Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood Services submitted the undernoted report;

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       Following a meeting of the Strategy Policy and Resources (SP&R) committee on the 22nd November 2024, members requested Officers to consider the Area Based Facet of the Community Recovery Fund (CRF) Action Plan, which the Deputy Prime Minister is making available to support communities impacted by the public disorder that took place between July and August 2024, including Belfast.  In England this will be issued under section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 2003, and in Northern Ireland funds will be released to the Department of Finance, to support those communities most affected.

 

2.0       Recommendation

 

            The Committee is asked to agree that Officers Progress the Community Recovery Action Plan under the following 4 themes: -

 

·        Theme 1 Good Relations Inclusion and Integration

·        Theme 2 Wider University and Lower Ormeau

·        Theme 3 Community Integration and Inclusion

·        Theme 4 Resource Recoupment

 

3.0       Main Report

 

3.1       The CRF is allocative and offers a flat rate of £600,000 to Belfast City Council, to be committed and commenced before the end of the Financial Year 2024-25.

 

            Expenditure is eligible under this scheme if it is in response to the violent disorder that took place between July and August 2024 and is on, or in connection with:

 

a.      Immediate action to safeguard life or property.

b.     To prevent suffering or severe inconvenience.

c.      To reduce the risk of further disorder in the future.

d.     To rebuild social trust and promote cohesion between communities.

3.2       The Fund has deliberately sought to provide local areas with flexibility to design a package that responds to their circumstances. Previous reports have detailed examples of projects which are designed to support Community and Voluntary Activity.

 

3.3       Officers have considered members feedback in relation to the original area-based approach and are recommending a number of changes to the Community Recovery Action Plan, which will assist bolstering support directly to Communities within Belfast City.  The Changes can be summarised as follows: -

 

1.      CRF002 – Integration and Inclusion has been realigned to £35,000.

2.      CRF003 - Community Centre Programme (Reaching Out) has been realigned to £30,000.

3.      CRF008 – Community Resource Integration and Inclusion has been increased from £180,000 to £330,000.

 

            This will still leave sufficient budget to develop and target cultural competence and capacity within communities, as there will be opportunity to couple this with Council’s Good Relations Action Plan 25/26.  However, it also means more investment can be provided directly into Communities in Belfast to improve Integration and Orientation.

 

3.4       CRF008 will be divided into two parts: -

 

1.      Targeted Intervention £160,000 – Proposals will be sought and developed through an open call for 4 areas in Belfast which have been directly impacted by Racist Attacks, Officers will work with Community Organisations in the following 4 locations, and ensure Community Led proposals to increase Integration and Inclusion of the Migrant population are developed and progressed: -

 

a.      Sandy Row/Donegal Road

b.     Woodvale

c.      Connswater

d.     Greater Falls

 

2.      The remaining £170,000 under this theme; Council will support Projects led by Constituted Community Organisations in Belfast City up to a value of £20,000, through an open call, that support a proactive approach to integration and inclusion of the Migrant population in Belfast City.

 

3.5       Council will invite projects that specifically address some or all the following:

 

·        Proposals that are innovative and do not duplicate the work of other services.

·        Proposals that engage host communities and people from the migrant community.

·        Proposals that foster contact and connections with host communities to improve the welcome that people from the migrant community.

·        Proposals that encourage and support groups to involve migrant population to get involved in the life of their communities through participation in local activities, networks, sports and organisations.

·        Proposals that are delivered in areas where, to date, there has been limited infrastructure / funding for interventions supporting the inclusion of people from the migrant community.

·        Proposals that provide orientation and advocacy support

 

            It should be noted that this fund does not support one - off events / festivals, and the said criteria applies to both parts of CRF008.

 

3.6       The outcomes from the above programme should provide the following: -

 

·        Community Projects which provide Increased Integration, Inclusion and Orientation for the Migrant Community in Belfast

·        A reduction in Anti-Muslim hate.

·        Increased Community Leadership and Competence

 

3.7       Further to the above it is anticipated that the direct outcomes and data attained from the said projects will inform the core work of Council’s Good Relations Action Plan and Strategy.

 

3.8       The Action Plan attached has been submitted and agreed in principle with the department.  Officers have been in discussions with the relevant department in Westminster and providing programmes are committed Council will have the ability to deliver into the Financial Year 25/26.  That said, members should note that the Good Relations Manager will have to agree the said changes with the Department of Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

 

3.9       Following members comments in November at SP&R Officers have reviewed the fund criteria above and amended the four main themes of the action plan for delivery as follows: -

 

·        Theme 1 Good Relations Inclusion and Integration

·        Theme 2 Wider University and Lower Ormeau

·        Theme 3 Community Integration and Inclusion

·        Theme 4 Resource Recoupment

 

            Full Detail of the Community Recovery Action Plan can be seen in Appendix 1

 

3.10      Financial and Resource Implications

 

            All the budget detailed within the report is at 100%, the biggest implication is that of resource to design, implement, manage and monitor the programmes, however Council will be able to recoup this under Theme 4.

 

3.11      Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

            All the above aligns with Council’s Good Relations Strategic Framework, which seeks to improve Good Relations between people from different political, religious, and racial backgrounds.”

 

            The Committee agreed that officers progress the Community Recovery Action Plan under the following 4 themes:

 

·        Theme 1 Good Relations Inclusion and Integration;

·        Theme 2 Wider University and Lower Ormeau;

·        Theme 3 Community Integration and Inclusion; and

·        Theme 4 Resource Recoupment.

 

            It agreed also to realign the budget as follows: -

 

1.      CRF002 – Integration and Inclusion has been realigned to £35,000.

 

2.      CRF003 - Community Centre Programme (Reaching Out) has been realigned to £30,000.

 

3.      CRF008 – Community Resource Integration and Inclusion has been increased from £180,000 to £330,000. £160,000 would be allocated to 4 areas (Sandy Row/Donegal Road, Woodvale, Connswater and Greater Falls) and £170,00 allocated to an open call for the constituted community organisation.