Agenda item

            The Committee considered a report which set out a proposed approach for the Council’s engagement in international activity which included a draft International Relations Framework for 2025-28 and an International Relations Delivery Plan for 2025-26.

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy and the European and International Relations Manager provided the Committee with an overview of the draft Framework which included:

·         Previous Framework 2017-21 – Acted as a workplan for the Council’s European and International Relations Unit; key priorities of the Economy, Education and Tourism; key new Council work areas not included such as city regeneration, city innovation and climate;

·         Changing Operational Context (Internal) – New Framework’s alignment with the Belfast Agenda;

·         Changing Operational Context (External) – Impact of global politics, new EU trading relationships, alignment with the Executive’s Programme for Government and the new Invest NI business strategy focused on trade and investment;

·         Review of Practice from Other Cities - Focused on the strategies/frameworks of UK and Ireland core cities and highlighted the challenges in measuring success;

·         Vision – To position Belfast as a globally-connected, forward looking city that would be open, inclusive and ambitious, attract trade, investment, talent and visitors whilst sharing the city’s unique story and values with the world;

·         Purpose - To identify areas of collaborative advantage and help focus resources on opportunities that could maximise return on investment, in keeping with city priorities;

·         Role of Council - To use the Council’s civic leadership and convening role to:

§  develop and utilise international relationships and connections to generate investment, trade and tourism and enhance Belfast’s global visibility in key markets and communicate its unique assets and offer;

§  Coordinate and amplify messaging to maximise return on investment; and

§  Support our partner organisations to deliver their organisational targets with a focus on inclusive economic growth;

·         Framework Pillars and Priority Activities for 2025/26:

§  Trade and Investment;

§  Innovation and Knowledge Exchange; and

§  City positioning, tourism promotion and cultural development;

·         Tracking Impact – All cities and partners found it difficult to accurately track impact of individual activities; introduction of a bespoke CRM (Customer Relationship Management); value of case studies; and

·         Oversight – International activity would be presented to the Committee in an annual action plan with an additional focus on measuring performance and increasing opportunities for members in shaping agenda.

            During discussion, the Strategic Director of Place and Economy and the European and International Relations Manager answered a range of questions from the Members in relation to engagement with China, messaging for international stakeholders and EU engagement.

            Members also requested that the Framework include an Implementation Plan, quarterly updates, the continued membership of the Eurocities Network and consideration of future participation in the European Week of Regions and Cities, environmental and ethical elements, further detail on Member engagement with international stakeholders and measurable outcomes.

            In response, the Strategic Director advised that officers would submit a further report, for the Committee’s consideration, which would address the issues and requests raised by the Members.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the draft International Relations Framework 2025-28 and the International Relations Delivery Plan 2025-26 to enable a further report to be submitted to provide detail on the issues raised by Members.