Development Committee 14 November 2007
From Nigov
Development Committee Wednesday, 14th November, 2007
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor M. Browne (Chairman); and Councillors Attwood, Convery, Cunningham, Ekin, Hartley, Humphrey, C. Maskey, P. Maskey, McCarthy, McCausland, Mhic Giolla Mhín and Stoker.
Also attended
Councillor Mullaghan.
In attendance
- Ms. M. T. McGivern (Director of Development)
- Ms. S. McCay (Head of Economic Initiatives)
- Ms. C. Taggart (Community Services Manager)
- Mr. T. Husbands (Managing Director, the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls)
- Mr. N. Malcolm (Committee Administrator)
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly) and Councillor D. Dodds.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 15th October were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st November, subject to:
(i) the omission of the minute under the heading "Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places" which, at the request of Councillor Stoker, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration; and
(ii) the omission of the minute under the heading "Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts" which, at the request of Councillor Hartley, had been taken back to the Committee for further consideration.
City Branding Project
Pursuant to its decision of 15th October, the Committee received Mr. J. Northover, representing Lloyd Northover, together with Mr. G. Lennon, Chief Executive, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, to discuss the work which Lloyd Northover was undertaking in connection with the City Branding initiative.
Mr. Northover informed the Members that the objectives of the brand development process were to reinforce Belfast's position as:
- a place for companies to locate and grow their business;
- a place which attracted talent to meet the skills needs of the City's key sectors;
- a magnet for leading research, education and innovation;
- a location with a high quality of life for its citizens; and
- a quality leisure, business, tourism and conference destination.
He indicated that the process had been ongoing since June with a series of consultations, workshops and meetings with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors. He informed the Members that a recent web survey had had a very high level of response and that considerable interest had been shown as a result of focus groups which had been held in Glasgow, Manchester, Barecelona and Dublin. He pointed out that the work which had been undertaken by the City Branding Steering Group and the City Branding Reference Group had assisted the process. Mr. Northover indicated that he was hopeful that the Council would be able to launch the new brand for Belfast in February, 2008. He pointed out that it would be essential for the new brand to be adopted by as many organisations as possible and, therefore, guidelines for its use would have to be drawn up as a matter of urgency.
Mr. Lennon indicated that the City Branding Reference Group at its meeting on 4th December would be discussing key issues regarding the new brand and that the final brand image would require to be agreed by the Development Committee before its official launch.
Having answered further questions, the deputation retired from the meeting.
Following discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the presentation.
Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places
The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 15th October under the heading "Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme - City Places" which had been taken back by the Chairman at the Council meeting on 1st November at the request of Councillor Stoker.
Councillor Stoker informed the Committee that the boundaries of the areas to be identified as "City Places" appeared to have been established without due regard to existing neighbourhood areas. He was of the view that this might result in the Council's services not being delivered properly at a neighbourhood level. He suggested that one Member from each of the Political Parties represented on the Committee meet to discuss the issue in order to use their local knowledge to redraw the boundaries of the "City Places" in a more acceptable manner.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed with Councillor Stoker's suggestion, on the understanding that the work which the Council was undertaking currently in connection with the development of the Strategic Neighbourhood Action Programme continue in order not to delay the project.
Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts
The Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 15th October under the heading "Multi-Annual Funding for Culture and Arts" which had been taken back by the Chairman at the Council meeting on 1st November at the request of Councillor Hartley.
Following discussion in the matter, the Director of Development indicated that she would submit a report to a future meeting on the establishment of a policy which would enable new organisations to be admitted to the three year Multi-Annual Funding scheme on an annual basis. Accordingly, the Committee agreed to adhere to its decision of 15th October.when?
Quarterly Update Regarding the Departmental Plan
The Committee noted the contents of a report which provided information on the current status of projects, initiatives and events being carried out by the Department.
European Union Regional Forum
The Director reported that the European Unit aimed to raise awareness within organisations in Belfast of relevant European Union policies and issues. To assist it with this aim, the Unit intended to hold on a quarterly basis an information event entitled the "European Union Regional Forum". Each meeting, the first of which would be held early in the New Year, would focus on a topical issue and the Unit intended to invite a well-known European Union speaker to address the Forum. She pointed out that Members of the Committee would be invited to attend the first meeting of the Regional Forum.
During discussion in the matter, a Member expressed concern that the report which had been presented had not provided any information regarding the cost of organising the Forum nor who would be invited to attend its meetings.
In response, the Director indicated that she would provide the information requested to a future meeting of the Committee.
After further discussion, the Committee noted the intention to arrange meetings of the European Union Regional Forum on a quarterly basis and that the Committee would be invited to attend the first such meeting, scheduled to be held early in the New Year. In addition, the Committee noted that it would receive at a future meeting further information regarding the costs of organising the meetings of the Forum and details of who would be invited to attend its meetings.
Selection of Multi-Annual Funding Clients - Cinemagic
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 15th October, it had deferred consideration of an application from Cinemagic to be included on a list of organisations to receive Multi-Annual Funding from the Council to enable further information on the capacity of the organisation to deliver on the projects included in its application to be provided to the Committee.
The Committee then considered a report which indicated that the application had been scored against pre-agreed criteria based on information and documents submitted by the organisation. In connection with the capacity element of the assessment, the officers of the Culture and Arts Section had been sufficiently impressed by Cinemagic's administration abilities, marketing campaigns and strong focus on monitoring and evaluation to recommend that it be included on the list of organisations to receive the Multi-Annual Funding.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed that Cinemagic receive Multi-Annual Funding during the period 2008-2011.
World Scottish Pipe Band Championship Bid
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Director indicated that, should the Committee agree to submit a bid to bring the World Scottish Pipe Band Championship to Belfast during the period 2010-2012, the Department would have to include the costs within its estimates for the relevant years.
The Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the report.
Creative Industries - Additional Initiatives
The Committee considered the undernoted report regarding additional activities which the Department was considering undertaking within the Creative Industries Sector.
The Director informed the Committee that, subsequent to the report having been prepared, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission had confirmed that they would be providing £20,000 and £5,000 respectively towards the South by Southwest 2008 and the Nashville events. In addition, given the significance of the events and the involvement of Belfast's Sister City of Nashville, it was considered appropriate for the Lord Mayor to participate in the visit. She indicated that the total costs associated with the trip would be in the region of £50,000, rather than the figure indicated in the report. She pointed out that, since the trip to Austin and Nashville would involve both tourism and creative industry events, it would be necessary for four officers to participate in the visit.
The Director explained that the South by Southwest event would be a tremendous promotional opportunity for Belfast since it received global television coverage and the timing of the event was opportune as it would be taking place shortly after the new brand image for the City had been launched. In addition, both Ulster Television and BBC Northern Ireland had indicated that they might be interested in covering the festival should the Council decide to showcase local talent at the South by Southwest event.
She informed the Members that the groups which would represent the City in the South by Southwest festival would be selected by the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Council.
After further discussion, the Committee agreed, in connection with the South by Southwest and Nashville events, that a sum not to exceed £50,000 be allocated to this visit, that the Lord Mayor, the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the Director of Development (or their nominees), together with a maximum of three other officers, participate and authorised the payment of travel and subsistence allowances in connection therewith. In regard to the Belfast Fashion Week event, the Committee agreed the action plan for the event and authorised expenditure up to a maximum £35,000.
MIPIM 2008
The Director of Development informed the Committee that she wished to withdraw the report regarding Belfast's presence at MIPIM 2008 to enable further information to be obtained regarding the best method of enhancing Belfast's presence at the event.
Noted.
Business Support Activities - Update Report
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
George Best Belfast City Airport
The Committee noted the contents of a letter from the Operations Director of George Best Belfast City Airport regarding ongoing developments at the facility.
Conference Subvention - Britannia 2008 Annual Conference
The Head of Economic Initiatives advised the Committee that the above-mentioned Conference would be taking place in the City from 23rd till 26th May, 2008. The organisers had indicated that it would attract approximately 200 delegates, staying for three nights, and it was estimated that it would have an economic benefit for the City of approximately £139,000. As the event met the agreed funding criteria of the Conference Subvention Policy, she recommended that an amount in the sum of £1,500 be allocated to the hosting of the Conference.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Draft Community Support Plan 2007-2010
The Director of Development reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 15th October, it had agreed to the submission of the Draft Community Support Plan 2007-2010 to the Department for Social Development in order that the Council might receive funding for the Plan and that it would consider the document further at its November meeting.
She indicated that the Plan had been developed around a process which focused on the key activities of continuing to deliver high quality services, the review of community services and future strategic planning. She explained that the document was the first draft of a Plan and was being used to initiate a process of engagement with Councillors and other key stakeholders in the City. Early next year, the Department would be undertaking an extensive consultation exercise and it was also intended to arrange workshops for Councillors to further develop the Plan. The draft document would be modified to take into account the views expressed during the consultation exercise and workshops, with the intention of presenting the final Community Support Plan to the Committee in March, 2008.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that a public consultation exercise be carried out and that a series of workshops be held for Members regarding the contents of the proposed Community Support Plan 2007-2010.
Thompson Dry Dock and Pump House - Update Report
The Committee noted the contents of a report in relation to the restoration at, and improvements which were planned for, the Thompson Dry Dock and Pump House.
Living Over the Shop Project
The Committee considered the undernoted report regarding the Living Over the Shop initiative and a proposal to include a portion of the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area within the Scheme.
During discussion in the matter, a Member informed the Committee that, following discussions between the Greater Village Trust and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the latter organisation had indicated that it would be prepared to extend the Living Over the Shop Project within the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area to include the section of Donegall Road between Thalia Street and Glenmachan Street. He pointed out that it would, therefore, be preferable for the Committee to agree to this extension to the scheme rather than for the matter to be discussed at a future meeting.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to:
(i) endorse the proposed designation of an area extending from Wellwood Street on Sandy Row to Glenmachan Street on Donegall Road as a Living Over the Shop target area;
(ii) provide assistance to develop further the Living Over the Shop Project through the sharing of information and the continuation of targeted survey work by the Council's Building Control Service; and
(iii) note the progress which had been achieved in relation to the Shankill Road Living Over the Shop pilot scheme.
PLACE Design Centre
The Committee considered the undernoted report.
The Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the report.
Chairman
