Agenda item

            The Director of Property and Projects referred the Committee to the undernoted report and illustrated a number of physical projects throughout the city:

“1.0     Background

1.1       Members will be aware that in February 2012 the Council launched an ambitious Investment Programme in a response to the challenges presented by the economic downturn which was supported by all the political parties within the Council. However Members aspirations for the city did not stop at the Investment Programme.

1.2       During the implementation of the Programme the context around the Council changed with the advent of Local Government Reform (LGR) in 2015 which brought with it more powers including planning, community planning and economic development. The success of the achievements under the Investment Programme and the enhanced responsibilities of the new Council have further strengthened the ambitions of our Members and the unique role of the Council as the place-leaders in helping to make Belfast a city of choice for investment, events and living. 

1.3       However a key challenge for the Council going forward is to ensure that the investment, both the investment by the Council under the IP and ongoing investment combined with investment by partners, translates into real and tangible outcomes for the city – i.e. that it is not just about building buildings but rather that the physical programme of delivery in the city becomes an enabler delivering a transformational impact and maximum economic and regeneration outcomes.

1.4       This report outlines for Members a number of key achievements from 2012 till now including targets laid out in the Investment Programme and an overview of the key projects.  The report also outlines the key role that the City and Growth Committee will play going forward in the ongoing monitoring and management of the physical projects which have an economic impact.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to note

·        the key achievements outlined in 3.3 below and that a detailed presentation will be given to Committee on the 9th on the key successes, current projects and next steps

·        that there is massive physical investment either completed, already underway or planned across the city.  This includes a range of Council projects which were designed to enhance the city’s economic infrastructure including the Waterfront, Innovation Factory and the North Foreshore

·        that a key role of the City & Growth Committee going forward will be manage and monitor the economic outcomes of physical projects once these have been completed in line with the agreed remit of the Committee as being ‘responsible for the development and implementation of strategies, policies, programmes and projects directed towards regeneration and growth of the city’ and to build on the Council’s investment by encouraging and supporting greater private sector investment e.g. the boost to the hotel and hospitality sectors as a result of the investment in the Waterfront

3.0       Key Issues

3.1       The biggest Council investment in our city for a generation, the Programme was designed to benefit all parts of Belfast, making it a better place to live, work, visit and invest and included an ambition to invest over £150million in physical projects across the city including a wide range of projects designed to support and transform the city’s economic infrastructure including an extension to the Waterfront, a new Innovation Factory,  infrastructure at the North Foreshore to facilitate the development of a Cleantech Park and a ‘Super-connected’ city.

3.2       The Investment Programme was a game changer for the Council strengthening its role as the city’s civic leader and cementing its reputation as a major delivery agent of both capital (major and smaller scale local) and revenue projects. Many of the targets set out in the Investment Programme (and initiatives agreed since this) have been achieved or exceeded and a number of key highlights of achievements to date are set out in below while work is still underway on a number of other projects including a number of the key physical projects. Members are asked to note that a detailed presentation will be given to the Committee on the 9th March.

3.4       As outlined above in 3.1 the Investment Programme outlined ambitions for a range of projects designed to enhance the city’s economic infrastructure which were funded by EU funding.  A brief update on the status of these is outlined below.  Further detail on the projects will be presented as part of the presentation on the 9th March.

3.5      

3.6       Members are asked to note that there are a also a range of other projects which have an economic impact, for example Connswater Community Greenway, in terms of visitor numbers and tourism impact and the sale of the Maysfield site to Allstate and Concentrix creating and retaining over 2000 jobs. Construction projects in general also have an economic and regenerative impact by supporting jobs in the construction field and in the wider supply chain which helps contribute to the local economy. 

3.7       However Members’ aspirations for the city did not stop at the Investment Programme. During the implementation of the Programme the context around the Council changed with the advent of Local Government Reform (LGR) in 2015 which brought with it more powers including planning, community planning and economic development and the prospect for new ambitions and new relationships. The success of the achievements under the Investment Programme and the enhanced roles and responsibilities of the new Council have further strengthened the ambitions of our Members for the city and the unique role of the Council as the place-leaders of the city in helping to make Belfast a city of choice for investment, events and living.  Right now Belfast has huge potential and a unique set of circumstances that can be harnessed for long term success. This is evidenced by the further initiatives and projects which Members have agreed and which are currently underway in addition to the continued delivery of a range of projects including a city centre focus, the establishment of a dedicated city centre team and a £18.5 City Centre Fund and a £4m City Centre Social Outcomes Fund. The first major proposed investment being an equity share in the Belfast Telegraph building (see separate report on the agenda)

3.8       This ambition is being matched by changing perceptions of Belfast from a city marked by conflict to a city buoyed by opportunities and a changing economic landscape which is altering the face of the city with many development opportunities coming on board.  It is estimated that there is the opportunity for up to £1billion of investment in the city on top of the work that is already underway or recently completed.

            Role of the City & Growth Committee

3.9       All of the above highlights that there is a significant level of investment already completed, underway or planned within the city.  However a key challenge for the Council going forward is to ensure that the investment translates into real and tangible economic, social and regenerative outcomes for the city – i.e. that it is not just about building buildings but rather that the physical programme of delivery in the city, both by the Council and by wider partners, becomes an enabler delivering a transformational impact and outcomes.

3.10     Many of the Council’s major physical projects are now either complete and handed over or are nearing completion – this includes the ERDF funded projects as outlined above. All of these projects are subject to a letter of offer which sets out conditions which need to be met for each project.  A sample of project performance indicators for the Innovation Factory and the North Foreshore are set out below.  

3.11    

3.12     The City & Growth Committee will play a key role in the ongoing management, programming and monitoring of projects above to ensure that the Council is delivering the maximum economic, social and regenerative impacts for the city along with fulfilling the conditions agreed under the LOOs. The Committee will also play a key role in the ongoing monitoring of the economic elements of the Council’s other physical projects which have a economic and/or regenerative impact for example Connswater Community Greenway; Belfast Bike Scheme and Lanyon Tunnels.

3.13     Finance and Resource implication

·        Financial – No direct financial implications

·        Resource – No direct officer implications  

                                 Equality or Good Relations Implications

·        No equality implications.”

            A Member requested that the information be circulated, potentially through City Matters magazine, to illustrate the vast number of development projects which the Council was undertaking to both residential and commercial Belfast ratepayers.

            In response to a further Member’s question regarding what the next major visitor attraction in Belfast would be, the Chief Executive outlined that a group of key stakeholders had been established to examine the key concepts for the new Cultural Hub and also referenced the potential for a visitor attraction based around the Game of Thrones television series.

            The Chief Executive and the Director of Development advised the Committee that this information had been presented to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Invest NI and also to potential investors from Boston.  The Director of Development advised that those from Boston had been so impressed by the figures that they had since signed up to attend the Sister Cities Summit in Dublin on 21st and 22nd April, with the delegations from Boston and Nashville visiting Belfast on 19th and 20th April.

            The Director of Development also advised the Committee that himself, the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive had met with the Chinese Consul, General Madam Wang, that morning, where they had discussed a proposed trade mission to China.  He advised that Madam Wang had made a number of pertinent suggestions in relation to potential Chinese investors with whom the Council should seek to engage.

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.