Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy

Published in November 2023

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.

Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy

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

Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy

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

Our inclusively active City: where, throughout the life course, everyone is able to take part in sport and physical activity, to benefit their health and well-being.

Moving more as part of everyday life is recognised as an essential component of our physical and mental wellbeing and supports us to learn, work and enjoy life to the full. Our population is ageing, people live more sedentary lives and health inequalities have increased. In order to challenge and address inactivity in Belfast our Shared Outcomes are:

• Active Communities – supported and developed community assets and activities, to increase physical activity levels, and build community resilience
• Active Environments – built and natural environments, that support and facilitate every-day physical activity, for everyone
• Healthy Individuals – increased awareness and capability among people who are less active to increase physical activity levels long-term, with a focus on decreasing inequalities
• Partnerships and Collaborative Working - enhance partnership working to increase physical activity opportunities and participation, in a range of activities across our City

1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

• Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition).

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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?

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 following 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.

The Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy and associated council services cut across the council area, to both urban and rural areas and the benefits are intended to apply equally. The strategy is intended to positively impact the entire population and area of Belfast and will form the basis of future management decisions including those relating to proposals in rural settlements as mentioned above.

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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. 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 Other Organisations
• Surveys or Questionnaires
• Published Statistics
• Research Papers

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. 

Belfast has three rural areas - Edenderry, Hannahstown and Loughview. To develop the Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy, we have engaged with external stakeholders including those in central and local government, education and sports sectors who have knowledge of and represent the needs of people in the rural areas. We issued online surveys regarding the development of the Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy via Your Say Belfast to residents and members of the public, community groups, sports clubs, sport’s governing bodies, and schools and colleges.  Responses from these surveys helped to inform the development of the draft strategy.

We intend for the appointed consultants (Strategic Leisure Ltd) for the project, and relevant officers, to present the draft strategy to the Council’s People and Communities Committee in October 2023. If the draft is approved by the Committee, and subsequently by Council, we will commence a public consultation over 14 weeks as it will be live during the Christmas period thus giving the public an opportunity to comment on both online and in-person at wide ranging community events across the city which will be opened to all including those residing in the three rural areas.

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

According to the Belfast Local Development Plan. Whilst the Belfast City Council area is predominantly urban, it also contains countryside areas outside the urban settlement area, including the Belfast, Castlereagh and Holywood Hills and the Lagan Valley Regional Park. Belfast’s rural area accounts for approximately 30 per cent (40.75 km²) of the total Council area. The default definition of “rural” used in Northern Ireland is those settlements with populations of less than 5,000, together with the open countryside. The rural population of Belfast (2016 mid-year population estimates, NISRA) is approximately 1,484, including the small settlements of Edenderry, Hannahstown and Loughview.  In identifying the social and economic needs of people in rural areas the Council considered: NISRA data on the three relevant rural settlements alongside the information presented in the DAERA Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland which provided further details of the social and economic needs generally for those who live in rural areas across Northern Ireland. These include transport, connectivity, broadband and access to services.

All issues will be considered as the Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy is consulted on throughout Belfast. The Council will actively encourage feedback on the draft strategy from communities and individuals within those rural settlements. 

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 is not applicable.

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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.

Rural issues such as transport, connectivity, broadband access, and access to services as set out in the DAERA Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland will be considered in the development of this strategy and will be reflected in the engagement and consultation activities associated with it. 

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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?

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 development (and future adoption, implementation or revising) of the Strategy, and the design and the delivery of the Public Service, has not been influenced by the rural needs identified as the Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy and associated council services cut across the council area, to both urban and rural areas and the benefits are intended to apply equally. 

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

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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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