Rural Needs Impact Assessment Screening (RNIA)

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.

Belfast Stories RIBA stage II

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.

Belfast Stories programme and EQIA

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

Belfast Stories is a flagship project that aims to attract both tourists and local people. As part of the Belfast Region City Deal, it also aims to help regenerate the city and surrounding areas.

Its objectives are:

• To grow Belfast’s tourism economy
• To create and sustain a diversified, vibrant city centre – an attractive place to live in, invest in and work in
• To support and promote the NI screen and film sector
• To co-create a user-generated, authentic experience that engenders a greater sense of connection and belonging for local people and visitors.

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 

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.

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.

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

▢ Rural Businesses

▢ Rural Tourism

▢ Rural Housing

▢ Jobs or Employment in Rural Areas

▢ Education or Training in Rural Areas

▢ Broadband or Mobile Communications in Rural Areas

▢ Transport Services or Infrastructure in Rural Areas

▢ Poverty in Rural Areas

▢ Deprivation in Rural Areas

▢ Rural Crime or Community Safety

▢ Rural Development

▢ Agri-Environment

Other (Please state) __________________________________

• 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.

There are 1,484 rural residents (0.43 per cent) out of a total 339,579 residents in the Belfast City Council area. These areas are all in relative proximity to the city centre: Hannahstown, Loughview 6.5km south–east and Edenderry, 8km south.

Equality, diversion and inclusion is embedded in the development of Belfast Stories, which will bring together the stories of the city and its people including those from rural communities. It is intended to benefit the Belfast city region and have a positive impact across the area including on rural and urban stakeholders. We are not aware of local circumstances which will result in a different outcome at this stage.

A public consultation will be carried out on Belfast Stories between 10 August and 14 November 2022. During this period, stakeholders, including people and groups in rural areas, will be invited to comment on the as part of the consultation, including consideration of any people and groups who are more likely to miss out and how they can be supported to engage.

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 

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.

▢ Consultation with Rural Stakeholders

▢ Published Statistics

▢ Consultation with Other Organisations

▢ Research Papers

▢ Surveys or Questionnaires

▢ Other Publications

▢ Other Methods or Information Sources (include details in Question 3C below).

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.

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

• 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 Belfast Stories programme has been identified in several Belfast City Council strategies, including the A City Imagining cultural strategy (2019) and Make Yourself at Home tourism strategy (2022) and has been subject to rural needs assessment as part of the parent strategy. We are not aware of local circumstances which will result in a different outcome at this stage.

Between 10 August and 14 November 2022 Belfast City Council will carry out a 14-week public consultation on the Belfast Stories Programme, including an EQIA. This will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders (urban and rural) to review the proposals and provide feedback to help shape the concept and engagement going forward.

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.

Belfast Stories is intended to benefit the Belfast city region and have a positive impact across the area including on rural and urban stakeholders. We are not aware of local circumstances which will result in a different outcome at this stage (outline concept and draft engagement plan).

During the public consultation, engagement opportunities will take place online and in-person at various locations across the city to enable people in rural areas participate. Consultees will be invited to comment on the Belfast Stories programme, including consideration of any people and groups who are more likely to miss out and how they can be supported to engage.  This will enable any issues that are relevant to people in rural areas to be identified and shape the onward development of Belfast Stories.

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 

If the response is No, go to Section 5E.

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?

• If the response to Section 5A was YES GO TO Section 6A.

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.

Belfast Stories is intended to benefit the Belfast city region and have a positive impact across the area including on rural and urban stakeholders. We are not aware of local circumstances which will result in a different outcome at this stage (outline concept and draft engagement plan).

During the public consultation, engagement opportunities will take place online and in-person at various locations across the city to enable people in rural areas participate. Consultees will be invited to comment on the Belfast Stories Programme, including consideration of any people and groups who are more likely to miss out and how they can be supported to engage.  This will enable any issues that are relevant to people in rural areas to be identified and shape the onward development of Belfast Stories.

Section 6 – Documenting and Recording

6A. Please tick below to 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.

☑ We will keep a record on file which will retain relevant information.