Pavement cafés: Rural Needs Impact Assessment

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 City Council Pavement Café Licensing scheme transitioning the temporary Pavement Café Licensing scheme, which was introduced as part of Covid-19 recovery measures, to a permanent scheme

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

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.
Belfast City Council Pavement Café Licensing scheme

1E. Please provide details of the aims or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.
Under the provisions of the Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 the Council may grant Pavement Café Licences. A pavement café licence authorises a person who carries out a business involving the supply of food or drink (in or from premises) to place furniture (tables, chairs, etc.) in a public area for use by customers. In June 2020, Belfast City Council introduced a temporary process for considering pavement café applications to assist the hospitality sector during the recovery period following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. This scheme has been extended twice and it has now been agreed by Council that it will expire on 31 December 2023. The Council has agreed to introduce a permanent pavement café licensing scheme and transition to that scheme over a 3 month period when the current temporary process comes to an end. The permanent scheme will mirror the existing temporary scheme in most aspects, however, associated fees may now apply, applications will be considered with a less liberal approach than was deemed appropriate during covid-19 in terms of location, size etc., licence conditions may be amended to address specific issues, and it is intended that the permanent scheme will include increased monitoring and stepped-up enforcement activity with regards to both licensed and unlicensed pavement cafés. The objectives are as follows: The provision of a permanent licensing of pavement cafés scheme for Belfast (to be implemented once the current temporary scheme expires, with transitional arrangements). The scheme aims to be consistent in approach, in the good practice guidance used and in fees charged (when appropriate), with the rest of Northern Ireland, whilst taking into account Belfast specific issues or views; To facilitate the controlled expansion of suitable premises such as cafés, restaurants and pubs, providing small businesses with an opportunity to boost their income, in support of a vibrant daytime and evening economy and for the general wellbeing of the community. To ensure Belfast has well-regulated pavement cafés, having a positive effect on commercial environments, enhancing the attractiveness of local areas and contributing to an excellent visitor experience. While the provision of pavement cafés is encouraged it is important that they are properly situated and managed. There is scope to ensure they enhance the locality in which they are to be situated and not create undue noise or other nuisance to residents or neighbouring businesses. A key consideration prior to licensing will be that the pavement café does not obstruct the footpath or footway and does not present a hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with a physical or mobility disability, sight loss or who are blind and carers or people with dependants.

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

Under the provisions of the Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 the Council may grant Pavement Café Licences. A pavement café licence authorises a person who carries out a business involving the supply of food or drink (in or from premises) to place furniture (tables, chairs, etc.) in a public area for use by customers.

In June 2020, Belfast City Council introduced a temporary process for considering pavement café applications to assist the hospitality sector during the recovery period following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. This scheme has been extended twice and it has now been agreed by Council that it will expire on 31 December 2023. The Council has agreed to introduce a permanent pavement café licensing scheme and transition to that scheme over a 3 month period when the current temporary process comes to an end.

The permanent scheme will mirror the existing temporary scheme in most aspects, however, associated fees may now apply, applications will be considered with a less liberal approach than was deemed appropriate during covid-19 in terms of location, size etc., licence conditions may be amended to address specific issues, and it is intended that the permanent scheme will include increased monitoring and stepped-up enforcement activity with regards to both licensed and unlicensed pavement cafés.

The objectives are as follows:

The provision of a permanent licensing of pavement cafés scheme for Belfast (to be implemented once the current temporary scheme expires, with transitional arrangements). The scheme aims to be consistent in approach, in the good practice guidance used and in fees charged (when appropriate), with the rest of Northern Ireland, whilst taking into account Belfast specific issues or views;
To facilitate the controlled expansion of suitable premises such as cafés, restaurants and pubs, providing small businesses with an opportunity to boost their income, in support of a vibrant daytime and evening economy and for the general wellbeing of the community.
To ensure Belfast has well-regulated pavement cafés, having a positive effect on commercial environments, enhancing the attractiveness of local areas and contributing to an excellent visitor experience.
While the provision of pavement cafés is encouraged it is important that they are properly situated and managed. There is scope to ensure they enhance the locality in which they are to be situated and not create undue noise or other nuisance to residents or neighbouring businesses.
A key consideration prior to licensing will be that the pavement café does not obstruct the footpath or footway and does not present a hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with a physical or mobility disability, sight loss or who are blind and carers or people with dependants.

Section 2

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

2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service i s likely to impact on people in rural areas
The Pavement Café Licensing Scheme applies to the whole of Belfast City Council’s area, urban and rural equally. It does not differentiate between any specific community whether urban or rural. While the majority of existing pavement cafés are located in Belfast city centre, along arterial routes or in neighbourhood centres and therefore good regulation of pavement cafés and facilitating their controlled expansion within urban streetscapes is important, this is equally the case for pavement cafés in rural areas. The scheme is aimed at supporting businesses and increasing vibrancy, it is likely that the Pavement Café Licence Scheme will have an overall positive impact on people living in and businesses operating in rural areas. The proposed permanent Pavement Café Licensing Scheme, the draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment and the draft Equality Screening for the scheme will all be presented together during an eight-week public consultation.

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

The Pavement Café Licensing Scheme applies to the whole of Belfast City Council’s area, urban and rural equally. It does not differentiate between any specific community whether urban or rural. While the majority of existing pavement cafés are located in Belfast city centre, along arterial routes or in neighbourhood centres and therefore good regulation of pavement cafés and facilitating their controlled expansion within urban streetscapes is important, this is equally the case for pavement cafés in rural areas. The scheme is aimed at supporting businesses and increasing vibrancy, it is likely that the Pavement Café Licence Scheme will have an overall positive impact on people living in and businesses operating in rural areas.

The proposed permanent Pavement Café Licensing Scheme, the draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment and the draft Equality Screening for the scheme will all be presented together during an eight-week public consultation.

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, as Pavement Café Licensing Scheme applies to all of the Belfast City Council area, urban and rural equally, there will be no differential impact on business operators wishing to apply for a pavement café licence, and people from rural areas will be able to avail of pavement cafés wherever they are located. However, as the majority of existing pavement cafés are located in Belfast city centre, along arterial routes or in district or local centres the impact of the Pavement Café Licensing Scheme is likely to impact those that live, work or study in Belfast city centre and urban areas more than those people in rural areas solely due to frequency of contact with pavement cafés as a customer or as a passer-by.

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, as Pavement Café Licensing Scheme applies to all of the Belfast City Council area, urban and rural equally, there will be no differential impact on business operators wishing to apply for a pavement café licence, and people from rural areas will be able to avail of pavement cafés wherever they are located.

However, as the majority of existing pavement cafés are located in Belfast city centre, along arterial routes or in district or local centres the impact of the Pavement Café Licensing Scheme is likely to impact those that live, work or study in Belfast city centre and urban areas more than those people in rural areas solely due to frequency of contact with pavement cafés as a customer or as a passer-by.

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	Yes
Rural Tourism	Yes
Rural Housing	No
Jobs or Employment in Rural Areas	Yes
Education or Training in Rural Areas	No
Broadband or Mobile Communications in Rural Areas	No
Transport Services or Infrastructure in Rural Areas	No
Poverty in Rural Areas	No
Deprivation in Rural Areas	No
Rural Crime or Community Safety	No
Rural Development	No
Agri-Environment	No
Other (Please state)	No

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?
No. Go to Section 3E.

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?

No.

Go to Section 3E.

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?
This strategy has considered the impacts on a range of existing and potential stakeholders. We do not consider this policy to have relevance to the social and economic needs of persons in the rural areas. As part of the consultation and engagement approach for this scheme, key stakeholders representing the business and hospitality sector will be consulted with during the eight-week public consultation period. This process will allow council to identify any social and economic needs of people in rural areas. To date, through evidence gathering such as the Belfast Agenda refresh, specific social and economic needs of people in rural areas have not been identified within the council area. Overarching themes such as a desire to grow the economy and increase vibrancy, which are key objectives of this scheme, are coming through. The council will use the consultation period to identify specific issues, review and update the proposed scheme and any improvements that will enhance in the implementation of the scheme.

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

This strategy has considered the impacts on a range of existing and potential stakeholders. We do not consider this policy to have relevance to the social and economic needs of persons in the rural areas.

As part of the consultation and engagement approach for this scheme, key stakeholders representing the business and hospitality sector will be consulted with during the eight-week public consultation period. This process will allow council to identify any social and economic needs of people in rural areas. To date, through evidence gathering such as the Belfast Agenda refresh, specific social and economic needs of people in rural areas have not been identified within the council area. Overarching themes such as a desire to grow the economy and increase vibrancy, which are key objectives of this scheme, are coming through. The council will use the consultation period to identify specific issues, review and update the proposed scheme and any improvements that will enhance in the implementation of the scheme.

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

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.
As part of the public consultation, a number of engagement events are planned to take place with key stakeholders and via on-line survey (YourSay Belfast), which will enable maximum reach and participation. It will provide both rural and urban dwellers the opportunity to participate in the consultation. We welcome comments during this consultation from rural dwellers. Comments during this consultation will help inform the development and implementation of the proposed scheme. To date through previous equality screening processes and through a previous public consultation on scheme fees, no issues have been raised. We will listen to all comments during the consultation period.

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

As part of the public consultation, a number of engagement events are planned to take place with key stakeholders and via on-line survey (YourSay Belfast), which will enable maximum reach and participation. It will provide both rural and urban dwellers the opportunity to participate in the consultation.

We welcome comments during this consultation from rural dwellers. Comments during this consultation will help inform the development and implementation of the proposed scheme. To date through previous equality screening processes and through a previous public consultation on scheme fees, no issues have been raised. We will listen to all comments during the consultation period.

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?
No. Go to Section 5C.

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?

No.

Go to Section 5C.

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 Pavement Café Licensing Scheme applies to all areas of the city, urban and rural equally. As part of the eight-week public consultation and engagement period, there is an on-line survey, to enable people in rural and urban areas to participate and all feedback will be monitored to check if there are any specific rural issues arising.

Section 6 – Documenting and Recording

6A. Please 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.

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

Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by:
Position or Grade:	Policy and Research Officer
Division or Branch:	Building Control or Place and Economy Department
Signature:
Date:	19 September 2023
Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by:
Position or Grade:	Building Control Manager
Division or Branch:	Building Control Service
Signature:
Date:	19 September 2023