Rural Needs Impact Assessment: Draft Commercial Plan

Published in July 2022

Contents

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.

Draft Commercial Plan

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

Belfast City Council's activity relates to developing a plan.

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.

Draft Commercial Plan

1E. Please provide details of the aims or objectives of the policy, strategy, plan or public service.

To define our commercial approach, we have adopted this vision: 

We will take an innovative and business-like approach to commercial activity to secure the delivery of high quality, sustainable and Value for Money services for our local communities. Through this, we will support the achievement of those ambitions set out in the Belfast Agenda.

The overarching aim of our Commercial Plan is to contribute to the council’s investment plans, its efficiency programme and to ‘recovering’ and ‘rebuilding’ from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help safeguard services that are delivered in our local communities, including those that are most vulnerable.

To support this, we have identified six strategic aims:

1. Maximise opportunities to deliver more for our citizens, including those that are most vulnerable.
2. Make better use of our assets for our citizens by achieving positive outcomes and superior value.
3. Ensure delivery of our services in the most cost-effective way.
4. Contribute towards meeting the significant financial challenges faced by the council by ensuring we achieve Value for Money.
5. Adopt a commercial culture whilst retaining strong public, community and social values.
6. Work with partners who share our vision and ambitions and continue to put the best interests of Belfast’s residents at the heart of everything we do.

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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
No

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 2E.

2B. Please explain how the policy, strategy, plan or public service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

This is 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.

This is not applicable.

2D. Please indicate which of the rural policy areas the policy, strategy, plan or public service is likely to primarily impact on.

If the response to Section 2A was 'Yes', go to Section 3A.

2E. Please explain why the policy, strategy, plan or public service is not likely to impact on people in rural areas.

According to the ‘Summary Rural Needs Assessment’ document, Belfast has a rural population of approximately 1,484 residents living within the small settlements of Edenderry, Hannahstown and Loughview.

The draft Commercial Plan aims to contribute to the council’s investment plans, its efficiency programme and to ‘recovering’ and ‘rebuilding’ from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help safeguard services that are delivered in all our local communities (both urban and rural). It is anticipated there will be no adverse impact on people in rural areas.

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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
No   

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 3E.

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.

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. 

This is 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.

This is not applicable.

If the response to Section 3A was 'Yes', go to Section 4A.

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 draft Commercial Plan aims to contribute to the council’s investment plans, its efficiency programme and to ‘recovering’ and ‘rebuilding’ from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help safeguard services that are delivered in all our local communities (both urban and rural). It is anticipated there will be no adverse impact on people in rural areas.

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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.

This is not applicable. 

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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
No

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 5C.

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?

This is not applicable.

If the response to Section 5A was 'Yes', go to Section 6A.

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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 draft Commercial Plan aims to contribute to the council’s investment plans, its efficiency programme and to ‘recovering’ and ‘rebuilding’ from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help safeguard services that are delivered in all our local communities (both urban and rural). It is anticipated there will be no adverse impact on people in rural areas.

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Section 6 – Documenting and recording

6A. Please tick to confirm that the RNIA template will be retained by the public authority and relevant information on Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.

Confirmation statement

I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled.

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