Agenda item

            The Director of Property and Projects submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       Members will be aware that the Council is acting as the delivery agent for a range of capital projects on behalf of other organisations including the Executive Office and the Department for Communities.  The purpose of this paper is to update Members on the current status of these projects and to highlight a number of emerging issues in relation to the delivery of the SIF projects.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to note:

·        the projects which the Council has committed to deliver under the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and Urban Villages (UV) on behalf of the Executive Office along with the committed projects under the Building Successful Communities (BSC) on behalf of the Department for Communities as laid out at 3.2-3.5 below

·        that the Council has now been awaiting approval to proceed on a number of the SIF projects which it has signed LOOs to deliver for a number of months and a number of Groups have contacted the Council directly requesting clarification and expressing their frustration at the ongoing delays in the process. Members are asked to note that the Council’s role in respect of these projects is to act as the delivery agent only and that these issues are outside the control of Council.  Members are asked to note that the Council officers have escalated these issues with the Executive Office but it is also proposed that the Council writes to all affected groups updating them on the current status and advising them of the current status and the Council’s role within the process

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Members will be aware that over the past couple of years the Council has been requested to deliver a series of capital projects under a number of externally funded initiatives including the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and Urban Villages (UV) on behalf of the Executive Office together with projects Building Successful Communities (BSC) on behalf of the Department for Communities. In addition the Council is also taking forward a number of other projects on behalf of the Department of Communities. These requests recognise both the successful track record of the Council as a delivery agent for capital projects and also the uniquely placed role of the Council as a civic leader in the city. There are also a sign of confidence in the Council and recognition of the Council’s increasing role in terms of regeneration and community planning role. Letters of offer have been signed for over 40 projects worth approx. £8m

            Department for Communities

            Building Successful Communities

3.2       Committee is asked to note that under the Building Successful Communities initiative the Council has already successfully delivered 14 projects worth nearly £1m under way with works finalising on the remaining bike docking stations at Carlisle Circus and Twin Spires.  In addition the Council is taking forward a range of feasibility studies under BSC

3.3       Other – The Council is also taking forward Phase 1 of the works on Springfield Dam on behalf of the Department for Communities.  As previously agreed by Committee this asset will transfer to the Council upon completion of these works.

            EXECUTIVE OFFICE

            Urban Villages

3.4       The Council is delivering the following projects under the Urban Villages initiative. Members are asked to note that many of these projects are still at the development stage and that the focus of work is on technical design and assistance at this stage.  The Council is however proposed to be the delivery agent for the build phases of these projects if they progress. 

            In addition the Council is in discussions with the Executive Office on a range of other emerging projects under Urban Villages (including Glenbryn Playground, Gilpins, Marrowbone Millennium Park and the Skyline Building Newtownards Road along with a range of city wide projects including alleygates).  Members will be kept up to date if any of these projects progress.

            Social Investment Fund

3.5       The Council is due to be the delivery agent for the following projects under the Social Investment fund on behalf of the Executive Office. 

3.6       However as can be seen from the table above the majority of these projects are awaiting approval from the Executive Office to proceed.  This is for a variety of reasons including queries on charges and clarification on issues including title. 

3.7       Members will however be aware that SIF was established in 2012 and all capital projects were originally due to be completed by 2015.  Understandably the Groups who are due to receive funding are now becoming increasingly frustrated with the process and a number of them have written to the Council to express their concerns and have raised issues politically.  A number are now also expressing their intention to withdraw from the process if no progress is made in the coming months.  The issue in this regards is that there is a danger that SIF is seen as the Council’s funding stream and that the Council is responsible for the delays and from this perspective there is a potential reputational risk to the Council. The Council has escalated these issues with the Executive Office and is awaiting a response.  However in the interim to mitigate any further reputational risk it is proposed that the Council write to all affected groups appraising them of the current position and advise them if they have any queries in respect of the process that these are directed to the Executive Office.

3.8       Members are asked to note that in the interim officers are progressing what works can be carried forward (see separate asset report this month in respect of the Social Investment Fund Asset management update) so that projects are in a better position to progress when/if permission to proceed is received from the Executive Office.

            Other projects

3.9       Members are asked to note that the Council is proposed to be the delivery agent for two projects which are currently seeking Peace V funding – Blackmountain Shared Space Centre and the Shankill Women’s Centre.  These projects are currently both at Stage 2 in terms of the SEUPB appraisal process with the outcome due to be known in November.  This is in addition to the Council’s own proposals for capital works under the Belfast Local Action Plan.

3.10     Financial & Resource Implications

·        Financial – SIF and UV are Executive Office initiatives while BSC is being taken forward by the Department for Communities

·        Resource - Officers time to deliver projects.  

3.11     Equality& Good Relations Implications

            No implications.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.