MAKING Belfast a 'self-governing' city is at the top of the agenda in an ambitious new manifesto launched by Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
The body, which represents more than 400 businesses in Belfast, set out its vision for the next 10 years at Stormont, calling on political parties to make policies in the 'Belfast First' document work to the benefit of the whole of Northern Ireland.
Chamber president Gordon McElroy said the city had "moved forward" and it was now time for decisive action, particularly following the challenges of the Brexit result and publication of of the Executive's Programme for Government.
Central to the proposals are five core policies - making Belfast a self-governing city; improving access and infrastructure; growing Belfast's position as a world-class tech city; introducing fairer rates and taxes; and reinventing the city centre to attract more retail, commerce, business and 'city living'.
To secure growth, Mr McElroy said there needed to be a joined-up approach to development - and allowing Belfast to become self-governing would be conducive towards improved ergonomics by co-ordinating regeneration, infrastructure and planning.
"Currently the Department for Communities at the Northern Ireland Executive has control for regeneration, but if Belfast City Council had this power transferred, there would be a more cohesive approach," he said.
"We need a joined-up development strategy linking in planning, roads, infrastructure and regeneration so more people can live in the city centre.
"Improved access and infrastructure and a world-class transport system are vital to help achieve the growth planned for in future years.
"The Belfast Metropolitan Area has a population of 580,000 out of Northern Ireland’s total population of 1.8 million and this centre of population is the gateway for business and economic activity for the whole region."
In terms of business rates, Mr McElroy suggested more could be done to encourage new businesses to take up units lying vacant in the city centre.
"No-one is saying we don't want to pay rates, but I do think the business community is sometimes an easy option for revenue," he added.
"I don't believe there will be any domestic water rates for political reasons, so it's easy to put up the business rates as an alternative - businesses currently provide 65 per cent of the rates income for Belfast City Council.
"Incentives such as offering half-cost rates for the first 12 months would help attract new businesses and enourage people to 'dip their toes in the water' first."
Mr McElroy, who voiced "disappointment" that the Programme for Government had not contained a specific policy for Belfast, insisted the manifesto was not just an empty 'wish list'.
"Something concrete will come out of this," he said.
"Our aim is to make Northern Ireland an excellent place for business by ensuring that Belfast thrives."
