1.
LET’S MAKE
BELFAST
GREATAGAIN
vision
lower tax
growing
working
family
safer
new heart
education
healthier
cleaner
cultural
relationships
Belfast Local Government
Manifesto 2014
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2.
Our vision for Belfast
AlreadyconstructioncranesareontheBelfast
skylineagain. Ourcityhassucceededinattracting
moreforeigndirectinvestmentthananywhereelse
intheUnitedKingdomexceptLondon. Thelargest
developmentofanewUniversitycomplexinallof
EuropeisabouttocommenceinCathedralQuarter.
TheknowledgeeconomyisgrowingfasterinBelfast
thananywhereelseinEurope.
However,jobs,developmentandregenerationare
onlypartofwhatweneed. ToooftenBelfasthas
beentheplacewherepeoplecometowork,shop
orbeentertainedbutnotwheretheychoosetolive.
Belfastneedstogrowagainbacktothebustling
metropolisitoncewas.Acitythatisillateasewith
itselforisdividedarenotfirmfoundationsfor
Belfast’srebirth. Thelastfewyearshaveshownus
alltheconsequencesofunnecessaryandunwanted
aggressiontoBritishnessinthecity.
BelfastisthecapitalcityofNorthernIreland.
NorthernIrelandisoneofthefourconstituentparts
oftheUnitedKingdom. Properrecognitionofthat
islegitimateandthreatensnoone. Therefusalto
acceptthisbasicfacthasbeendeeplyharmfulfor
ourcity. Ifwecannotsharethingsasbasicasroads
thenwearecondemningfuturegenerationsto
moredivisionandholdingourcityback.
WiththeexpansionofitspowersyourCouncil
candomorethaneverforourcityanditspeople.
WheretheCouncildoesnotholdthepowersit
mustbetheadvocateanddriverforchange.
Belfast was once an educational, social and economic powerhouse. Our city was a major player
in the global market before the term was commonly used. It was a city which provided jobs
for its people, the opportunity to progress and hope for the future. Global recessions and shifts,
slowness to change and decades of terrorist violence undermined that powerful legacy.
The DUP believe Belfast can be great again by utilising all the
talents of its people. We want a striving capital city as part of
a thriving region contributing to a successful United Kingdom.
The DUP believes Belfast can be great again.
This is our plan to help make our vision a reality >>>
LET’S MAKE
BELFAST
GREATAGAIN
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3.
2 | Belfast, a growing city
Thedropinhousepricesandthegrowingcostsofrunning
acarismakingpropertypricesinthecitymorecompetitive
thanforageneration. InthelasttermtheDUPsecured
newCouncilresearchintotheissuesofde-populationand
attitudestowardslivinginthecity.
In Council, the DUP will:
•Makere-populationofourcityacorporateaimwithour
citymarketingcampaignexpandingtoencouragepeople
toliveinourcity.
•Establishingawelcomeservicefornewresidentsbased
ontheCanadianvolunteerprogramme.
•ThecreationofanewRegionalAuthorityinpartnership
withsurroundingCouncilstotakeforwardmajorcapital
investmentsforthegoodofall.
•UtilisethenewCommunityPlanningpowers,andwhere
appropriatethenewpowerofgeneralwell-being,topush
forwardinter-agencyandcommunitypartnershipsto
regenerateourcommunities.
•BackanewfundingmodelforVisitBelfasttoexpandits
promotionalworkacrosstheworldtoattractmore
touristsandconferences.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•Theprioritisationofaffordablehousingschemesinthe
city.
•Themainstreamingandexpansionofthe‘Buildingto
Regenerate’pilotprogrammethatisalreadyprovinga
successinareaslikeLowerOldpark.
Successful cities are growing cities. For too long the story of Belfast’s population has been one of
decline. In recent years that trend has begun to be reversed but still lags far behind other parts of
Northern Ireland. The DUP wants to see people moving back to our capital. More people in our
city would mean more money to be spent in local businesses, help maintain or expand local services
such as schools and reduce pollution from commuter traffic.
1 | Belfast, a lower tax city
Forthelastfiveyearsinflationandwagefreezeshave
hurteveryone’sincomes. Themoneysimplydoesnot
stretchasfarasitusedtoo. Thegoodnewsisthatthe
shootsofrecoveryandgrowthcanbeseenagaininour
citybutitwillbeanumberofyearsbeforewewillnotice
itinourpurses,walletsorbankaccounts. Thisiswhythe
Councilneedstoaskyouforless.
Belfastisexpandingandournewresidentsareusedto
lowerratesbills. Themorewecontrolspendingand
increasealternativeincomeinthenextCounciltermthe
easiertheirtransitionwillbe.InthisCounciltermwehave
startedonthispathbutweneedtocontinue.
The Council needs to help you feel
the benefits of renewed growth first.
To help you:
•TheDUPwillsupportfreezingthedistrictratein2015-16.
TheDUPwantstomakeitahattrickofratesfreezesfor
Belfast.
•TheDUPwill,fortheremainderoftheCouncilterm,keep
totalrateincreasesbelowthecorrespondingrateof
inflation. Thiswillbearealtermscut,asmallershareof
yourmoneywillgotothecouncil.
•TheDUP’sformulaforcontrollingyourratesis:
(BuildRatesBaseplusBoostRatesIncomeplus
EfficiencySavings) MinusGrowthincosts=
RatesPromiseKept.
In Council, the DUP will:
•Supportarolloutoftheproactiveandsuccessfulpolicyin
identifyingnewpropertiesandrateavoiderstomaximise
revenues. ThispolicywasvitalintheCouncildeliveringits
zerorate. TheDUPwillhavethatprogrammerolledoutto
thenewareasbeingbroughtintoBelfast.
•Promotecommercialopportunitiestoincreasecouncil
incomesuchasdevelopingcitycentrecarparkingsites
andsellingourservicestootherCouncils.
•UsetheCouncil’smulti-millionpoundBelfastInvestment
Fundtosupportcapitalprojectsthatwillexpandtherates
incomeofthecity,regenerateareasofdeprivationand
haveanequitabledistributionacrossthecity.
•Continueourefficiencyprogrammethathasdelivered
£20mininternalsavings.
•Showyouwhereyourmoneygoes. Newtransparency
measuresonCouncilspendingpublishingall
expenditureabove£500andanyexpenditureoncredit
andpurchasecards.
Belfast has been a high rates city for too long. It acts as a barrier to growth in a city and makes our
city more expensive to live in or build a business. When the economic downturn came the harm it
was doing became clear to all and cost Belfast jobs.
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4.
4 | Belfast, a family city
In Council, the DUP will:
•Developafamilyfriendlycitypolicy.
•Supporta3yearfreezeonsummerschemecharges
andexaminetheopportunityofexpandingthenumber
ofplaces.
•CreatefamilydesignatedspacesinCouncilcarparks.
•Promoteadviceservicesthathelpthemostvulnerable
inourcityandtodealwithWelfareReform.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•Theexpansionoftheintegratedservicesapproachfor
childrenandyoungpeople.
The Council has already led the way on making Belfast an age friendly city.
The DUP wants to build on this achievement and lead the world in writing the
first family friendly city policy and delivering it.
3 | Belfast, a working city
In Council the DUP will:
•SupportSocialclausesinmajorconstructioncontracts.
•ExpandtheapprenticeshipprogrammeinCouncil.
•ExaminethecreationofaSmallBusinessserviceforthecity.
•TaketheleadincreatingaBelfastWorksScheme.This
intermediateLabourMarketwillbetargetedatthelong-term
unemployedandyoungpeople. Itisbasedonsuccessful
modelsfromotherUKcitiessuchasGlasgow.
•DevelopourInternationalRelationsProgrammetobuild
relationshipswithsixworldcitiesandmaximisethelevelsof
fundinggainedfromtheEuropeanUnion.
•Supporttheroll-outofthedigitalbroadbandprogramme
providingbusinesseswithsuper-fastbroadbandandcitizens
betteraccesstotheinternet.
•SupportthedevelopmentoftheInnovationcentreatSpringvale.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•Anewpartnershipapproachtocarparkingalongourarterial
routesusingthelikesofchurchcarparksduringweekdays.
•Collaborationbetweenanchorinstitutionsinmajorcapital
schemesonsocialclausestocreatejobsandtrainingand
ensureapprenticesfullycompletetheirtraining.
The social programme which produces the best economic, health and social outcomes for an adult
is a job. The job market is improving but our high rates of long-term and youth unemployment is
a legacy of the downturn that must be addressed. It is the market which creates jobs but politics
can create a positive or negative environment for businesses
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5.
6 | Belfast, a new heart for our city
In Council, the DUP will:
•Supportnewregenerationplanforthecitycentrewitha
focusonconnectivitytosurroundingcommunities.
•AregenerationfundtoconvertcitycentreBgradeoffice
spaceintolivingspace.
•Developnewcarparkingspaceandbicyclerackson
Councilcitycentresites.
•SupportthenewdigitalhubinCathedralQuarter.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•ThedevelopmentoftheRoyalExchangesite.
•Sharedpublichousingschemesinthecitycentre.
•TheestablishmentofBusinessImprovementDistricts.
The city centre is the shop window of our city. Without a thriving heart our
city will have lost part of its soul. The Council finances and services it delivers
across the city are inextricably linked to the success of the city centre. Thus a
new dynamic heart to our city is what we and Northern Ireland needs.
5 | Belfast, a safer city
In Council and Policing Community Safety
Partnerships the DUP will:
•Usealllegalpowerstotacklesocalled‘headshops’and
thesupplyofdangerous‘legalhighs’.
•Supportthenextphaseofthealley-gatesprogramme
withanareafocusedapproach.
•Backprogrammesfocusedonprotectingolderand
vulnerablepeopleandtacklinghatecrime.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•Mandatoryminimumsentencesforcrimesagainstolder
people.
•Theutilisationoffullpowersbypublicbodiestotackle
anti-socialbehaviour.
•OpposeBelfastbeingusedasadumpinggroundfor
highrisksexoffenders.
•ThecitybeingattheforefrontofrollingoutLEDstreet
lighting.
•Improvingpolicerecruitmentandrelationshipsfrom
workingclasscommunities.
•Abetterfloodpreventioninfrastructureplantoprotect
morehomesandanindividualpropertyprotection
schemeforareaspronetoflooding.
•Aprogrammetoaddressinterfaceswithalldecisionsin
thehandsofthosethattheyprotect.
The DUP wishes to tackle the issues of anti-social behaviour, crime and drugs
that harm people’s lives and drag our city back.
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6.
8 | Belfast, a healthier city
In Council, the DUP will:
•Invest£105millioninleisurefacilities. Thiswillfinance
thereplacementofexistingcentresandbuildingnew
facilitiesmuchneededacrossthecityespeciallyinthe
areasbeingaddedtoBelfast.
•SupporttheestablishmentofaLeisureTrust. Thismodel
ofdeliverywillhaveaccesstoadditionalfundingsources
anddevelopnewengagementprogrammes. Thiswill
ensuremorepeopleuseourcentresandbenefitfromthe
newcapitalinvestment.
•Introducefluvaccinationsforallcouncilstaff.Thisshould
produceacostsavingandprovideapositiverolemodelto
otheremployers.
•Supportthedeliveryofsuicideawarenessprogrammes.
•DevelopingtherelationshipwithandworkoftheBelfast
StrategicPartnershipforHealthInequalities.
Sadly the health of our citizens is not as good as it should be and within the city health
inequalities are stark. A few miles can affect someone’s life expectancy by as much as a decade.
If we are serious about tackling the inequalities in our city, health must be a key priority.
7 | Belfast, an education city
In Council, the DUP will:
•BetterpromotetheCouncil’sBelfastBursariesScheme
tohelppeoplestayineducationorgainatrade.
•ContinuetosupportthenewUniversityofUlster
development.
•Supportthedevelopmentofanewandagreed
exhibitionspaceinsidetheCityHallandthe
implementationoftheCouncil’sDecadeofCentenaries
programme.
•Workwithallthirdleveleducationbodiesontheir
linkageswithlocalcommunities.
•Promotecodingeventstoboostinterestinsoftware
development.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•EducationalActionZonestargetedatareasof
educationalunderachievement.
The shifts in the global economy have made a good education, whether academic or
vocational, even more important. The Council’s role is limited but it must do what it can
to improve the education and life chances of its people. The new University of Ulster in
Belfast has the opportunity to redefine the city and its relationship with education.
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7.
10 | Belfast, a cultural city
In Council, the DUP will:
•Supporttheeventsprogrammeinsecuringmajor
internationalculturaleventsforBelfast.Thiswillbuild
onourtrackrecordofsuccesswiththeMTVawardsand
theGiro.
•TheDUPwillsupportthepositiveexpressionof
BritishnessandrecognitionforourArmedForcesaswell
assupportthepositivedevelopmentsofOrangefest,the
BonfiresProgrammeandbandculture.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•DevelopmentoftheculturalcorridorfromCliftonStreet
totheCrumlinRoad.
•ThedevelopmentofaModernArtGalleryforBelfast.
•TheDUPwillsupportandencouragelocaldialogueand
agreementsonthedisplayofflagsfromstreetfurniture
andopposeparamilitaryflags.
•Newstructurestodealwithparadesandprotestsbased
onhumanrightsprinciples.
The growth in the cultural life of our city has been one of the best examples of how our city
has moved forward. Our ability to attract and deliver world class events and major television
and film projects have built our city’s and Northern Ireland’s reputation across the world. The
MTV awards and Giro event prove what Belfast can do in partnership with the Assembly.
9 | Belfast, a cleaner and greener city
In Council, the DUP will support:
•TheintroductionoftheBelfastBikeHireSchemesimilar
totheBorisBikesinLondon.
•Newassetstoimprovetheclearingofdogmesswith
Councilparksthepriority.
•Actionteamstargetingareaswithhighestlevelsofdog
mess.
•OnlinerealtimeenergymonitoringofallCouncil
facilitiestoencourageenergyconservationandleadby
example.
•Developingthe NorthForeshoreasagreenenergyhub.
For Belfast, the DUP will be advocates for:
•Theroll-outoftherapidtransitschemeacrossthe
differentpartsofthecityfromthewestandeastofthe
cityintothenorthandsouth.
•ThecreationofanewpublictransporthubfortheCity.
The first impression of a city is how clean its streets look and the air a person breathes.
The DUP want that first impression to be as positive as possible.
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8.
Relationships in our City
•TheDUPwillnotshyfromtheuseofthenewveto
powerstothwartanycontinuationofapolicyofcultural
aggression.
•TheDUPwantstorestoretheUnionflagtotheCityHall
365daysayear.
•TheDUPwillsupporttheintegrationofthenew
communitiesthathavebeenestablishedorare
developinginourcity.
The DUP will be a willing partner in making our city great again but it will never accept
a secondary or subservient position. Sadly community relationships in the city have
been adversely affected by the aggressive policy of anti-Britishness and this damage
must be repaired if our city is to be a shared city.
If we cannot begin to share something as basic as a road then we will be dragged back
into a dark past that those who lived through never want to see again and those who
did not, never want to have to suffer.
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LET’S MAKE
BELFAST
GREATAGAIN
DUP Belfast A5 AW5 1/5/14 14:05 Page 14

9.
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lower tax
growing
working
family
safer
new heart
education
healthier
cleaner
cultural
relationships
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LET’S MAKE
BELFAST
GREATAGAIN
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