Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      As part of the preparations for, and the legacy of, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sport NI is coordinating a bidding process for sports facilities which could attract up to 75% capital funding.  Facilities to benefit from this funding must be capable of accommodating elite training and major events.

      On 16th January 2007, the Community & Recreation Committee agreed:

·         to submit an expression of interest for a velodrome facility, capable of accommodating indoor cycling, basketball, fencing, volleyball and table tennis; and

·         that the location for the velodrome would be the AldermanThomasPattonMemorial Park.

      On 13th February 2007, the Community & Recreation Committee agreed that, subject to the funding application being successful, the East Belfast leisure centre be integrated with the velodrome

      The decision to apply for funding for a velodrome followed a visit to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester by Councillors Campbell, McCann, Mullaghan, Rodgers and officers (Mervyn Elder, Philip Lucas and Phil Kelly).

      Subsequently, at the Community and Recreation Committee of 20th March 2007, Members agreed that the proposed velodrome bid should include cycling, fencing, table tennis and volleyball accommodation to elite level and basketball at a competitive but not elite level.

      The Committee is further reminded that the Parks and Cemeteries Sub-committee at its meeting in June 2006 agreed to make a submission in respect of an upgrading of the Mary Peters Track.  At its meeting in March 2007 the Sub-committee agreed that the application would be in respect of an indoor high performance athletics area to accommodate all of the track and field events and that the upgrading of the Mary Peters Track to 8 lanes would be put forward for inclusion in the Council’s Capital Programme subject to the Gateway process.

      The timetable for the funding competition was:

·         30th March 2007: closing date for receipt of applications

·         September 2007: announcement of shortlist

·         January 2008: closing date for stage 2 applications

·         April 2008: announcement of preferred bidders

·         March 2010: facilities operational

      On 14th September 2007, Belfast City Council was advised that it had been successful at stage one of the Elite Facilities Programme in relation to all aspects of the bids, that is, the velodrome (indoor cycling, volleyball, fencing and table tennis) and Mary Peters Track (upgrade track to 8 lanes and provide an indoor high performance athletics facility).  Therefore the Council would be invited to proceed to the second stage of this bidding competition.

Key Issues

      The above timeline has changed significantly as the Council only received formal notification of the terms and initiation of the Stage Two process in July 2008.  Consequently the operational deadline has been removed and there are now no restrictions on this.

      The stage two application which includes an outline business case and RIBA Stage A-C needs to be submitted by 4pm on 28th November 2008 for assessment by Sports NI, the Department of Culture and Leisure and the Department of Finance and Personnel.  This will take approximately 20 weeks.

      The Community and Recreation Committee meeting of 27th February 2007 gave authority to officers to seek external assistance in preparation for Stage Two of the Elite Facilities Programme.

      On 11th October 2007, the Parks & Leisure Committee:

·         agreed that the Council proceed to Stage Two of the Elite Facilities Programme bidding competition;

·         approved the required expenditure to do so, in terms of preparing our bid to the required standard; and

·         approved recommending to the Strategic Policy & Resources Committee that the necessary 25% match funding be included within the draft capital programme and subjected to the Gateway process, as appropriate.

      Given the timescales involved work has commenced on the preparation of Stage Two bids.  However, given the resources required for preparation of the bid and the potential impact on the Capital Programme a further report will be presented to the appropriate Committee in September.

Resource Implications

      A more detailed report will be presented to Members at the September Committee.

Recommendations

      It is recommended that Members note the contents of this report.”

Noted.