Agenda and minutes

Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman Copeland, Councillors Anglin and Doherty.

The minutes of the meeting of 8th August were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 2nd September.

There were no declarations of interest reported.

            The Committee was reminded that the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 19th January, 2024, had agreed that the Council would partake in a scoping study for a project to examine the feasibility of establishing a Green Shipping Corridor between Belfast and Liverpool. The project would seek:

·        to mitigate transition risk for the two ports as the global economy decarbonised ensuring that the ports of Liverpool and Belfast served as gateways to trade and investment in decarbonisation technologies; and

·        to position Liverpool and Belfast at the forefront of net zero innovation and as testbeds for commercialising new approaches and technologies.

            The Chairperson welcomed Ms. A. Cousins, Director of Regional Development, Connected Places Catapult, who delivered a presentation in the matter. She explained that the creation of the Belfast/Liverpool green shipping corridor would support in delivering the United Kingdom’s obligations as set out under the Clydebank Declaration.  The corridor, which was one of six envisaged for the Irish Sea area, recognised the role of ports as places which could promote effective energy innovations to support the maritime sector.

            The Committee was advised that the key findings of the study had been as follows:

·        that existing infrastructure was capable of, but needed to be adapted to use methanol and low carbon fuel;

·        that significant investment was required in the national grid; and

·        that there was a requirement to design and deliver new terminal infrastructure.

            Ms. Cousins indicated that multi-agency collaboration and innovation would be necessary to address the issues identified within the study. As such, a range of civic leaders would be required to become advocates for policy change to overcome barriers and to enable progress. In addition, significant investment from both the private and public sectors would assist to realise regional economic benefits. She concluded by outlining the next steps that would be undertaken in progressing the Belfast/Liverpool corridor. 

            Ms. Cousins answered several questions which were posed by Members.

            The Chairperson thanked Ms. Cousins for her presentation and the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Chairperson welcomed Mr. A Crichton, Energy Officer with the City of Edinburgh Council, who delivered a presentation in respect of the Saughton Park Green Energy Project. 

            Mr. Crichton explained that the project had been Edinburgh’s first green-powered, low carbon park. It combined a micro-hydro scheme to generate electricity, together with ground source heat pump, which generated heat for properties across the park. The Committee was informed that the scheme, which had been funded through a range of partners, used Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) technology to provide a low carbon heating solution for the park’s visitor facilities, cafe and greenhouses. In addition, a micro-hydro scheme located on the Water of Leith used an Archimedes Screw Turbine to generate electricity by utilising water flow. He explained that the Council was exploring how similar projects could be replicated across its portfolio to support its target of net zero emissions by 2030.

            Mr. Crichton concluded by reporting that it was estimated that greenspaces in Edinburgh could provide ground source heating to approximately 11 per cent of households, which would be equivalent to the carbon footprint of 15,600 homes using gas to heat their homes each year.

            Mr. Crichton answered several questions which were posed by Members regarding the feasibility of utilising Belfast’s several tributary rivers in similar-type projects.

            The Chairperson thanked Mr. Crichton for his presentation and the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To provide an update on the sustainable food programme for Belfast.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

i.       Note the contents of the report.

ii.      Note the ongoing work of the Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership and the city’s success in re-establishing its Bronze Sustainable Food Award status.

iii.    Note that the Sustainable Food Strategy work is underway and due for completion by April 2025.

iv.    Note the progress that has been made on the Horizon 2020 UPSURGE project and agree to request a six-month project extension until February 2026, subject to agreement by the funders.

v.      Agree to a knowledge exchange and learning programme for the UPSURGE project being developed through the Sustainable Food Partnership’s Community Growing Working Group, subject to agreement by the funders.

vi.    Note the work ongoing to establish a baseline of community growing space in the city, and agree this approach is developed further.

vii.   Note the grant offer from the Shared Island Fund to test community growing within the UP2030 area, partnering with Cork Food Policy Council to work collaboratively to improve community growing provision in both cities.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award

            Belfast previously achieved its Bronze Award from Sustainable Food Places in 2016 but it had since lapsed and needed to be renewed. A previous unsuccessful attempt for Bronze in September 2023 indicated that there wasn’t sufficient evidence of partnership working for it to be renewed. The Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership has now been established and collectively developed a new bid for Bronze in June 2024 which has been successful.

            Funding from Sustainable Food Places for a Sustainable Food Coordinator role (0.3FTE) to support the bid for Bronze has now ended. The role to date has been delivered by the Adaptation and Resilience Advisor in the Climate Team. Given the expansion of the programme during this period, there is now a need to resource the Sustainable Food Programme work through an additional temporary part time post (1 day per week) shared between the Climate and Anti-Poverty & Inclusive Growth teams for two (?) years. This will help service the Partnership and its working groups and help develop a Sustainable Food Strategy and a 3 year plan to progress to Silver Award status in line with the Belfast Agenda. This work is currently underway, with the Strategy due for delivery by April 2025.

3.2       Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership

            The Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership was established in August 2023 and currently has twenty-three individual partner organisations, representing local and regional government, businesses, and the community and voluntary sector. The Partnership has met five times to date and delivered two food network events to over 200 members of the public. A cross council officer workshop has also helped identify the key areas that the Council is responsible for and can influence, in relation to sustainable food. This includes food poverty, waste, environmental health, community growing, procurement, climate,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

            The Committee noted an update in regard to the Notices of Motion which had referred to the Committee for its consideration.