Development (Economic Development) Sub-Committee 31 January 2007
From Nigov
Development Committee Wednesday, 31st January, 2007
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Stoker (Deputy Chairman) (in the Chair); and Councillors Jones, McCann and Newton.
In attendance
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Chairman (Councillor M. Browne) and Councillors Empey and P. Maskey.
Expression of Sympathy
The Deputy Chairman (Councillor Stoker), on behalf of the Sub-Committee, expressed sympathy and condolences to Councillors Alex and Paul Maskey on the recent death of their father.
Linkages with Washington DC and Portland
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the report.
China Plan 2006-2008
China Central Television
The Head of Economic Initiatives reminded the Sub-Committee that the Council had began to develop links with China in 1997. Since that date, a number of visits had been held and a Memorandum of Understanding and a Sister City Agreement had been signed with the City of Hefei in 2002. In addition, an Action Plan, which had included the establishment in Belfast of a China Steering Group, had been approved by the Sub-Committee in 2003.
She advised the Sub-Committee that the International Office at The Queen's University of Belfast, which was a member of the China Steering Group, had requested that the Council assist it to bring to Belfast a crew from China Central Television to enable the Company to make a programme about the Chinese Community in Belfast and how its members were integrating with local communities in the City. Making the programme would involve a crew of four staying in Belfast for a period of seven days. She informed the Members that Queen's University had offered to provide an amount of £1,698 which would cover the costs of the television crew for the first three days of a seven day visit and had asked the Council to consider supporting costs of £5,404 for the remaining four days.
In answer to a Member's question, the Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Sub-Committee that the Council was being asked to cover the travel costs of the television crew, together with the expenditure which would be involved in the crew staying in Belfast for four days. She pointed out that, since China Central Television
was a major broadcast network in mainland China and attracted more than 1 billion viewers, with coverage available to over 99% of the Chinese population, the programme would provide an opportunity to promote Belfast across China and would raise the relationship which the City had with Hefei. She assured the Members that the television programme would promote the Council and the economic development work which it was undertaking both in Belfast and in China. She accepted that it was regrettable that the University had proceeded to organise the trip before consulting with the Council, however, she believed that the City and the Council would benefit from the television programme.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to provide a sum of £5,404 in connection with the programme to be made by China Central Television and requested that its dissatisfaction with the manner in which The Queen's University of Belfast had organised the making of the television programme be conveyed to the University.
Visit by a Hefei Business Delegation
The Head of Economics Initiatives reminded the Sub-Committee that Belfast had a Sister City relationship with Hefei in China and that a key aspect of this was to undertake and receive visits between both cities. She pointed out that the most recent outward visit had been undertaken last October by Celebrate Belfast in connection with Hefei's International Cultural Festival.
She informed the Members that the City of Hefei had indicated that a business delegation would like to visit Belfast from 10th till 12th March. She recommended that an amount of £1,596 be allocated to meet the costs associated with the visit, which would include the provision of hospitality for a small reception for the delegates.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Manufacturing Update
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report regarding the Manufacturing Action Plan.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the forgoing report.
Citywide Employability Co-ordination
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of a report regarding the work which was being undertaken by Labour Market Intermediaries in the City. The report indicated that the Intermediaries had been brought together to deliver employability initiatives across the City and that meetings had taken place between the Council, the Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education and the Department for Employment and Learning in order to identify their roles in the matter. In addition, the Council had convened a meeting with the Labour Market Intermediaries and IKEA, which would be opening a store in Belfast later in the year, regarding job opportunities which the Company would be offering.
Enterprise Week Update
The Sub-Committee was advised that Enterprise Week had been held from 13th till 17th November. Throughout the Week, eighteen enterprise workshops had been held which had been attended by 192 persons, of which 102 were now exploring self-employment options. Given this level of demand, a three day training programme entitled "Exploring Enterprise" had been held in January. In addition, 170 students had participated in a young entrepreneurship masterclass which had centred on business start-ups and a stage version of the highly successful television programme "Dragon's Den" had been organised.
The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Sub-Committee that the various events which had been held as part of Enterprise Week had attracted considerable media coverage and had portrayed a positive image of the City.
Noted.
Prohelp Programme - Year 2 Achievements
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 7th April, 2004, it had agreed to undertake a three year programme of support to Belfast's community and voluntary sectors in order to assist them to deal with issues surrounding sustainability. The Prohelp Programme, as it was known, was being delivered in partnership with Business in the Community and aimed to bring business skills to support the social and economic regeneration of local communities. Any community-based not for profit group which worked locally to improve the social and economic regeneration of their local area, could apply for support.
The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Members that, during the previous two years, the Programme had delivered a number of key initiatives with private and public organisations. She pointed out that the third and final year of the Programme would finish at the end of August and she requested that Members encourage community groups to apply for assistance. She pointed that further reports regarding the initiative would be submitted to the Sub-Committee in due course.
During discussion in the matter, the Chairman requested that the Sub-Committee's thanks be conveyed to those companies which had been involved in the scheme.
Noted.
Chairman
