Annual Business and Culture action plan approved by councillors
‘Festivals, events, Hallowe’en, the Maritime Festival, St Patrick’s Day and Christmas really impressive’ - Cllr Rory Farrell
Derry City and Strabane District councillors have approved Council’s 'Business and Culture Directorate Annual Service Delivery Plan' for the upcoming year.
The plan was discussed at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Council’s Business and Culture committee, after which it was proposed by Ald Julie Middleton (DUP) and seconded by Cllr Grace Uí Niallais (Sinn Fein).
Introducing the Plan, Council’s director of business and culture stressed he was not seeking “carte blanche approval” because everything in the plan was subject to papers which would come back to members for discussion.
“What it does do is communicate our objectives from the corporate plan and also sets out the improvement objectives for the year,” he added.
“The document has been screened for equality but as each action becomes a reality and we bring papers in, we do further equality screening and rural proofing.
“The financial implications are that it all stems from the rates, so it follows the rates process, and then we go into the budgeting process of working out exactly what we are going to spend each area of the rates on,” he said.
Thanking the team at the business and culture directorate, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) said it had achieved a lot last year.
“Especially around festivals and events and Hallowe’en, the Maritime Festival, St Patrick’s Day and Christmas. It’s all really, really impressive,” he added.
Cllr Uí Niallais said the number of “actions and the work that has been going on in the past year” was clearly evident in the plan.
She added: “It is amazing and you know, without this committee and without the business and culture team, the whole council would be much less animated and fun to be in, so thank you.”
The comprehensive “Business and Culture Directorate Annual Service Delivery Plan 2025/26” highlighted its remit within Derry City and Strabane District Council.
It leads and delivers on the primary objectives of “job creation, business support, skills enhancement, inward investment and economic regeneration in partnership with other Directorates and relevant local, regional, cross-border and national partners and in line with the Inclusive Strategic Growth Plan”.
It also “drives rural development across all sections and functions of Council providing equality of opportunity throughout the new Council area for the benefit of all local communities and businesses.”
The directorate harnesses “the potential of the transferring functions, powers and assets from Department’s of Economy, Infrastructure and Communities to promote entrepreneurship, enterprise, growth, and prosperity across the City and Region”.
And develops and delivers the “Innovation, Digital and Health” programme of Council’s City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund”.
In addition, it drives “the visitor and tourism economy of the North West by exploiting the regenerative, cultural and economic benefits of tourism and promoting and marketing the City and Region through the development of festivals and events for both local and international audiences, high quality visitor attractions, services and experiences.