Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor Mullan.

            The Chairman (Alderman Robinson) declared an interest in Item 9(a) insofar as he was Special Advisor to the First Minister; and Councillor McVeigh declared an interest in Item 10(d) Leisure Transformation Programme, in that he was employed by SIPTU.

Presentation and report to follow

            The Committee considered the undernoted request for the use of the City Hall and the provision of hospitality:

Presentation and report to follow

            The Committee was reminded that at the Council meeting on 1st April the undernoted Notice of Motion had been proposed by Councillor Ó Donnghaile and seconded by Alderman Robinson:

      “This Council congratulates the Ireland Rugby Squad on their recent Six Nations win and in particular commends and recognises the contribution of Brian O’Driscoll to the sporting life of Ireland over the last fifteen years.

      The Council requests the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to engage with the IRFU to host, at the earliest convenience for both, a reception/event, led by the Lord Mayor, to recognise the team’s historic win and afford the people of Belfast the opportunity to express their thanks, appreciation and support for our Ireland Rugby heroes.”

            The Motion had been passed unanimously by the Council.

            The Committee agreed that a suitable civic reception be held to mark the occasion.

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 1st April, in considering a minute of the Development Committee in respect of the preparations for the Giro d’Italia, had agreed that the Lord Mayor write to the Environment Minister, Mr. M. Durkan, MLA, encouraging him to introduce legislation to prohibit the erection of election posters along the route of the race until the event was over.

            The Democratic Services Manager reported that a response had been received from the Minister.  In his letter, the Minister had indicated that, whilst the political parties at the Northern Ireland Assembly had expressed their support for a voluntary ban on a display of elections posters, officials within his department had been working to introduce draft legislation to bring the display of election posters under planning control.  In essence, such legislation, as and when it was introduced, would prohibit the display of election posters along the route of the Giro d’Italia until after the race had left Northern Ireland.  Therefore, the display of election posters along the route would be prohibited until Wednesday, 12th May.

            The Minister had pointed out, however, that the effectiveness of such a measure would depend upon the prior cooperation of all of the political parties to agree to abide by the regulations and not to erect posters.  He added that officials from his department would be consulting with key stakeholders, including the Council, to ascertain how each body could contribute towards ensuring that the ban on election posters would be adhered to for the duration of the race.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided and noted also that the ban was now in place and would be effective from 9th till 11th May.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from Pi Communications, which was the Northern Ireland Assembly Broadcasting Unit, seeking authority to access the Council Chamber floor to film a portion (15 minutes) of footage of the Council meeting on 1st May, 2014.  The purpose of the film was to gather high definition footage of a Council meeting in session which might be used in an educational video that Pi Communications was making which was entitled ‘The Importance of Voting’.  It was intended that the footage would be available in time for the Council and European Elections in May.

            The Committee agreed to the filming of a portion (15 minutes) at the beginning of the Council meeting on 1st May, subject to the approval of the Council on that evening.

            The Committee was advised that European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) was an annual event held each October, the overarching purpose of which was to promote a better involvement of citizens in public life, enhance transparency of local government mechanisms and improved social cohesion, in particular among young people and disadvantaged groups.  The ELDW built on Local Democracy Week in which the Council had been involved in previous years by organising and hosting events involving young people from across the city.  In 2012 and 2013, the Council had organised and delivered EurVoice events which allowed pupils from Secondary Schools, Members of the Council’s Youth Forum, representatives of the European Youth Parliament and participants from Community Groups in the City to interact with their local Councillors who undertook the role of Youth Champion within their party.  The events have proven to be very successful and feedback from the Schools, Community Groups and from the Councillors after the events was very positive.  Participants had felt that last year’s event had been an enjoyable and a diverse way for them all to meet on a one-to-one basis and get a sense of and discuss through many mutually important and relevant issues.

            The Committee was informed that EurVoice was a unique community outreach programme designed to engage and empower young people, including those from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds.  The purpose of EurVoice was to provide a platform and framework to allow young people to take ownership of their own opinions, a place in society, to express their views to people in authority and to discover their own importance in shaping the future.  The nature of the event served to influence the role young people could potentially have in local democracy decision-making.  EurVoice was a sister programme to the European Youth Parliament debating event which brought young people together on a national and international level.

            The Democratic Services Manager pointed out that a project steering group had been set-up to organise the event and comprised officers from Community Services, Democratic Services, Corporate Communications and the European Unit as well as external organisations which included the European Commission Office of Northern Ireland and the European Youth Parliament.  Following the success of EurVoice 2012 and 2013, it was felt that it would be worth organising an even more engaging event where both young people and Councillors could meet to discuss the relevant issues which faced young citizens of Belfast and to build on the themes which had been discussed at the previous event.  In addition to the participants who had attended in 2013, invitations would also be extended to young people in the wider community.

            The EurVoice event would take place in the Great Hall on Tuesday, 14th October, 2014 from 12.00 noon until 4.00 p.m. and would target Belfast schools and youth organisations.  A series of activities were planned, including:

·        Participating in a mock voting exercise;

·        Use of technology to conduct an opinion poll on a range of issues affecting young people, enabling instant feedback;

·        Facilitated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

1.1      Members will be aware that the Committee, at its meeting on 4th June, agreed that the existing 6 Standing Committees should be reappointed at the Annual Council meeting on 2nd June for the remainder of the term of office of the Council, which will end on 31st March, 2015.

1.2      Members will also be aware that the Statutory Transition Committee has recommended to the incoming Shadow Council that it appoint 4 Committees in the first instance to take forward the work of planning to take over the administration of the City, with significant additional responsibilities, from 1st April 2015.

1.3      There will also be an urgent need to undertake induction training for incoming Members of the Shadow Council and to undertake training for all Members of both the existing Belfast City Council and the Shadow Council on the new Code of Conduct for Members, as this will apply to Members of both Councils from 25th May, 2014.

1.4      This workload will have significant implications for Members’ time in June, and particularly for those Members who hold a position on both Councils.

2         Key Issues

2.1      A schedule of Committee and other meetings of the existing Council for the period from 25th May till 4th July, has been circulated.

Members are asked to give consideration to the following issues:

2.2      Induction Training Requirements

Incoming Members of the Shadow Council will require to undergo initial induction training and will be required to have a number of logistical matters attended to (bank details, security passes, car park passes etc) in the days immediately following their election.  All Members of the Shadow Council officially take up office on Sunday, 25th May.  Monday 26th May is a Bank Holiday so this initial engagement will need to take place on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May.

2.3      Code of Conduct Training

The new Code of Conduct for Members (which is still being consulted upon) will apply to Members of both the existing Belfast City Council and the Shadow Council and therefore it is essential that early awareness training is undertaken so that Members do not inadvertently fall foul of the Code.  The Local Government Training Group will be advertising in the week beginning 28th April for training providers to deliver this training across the 11 new Councils.  It is envisaged that the training provider selected will deliver the training in partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office, which will be responsible for the investigation of any alleged breaches of the Code.  No doubt all of the 11 new Councils will be seeking to identify early training dates for this training and our Human Resources Section have already stressed the need for the training to be delivered in Belfast before the first meeting of the Shadow Council on 11th June.

2.4      Engagement with Party Leaders

It will be important that the political parties in the Shadow Council appoint party leaders as soon as possible after the elections and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

            The Committee was advised that a request had been received from the Friends of the Irish Guards organisation seeking the use of the City Hall on 31st October, 2014.  The organising committee requesting use of the City Hall wished to use the opportunity to promote the 1st Battalion Irish Guards within the local community.  The Friends of the Irish Guards, which had been formed in April, 1900, wanted to host a gala ball to commemorate the role of the Irish Guards from World War I to the present day.  It planned to invite dignitaries from central and local government as well as senior ranking army officers from London.  The organisers wished to celebrate the achievements of the many people in the Regiment that hailed from Belfast and to mark the charitable work it had been involved with in schools, hospitals and nursing homes.  The Council had hosted a similar type Gala Ball in 2012 to bid farewell to the Irish Guards who had been deployed to Afghanistan.

            The Democratic Services Manager reported that, normally, any request for an event which referenced a major centenary such as the commencement of World War I would be referred in the first instance for consideration by the Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and the Historic Centenaries Working Group.  However, it was unlikely that a meeting of that Working Group would take place prior to August and the proposed event would require a significant lead-in time for organising.  Accordingly, the Committee was being requested to consider the application.

            The Committee granted the use of the City Hall on 31st October for the Gala Ball for the Friends of the Irish Guards organisation.

Minutes of meeting of the Licensing Committee of 17th and 22nd October, 2012

            The Committee was informed that a request had been received from the Ulster Covenant and Historical Society to have a cross exhibition at the East Entrance area of the City Hall followed by a short act of remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.  The Society was a non-profit making organisation and encouraged membership from across both communities.  Although focussing on the 36th Ulster Division, it sought to encourage debate and advance knowledge of the religious and cross-community composition of the 36th and the parallels between it and the 16th Irish Division.  In addition to researching and promoting the history of Ireland at the turn of the 20th Century, it was also involved in keeping alive the memory of those who had fought in World War One.  It also had a special affiliation with the Battle of the Somme.

            The Democratic Services Manager reported that, to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, the Society was putting together an exhibition of crosses.  On each cross would be listed the names of soldiers from the island of Ireland who had died during the First World War and who were commemorated in both the City and Milltown Cemeteries.  In total there were 403 names, 298 of who were commemorated at the City and 105 at the Milltown Cemetery.  Each cross would have 10 names with an abbreviation of the regiment in which the person served.  No ranks were shown and apart from shamrocks and poppies there were no other symbols on the crosses.  For display purposes the crosses would be mounted on 3 boards which were 1 metre square.

            The organisers of the exhibition would like to display the crosses in the East Entrance of the City Hall for one day and then, the following day, move them to the Cenotaph area where there would be a short act of remembrance.  The exact dates of the exhibition were not known at this stage but could be during the month of June.  The exhibition would be promoted through the Society’s own website.  It also expected a lot of media interest because of the significance of the event and because there were many interesting stories about some of the names listed.  A separate request might be made for the Lord Mayor to launch the exhibition and provide a small reception in the Parlour.  In addition, the organisers had also approached the Parks and Leisure Department about having the crosses displayed at both the City and Milltown cemeteries.

            The Democratic Services Manager pointed out that, again, such requests would normally be referred to the Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and Historic Centenaries Working Group but due to the fact that that group would not meet prior to the event it was necessary for the matter to be placed before the Committee for decision. 

            The Committee approved the request for the use of the East Entrance of the City Hall and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0    RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

1.1      Consultation

           The Department of the Environment is seeking views from consultees on its proposals in relation to the new Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillor.  This is a mandatory code of conduct which outlines the principles which will govern the conduct of councillors. 

           The Code will be applicable to all Councillors (both existing and new members) following the election on 22 May 2014 and it will outline the principles and rules of general conduct, disclosure and registration of interests, lobbying and access to councillors, decision making and application of the code with regard to planning matters.  Part 9 of the Code (in relation to planning matters) will not however come into force until 1 April 2015 when planning powers are formally adopted by the new council.  A copy of the consultation document (including the draft Code of Conduct) has been circulated. 

           In order to meet the 30th April deadline for responses, it is proposed that the draft BCC response be presented to the Belfast STC on the 9th April 2014 and then to SP&R on the 25th April 2014. 

           The STC approved the attached response at Appendix 2 at its meeting on the 9th April.

1.2      Code of Conduct

           The Local Government Bill provides for the introduction of a new ethical framework for local government in Northern Ireland, a key element of which is the introduction of a mandatory code of conduct for councillors.  Previously, councillors were guided by a non-mandatory Northern Ireland Code of Local Government Conduct which issued in 2003.

           Once it receives Royal Assent the Local Government Act 2014 will:

·        provide for the introduction of a mandatory Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors (“the Code”)

·        impose a requirement for councillors to observe the Code; and

·        establish mechanisms for the investigation and adjudication of written complaints by the Commissioner of Complaints (NI Ombudsman)

           The mandatory code of conduct will be consistent with the seven Nolan principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership, as well as the four additional principles of equality, promoting good relations, respect and good working relationships that are already adopted by the Northern Ireland Assembly code. 

           The code will detail the standards of conduct that are expected when acting as a councillor and conducting council business, including, very importantly, the discharge of the council’s new planning functions. 

           A draft of the code must be laid before and approved by resolution of the Assembly before it can come into force.

           It is intended that the ethical standards framework should be reviewed after three to four years to assess how it is working and to consider whether any modifications are needed, such as the setting up of standards committees in councils. 

1.4      Role of the Commissioner (investigation and adjudication processes)

           The Bill makes provision for the investigation and adjudication processes that should be undertaken by the commissioner, and it applies relevant provisions of the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

            The Committee approved the commencement of a tendering exercise for the procurement of the specialist support required to develop the Council’s community planning processes at a city and local area level and noted, in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation, the Chief Executive (Designate) would be awarding the contract to the most advantageous tender received. 

            The Committee was reminded that in June, 2012 it had agreed a three year corporate plan to cover the period from April, 2012 till March, 2015.  The Corporate Plan was the key strategic planning document for the organisation which had been agreed and was overseen by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.  It was a high level document which contained key actions across all the Council’s strategic work programmes, including Local Government Reform, Leisure Transformation, the Investment Programme and other significant corporate projects and programmes.  Those actions were incorporated within the estimating process and had been contained in the estimates of expenditure which had been approved by the Committee at its meeting on 10th January.  They had been included also, together with other key departmental actions, in the departmental plans which had been agreed by each of the Standing Committees in March, 2014. 

            The Draft Corporate Plan for 2012-15, Year 3 update contained the following information: Introduction; About the Council; Our Services; Our vision and strategic themes; Our values ;Strategic Themes (actions and indicators); Our city; Our finances; Our Councillors and Our Departments. 

            The Chief Executive explained that the current version of the document would undergo further editing as part of the design and production process before being published on the Council’s website. 

            The Committee approved the draft Corporate Plan 2012-15 Year 3 Update. 

            The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting of the Budget and Transformation Panel of 11th April. 

            The Committee was advised that a request for financial assistance had been received from the City of Belfast Youth Concert Band towards the cost of a tour to Italy.  The Director of Finance and Resources reported that, under Section 37 of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, the Council had a discretion to consider exceptional requests for financial assistance.  A small, special expenditure budget (Grants and Subscriptions) within the Finance and Resources Department made provisions for such requests providing:

·        The Council had the statutory authority to make such payments; and

·        Assistance was not available from the remit of another Committee.

            He pointed out that the request for funding met the criteria previously agreed by the Committee and it was recommended that a contribution of £5,000 be made. 

            Accordingly, it was

            Resolved – that expenditure of £5,000 in respect of the aforementioned event be approved under Section 37 of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, it being the opinion of the Committee that the expenditure would be in the interest of, and would bring direct benefit to the District, and the inhabitants of the District, with the Committee being satisfied that the direct benefits so accruing would be commensurate with the payment to be made. 

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0  Relevant Background Information

1.1Following the release of information by the Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, in response to an Assembly Question, the Belfast Telegraph on the 22 April 2014 published an article on the reserves of local councils at the 31 March 2013.

1.2The article specifically referred to Belfast City Council’s total reserves position of £20.6m at the 31 March 2013.

1.3Belfast City Council’s total reserves positions includes ‘specified reserves’ (£7.3m) approved by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for non recurring purposes and these avoid such expenditure being added to the District Rate. The use of specified reserves has assisted the Council in setting a Zero increase in the District Rate for the past two years.

1.4These specified reserves, all of which have been agreed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, include items such as Local Government Reform £2m, Tall Ships £1.3m, Giro d’Italia £400k, Advice Consortia £426k, Area Interventions £436k, Boxing Strategy £600k, Recycling £568k and Renewing the Routes £645k. 

1.5In addition the Council maintains general reserves (£13.3m) to safeguard the Council from unforeseen, or unquantifiable financial risk.

1.6It should be noted that the Council’s reserves position at the 31 March 2013, including analysis of the total of specified and general reserves, was reported to the Audit Panel and the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee in June 2013. This information was also published on the Council’s external web site as part of the financial statements of the Council.

2.0Key Issues

2.1A number of controls are in place within Local Government to ensure that councils maintain an adequate level of general reserves. These include:-

·        Under the Local Government Finance (Northern Ireland) Act 2011, the Chief Financial Officer is required to submit a report to the Council on the robustness of the revenue estimates and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves. The Act also requires that during the financial year the Chief Financial Officer must keep the financial position under review.

·        The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) guidance on Local Authority Reserves and Balances requires councils to establish a level of general reserves based on the advice of their Chief Financial Officer taking into account all the relevant local circumstances.

·        As part of their work, external Auditors consider whether the financial position of councils is soundly based.

2.2As the CIPFA guidance on reserves and balances requires each Council to assess local circumstances when agreeing the appropriate level of reserves, there is no prescriptive formula assessing the preferred reserves position.

2.3However in December 2009, the Department of the Environment issued guidance suggesting that councils should plan to have minimum general reserve levels of between 5% and 7.5% or just less than one month’s net expenditure. This would suggest a minimum level of reserves of up to £10.8m for Belfast City Council as compared to the reported level of £13.3m.

2.4It should be noted that when reporting the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Minutes of meeting of

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0    Purpose

1.1      The purpose of this report is to update Members on progress towards becoming a living wage employer and propose how this can be implemented.

2.0      Relevant Background Information

2.1      Members will be aware that, at the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 21 February 2014, a notice of motion was tabled regarding the Living Wage.

           It was agreed that the council would take action:

1.     To become a Living Wage employer, in consultation with staff and their representatives, and to revise upwards payment to those employees currently receiving below the living wage level;

2.     To include a commitment to include the Living Wage in all new employment contracts;

3.     To review the extent to which the council’s Living Wage policy might be able to be applied to currently contracted-out services or as each contract comes up for renewal;

4.     To encourage other employers in Belfast to adopt a similar anti low-pay policy for their staff;

5.     To review the ratio between the lowest and the higher paid council officers; and

6.     To ensure that the appropriate Council Committee received reports on progress towards the above at least annually, and initially by April 2014.

           This report deals with points 1, 2, 4 and 5 relating to the provision of a living wage for direct employees of the council.  Point 3 is being taken forward by the Property and Projects Department.

3.0      Key Issues

           Organisation pay structure and equal pay

3.1      To meet Single Status and equal pay obligations, a fair and non-discriminatory pay structure applicable to all staff in the council, was introduced in July 2007.  An equality-proofed job evaluation scheme was used to determine the grade of each job and the pay structure, based on narrow pay scales, each consisting of three or four spinal column points (SCPs), was developed.  Each SCP has an associated salary value in keeping with the recognised National Joint Council (NJC) Local Government Services Scales.  However, following the transfer of both local and central government staff into the council for local government reform there will be  different  pay and grading structures in operation.

3.2      Work will now start on organisation design and restructuring and it is proposed that a review of the pay structure is carried out as part of that organisation work for the new council and supports future work to reduce and manage staff costs effectively as part of the efficiency programme. 

3.3      Best practice recommends that an equal pay review is conducted jointly between management and a trade union representative every three years. A joint review of basic pay was conducted during 2011, with an agreement that the next review would take place 2014/15.  In order for the next equal pay review to be meaningful, it is proposed that this is delayed and carried out as part of the overall pay structure review when relevant employees will have transferred employment to the council on protected terms and conditions. A pay review conducted at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Minutes of meeting of

            It was reported that, in accordance with Standing Order 55 and the authority delegated to him, the Director of Finance and Resources had authorised the appointment of a number of individuals who were related to existing officers of the Council.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0 Purpose of report

1.1The purpose of this report is to request permission to deviate from Standing Orders and to accede to Standing Order 62a exceptions in relation to contracts by direction of the Council acting on a recommendation of a Chief Officer that the exception is justified in special circumstances.

2.0Background

2.1Members will be aware that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment recently announced funding support from the Northern Ireland Tourism Board (NITB) and the ERDF Programme of £18.5m towards the development of new conference and exhibition facilities at the Belfast Waterfront Hall.  The Council is now in receipt of a Letter of Offer from NITB, which sets out a series of conditions associated with the projected economic benefits set out in the Economic Appraisal submitted by the Council in its application for the above funding.

2.2The Director of Development previously reported to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that it was anticipated that the Letter of Offer would require the Council to fully examine a range of operating models and would require the Council to deploy an operating model which provided the maximum economic return to the City.

2.3At its meeting on 24th August, 2012 the Committee agreed that the Director conduct a soft market testing exercise to establish any potential private sector interest.  Four companies subsequently responded to this exercise expressing an interest in operating the new facility.

2.4In parallel with this, a consultancy firm, Excellence in Work, were engaged to provide recommendations on the future operational structures should the operation ultimately remain in-house.  This work will be completed by the end of April 2015 and a report will be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee on this work.

2.5Given the uncertainty around future funding and the future operational model the Development Committee agreed to the recruitment of an Interim Head of Waterfront Hall to oversee operations during any interim operational period.  Despite 2 recruitment exercises it has not been possible to appoint a suitable candidate with the necessary commercial experience to fill the post.

3.0Key Issues

3.1As stated above, the Council is now in receipt of the NITB’s Letter of Offer.  The conditions therein require the Council to ‘fully test a range of operating options for the Project to ensure the operating model deployed gives the greatest return to the economy in line with the targets set out in the Business Case.’  These options range from enhancing the current operating model through to the outsourcing of the operator to an established private sector operator.

3.2In addition the Council is required to ‘provide a transition plan acceptable to NITB outlining the operational and management arrangements within the transitional period’.

3.3The project plan projects the new facilities being open for business in May 2016.  It is important that we immediately develop a sales strategy to build on the business already secured for 2016 and in future years.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21a

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0    Relevant Background Information

1.1The Council is facing an unprecedented agenda of significant HR and organisational development (OD) challenges, many of which are currently being managed through individual projects. These include:

·        Local Government Reform – service convergence (transfer of staff, harmonisation of terms and conditions), transfer of functions (organisation design, capacity building of staff and members), new powers and legislative requirements (organisation/member/officer capacity), revised role for members, new governance and shadow governance arrangements and related programme of capacity building. In particular the new place shaping powers will require a transformation of the entire organisation. 

·        Governance and the future shape of committees in the new Council will also set the context for future organisational design and development work.

·        Leisure Transformation Programme – TU negotiations, new operating model, transfer of staff, TUPE, communication issues and organisational design implications.

·        Investment Programme – job opportunities and work placements and staff implications of Waterfront Hall extension and operating model

·        Efficiency Programme – staff costs including management of absence, agency staff and overtime. Efficiency reviews including review of Security, Fleet and Procurement.

·        Diversity and equality - Review of Good and Harmonious Working Environment; Equal Pay Review; Article 55, Equality Framework and Action Plans; and Gender Action Plan.

·        Best Practice Employer – Living Wage; Casual Workers protocol; Corporate IiP; Health and Well Being Strategy and employee engagement.

2.0Key Issues

2.1Organisational Development and Design

      While the aforementioned HR and OD issues are progressing well within these individual projects, Members are aware that there are only 12 months to the formation of the new Council and there are still considerable challenges ahead.

      Members are also aware of the following recent or imminent developments:

·               The Governance report which was presented to the STC suggested that from June a process is put in place to develop a future organisational development and design and to identify the timeframes for implementation, bearing in mind that the imperative will be to deliver the new functions and to provide services to the new areas on day one of the new Council;  

·        The Chief Executive of the new Council has been recruited;

·        The leisure transformation programme decision will be ratified at the next Council meeting;

·        The recommended new/shadow governance arrangements and high level capacity building needs have been agreed by STC;

·        A notice of motion relating to the early development of a planning resource was referred to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee from the last Council meeting.

      Members have expressed a desire for a timely piece of work in relation to organisation development to ensure the council is fit for purpose in terms of organisation design and capacity.  This needs to be far reaching, joined up, planned and resourced and led by Members.

      This programme of work will be a crucial element of the Corporate Plan to be presented to Members in June and will cut across each of the shadow committees’ work; it will need to integrate all of the aforementioned HR and OD issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Minutes of meetings of

            The Director of Property and Projects submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

1.1      The SP&R Committee agreed at its meeting on the 21^st March 2014 to proceed to awarding the contract for the Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance of the Public Bike Share Scheme, subject to additional resources required for the capital construction being secured from DRD.

1.2      The development of a Public Bike Share scheme is identified as a partnership project in Belfast City Council’s Investment Programme 2012-2015. The primary objective of the Belfast Public Bike Share scheme is to provide a sustainable low cost transport system for the citizens of Belfast and for visitors as well as benefits such as improved health and reduced congestion.

1.3      Phase 1 of the Public Bike Share scheme aims to create a network of up to 30 docking stations supporting 300 bikes with associated infrastructure in the city centre to be implemented by March 2015.  The locations of the docking stations were agreed by the Development Committee on 19^th March 2013 and ratified in the Council meeting on 3^rd April 2014. 

2         Key Issues

2.1      Members were asked to note last month that the submission from the preferred bidder for Lot 1 to Design, Build, Operate and Maintain indicated that the capital cost for Phase 1 will be £1,140,000. The original Council grant award was £698,700 therefore indicating a deficit of £441,300.  

2.2      A supplementary application had however been made to DRD for an increase in grant support to cover the additional capital cost for Phase 1. DRD has considered the Council’s request for £441,303 further capital funding and in a letter to the Chief Executive on 10^th April 2014 they have confirmed that they will meet the full amount of the capital costs of the Public Bike Hire Scheme of £1,140,000.

2.2      Ownership of the proposed bike docking station sites (as listed in Appendix 1) falls into the following categories:

·        Private Ownership

·        Department of Social Development

·        Belfast City Council

·        Department of Regional Development, Road Service

2.3      Definitive locations will need to be agreed between the operator and the Council in line with the contract requirements for a total 30 no docking stations. 

           Legal Arrangements/Agreements

2.4      Sites in Private and DSD Ownership

           It is proposed that the Council shall take a licence of the lands required for the docking stations from private landowners and DSD. Whilst DSD assets are due to transfer to the Council in April 2015 under LGR the public bike hire scheme needs to be implemented by March 2015.  A Licence Agreement will therefore be required with DSD for the period pre LGR transfer.

2.5      The Licence Agreements will permit the Council to use and occupy the sites for the purpose of a Public Bike Share Scheme and the landowners contractual arrangements will be with the Council rather than with the Scheme Operator. This is the preferred approach insofar as it satisfies the landowners and provides  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1       Relevant Background Information

           (i) St Teresa’s GAC, Glen Road: Proposed Sublease:

1.1      The Council lease land (approximately 10 acres) at Glen Road to the Trustees of St Teresa’s GAC for a term of 99 years with effect from January 1993 for the purpose of developing and using playing pitches, clubhouse and ancillary facilities.

1.2      St Teresa’s GAC have requested consent for the granting of a sub-lease to a third party (Ms Nuala McCusker t/a Teach Mhamo) for the development of an Irish Language childcare facility on the land leased from the Council.  Whilst located within the St Teresa’s demise the childcare facility will be run and managed wholly independently from the Club itself.  A variation of the existing Lease that St Teresa’s GAC have from the Council would be required to provide for a change of use.   

           (ii) Grosvenor Recreation Centre – Proposed New Lease with Roden Street Community Development Group Limited

1.3      Roden Street Community Development Group Limited (the Group) occupies Grosvenor Recreation Centre under a ten year Lease from 1 April 1999. A five year extension to the Lease was approved by the Development Committee on 20 April 2009. During their tenancy the Group have successfully managed the Centre and worked in partnership with the Council, local community organisations and a range of statutory agencies to enhance the facilities. The lease extension has now expired and the Group are seeking a new lease for ten years from the 1 April 2014. The Development Committee at its meeting on 18 February 2014 agreed to this new lease subject to the negotiation of the revised terms by the Council’s Estates Management Unit and the drafting of an appropriate legal agreement by Legal Services.

1.4      Roden Street Community Development Group have also secured £250k funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to refurbish and extend the existing toilets, changing area and weights room in the Centre.  A report seeking approval to these works is being brought to the Development Committee on 15 April 2014.

           (iii) Proposed Subleases and Wayleaves to NIE at Cliftonville Playing Fields & Woodlands Playing Fields

1.5      At its meeting on the 8 November 2013 the SP&R Committee approved the terms of a disposal to the Trustees of Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain in respect of approximately 0.85 acres of land together with shared access over approximately 0.49 acres at Cliftonville Playing Fields. The land at Cliftonville Playing fields is held by the Council on a 10,000 year lease granted by the Department of Education (DE) and Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB).

1.6      The Council propose to develop a 3G pitch facility together with changing facilities and flood lighting on the southern portion of the Cliftonville Playing Fields site. Consultants working on the design of the school and the pitches have identified that the existing electricity supply has insufficient capacity to cater for the school, pavilion and pitches.  Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) will, therefore, need to construct  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

            The Committee was reminded that, as part of the City Investment Strategy, it had agreed to co-ordinate the acquisition of lands to enable the Connswater Community Greenway Programme to proceed.  It was reported that the following actions had been identified as being required to complete the Greenway route and associated landscaping which officers had agreed to the following arrangements, subject to the Committee’s approval;

·        To acquire an easement from the Crown estate over the Connswater river bed, following the replacement of a new pedestrian bridge from Bloomfield Parade to Flora Street Walkway, for a premium of £1,000;

·        A management and maintenance agreement with the Belfast Education Library Board for Elmgrove and Belfast Metropolitan College at Montgomery Road to allow the Council to upgrade the entrances to Elmgrove Primary School and Belfast Metropolitan College at Montgomery Road as part of Phase Two of the contract;

·        To grant a license to the Rivers agency for the use of lands at Greenville Park and Dixion Park for a contractor’s compound and working area for the purposes of constructing a new culvert at across Grand Parade; and

·        The making of accommodation works agreement has required to facilitate the construction of Phase Two of the Connswater Community Greenway/Flood Alleviation Scheme. 

The Committee granted the approvals sought. 

Minutes of Meeting of Joint Group

of Party Group Leaders and Historic

Centenaries Working Group

            The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and Historic Centenaries Working Group of 4th April and adopted the recommendation of the Group as follows:

            WW1 Centenaries Event

            To approve a request for hospitality which had been received from Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Chair of the Northern Ireland WW1 Centenary Committee, for the hosting of a reception at Belfast City Hall and a candle Light vigil at the Cenotaph on the evening of Monday, 4th August, 2014 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Good Relations Partnership of 7th April and approved the following:

            Peace III – Implementation Update

            The decision of the Partnership to request that funding of £1,000 be made available to fund an event to publicise the work which had being undertaken by projects being funded under the Belfast PEACE III Plan.

            International Day of Peace 2014

            Authority for the expenditure of a sum of £1,500 for the holding on 19th September of an appropriate event in the City Hall to mark the International Day of Peace 2014. 

            Community Relations Week 2014

            The decision of the Partnership to request that funding of up to £2,500 be made available for the hosting of a “Living Library” event and the launch of a Transition Guide which would take place during Community Relations Week 2014. 

            Meeting of Forum for Cities in Transition

            Authority for expenditure of funding of £25,000 for the 5th meeting of forum for Cities in Transition which would be held in Belfast during October, 2014. 

            Request for Funding – Yad Vashem

            The decision of the Partnership to request that funding of £5,000 be made available to the Yad Vashem organisation, which had been established in 1953 in order to document the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust period, as a financial contribution towards the cost of the exhibition “No Child’s Play” which would relay the personal stories of the children who had experienced the Holocaust.

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1      Members will be aware Belfast, like other communities across the world, is facing the challenges of an aging population. Currently 19% of the population of Belfast is over 60 and this is expected to rise to 36% by 2050.

1.2      Members will also recall the Council has identified older people as a priority within its current corporate plan, and Belfast became the first area in Northern Ireland to join the World Health Organisation Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.  At the Council’s request, Belfast Strategic Partnership has developed a 3 year Age-friendly Belfast Plan which it will implement 2014 -2017.

1.3      The Council’s work programme in this area is directed and overseen by the All Party Reference Group on Older People, currently chaired by Councillor Bernie Kelly.

1.4      On 21st February 2014 the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister launched their Active Ageing Strategy 2014 -2020 for public consultation.

1.5      The strategy is designed to make a real difference to the quality of life for older people and to enable as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits and rewards of life for as long as possible. The strategy seeks to recognise the diversity of older people and challenge the negative stereotype that they are a cost to society when they are actually an asset.

1.6      The aims of this strategy are closely aligned to those within the Age-friendly Belfast Action Plan and it is anticipated its implementation will significantly contribute towards Belfast becoming a more Age-friendly City.

2         Key Issues

2.1      The Active Ageing Strategy sets a vision that “Northern Ireland is an age- friendly region in which all people, as they get older, are valued and supported to live actively to their fullest potential? with their rights and dignity protected”. To help achieve an Age-friendly Northern Ireland the action plan proposes to assist the eleven new Councils becoming members of the WHO Age-friendly Cities and communities network. This would appear to endorse the approach taken by Belfast joining the network in 2012 and producing its 3 year plan in 2014. Age-friendly Belfast should significantly benefit from such support.

2.2      The strategy sets out 5 strategic aims based on UN principles for older people, to promote:

1.     Independence: choice and control in their lives through the co-ordinated delivery of good warm housing in safe neighbourhoods, accessible transport, adequate income and standard of living, access to social networks and good user friendly information and equal access to participation in the workplace.

2.     Participation: active participation of older people in all aspects of life, including social participation which helps address isolation and loneliness and ensures that older people are properly integrated, valued and included in society? to promote the active participation and citizenship of older people in decision making on policies, the provision of services and volunteering opportunities.

3.     Care: equal access to high quality health and social care services, which promote and maintain physical,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

            The Assistant Chief Executive/Head of Human Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.0    Relevant Background Information

1.1      In our Investment Programme we committed to the provision of 400 placement,apprenticeship and internship opportunities and the delivery of 200 jobopportunities over its three year duration. This report is to update Members onachievements regarding the job opportunities and placement targets and to seek agreement to the targets and plans for year three, including the “ring-fencing” of two full-time permanent Recycling Operative job opportunities to the long term unemployed.

1.2      Members will be aware that within years one and two we successfully delivered targeted employability interventions through first piloting the ring-fencing of five Business Support Clerk posts to the long term unemployed, supported by a pre-recruitment and training programme. Building on the success of this in year two we delivered a pre-employment programme in partnership with Grafton Recruitment, whereby five seasonal Cleansing Operative posts were ring-fenced to 30 long-term unemployed participants along with the delivery of a pre-employment programme.

2.0      Key Issues

2.1      Update on job and employability opportunities

           Year one and two targets for both job opportunities and placements were exceeded.  The collective job opportunities target for years one and two of the Investment Programme was 170 and the Council has delivered 509 job opportunities (295 permanent and 214 temporary jobs).  The collective work placements target for years one and two was 340 and 486 placements were provided.   Please see Appendix One for a detailed breakdown of employability interventions and work placements provided.  The year three targets for job opportunities and work placements ( as previously agreed ) are 30 and 170 respectively.

2.2      Our pilot initiative to ring fence five Business Support Clerk (BSC) posts to the long term unemployed and provide a pre recruitment and training programme was the first of its kind in the public sector in Northern Ireland.  This was very well received by our partner organisations and the five successful candidates were appointed to permanent positions in May 2013.Based on the success of this pilot and applying the learning from the evaluation process we successfully implemented a joint pre-recruitment programme with Grafton Recruitment to recruit five long term unemployed people into seasonal cleansing operative posts last year.

2.3      Ten apprenticeship opportunities (for electricians, fleet technicians, painters and gardeners) were offered in March 2013 and successful applicants started employment with Belfast City Council in September 2013.  Sixteen paid one-year industrial placements were also recruited in year two through our ongoing university partnership arrangements.

2.4       Partnership Working

           The Council has worked closely with a number of partner organisations on our employability initiatives in order to achieve the successes of years one and two. In particular in year two we have continued to work with the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) and its lead contractors providing placements for its Steps to Work programme as well as with the LEMIS ( Local Employment Intermediary Services ) providers across the city, providing outreach activities to help  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31a

            The Director of Property and Projects submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.0    Relevant Background Information 

1.1      Members are aware that since their inception the AWGs have played an integral role in recommending investment decisions in terms of LIF and Local Interventions to the SP&R Committee. It was also previously agreed at SP&R in November 2012 that the AWGs would play a central part in recommending decisions related to the Belfast Investment Fund (BIF).

2.0      Area Working Group Updates including LIF and Local Interventions

2.1      At the most recent round of AWGs, officers updated Members on the external meetings they have facilitated on the LIF proposals. In accordance with Council procedures, individual Members declared any conflicts of interest and this was noted in the minutes of the AWG. Members also had the opportunity to discuss potential reallocations of LIF monies for projects which are no longer progressing. On the basis of the information presented, the Shankill and East AWGs have made the following recommendations for the consideration of the Committee:

           SHANKILL AWG -  Local Investment Fund

2.2      The Shankill AWG has made the following recommendation for the consideration of the SP&R Committee in relation to their Local Investment Fund money.  This is from the reallocation of monies from LIF projects which are no longer proceeding (see 2.4  below)

           EAST AWG -  Local Intervention Fund  

2.3      The East AWG has made the following recommendation for the consideration of the SP&R Committee in relation to their Local Intervention Fund money. Members are asked to note that this is out of the original budget allocation of £100,000

           Local Investment Fund – Projects no longer proceeding

2.4      Members will recall that it was highlighted that a number of LIF projects which had received in principle recommendations for funding had made limited progress in terms of going through the due-diligence process and it was likely that a number would no longer be able to proceed for a variety of reasons including the groups’ capacity to manage capital projects, the scale and complexity of some schemes and the fact that many are reliant on match funding that is not yet in place, particularly from SIF.  It was also highlighted that even projects which have gone through due-diligence may still not complete due to a range of external factors including planning and match  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31b

            The Committee was reminded of a recent successful application by the Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Heritage Grant programme for the restoration of the Tropical Ravine in the Botanic Gardens which had secured funding of £2.32 million.  The Heritage Lottery Fund had acknowledged the quality of that application and had reiterated its wish to receive further applications from the Council, particularly under its “Parks for People” programme which had funded many local authority projects across the United Kingdom, including projects in Lisburn, Larne, Derry and Armagh. 

            The Director of Parks and Leisure reported that the “Parks for People” programme provided grants from £100,000 to £5 million.  He pointed out that a project must contribute to a range of outcomes for heritage, people and communities through physical development and programming activities.  The programme, which previously only funded projects in parks, had recently been expanded to include cemeteries.  The Council, through the Parks and Leisure Department and in consultation with the Heritage Lottery Fund, had identified three potential suitable sites for the programme, that is, the City Cemetery, Alexandra Park and Victoria Park.  However, following feedback from visits with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund to each of the sites it was apparent that, whilst all three had potential, the City Cemetery currently presented the greatest opportunity.  Due to the significance of the Cemetery, its design, heritage features and current condition and widespread public interest in the site and its history, a City Cemetery project would appear to meet the following key strategic factors cited by the Heritage Lottery Fund:

·        There should be a definable heritage in design and history;

·        There should be a ‘heritage need’, that is, definable actions which would put the heritage in better condition; and

·        There should be a community/public appetite for the project.

            The Director reminded the Committee further that the City Cemetery was currently was currently an Emerging Project at Stage 1 on the Capital Programme under the wider Falls Park Masterplan project. 

            It was proposed that the Council apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant under the “Parks for People” programme for a project based at the City Cemetery, taking into account the context of the aforementioned Masterplan and with a view to developing a longer term plan for further applications for projects in other areas of the City.  The Director pointed out that the application would follow a similar route to the Tropical Ravine Heritage Grant application, that is, a two stage process, with a maximum of 24 months between the first round and final submission and with the opportunity to apply for development grant to fund the intervening planning work.  The next submission deadline was 31st August, with a decision anticipated in December, 2014.  The final level of grant to be requested would be identified during the development of a first round application.  The initial cost for the development for the first submission would be funded out of the Feasibility fund. 

            The Director explained that, if an application was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Minutes of meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of 19th October, 2012

            The Director of Parks and Leisure submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1.0  Relevant background information

1.1At its meeting in February, the Committee agreed that its preferred business model was the Non Profit Distributing Organisation (also referred to as the leisure Trust).   Authority was also granted to continue consultation with staff and the trade unions on the preferred business model and in particular a series of protections for transferring staff and the affordability of these options.   It was also agreed by Committee that an Equality and Best Value consultation would be prepared for consideration.

      This ‘in principle’ decision was ratified by Council at its meeting in March.   At the same meeting, Council also decided to give the trade unions another six weeks to develop an in-house option, while preparatory work continues for the leisure Trust model. 

2.   Key issues

2.1Purpose and structure of papers

      There are a range of issues that need to be presented for Committee’s consideration, in advance of formally initiating discussions on the business planning and the partnership agreements with the leisure Trust.  The attached papers set out a series of issues for Committee’s consideration.  The issue papers are:

·        Paper 1: Leisure Trust update

·        Paper 2: Trade Union engagement update including APSE in-house model report

·        Paper 3: Outcomes and performance management

·        Paper 4: Legal, financial equality assurances

      These series of papers will inform the development of the partnership agreement, and all of the associated agreements in relation to funding, staff transfer, leasing and management.  These will subsequently be reviewed independently for due diligence purposes, prior to presentation to Committee in August/September. 

2.2LTP: Strategic Principles

      In January 2013, Committee agreed a series of guiding principles for the LTP.  In discussion with Members, these have been refined over the last 12 months:

·        5* service for 3* prices – an affordable and innovative ‘best in class’ customer and community-focussed service

·        Focus on health and well-being outcomes: work with others to improve the health of the population by enabling more people to be more active, more often

·        More than sport: contribute to wider social, environmental and economic regeneration outcomes, linked to the Council’s emerging community plan

·        Value for money: maximise efficiency and income generation opportunities, reducing dependency on Council rate-based funding

·        Democratically accountable: working in partnership with the Council to deliver public benefit and accountable to elected Members to deliver real change in local neighbourhoods

·        Well-connected: well-run, well used leisure facilities which are fit for purpose, attractive and welcoming, with proactive community outreach and marketing

·        People: staff who are well-trained, customer-focussed and participate in the growth of the business

·        Balanced investment: a hierarchy of facilities and services which are welcoming and safe, promoting access for all within each quarter of the city

·        Partnership:  flexible to maximise strategic opportunities in the city, working collaboratively.

      It is recommended that these refined principles are used as parameters to inform the development of the partnership agreement and business plan with the Trust. 

2.3Capital programme

      Phase I

      Members will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32a

Minutes of meeting of the Parks and Leisure Committee of 11th October, 2012

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0    Relevant Background Information 

1.1      Members will recall that the SP&R Committee at its meeting in June, agreed a £105m capital expenditure affordability limit for the leisure transformation programme. This included £38m towards the Olympia and Andersonstown schemes under Phase 1.  The purpose of this paper is to update Members on the current status of these projects.

2.0      Olympia Regeneration

2.1      Members are aware that there is a very tight timescale for the delivery of Olympia given the construction programme for the new Windsor stadium. Phase 1a (development of the new facility) is integral to this development because the project design involves sharing a new roof structure.  In October 2013, approval was given to progress the Olympia project from Stage 2 to Stage 3 – Committed on the Capital Programme however it was highlighted that a number of outstanding issues remained to be resolved including the agreement of a mutually beneficial community benefits partnership with the IFA.  Subsequently the Statutory Transmission Committee at its December meeting consented, subject to conditions to award contracts for the Olympia Regeneration Project.  Members will recall that an update on these issues was taken to Committee last month and all outstanding issues in relation to Olympia were agreed by Members, subject to further information on the mutually beneficial community benefits partnership being brought back to Committee. 

2.2      Members are asked to note that a cross party delegation from the Council met with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure and DCAL officials on Tuesday 15^th April specifically to discuss community benefits to ensure the stadia developments deliver sustained city and community benefits and to ensure that the stadia, leisure facilities and associated public realm are shared, welcoming and safe spaces for everyone. 

           At this meeting it was highlighted that both the Council and DCAL agreed on the importance of sustaining community benefit and there is a need to further refine the specific detail in regard to a community benefits partnership with the IFA.  The Minister noted that all three sporting codes were currently financially supported by DCAL to facilitate engagement with local communities and schools.  It was imperative that any proposed longer term arrangements built on this work, as well as complemented ongoing work supported by the Council and agencies such as Sports NI.  She also highlighted that community benefits proposals were not restricted to sporting activities and could include broader well-being proposals.

           It was therefore agreed at this meeting that community benefit would be looked at across the three sporting codes (with the GAA, IFA and IRFU) and that the Council would convene a meeting between DCAL officials, the three sporting codes and the Council before the end of May to allow for a revised proposal to be brought back to Committee in June. 

           Members are asked to note that a final decision on this must be made by June in order to facilitate the development of the new facility.

3.0      Andersonstown Regeneration

3.1      The project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Minutes of meeting of the Development Committee of 2nd and 16th October, 2012

            The Chief Executive submitted for the Committee’s consideration the undernoted report:

“1  Relevant Background Information

1.1In recognising that the core of the city centre is important to driving growth and investment in neighbourhoods, Committee will be aware that Urban Strategies (Joe Berridge), with Deloitte and ARUP as part of the consultant team, have commenced the development of a Belfast Core City Regeneration and Investment Framework which is due to be complete in September/October 2014.  Urban Strategies have met with the Budget & Transformation Panel and as part of the programme of engagement a public city centre event is planned for June 2014 to make stakeholders aware of the approach, allow comparison with other cities and to test the direction of travel of the plan. 

1.2This is a key opportunity to reinforce the role of Belfast as the key regional driver and the importance of the city centre in planning for future economic growth and competitiveness.  Members will be aware that the Council held the ‘Belfast: Future City’ Conference in May 2013 with around 170 attendees from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. This was designed to build on the State of the City Development Debates and begin the process of ongoing engagement around priorities for city development in the context of the return of regeneration and place-shaping powers to the Council.  This was well received and a conference report was made widely available in the summer edition of agendaNI.  This proposed public city centre event in June clearly aligns and progresses the discussion that took place at the Future City Conference last year.

1.3Members have previously noted that while the focus of this work is initially on the core city and surrounding communities it is important that it is placed firmly within the context of the wider regeneration and planning context of Local Government Reform i.e. the development of the local development plan, the community plan, and area regeneration frameworks.   This report therefore sets out the proposed approach to the event in June, which is provisionally scheduled to take place on 20th June 2014.

2    Key Issues

      Budget & Transformation Panel

2.1Urban Strategies have met with the Budget & Transformation Panel where Members highlighted a number of issues to be taken account of during their work.  This included the need to ensure connectivity between the city centre and local communities in terms of accessibility and mobility and in terms of ensuring that job creation and investment benefit local residents.  The importance of incorporating social clauses into investments was also cited as important to promoting and securing local employment.  The issue of housing in the city centre was noted as well as the importance of creating an attractive city for tourists and residents alike.  Suggestions were also made about the benefit of a city art gallery and a casino in terms of attracting tourists and spend in the city.

2.2In recognising the importance of ensuring connectivity of the city centre and local communities, a separate report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Minutes of meeting of the Health and Environmental Services Committee of 3rd October, 2012

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1  Relevant Background Information

1.1At the 15 April meeting of the Development Committee, members received an update on the Belfast Bursary and agreed to the allocation of £50,000 funding to Prince’s Trust to roll out year 3 of the bursary.  The bursary scheme is an element of the Belfast Investment Programme.

1.2Members were also updated on progress with the bursary being delivered on behalf of the council by Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC).  They were advised that, at a previous meeting of the Development Committee, a number of recommendations were being made regarding the eligibility criteria for the scheme and the potential for these to impact on numbers applying.  Members asked that a report be brought back to a future meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to consider the implications of changing the scheme criteria and to make recommendations on any changes required for the coming academic year. 

2    Key Issues

2.1In order to be eligible for the bursary at present, the criteria are as follows:

-       First year, full-time student at BMC, resident in Belfast City Council area

-       Aged 16-24

-       Household income threshold not to exceed £23,820

-       Students to be studying on one of priority courses focusing on new growth areas, course are at levels 2-5.

2.2The aim of the bursary is to offer an incentive to young people to consider undertaking study in one of the areas in which we project future employment growth to be greatest, as opposed to those areas where new jobs are less likely to be created.  Hence the courses eligible for bursary support cover IT, multimedia, renewable energies, science and tourism and hospitality.  The value of the bursary is £500. 

2.3In the current academic year, Belfast Met reported that 64 students availed of the bursary.  Spend on the awards amounted to £32,000.  A total of 120 students applied for the scheme, of whom 64 were successful and 56 failed to meet one or more of the eligibility criteria set.  Participants were ineligible predominately because they lived outside the Belfast City Council area (principally in Castlereagh) or because the household income levels exceeded the £23,820 threshold.

2.4One of the most significant challenges has been our ability to predict the number of students who will apply for and be eligible to take up the Belfast Met bursary, given that this programme is targeted at first year students on approved courses.  While there is a pool of over 800 students undertaking the priority courses agreed by members, only around 8% of those students met all of the scheme’s eligibility criteria last year.    

2.5Of the successful students, over a third of awards have been provided to young people who live in the top 10% of most deprived wards while over half of the awards have been taken up by young people who live in the top 25% most deprived wards.

2.6Based on last year’s figures, and assuming that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Minutes of meetings of the Town Planning Committee of 4th and 18th October, 2012

            The Committee discussed a number of the issues which had been raised and agreed throughout the meeting in relation to the Leisure Transformation Programme, the update on job opportunities and employability, and the living wage and agreed that press releases in the name of the Chairman and the Party Group Leaders be issued in this regard. 

            In accordance with Standing Order 12, the Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting be submitted to the Council on 1st May for approval.