SOLACE (NI) /CCMA Workshop Economic Downturn Challenge for Local Government Peter McNaney Chief...
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Transcript of SOLACE (NI) /CCMA Workshop Economic Downturn Challenge for Local Government Peter McNaney Chief...
SOLACE (NI) /CCMA Workshop
Economic Downturn Challenge for Local Government
Peter McNaneyChief Executive
Belfast City Council
3 November 2010
“Time present and time pastAre both perhaps present in time
future.And time future contained in the
past.”
T S EliotFour Quartets
Bad Times.. Industrial decline since the 1950s
A period of civil unrest known as
‘The Troubles’ began in 1969
Government by ‘direct rule’ from
London
Economic slowdown and a
migration away from Belfast to
surrounding areas from the 70’s
Devolved government: re-
established 8 May 2007
New investor confidence in NI
Turkey
MEXICO
SOUTH KOREA
UKRAINE
RUSSIA
ITALY
TAIWAN
INDIA
JAPAN
The Good Times Huge physical progress: major
infrastructure programme throughout 1990s & ongoing
€5 billion of investment & 35,000 new jobs in last decade
Third fastest growing economy in UK
GVA up 99% in 10 years Lowest unemployment on record
4.1% Tourist Boom - 6.9 million visitors
in 2008, spending £324million New landmark developments:
Victoria Square, Cathedral Quarter, North Foreshore, Titanic Quarter
Place shaping BelfastCivic Renewal
City Hall 1906£13m refurbishment
Open June 2009
Ulster Hall 1862£7.5m refurbishment
Open May 2009
Belfast Instituteof Technology
£20mUlster Museum£12m refurbishment
Open Sept 2009
Belfast Central Library 1888£60m new build
Open 2011
Visitor numbers for Belfast 1994-2008
1994 1999 2007
Visitor 600,000 1.6m 6.9m
O/N Visitors 200,000 500,000 1.4m
Day Trippers 400,000 1.1m 5.6m
Spend £40m £110m £313.3m
Rooms 900 1,500 7,522
Jobs 4,000 7,000 17,231
% of NI Tourism 17% 22% 57%
Building a Better BelfastRate Base over last 5 years
Industrial down 17m Retail/office up 35m Application value over 1m – continues to rise Notional value of construction work making
1 billion Big increase in dwellings until this year Crane count 26
Economic Downturn…..
Impact on Belfast….
Unemployment rate doubled
Increase in vacant properties in the City Centre
Retail and residential lead developments frozen
ROI recession impacting on Retail Sector
£1m square ft of Vacant City Centre Office Space
Falls in property values
Growing tension between City Centre and ‘Out of Town’ Development
We live in Challenging and Uncertain times
How should we respond?
Like an ostrich?
How should we respond?
Or like a Chameleon?
What is the most important quality in coping with change?
Belfast City Council Response
City Leadership – Capital Investment
INVESTMENT CYCLE
What we can do ourselves
Other steps taken….
New Corporate Plan (2011-2015)
Economic Downturn Task Group and Action Plan
Framework to Tackle Poverty and Inequalities.
Improvement and Efficiency programme
- Service improvement
- Deliver ‘More for less’
- Demonstrate VFM
What next for Belfast?
City Investment Framework
Integrated Economic Development Strategy
Asset Management & Rationalisation programme
• Total Place Approach
- integrated service delivery at local level
• Exploring alternative funding mechanisms
Invest in Hope, Aspiration & ‘Can Do’
“The sense of danger must not disappearThe way is certainly both short and steep
However gradual it looks from hereLook if you like but you will have to leap
Tough minded men get mushy in their sleepAnd break the by-laws any fool can keep
It is not the convention but the fearThat must be made to disappear.”
W H AudenLeap before you look