Belfast: a city profileBelfast: a city profile

Lorraine DennisBelfast City Council

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Belfast in context

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Ireland: 4 ancient provinces

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Map of Northern Ireland

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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

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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

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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

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BELFAST – THE RECENT PAST

• Peace process • Clinton Visit• New landmark developments• Inflows of inward investment• Visitor numbers quadruple• Unemployment down 75% 1991-2007

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Belfast: conflict legacy

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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

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Belfast: the way ahead

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Belfast –conflict management

• Legal case

• Business case

• Moral case

• Partnerships

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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

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STRATEGIES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH

• Focus on strengths– Positive demographics– High number of graduates– Competitive cost base– Creative industries– Build on FDI success– Invest in skills– Double visitor figures by 2020– Increase employment in hospitality and tourism

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STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH

• Stay Visible– MTV European Music Awards 2011– Titanic 2012– World Police and Fire Games 2013

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Belfast: the way ahead

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Belfast City Council

• 51 elected Members–6 political party groups - no overall control• Proportionality since 1993• d’Hondt power-sharing arrangements

• 6 Departments – 2500+ staff• Conduit between macro and micro

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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, 18th May: 1, 2001

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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

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Thank-you!Thank-you!

Lorraine DennisBelfast City Councildennisl@belfastcity.gov.uk

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