Draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment

Published: August 2023

Contents

• Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016
• Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the policy, strategy, plan or public service
• Section 3 – Identifying the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas
• Section 4 – Considering the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas
• Section 5 – Influencing the policy, strategy, plan or public service
• Section 6 – Documenting and recording

Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

1A. Name of Public Authority

Belfast City Council

1B. Please provide a short title, which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to the Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Action Plans (2023-2027)

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to:

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan for Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.

The Belfast Agenda, Belfast’s Community Plan  

1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.

Belfast City Council published the Belfast Agenda, the city’s first community plan, in November 2017. As well as outlining priorities for action over the next four years, it set out a joint vision and long-term ambitions for Belfast’s future.

The Belfast Agenda 2023–2027 is Belfast’s second community plan. It is a high-level framework outlining how the Council and its community planning partners will work collaboratively to deliver a vision of a better quality of life for all citizens in Belfast. The vision states that by 2035:

‘Belfast will be a city re-imagined and resurgent. A great place to live and work for everyone. Beautiful, well connected and culturally vibrant, it will be a sustainable city shared and loved by all its citizens, free from the legacy of conflict. A compassionate city offering opportunities for everyone. A confident and successful city energising a dynamic and prosperous city region. A magnet for talent and business and admired around the world. A city people dream to visit.’

The desired outcomes that the Belfast Agenda is working towards are:

• Belfast will be a city where everyone benefits from a thriving and prosperous economy
• Belfast will be a city that is a welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive city for all
• Belfast will be a city where everyone in Belfast fulfils their potential
• Belfast will be a city where everyone in Belfast experiences good health and wellbeing
• Belfast will be a city that is vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable

Action plans

Each priority also has a draft action plan that details:

• Strategic intent: What are we trying to do?
• Actions: How are we going to achieve it?
• Stretch goals: How will we measure success in 2027?
• Partners: Who is going to do it?

Actions plans are at different stages of development. Each programme or project will be subject to equality screening and a rural needs assessment in line with the Council’s and/ or partners Equality Scheme and in accordance with the criteria set out in the guidance produced by ECNI.

Initially it is important to acknowledge that, in its present form, this draft refresh of the Belfast Agenda is likely to have an overall positive impact on the communities that it serves in both the urban and rural communities. While acknowledging this overarching positive effect, the pre-consultation phase has helped confirm key issues that the Belfast Agenda 2023-2027 must recognise and address if all those who fall within its remit can be expected to reap the benefits of the agenda.

It is recognised that all action plans should continue to ensure that rural communities are not disadvantaged and that focus is maintained on assessing the impact on rural communities throughout the lifetime of this plan.

To do this we will ensure:

• an explicit commitment to assess and identify Rural Needs for the duration of the project by all partners and agents (including the private and community/voluntary sectors);
• a recognition of the need for diverse means of communication and engagement to access marginalised and hard to reach groups and communities including rural and urban dwellers;
• an acknowledgement of varying levels of educational attainment, including literacy and numeracy and digital skills among the population at large and service users in project design and delivery;
• a need to have concern for access and mobility considerations in all projects;
• a recognition that longstanding structural inequalities may serve to make particular initiatives or enterprises more or less accessible to particular Section 75 groups and rural communities;

Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?

Yes or No? If the response is NO, go to Section 2E.

Answer: No

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

Not applicable.

2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

Not applicable.

2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.

Not applicable.

2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The Belfast Agenda is a high-level community plan and as a consequence applies to all Belfast residents, urban and rural dwellers, equally.

Initially it is important to acknowledge that, in its present form, this draft refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Action Plans is likely to have an overall positive impact on the communities that it serves in both the city and the small rural communities which fall within the city boundary. While acknowledging this overarching positive effect, the pre-consultation phase has helped confirm key issues that the Belfast Agenda 2023-2027 must recognise and address if all those who fall within its remit can be expected to reap the benefits of the agenda.

Furthermore it is recognised that all Belfast Agenda actions plans should continue to ensure that rural communities are not disadvantaged and ensure focus is maintained to assess impact on rural communicates throughout the lifetime of this plan.

We now seek your views on this draft Rural Needs Assessment.

Section 3 – Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

Yes or No? If the response is NO, go to Section 3E.

Answer: No

3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas

Not applicable.

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc.

Not applicable.

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority

Not applicable.

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

The refresh of the Belfast Agenda is a high-level community plan which applies equally to urban and rural dwellers. The Belfast Agenda’s vision aims to benefit the entire council area including the three small rural areas. The Belfast Agenda Action Plans will consider rural needs and equality impacts as part of the delivery phase.

Rural issues such as transport, connectivity, broadband access, and access to services as set out in the DAERA Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland have been considered in the Local Development Plan for the city, which is linked to the overall Belfast Agenda.

Considerable pre consultation (phase 1 and 2) on the refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Action Plans has occurred and incorporated the small rural areas within the Belfast boundary. We are now entering phase 3 which concludes the consultation for the refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Action Plans 2023- 2027.

Section 4 – Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Section 5 – Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?

Yes or No. If the response is NO, go to Section 5C.

Answer: No

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified?

Not applicable.

5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.

The refresh of the Belfast Agenda and associated actions plans cut across the council area, to both urban and rural areas and the benefits are intended to apply equally. 

The Belfast Agenda is intended to positively impact the entire area of Belfast including the rural settlements of Edenderry, Hannahstown and Loughview.

However, as this is a draft rural needs assessment and the consultation is ongoing, we seek further clarity from rural dwellers. We will update the rural needs assessment in due course as required.

The Belfast Local Development Plan (LDP, adopted May 2023) for Belfast sets out the Council’s aspirations for the future physical development and growth of the city and the policies that will be used in assessing future planning applications. There is a statutory link between the community plan and the LDP, so the LDP supports the Belfast Agenda’s vision and outcomes to enable the sustainable spatial growth and development of the city.

Section 6 – Documenting and Recording

6A. Please tick below the confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.