Belfast City Council is to look at plans to encourage philanthropy in the city to help its “struggling” public sector.
Elected representatives at the March meeting of the City Hall Strategic Policy and Resources Committee agreed to explore a motion by Alliance Councillor Michael Long.
It states: “This council agrees to take on a lead role in developing a sponsorship and philanthropy network in the city, in order to understand how we can align and strengthen the corporate responsibility commitments of organisations and institutions to practically deliver city and community priorities.
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“This would encourage businesses and individuals to contribute their skills, time and financial support to building a better Belfast.”
Councillor Long told the committee: “It is to see how we can formalise how we do this. Regularly we have complaints from businesses, and from here, about what businesses are doing to improve this city.
“When I speak to them, one of the main concerns is that they would like to help a project, but they don’t know exactly how to help. There is an opportunity for them to assist with some of our existing projects.
“So the reason for this motion is to try and see if the council can take a lead in terms of how we would encourage people and businesses to be involved in actually providing money for various projects within Belfast.”
He added: “In North America this is quite a common thing, where (entrepreneurs) would provide a lot of support in their local communities. We should be looking to do that, not only from the North American companies that are here, but also those indigenous to here.
“It is really important to include business to assist in whatever way it can, through public realm, digital support, to achieve a better city. We are obviously struggling in every sector and every government department to find money. This is one option that would help involve private investment in the city.”
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite raised doubts about potential “duplication” in the Alliance proposal, but did not oppose an officer report and further discussion of the motion.
He said: “I recognise the value of this, but I have raised some concerns. A lot of the work in relation to this motion has already been undertaken through the Social Value Policy framework, and through some of the work officers and councillors have taken forward through the Belfast Business Promise.
“I worry that this is almost getting ahead of some of that work, much of which I understand is at an advanced stage, in terms of bringing forward some corporate responsibility and ethical financial support policy.”
He proposed forwarding the motion to the council Social Value Working Group, and get an update from them on what their plans are in relation to proposals in the motion.
He added: “We have had an official launch (with the Belfast Business Promise), where we have had quite a number of businesses engaged, and already starting to participate. We need to be a bit more mindful of the work that is already going on across all parties, and not undermine that.”
Councillor Long said: “I am well aware of all of the work, it is why I have been discussing this for months. This is very much about how we market it, and signpost it.”
The committee agreed for it to return to S,P&R with an officer’s report looking at its implications, and then go to the council’s quarterly meeting Social Value Working Group.
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