the Director advised the Committee that there had been positive engagement between officers and representatives of the BCRPP in respect of the potential establishment of a Community Forum/Reference Group.

            After discussion, the Committee:

i.      agreed to recommend to the Belfast City and Region Place Partnership (BCRPP) that a Community Forum/Reference Group be established to provide a mechanism for representatives from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sectoral Advisory Panel for Community Planning to engage with members of the BCRPP as outlined within the report;

ii.     noted that this recommendation would be considered by members of the BRCPP; that the geographic remit of the BCRPP was the Belfast City region; and that the BRCPP public and private membership included Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) partner councils; and

iii.    approved Council investment, from the existing and approved City Regeneration and Development Budget, as part of the wider public and private sector partnership contribution towards the delivery of the BCRPP 2025/26 programme.

            In accordance with Standing Order 14, the Committee agreed that, as the meeting had been held later than seven clear days before the meeting of the Council, the minutes of the meeting be submitted to the Council on 1st July, 2025, for ratification.