Agenda item

            The Members considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report

 

1.1       To update Members on the results of the public consultation on the draft Council improvement objectives and to present the draft Council Improvement Plan 2021 - 2022 for Committee approval and publication. 

 

            Recommendations

 

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May 2021, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to approve the draft 2021-22 Council Improvement Plan, a copy of which can be accessed here:

 

https://minutes.belfastcity.gov.uk/documents/s92530/DraftImprovementPlan20212022.pdf

 

As the Council is legally required to publish its improvement plan by 30th June, Members are also asked to authorise its publication on the Council’s website, subject to formal ratification by Council on 1st July.

 

 

3.0       Key Issues

 

            We have a statutory duty to agree improvement objectives and produce an annual improvement plan by 30th June each year.  The Improvement plan does not include everything that the Council plans to do that year, but instead focuses on a smaller set of key improvement priorities, as informed by resident priorities and evidenced by need.   In March, the Committee approved six draft improvementobjectives, aligned to the Belfast: Our Recovery plan, which we issued for public consultation:

 

  Our city

Our city

We will support our city to recover by helping to restore the social and cultural vibrancy of our spaces and places in a safe and sustainable way

Our services

We will take steps to ensure our services adapt and improve in the short and longer term.

Our communities

We will work to support our communities, helping them to become stronger, healthier and more resilient

Our economy

We will work in collaboration with others to protect and create jobs and support people into employment.

Our environment

We will take action to protect the environment and improve the sustainability of Belfast

Our digital innovation

We will improve digital inclusion and enhance our digital infrastructure to support job creation and our economy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary of Consultation Responses

 

3.2       The consultation ran for a period of eight weeks and was hosted on our Your say Belfast engagement platform and promoted through the council’s social media channels.  21 responses were received with key results summarised below.  (Note: we do not normally receive a large response to consultations of this nature.) The majority of those responding to the consultation supported the proposed improvement objectives as set out in the graph below. 

 

 

 

 

3.3       Respondents were also given the opportunity to make comments and suggestions or to suggest other areas that they felt should be included as improvement objectives.  Around half of all respondents submitted comments, which related in general to:

 

·        Enhancing our green and public spaces

 

·        Revitalising the City centre (including the need for pedestrianised streets)

 

·        Improving public Transport

 

·        Improving cycling provision

 

·        Supporting and enhancing our culture, arts and heritage

 

·        Supporting local businesses

 

·        Improving dereliction and cleanliness

 

3.4       Although some of the issues raised by respondents are not the responsibility of council, we will forward all feedback to the Belfast Agenda Boards and incorporate it into the upcoming review of the Belfast Agenda. 

 

 

            Improvement Plan 2019/20

 

3.5       Given the high levels of support, as evidenced by this consultation, we did not feel that it was necessary to make changes to the proposed improvement objectives.  As required by the legislation, we have now drafted a detailed Improvement Plan, which sets out related improvement actions and targets.  This is attached for approval.  Members of the Committee are asked to approve the attached plan and to authorise its publication on the council website by 30th June. In order to meet our statutory deadline, the plan will therefore be published, subject to formal ratification by full Council on 1st July.

 

            Financial and Resources Implications

 

3.6       The Improvement Plan has been reflected in the formal planning and budgeting processes of council; there are no resource implications contained in this report.

 

            Equality and Good Relations Implications and Rural Needs

 

3.7       There are no equality or rural need implications arising directly from this report.”

 

            The Members of the Committee agreed to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to adopt the recommendations contained within the report.