I beg to move

That this Assembly recognises the importance of thriving high streets and town centres to the economic vibrancy and social fabric of our communities; further recognises the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn and changing consumer habits on retailers, the hospitality sector and other high street businesses; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to produce a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres.

The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to one hour and 30 minutes for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have 10 minutes in which to propose and 10 minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. Three amendments have been selected and are published on the Marshalled List, so the Business Committee has agreed that 45 minutes will be added to the total time for the debate. Without further ado, Kate, please open the debate.

Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I am glad to propose the motion, which provides an opportunity to discuss further support that we can and should provide to our high streets.

Alliance understands that high streets are at the heart of communities in cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland. From post offices and banks to corner shops, bakeries, cafes, butchers and everything in between, our high streets are places not just of business and commerce but of community connection and social cohesion. They provide jobs, vibrancy, arts and cultural opportunities, essential services and a sense of pride in the places that we call "home". As the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stated in a recent report:

"High streets are more than just commercial spaces; they are destinations in their own right with the potential to attract tourism, enriching local economies."

However, we all know that our high streets are under enormous pressure and that they are changing. With online shopping, out-of-town retail parks and the challenges of COVID, our high streets have faced enormous volatility in recent years. There is an urgent need to find more creative and innovative policy responses to address challenges, especially for the small, micro, independent, family-owned businesses that dominate our economy. The FSB report on high streets set that out clearly, noting:

"The future of our high streets depends on their ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-evolving commercial landscape."

The need for support for micro and small businesses has only increased in the past week, given the impending pressures emerging from the Budget announcements, particularly those on National Insurance contributions and wage increases. The Government claim that the increases are mitigated by the increase in the employers' allowance, but serious concerns remain. Today, Retail NI told me that members are struggling to pay the highest business rates in the UK. That, coupled with increasing employers' National Insurance contributions, will have a negative impact on local jobs and the viability of small businesses and will restrict the growth of our economy.

Retail NI also raised the issue of the Chancellor's announcement of a 40% rate relief scheme for independent retailers and other high street businesses in England. There are growing calls for Barnett consequentials to be used locally in order to offset the National Insurance increase and to allow high street businesses to reinvest more of their money in order to create more jobs and boost our economy. It is on that point that we will be accepting the SDLP amendment.

Over the past decade, Governments around the world have introduced various schemes to address the regeneration of town and city streets and centres. In parts of Manchester, after a period of community engagement, Friday night markets were developed to host local businesses, and those drew residents into the town centre for after-work entertainment. Toronto developed its Digital Main Street campaign, which is aimed at increasing the online presence of bricks-and-mortar shops. In central Berlin, public realm works resulted in market squares becoming entertainment and social destinations, with knock-on benefits for local businesses. Lille in France developed a niche as a centre of research and design, leveraging public transport connections to build an international reputation.

We have also seen action closer to home. In Scotland, the £50 million town centre fund was launched in 2019 by the Scottish Government and local authorities to help high streets become more sustainable, diverse and successful in the face of significant changes. In 2020, the Welsh Government announced the £90 million transforming towns fund to increase footfall, tackle empty buildings and create green town centres. In the South, the town centre first initiative has been developed to help every town lay the foundations for a locally developed plan to help it reach its potential.

When we look globally, we see that there is a wide range of creative solutions to the challenges facing our high streets. In response to local challenges, our Executive established a high street task force in 2022 that presented recommendations on delivering a 21st-century high street. That report recognised a range of challenges and opportunities, including the crucial role played by urban centres in driving economic growth, the need for locally tailored strategies and a wide range of other dimensions that my colleague Connie Egan will speak to in greater detail later in the debate. It was envisaged that the task force would be in place for five years to coordinate TEO's five-year reconstruction plan. Its recommendations have since gathered dust, however, and, all the while, the problems for our high streets have mounted.

In response to a question for written answer that I submitted recently, the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acknowledged:

"The scope of the ... recommendations lie within the responsibilities of a number of departments and ... they should be taken forward by a cross-departmental group".

They wrote to the Department for the Economy, the Department for Communities, the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Finance on that basis on 10 October. It is clear that there are issues that span multiple Departments and that, in an ideal world, we would have all the relevant Ministers in the Chamber to respond. Given the economic imperative of high street regeneration, Alliance is of the view that the Department for the Economy should play a leading role on the cross-departmental working group, especially given the lack of action that there has been from TEO up to this point. What is clear is that there is no shortage of ideas. What we need to do now is deliver.

Although there are issues across a range of Departments, Alliance believes that a focus on the Department for the Economy gives us a strong starting point to continue to drive forward the changes that are necessary in order to support our high streets. The Department for the Economy is in a much better position than TEO is to develop an understanding of the effectiveness of high street regeneration efforts and to prioritise the economic challenges that high streets face. It is also crucial that the engagement be not just cross-departmental but with local councils and communities in order to develop an effective, locally owned approach to high street regeneration.

High street regeneration is an issue that every Government must grapple with and respond to. As Dr Fei Chen noted in her report on creative engagement for high street regeneration:

"High streets ... need continuous attention to keep them liveable, sustainable and resilient to adverse effects".

The most successful high street regeneration projects emphasise the importance of aligning high street assets with community demand for diverse facilities and retail opportunities, recognising that high streets not only serve commercial purposes but provide an essential community, cultural and educational resource. Although our high street businesses, retailers and tenants face significant challenges, I remain hopeful for the future of our high streets and look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues from across the House and with the Minister on developing a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres.

I beg to move amendment No 1:

Leave out all after "high street businesses;" and insert: "acknowledges that the majority of businesses on our high streets are small, reflecting the broader structure of the local economy; further acknowledges that, compared with their larger counterparts, these businesses are disproportionately affected by the current non-domestic rates system; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Minister of Finance to produce a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres, including options for the reform of non-domestic rates" — [Ms McLaughlin.]

Thank you, Sinéad. You will have 10 minutes to propose amendment No 1 and five minutes to make a winding-up speech.

There can be absolutely no doubt that high streets and town centres play a vital role in the economic vibrancy and social cohesion of our communities, and we welcome the Alliance Party's motion. It is not an exaggeration to say that the businesses that we find on our high streets, big and small, represent the lifeblood of our economy, creating employment and driving growth across the region. We also know that that role goes beyond mere commercial activity. They are where our communities come together, where local identity is fostered and where social interaction flourishes. A bustling high street supports not only the economy but the quality of life in our towns and cities.

As the motion rightly points out, the challenges facing our high streets are significant. The lasting impact of the pandemic, combined with evolving consumer behaviours, has placed tremendous pressure on retailers, the hospitality sector and other businesses that make up the fabric of our high streets. That pressure has not been felt by all businesses equally. Small businesses have faced particular challenges, and it is right to draw attention to just how important that is for considering how we reinvigorate our high street economy. Family-run shops, independent cafes, local pubs and unique speciality stores give our town centres character and diversity. Rising costs, inflation and reduced consumer spending are putting a strain on those businesses. I see it in my own city of Derry and across the North, where they are struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

If we do not take decisive action to support them, we risk losing not only those businesses but the character and vitality that they bring to our streets. Reform of non-domestic rates is central to that conversation. The case for change has never been clearer: the current system is outdated and does not reflect the economic realities faced by small businesses in our community today. Reforming that system is not simply a matter of easing the financial burden on small enterprises: it is about creating a fair and more balanced economic environment, where businesses of all sizes can thrive. We must ensure that the system is more equitable, with targeted relief for small businesses and measures that encourage investment and growth in our town centres.

While reforming non-domestic rates is a crucial step, we must recognise that it is only part of the solution. The recent Budget announcement grants us further opportunity. Rate reliefs for businesses from the relevant Barnett consequential funding must be ring-fenced by the Executive. Funding for services must not be allowed to come to Stormont and then just fall into a big black hole. Businesses are calling out for strategic planning of additional funding, and the SDLP will continue to make that case. Rate relief is just one measure that is used to support our struggling high streets. A comprehensive strategy of high street rejuvenation is needed to address the full range of challenges that our town centres face. The strategy should be multifaceted, not only targeted financially but to address structural issues that have been exacerbated by the economic downturn and the shift to online shopping.

In 2022, the main political parties, representatives of the 11 councils and some 33 businesses, trade unions and community sector groups all agreed the final high street task force report recommendations. The high street task force outlined a vision for revitalising high streets and called for a five-year programme, focused on creating high streets that are fit for the 21st century. Since then, however, nothing has happened: absolutely nothing. Significantly, the Executive Office has refused calls from Retail NI and Hospitality Ulster for it to be recalled, and no explanation has been given to them.

We are letting down our high street businesses by ignoring the task force and its recommendations. Those recommendations could form the basis of a strategy for the Economy and Finance Ministers. The comprehensive strategy that we develop could be built upon the task force recommendations. That would mean greater investment in infrastructure and public space, making our high streets attractive, inclusive and accessible places where people want to spend. That is why we welcome the amendment by Gerry Carroll on the need for retail centres that are accessible for disabled people.

Investing in cleaner, greener and safer public spaces, as well as improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, can make our town centres more inviting and encourage higher footfall. It will also mean incentivising the use of vacant properties. We all know that empty shops and derelict buildings are a common sight on many high streets. They contribute to a sense of decline and, certainly, a sense of wasted opportunities. We need policies that encourage property owners to bring vacant units back into use, whether for new businesses, community spaces or, indeed, housing. We also need to support local events and community activities. We need to embrace digital and technological innovation and to foster sustainable development.

Each of those measures will be integral to the rejuvenation of our high streets, if they are properly implemented. While it is important to aim to revive traditional retail, we must also help local businesses to adapt to the digital age. Providing support to small businesses to adopt digital tools, develop online sales channels and integrate e-commerce in their in-store offering will enable them to compete in a changing marketplace.

We must not forget that the future of our high streets must be environmentally sustainable. Investing in green infrastructure such as energy-efficient buildings and sustainable transport will not only reduce costs for businesses but contribute to broader environmental goals. That can include incentives for businesses to make energy-efficient upgrades and measures to promote sustainable forms of transport, such as cycling and electric vehicle charging points etc.

Finally, any strategy to rejuvenate our high streets must involve local partnerships and community input. Each high street has its own unique strengths and challenges, and local councils, businesses and community groups are best placed to identify and address those needs. By empowering local communities to take the lead in reshaping their town centres, we can ensure that solutions are tailored to the specific requirements of each area. District councils should be encouraged to develop bespoke high street action plans that are informed by the views of local residents and other stakeholders. The report of the high street task force supported that place-based approach, which puts local needs and aspirations at the heart of the regeneration efforts.

In conclusion, I urge the Assembly to support our amendment, which recognises the importance of developing "a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate" our "high streets and town centres". Let us seize the opportunity to invest in our own communities, to support our local businesses and to build town centres that are not only economically vibrant but socially and inclusively enriching. Our high streets are the heart of our communities, and, by taking bold action now, we can ensure that they are thriving places for generations to come.

I beg to move amendment No 2:

After "high street businesses;" insert: "notes that the inaccessibility of many high street and town centre footpaths presents an unacceptable obstacle to the participation of disabled people in society; further notes that workers fought for and won the two-day weekend;"

Thank you, Gerry. You have 10 minutes to propose and five minutes to make a winding-up speech. Please open the debate on amendment No 2.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Under our current system, our city and town centres are carved up by private property, and property rights dominate all the claims to our shared spaces. However, if we are serious about recognising the importance of our city and town centres and our high streets as the social fabric of our communities, which they are, we need to acknowledge that property rights have, effectively, alienated us from our own public spaces.

Our towns and high streets belong to those who live and work there, and they should be shaped by the needs of communities and designed to promote social connection and inclusion. My amendment focuses on making our towns and high streets more accessible to people with disabilities and mobility issues, and it pushes back against a deeply unpopular idea, continually floated by the party that tabled the motion, that shops should open for longer on Sundays.

When it comes to accessibility, any strategy to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres must prioritise accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities and mobility issues. Shockingly, research from Disability Action shows that nine out of 10 disabled people feel that public transport and buildings are inaccessible to them. Furthermore, nine out of 10 disabled people experience serious challenges with street accessibility in their local areas. Nine out of 10 disabled people experience challenges accessing high street shops.

Every day in our town and city centres, disabled people are forced to deal with poorly maintained pavements and unacceptable barriers and obstructions, including pavement parking. Those barriers, effectively, stop disabled people from carrying out their day-to-day tasks, but they also have a serious negative impact on people's mental and physical well-being, limiting opportunities for social interaction and independent living and access to employment. In the face of those social and economic barriers, no money has been allocated to the DFC access and inclusion grants. Those grants fund projects such as Changing Places and help to make sport, leisure, arts and heritage more accessible. We urgently need better investment in Changing Places and accessible transport solutions such as the Disability Action transport scheme. People with disabilities and mobility issues should be placed at the centre of discussions about planning, so that everyone can move around our public spaces easily and safely, but they are usually an afterthought, at best.

The Alliance Party representatives on Belfast City Council have always, to my knowledge, pushed for an extension to Sunday trading hours, despite vocal opposition from workers, trade unions, independent retailers and small businesses. I say, politely, that they are out of touch on that issue. The fact that the motion was proposed by a party that refuses to drop the idea of extended Sunday trading hours should be a concern for all of us who care about workers, their families and our communities. We will oppose any attempt to extend Sunday trading hours, whether it is under the guise of high street and town centre rejuvenation or any other buzzword.

The extension of Sunday trading hours would benefit only big businesses and chains; it would harm workers and small businesses. Retail and hospitality workers constantly tell us that they do not want that change. Their union — the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) — surveyed its members in the North about the issue, and 92% of them — 92% — opposed the idea of extended Sunday opening hours. If hours were extended, workers in large shops would come under more pressure to work on Sundays, which would mean people having less time to spend with their families and in their communities. Extending Sunday trading hours also makes —.

Will the Member give way?

Go ahead.

I thank the Member for giving way. He and I agree on most things apart from Sunday trading. Does the Member not agree that employment law is in place to protect workers' rights? On allowing choice on Sundays for some workers, I have heard some mothers talking about it in terms of childcare, saying that they would like the opportunity to work on Sundays so that they can have a day at home with their children during the week. It is about facilitating choice and making sure that employment law is as strong as possible, not denying people the choice to shop on a Sunday if they want to.

I thank the Member for her point. I will come on to that.

Speaking more generally, extending Sunday trading hours makes zero economic sense. There is a litany of evidence and analysis that shows that deregulation would not only bring no economic benefits to our high street but would harm the viability of small businesses. Small retailers can already open for longer hours than other businesses can on Sundays, and many of those are independent local businesses that rely on the boost in trade on Sunday mornings in particular. Allowing larger stores to open for longer on Sundays would not mean people having more money to spend — trickle-down does not work — or more jobs being created. There would be no economic vibrancy or rejuvenation of our high streets as a result of extended trading hours.

On the subject of the Member's intervention, when USDAW members in the North were asked what would make Belfast a more attractive city for leisure or family reasons or for visiting in general, extended retail opening hours came at the bottom of a very long list. The retail and hospitality workers of our town centres and high streets have their own lives. They are parents and carers, and many of them already work long, atypical hours and find it difficult to balance work and family life. To refer, again, to the Member's point, those workers already feel pressured to work for longer: extended opening hours on Sunday would only add more stress.

USDAW also found that 68% of members surveyed already come under pressure to work on Sundays. Rather than there being the flexibility that the Member referred to, people already feel pressured by their employers to work on Sundays. In theory, workers have the right to opt out of Sunday working. In practice, however, many are pressurised by their management to take on Sunday shifts, and, in many cases, if they refuse, their working hours and pay are cut. That is unacceptable, but it is real behaviour. Employers are under no obligation to replace a worker's Sunday hours with a shift elsewhere in the week. Effectively, many retail and hospitality workers cannot afford to exercise their legal rights.

The strengthening of workers' rights should be at the heart of all discussions about the rejuvenation of our high streets and town centres.

In reality, workers' hours have always been contested, certainly since the beginning of industrial capitalism. To that effect, somebody once said that the shortening of the working day is freedom's basic prerequisite. That rings absolutely true. Protecting and maximising free time is at the core of the ethos of the trade union movement and all those who want to live in a better, fairer society. Any suggestion of coercing retail and hospitality workers into working more hours on Sundays would be a completely regressive move, especially as more of us are actively fighting for a four-day working week. If we value a society where people have more free time to spend with their friends and family, and where they are happier and better rested and can participate fully in community life, we must resist regressive attempts to expand the working week.

I urge Members to support the amendment in my name, and I am happy to support the other amendments.

I beg to move amendment No 3:

At end insert: "and to include actions to address long-term derelict buildings, which are detrimental to town centre development."

Thank you, Diana. You have 10 minutes to move the amendment and five minutes to make a winding-up speech.

Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I rise to address the substantive motion that has been moved by Alliance but to focus specifically on addressing long-term derelict buildings and how they impact on schemes to rejuvenate high streets and town centres.

I share other Members' disappointment that the high street task force's recommendations have not been implemented. They would go a long way to revitalising and re-energising the image of high streets and town centres. Our high streets play an important part in the local economy and the social fabric of our towns and villages. When our high streets thrive, our communities thrive. However, it is obvious that high streets face unprecedented challenges with, as others have mentioned, online shopping, changing consumer habits, ongoing legacy pandemic economics and out-of-town retails parks, leading to reduced footfall and an increase in vacant properties. The recent rise in employers' National Insurance contributions, on top of the generous increase to the national minimum wage and the large cost implications of proposed employment law reform, will have a significant impact on high street employers.

In England, the Chancellor has protected small businesses by extending business rates relief for small firms in retail, hospitality and leisure. The Assembly has consistently failed to pass on business rates relief to those sectors in Northern Ireland. Those challenges have not only monetary implications but profound social consequences. That is evident in the two main towns in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Despite a public realm scheme some years ago in Dungannon town, it suffers high vacancy rates and competition from a nearby out-of-town retail park and is no longer the bustling town centre that it once was. Enniskillen town centre is experiencing a shift that many other towns already feel from traditional family-owned shops to more national brands and an increased number of charity outlets. In addition, a soon-to-be-completed out-of-town retail park near Enniskillen poses a threat to town centre footfall.

A strategy that links retail needs with the need for residential housing, flexible office space, digital connectivity, hospitality and entertainment options would be a positive and comprehensive first step to meet the demands of modern businesses. In that way, more residential accommodation in town centres and high streets would see more vibrant, lively high streets and contribute significantly to a night-time economy.

The Minister for the Economy should work with the Minister of Finance to address long-term derelict properties with a new strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres. A dilapidation Bill was due to be introduced to the Assembly in 2021 but still has not materialised. Preparation for that Bill should take a cross-departmental approach to examine Northern Ireland's planning laws and property taxes, which reward leisurely landbanking. Planning permission that is meant to expire after five years can be kept valid indefinitely with token effort. Those issues must be part of any comprehensive plan to address long-term dereliction.

In County Fermanagh, there are at least four long-term vacant hotels in towns and villages. Recently, one was destroyed in a deliberate fire and is now a gaping derelict shell in the streetscape. In another location, a long-term derelict hotel, the owners of which cannot be located, is holding back potential investment opportunities. Across the two council areas in my constituency, there are over 1,500 non-domestic vacant properties. Any new strategy must devolve more power to councils to identify and locate long-term vacant property owners to serve relevant notices on them.

Efforts by councils to maintain and improve their town centres and high streets are hampered by the lack of an effective and modern enforcement regime, meaning that they are powerless to intervene to address long-term vacancies. Derelict shopfronts and abandoned buildings make it hard for councils to improve streetscapes in order to encourage new investment and tourism opportunities. One solution would be to do away with the 50% tax reduction for empty commercial buildings and the 100% exemption for derelict buildings. In Britain, those reliefs were scrapped a decade ago, with councils allowed to levy punitive charges. The same must happen here to provide no incentive for letting a building fall into disrepair.

I thank the Members for tabling the motion, but any action plan to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres must include a comprehensive and bold plan to deal with derelict properties that blight our streets and hold back economic development. I hope that Members will support the amendment.

I remind the Assembly that none of the amendments are mutually exclusive. I will put the Question on all three when it comes to the time.

I thank the proposer for providing the opportunity to speak on the issue today. I absolutely agree that thriving high streets and town centres are vital to the economic vibrancy and social fabric of our communities. They are also the spaces where we live, work, shop, socialise and access public services, so they need to be welcoming, safe and sustainable locations for businesses.

Unfortunately, as the motion states, high streets and town centres face many challenges that have a visible impact on small and independent retailers. Many of the challenges existed before the pandemic, but they have undoubtedly increased since then because of the changing ways in which we access goods and services, including online and mobile services, shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks; the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the legacy of the COVID pandemic on how people spend their time and their decreased disposable income; and more working from home and less lunchtime spending. Rising overhead costs and inflationary pressures for businesses are also having an impact.

The motion and amendments mention the Economy and Finance Departments, but addressing the issues will require a partnership approach across a number of Departments, as well as councils. Public realm and environmental improvements, revitalisation schemes, planning and infrastructure, development schemes, urban development grants, licensing laws and many other connected issues impact on the success of our high streets and town centres and touch on numerous Departments.

The high street task force was established by the Executive. Its membership is drawn from retail, hospitality, academia, central and local government and the community and voluntary sector. As has been mentioned, it has already put forward its recommendations following extensive engagement. It should be the template for moving forward. We need to focus on how the recommendations from the task force can be progressed with the current budgetary challenges that we face. As others have said, we also need to look at locally based solutions and initiatives. While many of the issues will be similar across the North, every area, town centre and high street will have its particular strengths and challenges. In the three major towns in my constituency — Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle — the issue of derelict buildings is continually raised by businesses.

Obviously, an increasing number of vacant and derelict buildings will reduce footfall in a town, impacting on existing businesses. I welcome the work of the Finance Minister on that subject. She has restored the Back in Business scheme that was introduced previously by her colleague Conor Murphy, which offers businesses a 50% rate discount for up to two years if they move into vacant premises that have been unoccupied for 12 months or more and were previously used for retail purposes.

Rejuvenating town centres and buildings while protecting their heritage is also important in many areas to ensure that the high streets, town centres and buildings remain attractive to potential new businesses. Ballycastle is one of the most unique towns in the North because of its retail offering, but we recently witnessed a road closure for a number of days and scaffolding right in its heart, because the Antrim Arms has been allowed to dangerously degrade into disrepair. We should look at expanding townscape heritage initiatives that have borne fruit elsewhere.

The impact of car-parking charges, again, is something that needs local consultation. That is important, because every situation can be different. The increased use of pedestrian zones will benefit many of our town centres.

Before I conclude, I welcome the recent announcement that the pause on the city and growth deals, particularly the Causeway Coast and Glens growth deal, which relates to my area, and the Mid South West growth deal, has been lifted and that all deals across the North are now progressing. In my constituency of North Antrim, which sits in two council areas — Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council — the growth deals are, as they have been described numerous times in the Chamber, a "game changer". The investment and outworking of the projects in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council areas will certainly be seen positively across our high streets and town centres.

I thank the Member for South Belfast for moving this important motion. My party has for many years recognised how vital our town and city centres are to our communities across Northern Ireland. As the motion focuses on changing habits from the COVID pandemic, I again pay tribute to the work of the former Economy Minister, the Member for Upper Bann, who ensured that over £260 million of support went to our high streets and town centres during that very difficult time for our traders.

As the Member for Foyle articulated, the important work of the high street task force needs to continue in earnest. I welcome the fact that the First Minister and deputy First Minister wrote on 10 October to all relevant Ministers about the outworkings and recommendations of the task force's report and called for their work streams to take forward the important work. The junior Minister, who is more than ably standing in for the Economy Minister, will be able to inform the House of the work that the Department for the Economy will take forward in that regard.

The Department for the Economy needs to take a leading role on the issue, but it goes wider than that. It is a cross-cutting issue on which many Departments need to focus. In particular, following the Budget allocation and the decisions made by the Chancellor, there is a game-changing opportunity for the Finance Minister when she comes before the House in the coming weeks and months. The Finance Minister has the opportunity to introduce a rating scheme that, for once in a generation, is fair and balanced and ensures that high street businesses are not taxed to such a level that they are unprofitable or that makes them want to move online. It is an opportunity, as highlighted by the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Mrs Armstrong, to ensure that the dereliction of our town centres is not rewarded but rightly penalised. There is a long-standing need for that reform, and I hope that that will be the focus of the proposals that the Finance Minister brings to the Executive.

We need to see support for our hospitality sector across Northern Ireland. In our current economic climate, our hospitality sector is the driving force that brings people into our town and city centres. It needs to get the support that it deserves.

The amendments proposed by Members are important, and we will support them. We will support the amendment proposed by the Member for Foyle Ms McLaughlin. We will support Mr Carroll's amendment. He eloquently outlined the case against extending Sunday trading hours much better than I could have. I did not think that I would be saying that, so congratulations to Mr Carroll.

My party will also support Ms Armstrong's important amendment. Dereliction impacts massively on my constituency. The Castlebrooke development in the city of Belfast and my constituency of North Belfast is a complete and utter disgrace. It has been left derelict for years. Businesses that continue to pay rates and try their best in the economic climate are surrounded by scaffolding and dereliction. I know that all parties will continue to push for that development to take place as soon as possible.

I highlight the important work that the Department for Infrastructure needs to take forward in town and city centre regeneration. First, it is a well-rehearsed argument, but our planning system is not fit for purpose.

How often do businesses come to us to say that they want to expand and invest in our town centres, only for them to be told that they cannot get a planning permission in a timely manner, meaning that they instead decide to proceed with another investment?

We have a Department for Infrastructure that cannot seem to pedestrianise a single street in the cultural heart of our capital. Hopefully, with the £608 million that has been allocated in the Budget, Minister O'Dowd might be able to afford a few barriers so that we can ensure that Hill Street is finally pedestrianised and that Belfast city centre can continue to have that cultural heart. The Nightmovers scheme is vital to ensuring that our night-time economy is supported, but, again, the Department for Infrastructure says that it does not have the funding to run public transport late at night. That type of scheme is key to attracting people back into our city.

After receiving the letter that was sent by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister on 12 October, Executive Ministers now have their tasks, and I think that the House speaks with one voice in saying that all Ministers need to get together and start to deliver for our town centres right across Northern Ireland.

The business in the Order Paper is not expected to be completed by 6.00 pm. In accordance with Standing Order 10(3), I will therefore allow business to continue until 7.00 pm or until the business is completed, whichever is earlier.

I start by thanking Members for tabling the motion and, indeed, the amendments, which deal with specific elements of town centres.

The important role that our high streets play in our society cannot be overstated. They are the very heart and soul of our communities, and they act as a focal point for much of the activity that occurs in our everyday lives. For hundreds of years, high streets have been a crucial driver of economic activity in our towns and villages, and they have also shaped the very culture and identity of the regions in which they are situated. It is, however, fair and accurate to say that our high streets are no longer the hive of activity that they once were. Changing consumer patterns and prolonged periods of economic downturn have, in some cases, left them a shadow of their former glory.

In my town of Dungannon, the decrease in footfall is noticeable and has been mentioned often. In fact, even today, a business in the town contacted me about decreasing footfall, and local businesses often tell me that they are struggling to deal with the new realities. In towns such as Dungannon, we have vibrant business communities that are seeking to do their best all the time. They are investing their time, money and future in making the town work, and that places an onus on us, as an Assembly, to play our part by protecting retail space in towns and by providing clean, welcoming, attractive and accessible spaces for people to come to, stay in and do their business in. That will involve things such as looking at parking issues to ensure that towns are being dealt with fairly when it comes to parking restrictions and ensuring that the space is clean and attractive and that we are doing all that we can in that respect.

The decline of the high street is not unique to here. It is happening all across the world, and we need to give some thought to that. Our Executive have previously stated that the rejuvenation of our high streets is a key priority going forward, and, in the previous mandate, the high street task force, as has been mentioned, was formed to look at the issue. It is also the case that local government has a very important role to play in the rejuvenation of our town centres. Councils have a lot of local knowledge and local contacts, and it is important that we work in partnership with them, with businesses and with communities to ensure that that rejuvenation happens.

It is also important to recognise the work that has been done, such as the public realm schemes that have been rolled out. Through those schemes, millions of pounds have been invested in some of our towns. In addition, Conor Murphy reduced the non-domestic regional rate by 18% and provided rates holidays to many businesses during COVID, which allowed them to survive that period. That places an onus on us to ensure that they continue to survive and thrive. More recently, Caoimhe Archibald reinstated the Back in Business scheme, which supports new businesses and tackles dereliction on our high streets.

The high street task force report, 'Delivering a 21st Century High Street', provides a blueprint for how to revitalise our high streets, and we must ensure that it is implemented in full. In the report, there is a recommendation that calls for the establishment of a living high streets fund to support projects that would transform underutilised assets into vibrant community spaces. I commend some of the work that has been happening in some spaces in Dungannon. Local entrepreneurs have worked to create that welcoming environment, and they have done so at much cost to themselves, I have to say. The report also recommends the development of a high street investment programme and the transfer of regeneration powers to local councils, which, I think, can play a significant role.

The final point that I want to make is this: while it is OK to have strategies — we absolutely should have strategies — a bit of this is about our own behaviours. We need to consider how best we can support our local businesses, how we can ensure that the decline does not continue and how we can make our towns places in which we feel that we can do business, relax, socialise or whatever. Each of us has a responsibility in that respect to promote and support our high streets in whatever way we can, particularly in the period coming up to Christmas.

I am pleased to speak in support of the motion and the amendments, as my colleague so eloquently did in his speech.

We want to highlight how critical our high streets and town centres are to the economy and to the vibrancy and social cohesion of our community. A comprehensive strategy is, of course, essential, and I would like to use my experience as an East Antrim representative to address several key issues that must be considered as part of that strategy.

Dilapidation continues to be a pressing concern. A recent consultation in my constituency highlighted dereliction as the top concern of local residents. Abandoned and deteriorating buildings not only deter footfall but project a sense of neglect and discourage investment. To address that, we must see movement on the dilapidation Bill. That would hold property owners accountable for maintaining their premises, ensuring that our town centres remain attractive and welcoming, and it would provide real powers for our council to act. Investing in the upkeep of high streets will create an environment where businesses can thrive and where residents feel a sense of pride in and connection to their local community.

In addition to those physical improvements, we must support businesses that are bringing life into areas. In my area, new businesses, such as Luna, that are trying to establish themselves have faced unexpected challenges. For example, Luna struggled when unforeseen work on the water infrastructure disrupted operations and added financial strain at a crucial time for that brand-new business. Other businesses in the same area have had to close while the work is ongoing. That example underscores the need for improved coordination and communication between councils, utility companies and businesses to minimise disruption. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies, and we must ensure that they have the stability and support that they need to grow.

One of the most common concerns that I hear about is the high VAT rate, which has created an uneven playing field. A VAT reduction could be a lifeline, helping businesses to stay competitive and encouraging more footfall in town centres. With the cost-of-living crisis impacting on consumer spending, reducing VAT would not only benefit businesses but make shopping and dining on our high streets much more affordable for residents.

Moreover, we have a massive opportunity with city deals to transform town centres. The funding and projects in those frameworks should prioritise initiatives that rejuvenate our high streets and businesses, create jobs, improve the infrastructure and effect digital transformation. That is an opportunity that we must grasp. Recent NI Audit Office reports highlighted significant concerns around skills gaps and the planning system in Northern Ireland. Both are absolutely critical to our town centres. We must address the skills gap by investing in training programmes tailored to the needs of our high street businesses, particularly in areas such as retail, hospitality and digital skills, ensuring that our workforce is equipped with the right skills to be more dynamic and more responsive to changes in consumer trends.

Our town centres and high streets need a planning system that is fit for purpose so that businesses can thrive and diversify without lengthy delays. In Carrickfergus, we operate in a conservation area, which brings additional restrictions and costs, but there is very little support for businesses to navigate that additional burden.

We have also the transition to online banking, which also presents additional challenges. With more banks closing their physical branches, residents, particularly those who are less digitally confident, face difficulties in accessing those essential services, which increases the digital divide and inequality. Town centres have traditionally been hubs where people conduct their daily banking, so we must consider alternatives such as community banking hubs or financial support. By ensuring accessibility, we can maintain footfall in our town centres and support our local businesses. During my Adjournment debate a few months ago, I welcomed the Back in Business grant, but, to date, only four businesses in the Mid and East Antrim area are actually in receipt of this funding.

Northern Ireland has a high rate of people with disabilities, and we must ensure that our town centres and streets are more accessible and, of course, accommodating. I agree with Mr Carroll. The Minister for Infrastructure must work with local councils and other partners to ensure that footpaths are fit for purpose and do not pose risks and that the whole town centre is, of course, welcoming and accessible. Primarily, people with disabilities must be at the heart of future planning.

Finally, we should look at the townscape heritage initiative in my constituency as a model for repurposing the high street.

Time, Cheryl.

As a successful scheme that focused on —. Is that my time up?

It is well up.

Sorry about that. Thank you.

The centres of our villages, towns and cities play an absolutely vital role in providing space for people, community and creativity. That is why we have tabled the motion today to urge the Economy Minister and our Executive as a whole to put in place a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres. Whilst the motivations of consumer culture have evolved over time, we as legislators and political representatives of this place have a responsibility to ensure that our policies and strategies evolve just as quickly. Moving at pace with rapidly developing technologies, we need to build experiences and vital community consultation. We must listen to the will of the people who live and work in those areas to lead our delivery of change. Alliance is fully committed to protecting our high streets, because they hold the key to not just economic vibrancy but strengthening the social fabric of our communities.

The motion calls on the Economy Minister to produce a strategy to lead on rejuvenation of our high streets in his Department, although we recognise that this ambition involves more than just one Executive Department. As a member of the Executive Office Committee, I will bring the responsibilities of TEO into focus. The First Minister and deputy First Minister have oversight of the high street task force. That group was chaired by the junior Ministers in the previous mandate and comprised cross-departmental senior civil servants, industry experts and community organisations. In 2020, the group delivered a series of recommendations on how we evolve our high streets and the centres of our villages and towns for the betterment of our people and our economy. The aim of that work was to deliver a shared, agreed vision of creating thriving places to do business, socialise, shop, be creative and use public services, creating great and fulfilling places to live.

I bring that up because it is important to reflect that the content of the motion is the consequence of lack of follow-up and formal responses to these asks. We have ended up in a limbo space where work is not being progressed at the pace that we would like due to its sitting in TEO. There has not been as much progress as we want to see in implementing this report's evidence-based recommendations to push transformative change for our local economies. This is unacceptable. It speaks to the failures and lack of clarity in our government. The high street task force report brings together what has been discussed around the Chamber today: delivering destinations that are clean, green and diverse; addressing social need; and creating solutions shaped by the communities in the space itself. It puts forward a comprehensive and encompassing case for developing funds to support creativity, creating rate relief, supporting workers, reviewing planning and tackling the changing landscape of our economies alongside technologies and innovations.

Town and city centres, and the high streets within them, are changing, including how they look and what is on them. Whether it is the rising place of the food-to-go industry, the need to support micro and small businesses or incentivising activity that is experience-based away from traditional retail, we have to match this pace of change. From my constituency of North Down, l will take the example of Bangor and its city centre. Our city centre is filled with people who have enthusiasm and hopes for the future of this place, wanting to see it evolve into an even stronger district of experiences, whether that is through visiting our food spots, getting involved in leisure activity in and around the seafront, engaging with arts and cultural hubs or supporting independent and small businesses.

Whilst there has been positive progress in Bangor over recent years — we have seen the regeneration of the Court House, the transformation of the Old Market House into a community hub and momentum building towards the creation of a business improvement district — businesses and people in Bangor feel that they have been left behind. They have been left behind with the delays in the Queen’s Parade regeneration, the lack of progress in waste water infrastructure, which stifles redevelopment, and small businesses facing high levels of rates in our city centre. We need to invest in our high streets for both economic and social value; set policies that prioritise town centres; create experiences for people; update our planning infrastructure; simplify our business support infrastructure; and deliver for people and communities.

As my colleague has pointed out, we support the SDLP amendment.

While recognising the significant challenges faced by businesses on our high streets, I begin by noting that I have the privilege of representing the constituency that has the current High Street of the Year. I commend the businesses of Ballymoney for winning that prestigious title and note that Winnie Mellot is worthy of particular praise after her shop, The Winsome Lady, won the prestigious Overall Independent Retailer Award for 2024. Ballymoney is a great place to shop, and it is fantastic to see it recognised in that fashion. It is noteworthy that Winnie Mellot had to adapt and overcome the challenges that many of our high street shops face. The Winsome Lady is a model of how to use the power of technology to bring products to a new audience through internet sales. However, Winnie would be the first to recognise the key role of local community spirit and the importance of working together and promoting one another's businesses. That team spirit is a key element to the success of businesses in Ballymoney, and I am delighted that it has been recognised on that scale.

If we want to preserve our high streets, it is not good enough to simply tell them to get online. Large retailers will always get the lion's share of such business through brand recognition. Unfortunately, that makes it challenging for many of the independent retailers on our high streets, which are, in essence, the DNA of many of our town centres. Take Ballymena, which is known for its unique shopping experience, with over 70% of its businesses being independent. On the subject of Ballymena, this Thursday is discount day in the town, and there are now 65 businesses involved that will attract thousands to the town to avail of unrivalled bargains for all their Christmas needs. Multiple household names are involved, such as Moore Electrics, Camerons department store, Fred Funk, McKillens, Wallaces of Ballymena, Sams of Ballymena, Grassmen and many more.

Unfortunately, large internet retailers have a competitive edge over the businesses that I have just listed. They do not face the massive rates bills that we impose on businesses in town centres, nor do they face the challenge of competing with out-of-town retailers that suck the business out of our town centres through convenience and free parking. In her response, I would like the junior Minister to set out what plans the Executive Office has, whilst working with the Economy and Infrastructure Ministers, to develop new policies that discourage edge-of-town developments and encourage the breathing of life back into our high streets.

I thank the SDLP for tabling its amendment. It focuses on the issue of rates, which is a key point. I commend Gerry for his amendment, particularly the part on the importance of the two-day weekend. Recently, Belfast City Council made a blunder when it backed an Alliance proposal to develop plans to pilot an extended Sunday trading scheme. The blowback has been immediate and predictable. I will never make a secret of my religious convictions, but even those who, unlike me, do not have concerns about Sunday being a day of rest can see the value of hard-working people having Sunday off. Those employed in the retail sector are often the most poorly paid and have little enough time with their families as they struggle to make ends meet. As the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions pointed out in a resolution passed in 2017,

"the trend towards 24/7 retail trading, including deregulated Sunday trading, is having a serious negative impact on retail workers, associated workers and local communities across Ireland. Employee [fl]exibility in retail is increasingly one-sided with the employer changing shifts and hours at short notice with little discussion."

An increasing push for unlimited trading on Sunday is a backward step. I trust that today's debate will cause all the parties in the House to reflect on their actions not just here but in councils up and down Northern Ireland.

Will the Member give way?

I am happy to give way.

Has the Member noted that the Alliance proposition at Belfast City Council, which it has tried and failed to pass many times, is likely to pass through City Hall only with the support of Sinn Féin? Will he encourage Sinn Féin to stand up for workers as it has in the past and not turn on them?

The Member has an extra minute.

The Member makes an important point. Indeed, for that motion to pass, Sinn Féin needs the help of Alliance — or, rather, Alliance needs the help of Sinn Féin. They work hand in glove nowadays, so I get them mixed up.

It is important that Sunday trading is left the way it is. We have to respect workers' rights. I worked in the retail industry for many years before I came here. It is important that, when workers get to the weekend, they have a day of rest and do not face burnout, so I welcome the intervention. I encourage Sinn Féin to do a little soul-searching, if that is possible, and, when it comes to the Alliance motion before Belfast City Council, to stand up for workers' rights and say, "No, thank you".

OK. We are in the Assembly Chamber, but, sure, all politics is local.

Junior Minister Reilly will respond on behalf of the Minister for the Economy. Minister Reilly, you have up to 15 minutes.

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.]

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion on behalf of the Minister for the Economy, and I thank Members for bringing forward this important issue for discussion today.

The fabric of community life and its economic vibrancy are significantly woven through the high streets and town centres that span our cities, towns and villages. Those places have historically been the heart of local, commercial and civic life: bustling centres of activity providing essential services, retail opportunities and spaces for social interaction. They are the stage on which much of local daily life unfolds. They embody the communal and cultural spirit of the areas that they serve, and they exist as barometers of local economic health, with busy businesses and lively public spaces signalling a thriving community.

Recent years have seen our high streets face unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant economic disruption, forcing many businesses to close temporarily or adjust operations, leading to reduced foot traffic and altered shopping habits. Business have faced a costs crisis driven by increases in the prices of food, energy and other essentials. They have faced recruitment and retention challenges due to a combination of historically low unemployment and stubbornly high levels of economic inactivity. The retail and hospitality sectors have continued concerns about VAT rates, late-night transport and insurance.

Meeting those challenges will force a re-evaluation of the role of high streets in a modern society, but, within the scope of that re-evaluation, there is an opportunity for revitalisation and for reimagining how high streets can better serve our communities into the future. The Minister for the Economy's response to the challenges faced by our high streets is shaped by his vision for the economy. At the heart of his vision are commitments to securing a regionally balanced economy and creating the conditions for more good jobs for our people. Minister Murphy intends to support the economic performance of our regions by putting in place a coherent ecosystem that acknowledges the need for the key players to work more closely together. An important shift in that direction took place in 2015, when councils assumed greater economic responsibilities, recognising the value of local areas leading their own economic development. The Minister intends to build on that by providing communities with more opportunity to identify their priorities.

Minister Murphy introduced the subregional economic plan at the beginning of October. That is a new strategic approach to economic development that is locally led and places regional balance at its heart. Councils will be asked to establish local economic partnerships, bringing together central government, the business community, universities, colleges, local enterprise agencies and civic society. Partnerships will identify the main barriers to local economic development and the priority interventions that will build each region's value proposition, with dedicated funding of £45 million over a three-year period from April 2025.

In parallel with Minister Murphy's commitment to regional balance is his focus on good jobs. The need to promote good work and fair work policies for workers was acknowledged in the 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement of 2020 and continues to be recognised through the Minister's economic priorities. People who work in high street businesses should have the same right as everyone else to jobs that offer fulfilment, security and fair pay. Minister Murphy has already made progress in that area with the proposed introduction of new employment rights legislation and a Good Work charter to ensure better jobs and to promote a healthy work-life balance.

The Minister held his wide-ranging public consultation on employment rights earlier this year. The legislation that flows from it will modernise and strengthen our employment legislation framework to ensure that it provides appropriate minimum standards of rights and decent working conditions for all. That should help deliver fair work on our high streets, while ensuring that our many good employers, who already treat their workers fairly, can operate on a level playing field. The Labour Relations Agency is leading the development of the Good Work charter and plans to consult on a draft charter before Christmas with an aim to finalise it in early 2025.

In addition to the employment rights legislation and the Good Work charter, Minister Murphy is focused on initiatives to promote greater adoption here of the real living wage. The Minister recently announced funding support for an initiative by Advice NI, in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation, to raise awareness of the real living wage across the North and to promote living wage accreditation among employers. We know that higher wages are associated with increased productivity and job satisfaction, which could address critical challenges for typical high-street businesses that often struggle with staff recruitment and retention.

Through his dedication to the creation of more good jobs here, Minister Murphy is ensuring that his Department delivers on one of the key recommendations of the high street task force. It reported on its recommendations in 2022, although consideration of the implementation was delayed, pending the formation of the current Executive. The report contains 14 recommendations. Several of the recommendations have a pragmatic focus on existing delivery mechanisms, while others seek fundamental reform of key policies, such as rating and planning, or call for significant additional investment. Minister Murphy considers that recommendation 8 — "Fair Work on Our High Streets" — sits within the remit of his Department and will be delivered through his work on good jobs, but he is also keen to collaborate with departmental and local government colleagues on any of the other recommendations.

The report of the high street task force recognises that collaborative approaches must continue over the coming years to deliver high streets in village, town and city centres that are fit for the 21st century, and it is something that the Minister takes on board. It is not, however, for one Department to develop a strategy to address the varied issues faced by high-street and town-centre businesses. The delivery of the high street task force report requires a response from across the Executive, and Minister Murphy is keen to work with other Departments to ensure that that happens. For example, he will work with the Department of Finance to explore support options for smaller local businesses that are struggling with rates bills. He is also keen to see more initiatives like the small business rate relief scheme, which has been extended through 2024-25 to provide support to some 30,000 small businesses throughout our towns and cities, and the Back in Business scheme, which incentivises the use of long-term vacant retail space and is already bringing new businesses to our high streets.

Minister Murphy will work with the Department for Infrastructure, through its range of functions and network of assets, to positively influence the delivery of public services, the operation of local businesses and the daily lives of communities, town centres and high streets. The Minister notes the Department for Infrastructure's new transport strategy, which aspires to better connect neighbouring communities to our towns and city centres, and the Department's work with NI Water to alleviate capacity constraints so that high street redevelopment can proceed without hindrance.

Minister Murphy also considers the Department for Communities a key partner in efforts to rejuvenate our high streets, with consideration of that Department's particular remit for town centre renewal. There are also cross-cutting and wider social issues that impact on our high streets. Tackling violence against women and girls means ensuring that we proactively think about how to ensure that our entire population is safe in public as well as private spaces.

The Department for the Economy is involved in an ongoing and significant investment in our town centres with programmes around public realm and environmental improvements, urban development grants and the development of business improvement districts. The relationship between central government and councils will be essential to the success of all of those endeavours. Councils have a deep understanding of the local challenges and opportunities that will allow for tailored approaches that are more likely to succeed.

The establishment of local economic partnerships under Minister Murphy's subregional economic plan is just one example of how Departments can work with local bodies for the betterment of our high streets.

Addressing the challenges faced by our high streets is a job for the whole Executive to respond to. I can confirm to Members that the Minister for the Economy is committed to delivering the actions needed to make that a reality.

I want to turn to some of the points raised in today's debate and touch on the amendments. The Minister is committed to working with all Executive colleagues, including the Minister of Finance, to address the issue as it relates to business rates. I understand that, rather than undertake a further one-off review, the Finance Minister aims to work with Executive colleagues on a more strategic approach and to progress a rolling review and evaluation of the current suite of rate support measures in both the non-domestic and domestic rating system. As part of that work, she will work with business bodies, organisations and wider society to build a progressive rates system that both grows our tax base and stimulates our economy.

The Member for West Belfast raised the ability or inability of those with reduced mobility, wheelchair users and those using prams to access town centres. That is a really important issue that all of us are likely to face at some stage in our life. It is important, particularly with an ageing population, that we ensure that public spaces are accessible to all. Although footpaths are not in the Minister for the Economy's remit, he is happy to help support work on the issue, where possible.

Ms Armstrong raised the issue of derelict properties, which is also a significant issue in some town centres. The Department for Communities, together with councils, is responsible for regeneration and local economic policy. Again, Minister Murphy is happy to support the work in that area.

In closing, I thank colleagues for joining me today to discuss these important issues. Minister Murphy assures Members that he will continue to work with all stakeholders in the efforts to restore the spirit of our high streets and town centres. I think that there is cross-party support on the issue. We all recognise how important town centres are to the social and economic life of our constituencies. It is the Minister's hope that, through a collective focus, we will transform these spaces into the vibrant, resilient hubs that we envision, ensuring that they continue to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire shóisearaigh.

[Translation: Thank you, junior Minister.]

Colin Crawford will make a winding-up speech on amendment No 3. Colin, you have five minutes.

Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.

Today, we gather with a shared purpose and, hopefully, as the junior Minister said, cross-party support to breathe new life into our high streets and towns right across Northern Ireland. Those vibrant hubs are not just places of commerce but the beating hearts of our communities, where culture, connection and commerce all come together. We must embrace the opportunity to rejuvenate such vital spaces, ensuring that they thrive for generations to come. Our high streets have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. The impact of the pandemic has shaken the foundations of our local economies, with many well-known shops and businesses forced to close their doors, yet, from these challenges arise a unique opportunity: a chance to reassess, reinvent and revitalise.

To rejuvenate our high streets, we must address the issue of long-term derelict buildings, which are detrimental to town centre developments. Many of the proud buildings that once held the stories of our past and that fostered trade and community today lie empty, crumbling and forgotten, casting a shadow over the vibrant spirit that they aspired to cultivate in our towns. However, I want not only to highlight the problem but to ignite a conversation about the solutions. We cannot let such buildings continue to blight our communities. We must act decisively and collaboratively to breathe new life into those spaces.

First and foremost, we need a comprehensive strategy that prioritises the identification and assessment of derelict buildings across our towns. We must work closely with councils and stakeholders to create inventories of the properties and to develop plans for their rehabilitation. Through partnerships with the property owners, developers and public agencies, we can facilitate the transformation of neglected spaces into valuable assets.

Secondly, we must tap into our shared heritage. Many of the buildings are historic treasures, and their restoration can be an opportunity to celebrate our culture while also boosting tourism. By promoting schemes that encourage the restoration of heritage buildings, we can foster community involvement and pride and, in the process, create job opportunities.

The rejuvenation of our high streets is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, to foster community spirit and to create spaces that reflect our collective identity. Northern Ireland is rich with culture, talent and potential. Let us unite in our efforts to revitalise those cherished spaces, ensuring that they remain vibrant for years to come. We will support the motion and the amendments.

I call Gerry Carroll to make a winding-up speech on amendment No 2. Gerry, you have five minutes.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the debate and thank the Members who contributed to it.

Members raised important points on many issues, including empty buildings and the pedestrianisation — I had to say that slowly — of city and town centres. Different issues were raised about rates, some of which I agree with and others less so. We need to insert into the debate the idea of restructuring our rates system in a general sense in order to connect it to profits, income and wealth rather than to metrics and size, as is mainly the case. I ask how many major corporations in our city and town centres that are doing well financially, to put it mildly, pay adequate rates. I expect that very few do.

There was a bit of discussion, which I welcome, about Sunday trading hours, hence the amendment, which has received some support and some opposition in a way, although that was not expressly said. We need to defend important time off for workers, which was hard won by them. Weekend breaks were not gifted by nice employers or by the state but rather were hard won through trade union struggle and the gritted teeth of trade unionists. Workers should be able to do what they want with those hours on a Sunday. I am not religious, but workers should be able to go to religious events, family activities, arts events, cultural events or whatever on their day off. By not accepting my amendment, parties will effectively be saying that they are on the side of the employers rather than on that of the workers. For some, that may be the case, and on the side of big employers at that, but I do not think that that is acceptable, given the pressures that workers face and the fact that they are keeping our city centres alive despite challenges. Without those workers, however, there are no city and town centres of which to speak.

It is often presented as a modernising idea that we should squeeze every possible hour out of workers and that they should be in work every hour of every day of the week. That idea is unpopular with workers in the sector. They are opposed to it, as I stated earlier. It is also out of step with practices in other countries. In Spain, France and many other countries, people have longer breaks during the day. That is in part because of weather conditions, but if it is good enough for workers in those countries, why can workers here not have extended time when they are not in work?

I agree with Members' concerns about plans to erode existing Sunday trading hours. I mentioned Alliance's support for changing the hours, which has been pretty consistent over the years, although I oppose it. Through the debate, we learned that Sinn Féin members of Belfast City Council supported a Sunday trading hours pilot. I am not sure whether there has been a change in Sinn Féin's position — I am happy to give way if anybody wants to clarify that — but I think that it is a bad move. Some may ask, "What is the harm in commissioning a bit of research?", but why waste time and money on a bit of research for a pilot scheme that nobody wants? I respectfully say that it was a bit bizarre that the Member for North Antrim quoted the ICTU policy when the parties opposite seem happy to go against trade unions and workers' issues. That is a bit of a shame, but I welcome the support for the amendment.

Phillip Brett mentioned the pedestrianisation of Hill Street and other areas, which I and my party support.

People in city and town centres experience homelessness while buildings lie empty. That was not really mentioned in the debate, but it should be a source of shame for the Executive. A housing-first approach would help support people who are experiencing homelessness, tackle the issue and see housing as a human right.

Public transport was not mentioned in detail. Obviously, we desperately need to invest in our public transport system. A third of our local workforce commutes into Belfast every day, and many others use public transport to get around the city. The high street task force recommended that the Executive implement an investment programme for blue-green infrastructure and sustainable public transport. Two and a half years later, we are still waiting for delivery. Free public transport should, ultimately, be the aim.

Thanks for the debate. I appeal to Members to support my amendment, and I am happy to support the others.

I call on Colin McGrath to make his winding-up speech on amendment No 1. Colin, you have five minutes.

Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. We are pleased to welcome the motion, offer our amendment and support the other two amendments. Whilst it is a further non-binding motion from an Executive party, the main strand is to offer support to small businesses on our high streets, and the SDLP welcomes the ability to join in that support for them. While there are differences in the nuances, it is important in this debate that we focus on what we agree on, which is that we support our high streets and the businesses that are there. It would be unhelpful for the House to divide on this under a small sub-issue that is something that is taking place in another area. We need to focus on what we can do and send out the clear message that we support our high street businesses.

We agree with many of the points that have been raised. There has been mention of the high street task force. It has been around for many years. When I was the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, about four years ago, it was getting around to being established and beginning to look at the work that it was able to do. It was an opportunity for the Executive to show solidarity and tangible support for our high street businesses, but it has been found to be lacking and, if it is lacking, then it is failing our small businesses. Regardless of what is lacking — be it content, the implementation, motivation or pace — the one message that we are sending today is that we feel that the high street task force is lacking and, therefore, needs to evaluate what it is doing to be able to try to improve outcomes for our small businesses.

I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that, in developing a strategy to rejuvenate our town centres, it would be positive to see the Ministers of Finance and Economy engage directly with councils to identify local need and maximise the impact of planned schemes through targeted and strategic intervention?

The Member has an extra minute.

Absolutely; I cannot disagree with that. Many of our contributions today have referenced that. We have also acknowledged that the high street is changing. COVID had a big impact on shopping habits. Online shopping is now the norm, and that changes the configurations and types of businesses that we need on our high streets. High rates mean that many small family-based businesses are struggling to afford to be able to stay open, and, with many bigger businesses being located on the fringes of towns or in retail parks, the task of high street businesses is made much more difficult. We need to be able to try to support them. The bigger businesses that are located in the out-of-town retail parks can afford to keep themselves going. It is the local, family businesses that we need to support.

Our amendment asks for work to be done on the reform of the non-domestic rates system. We all know what we hear when we go on to our high streets and talk to the businesses. They tell us — clearly and loudly — that the rates bill is their biggest bill. It cripples them: they have real struggles to pay it; it is a massive amount; it comes in every month; and they struggle to pay it. They have said that, if there is one thing that we could do to help them, it would be "Sort out the rates". They say, "If they were lower, we could survive. We can adapt to the changing environment, but take the rates bill and make it lower for us. That will be of great help".

I also want to talk about the importance of interventions in times of difficulty. This time last year, we were coming to the end of a process in Downpatrick: we were up to our waists in water, and the town was ravaged by floods. When we went to the businesses, many of them said, "We're still having to pay rates. We can't get anybody into the town — nobody is coming into a town that's flooded — but we still have to pay rates".

Then, there were the businesses that were right at the edge of the flood. They were not affected. They were not able to claim any help or assistance because they were not flooded, but the footfall was zero. The streets were sealed off, yet they still had to pay rates, and they said that it was that move that absolutely crippled them when they needed help and assistance from the Executive. Here, nearly a year later, the Executive have been found totally and utterly wanting. We need a reform of rates that helps with the levels that are paid but, at the same time, is flexible enough to enable us to step in whenever businesses are in their moment of need.

I welcome all the amendments. There are many of them, including one from the SDLP, but I hope that we can focus on sending a clear message from the top of this hill: we want to support small businesses and our high streets and help them to be able to prepare for the future.

David Honeyford, you are making a winding-up speech on the motion on behalf of the Alliance Party. I advise you that you have 10 minutes.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Speaking as the Alliance Party spokesperson on the economy, I feel that this is the stuff where business meets community. It shows that there is potential, and it enthuses me that we can actually control change from the Assembly and make a huge difference right across this region.

We need to take a little step back and ask ourselves what it is about our town centres that makes them vital to our community, our local economy and our local businesses. What is it about the social fabric of our community that clusters around an urban centre? We can look back on the glory days of the past, but what is important today is that we look to the future and to a world that has changed. Having asked ourselves why our town centres are vital, we can then put in the measures that will help to deliver the future. I want to look at those measures and how we help to grow and sustain our high streets, because we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again.

Philip McGuigan mentioned the places in which we live and work and need to be safe. He also talked about councils' role, as did Connie Egan, who spoke about the issues in Bangor. Thinking of my town, Lisburn, I have watched Bow Street slowly decline over the past 25 years, with bad decisions at political level that have —.

I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that more commitment is required from the Department for the Economy by setting targets and attributing financial commitments to the rejuvenation of our high streets? The Member references Bow Street in Lisburn. I will reference, as did another Member, Market Street in Downpatrick.

Yes, I agree. I highlight the situation in Downpatrick — I was there last year — that was absolutely devastating for local businesses.

In Lisburn, we have seen bad decisions at a political level that failed our high street, but I want to look forward and at solutions to change that. What is the aim, and what should the future look like?

Colm Gildernew referenced the change in usage and, moving forward, a new reality. We need to reshape and repurpose our town centres to create vibrant, regenerative, sustainable town centres that are thriving and inclusive, where everyone gets to play and no one is excluded. Within that reshaping, we need to look at good urban design that encourages people to live in our town centres, which can become living spaces where city centre living sits alongside retail and hospitality. Furthermore, we should encourage arts and crafts to have a presence. As well as our high streets having commercial spaces and offices, we can bring them into mixed use and give them a pulse during the day and, importantly, at night.

Using rate relief or restructuring our rating system would encourage a reworking and a rethinking of our town centres to make them places of mixed use — places where we shop, live, go out to enjoy hospitality, enjoy the arts and be entertained on the streets or where our home serves as our workplace. We can do that if we tip the tax advantage towards our town centres to encourage growth. Sinéad McLaughlin and Colin McGrath laid out the need for a review of our high streets to recreate them as the heart of our communities.

Our high streets really spark discussions and change in here. Gerry Carroll, in a kind of protest, talked about Sundays, and the DUP nodded along. Then, Timothy Gaston was positive about Ballymoney High Street and went on to congratulate People Before Profit. So, with the new fans that Gerry has in the DUP and the TUV, who says that politics cannot change and that we cannot all be friends?

Will the Member give way?

Go for it.

I remind the Member that his party is in the Executive with one of those parties, just in case he forgot.

I thank the Member for his intervention and I hope that he enjoys his new friendships.

[Laughter.]

City centre living must be developed with a mixed tenure apartments on our high streets and in town centres. We need to develop safe cities for all — for young people, professionals and retired people — so that they enjoy living in our town centres. We need to create towns that breathe and develop living cities with more urban space, more trees and more green space in the built-up areas, where the environment is clean and sustainable, where there is good air quality, where there is clean water in the rivers and where there are accessible green spaces.

Diane Armstrong and Colin Crawford talked about long-term dereliction and buildings that remain in our town centres, and the need for the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance to action that. I agree with what has been said, but we also need planning reform, which Phillip Brett referenced. We need planning that balances the protection of heritage alongside the unlocking of today's high street requirements, enabling the future to be realised. Cheryl Brownlee and Phillip Brett both highlighted dereliction and planning.

I mentioned the arts in our town centres. We must encourage local artists and musicians to entertain on our streets, but they also need spaces where they can perform and attract audiences, thereby creating more footfall on our high streets. We need to support and grow inclusive annual community festivals that are unique to each town and city throughout the region. We have some great examples of that, such as the West Belfast festival and the Halloween parades in Derry, which other towns and villages can learn from. In Lisburn, however, the arts centre and the theatre are based at the council headquarters, which are outside the city centre. Both are completely disconnected from the city centre. If we continue to separate every function, our high streets will continue to decline. In Lisburn, that needs to change, and both of those facilities should be moved to Bow Street. That will act as a catalyst and encourage others to follow and start the regeneration of the city centre.

The principle, and one of the key values that are required for our high streets, is that we support the generation of wealth locally and that it is recirculated so that everyone feels the benefit and no one is excluded. We need to create tailored spaces, including small spaces for independent traders, boutiques and craft makers, which will allow them to open, trade and thrive and will work for and with their business needs.

Finally, we must encourage commercial use in our town centres. Belfast has quite a lot of that, but outside Belfast it is not as prominent. We need to ensure that small businesses and social enterprises can have connected and flexible work spaces that incubate and encourage growth, thus forming clusters uniquely in our town centres, supporting wealth generation that is circulated and stays locally.

I want to talk about better connections. Gerry Carroll made a really good point about developing a city centre that is easily walked or cycled, with permanent cycle lanes installed on the major routes in and around our towns and cities. We could have better connectivity and cost-effective, reliable and frequent public transport options that allow us to move around and get about. The motion is about how we can create vibrant, regenerated and sustainable town centres that are thriving and inclusive. The day of viewing our high streets as solely economic spaces is over. We need to transform and reimagine our town centres so that they can not only contribute to economic growth but provide opportunities for everyone.

Phillip Brett talked about the need for the Department for the Economy to take the lead on the issue, and I completely agree. Junior Minister Reilly laid out the Executive Office's view, but the high street task force's recommendations have been sitting for three years. There seems to be a ludicrous bureaucratic triangle regarding who is delivering those recommendations. I hope that, as today has shown, we can establish support and that the Department for the Economy can take the lead and develop the high streets that we deserve.

Before I put the Question on amendment No 1, I remind Members that the amendments are not mutually exclusive, so I will put the Question on each in the order in which they were moved.

Question, That amendment No 1 be made, put and agreed to.

Question, That amendment No 2 be made, put and agreed to.

Question, That amendment No 3 be made, put and agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of thriving high streets and town centres to the economic vibrancy and social fabric of our communities; further recognises the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn and changing consumer habits on retailers, the hospitality sector and other high street businesses; notes that the inaccessibility of many high street and town centre footpaths presents an unacceptable obstacle to the participation of disabled people in society; further notes that workers fought for and won the two-day weekend; acknowledges that the majority of businesses on our high streets are small, reflecting the broader structure of the local economy; further acknowledges that, compared with their larger counterparts, these businesses are disproportionately affected by the current non-domestic rates system; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Minister of Finance to produce a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres, including options for the reform of non-domestic rates and to include actions to address long-term derelict buildings, which are detrimental to town centre development.

Members, take your ease for a minute.

(Mr Speaker in the Chair)