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FCT 20110525-01 - City Presentation - Belfast - Lorraine Dennis

by Forum for Cities in Transition on Jun 13, 2011

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Good morning my name is Lorraine Dennis Welcome to this city profile of Belfast
First we’ll take a quick look at the geographic and historical context of Belfast
Situate Belfast both geographically and historically we need to consider this map of the 4 historic provinces of Ireland Each province was made up of counties, here in the north of Ireland is Ulster, consisting of nine counties
In 1921 the new statelet of Northern Ireland was created from the six most north-easterly counties of the island Here you can see the border, which cuts off the Ulster counties of Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, although you will still hear many refer to Ulster, similarly the geographic area is also regularly called the north of Ireland or the six counties. The complex history of separation and conflict is significantly and certainly would support the view that ‘if you aren’t confused by Irish history then you don’t understand it’. It is here, on the eastern seaboard that Belfast is situated
After Dublin, it is the second most populated city on island of Ireland. It is the capital city of NI, the name Belfast comes from Irish : Béal Feirste , meaning "mouth of the sandbars ") – point to photograph It is the seat of devolved government the Northern Ireland Assembly . The city of Belfast has a population of 267,500 and lies at the heart of the Belfast urban area , which has a population of 483,418. The Larger Urban Zone , as defined by the European Union , has a total population 641,638 (NI population 1,759,000)
BELFAST – A POTTED HISTORY Image in the background here is the City Hall, the iconic building which typifies rapid growth of the 19 th Century Plans for the City Hall began in 1888 when Belfast was awarded city status by Queen Victoria . This was in recognition of Belfast's rapid expansion and thriving linen , rope-making , shipbuilding and engineering industries. During this period Belfast briefly overtook Dublin as the most populous city on the island of Ireland . [3] The industrial decline from the late 60s thwarted development and with the onset on civil unrest from the late 1960s the city spiralled into conflict
BELFAST – A DIVIDED CITY Civil unrest 1969 – 95 More than 1,500 (48% of total deaths) killed since 1969 Community tension and separation Lack of public and private investment with some exceptions Tourism collapsed High unemployment and Benefit dependency Dependency on Public Sector jobs High levels of economic inactivity Population decline
BELFAST – THE RECENT PAST Ceasefires Clinton Visit New Landmark Developments Inflows of inward investment Visitor numbers quadruple In 2007 there were: 6.9 million visitors to Belfast £313 million spend into Belfast economy 17,230 full-time jobs in tourism 1.4 million overnight visitors 39 cruise ships with 62,000 passengers 32 conferences bringing 8,315 delegates and £17.8 million spend. By 2009 visitor numbers had risen to 9.3 million Unemployment down 75% 1991-2007
With such devastation the legacy of the conflict is all too present Segregation a fact of life in NI – many people live separately, educate their children in separate education systems, play separate sports, and read different newspapers Territoriality most marked in Belfast – peacelines/ murals etc to demarcate boundaries Mind maps – mobility restricted – choice of work areas etc Diseconomies of division - Cost of division in NI huge both in financial and social terms Parallel services – duplication of public services is unsustainable – e.g. 2 leisure centres/ 2 schools NI Assembly – now reduced resources and government will have to face up to hard decisions re balanced investments across public services. (One political party estimates cost at £1 billion sterling)
Over two thirds of the population live in segregated housing (over 90% majority of one identity) while nearly all public sector housing is segregated Little change in patterns of segregation
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998: 2. To have ‘regard’ to the desirability of promoting good relations : (i) religious belief (ii) political opinion (iii) racial group. The Financial Costs of Division estimated at £1bn each year Direct costs of policing riots, other civil disturbances and parades. Indirect costs of providing duplicate goods, facilities and services for separate sections of the community, either implicitly or explicitly. This includes: schools, GP surgeries, job centres, community centres, leisure centres, and even bus stops. These costs are borne not just by the public sector, but by the private sector too. Lost inward investment and tourism. While the Northern Ireland economy has performed better in recent years, it is still performing well below its potential capacity. Community cohesion enables different groups to get on well together. Integration enables new and existing residents to adjust to one another.
Belfast City Council is responsible for delivery of a number of Council programmes including: Equality and diversity Grant aid Piii action plan Bonfire mgt programme Promoting inclusion and integration of migrant and minority ethnic communities Interfaces As well as working closely with many other areas of the Council in promoting good relations
BELFAST – THE CURRENT CHALLENGES Unemployment continues to increase Public sector cuts Skills Deficit / Economic inactivity Fractured governance / Urban Policy Reducing tax base / increasing vacancy levels Lack of connectivity / Rapid Transit Job Creation Limited credit availability
INVEST IN CULTURAL ASSETS Titanic Belfast MAC & LYRIC Ulster Museum WORLD CLASS EVENTS Double visitor figures by 2020 Increase employment in hospitality and tourism
KEY STRATEGY FOR GROWTH – STAY VISIBLE GLOBALLY MTV European Music Awards 2011 Titanic 2012 World Police and Fire Games 2013
Belfast City Council, as the municipal authority is the civic leader, working in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver change in the city. There is an increasing focus on the city and an understanding of their centrality to socio-economic, political and cultural growth. Whilst Belfast City Council, symbolically has ‘punched above its weight’ new changes may increase its legislative remit.
Belfast City Council, as the municipal authority is the civic leader, working in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver change in the city. There is an increasing focus on the city and an understanding of their centrality to socio-economic, political and cultural growth. Whilst Belfast City Council, symbolically has ‘punched above its weight’ new changes may increase its legislative remit.
Belfast City Council, as the municipal authority is the civic leader, working in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver change in the city. There is an increasing focus on the city and an understanding of their centrality to socio-economic, political and cultural growth. Whilst Belfast City Council, symbolically has ‘punched above its weight’ new changes may increase its legislative remit.
Belfast faces hard strategic choices in this tough ‘new economic environment’. Now more than ever we must advocate partnership working between the public, private and voluntary sectors and the formation of strategic alliances to ensure continued investment in the city. Key lessons that we have learned are: Belfast (and region) cannot function with a divided city as its driver – and the inequalities and deprivation which are the legacy of the conflict must be addressed strategically We must focus on promoting sustainable growth, rather than managing the decline We need to be creative: and look for new ways of working In conclusion I would like to thank you for you attention

FCT 20110525-01 - City Presentation - Belfast - Lorraine Dennis Presentation Transcript

Belfast: a city profile Lorraine Dennis Belfast City Council
Belfast in context
Ireland: 4 ancient provinces
Map of Northern Ireland
Belfast
- Second largest most populated city on island of Ireland
- Capital city of Northern Ireland
- Béal Feirste
- City population: 267,500
- Belfast urban area population: 483,813
BELFAST – A POTTED HISTORY
- Rapid growth 19th Century based on flourishing linen industry
- Diversified into engineering skills
- Shipbuilder to the world
- Industrial decline from the late 60s
BELFAST – A DIVIDED CITY
- Civil unrest 1969 – 95
- Community tension and separation
- Lack of public and private investment with some exceptions
- Tourism collapsed
- High unemployment and Benefit dependency
- Dependency on Public Sector jobs
- High levels of economic inactivity
- Population decline
BELFAST – THE RECENT PAST
- Peace process
- Clinton Visit
- New landmark developments
- Inflows of inward investment
- Visitor numbers quadruple
- Unemployment down 75% 1991-2007
Belfast: conflict legacy
All over now?
- 1500 sectarian incidents per year ( 5 per day)
- 88 Interfaces
- 65,000 extra journeys
- Duplication of provision
- Deprivation and division
- Community safety
Belfast: the way ahead
Belfast –conflict management
- Legal case
- Business case
- Moral case
- Partnerships
BELFAST – THE CURRENT CHALLENGES
- Unemployment continues to increase
- Public sector cuts
- Skills deficit / economic inactivity
- Fractured governance / urban policy
- Reducing tax base / increasing vacancy levels
- Lack of connectivity / Rapid Transit
- Job creation
- Limited credit availability
STRATEGIES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH
- Focus on strengths
STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH
- Stay Visible
Belfast: the way ahead
Belfast City Council
- 51 elected Members
- 6 Departments – 2500+ staff
- Conduit between macro and micro
From bear pit to trail blazer
- Some council chambers, most notably Belfast City Hall, once earned a reputation for being sectarian bearpits. But tensions have eased and local government has played its part in changing the face of Northern Ireland politics. Although mayoral rotation has not worked everywhere, many councils blazed a trail for the peace process by demonstrating that power-sharing can be a reality.
- Source: N. McAdam, ‘Vote early and vote twice – the general election will not be the only show in town on polling day’, Belfast Telegraph , 18 th May: 1, 2001
Political Representation
- First non-Unionist Lord Mayor 1978
- Since 1997 9 non-Unionist Lord Mayors
- - SDLP x 4
- - Sinn Fein x 2
- - Alliance x 3
- 16 women in newly elected Council
Thank-you! Lorraine Dennis Belfast City Council [email_address]