Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme covers over 350 projects under a range of funding streams including the Capital Programme, the Leisure Transformation Programme, the Local Investment Fund (LIF), the Belfast Investment Fund (BIF) and the projects which the Council is delivering on behalf of other agencies. This paper provides an update for Members on the Physical Programme

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the contents of this report and –

 

            Communication and Engagement Activity – Physical Programme

 

·        note the update in relation to recent and planned communication activities as outlined at 3.2 below

 

            Belfast Investment Fund

 

·        North AWG - approve the recommendation from the North AWG as laid out at 3.3 below in respect of their BIF allocation

·        South AWG – Stranmillis Gateway – note that works are due to commence next month on the Stranmillis Gateway which will require the Council to enter into access agreements with adjoining Landowners. In order that construction is not delayed approval is sought to grant delegated authority to the Director of Property and Projects in conjunction with the Director of Legal Services to make arrangements and enter into any necessary Agreements to progress and complete the works (see 3.4)

 

            Local Investment Fund

 

·        note the recommendation of the South AWG in respect of the underspend of SLIF2-12- project (see 3.5) to be reconsidered for topping up some under-resourced projects subject to officer feedback. 

 

 

            Non-recurrent projects

 

·        agree the two proposed projects (Relocation of 5 Belfast Bike Docking Stations and match funding for the RDP- Basic Services Measures for Hannahstown Community Association) as outlined at 3.6 below 

 

3.0      Main report

 

            Key Issues

 

            Physical Programme – Communication and engagement activity

 

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial physical programme covering over 350 projects under a range of funding streams including the capital programme, BIF and LIF together with the projects that it is delivering on behalf of other agencies including the Executive Office and the Department for Communities.

 

3.2       A detailed overview of the recent and upcoming communication and engagement activities in respect of the physical programme is attached at Appendix 1 but Members are asked to note the following highlights

 

·        Extensive media coverage of the official opening of the £40m Connswater Community Greenway

 

·        the following LIF projects were officially opened – Palmerston Memory Garden (ELIF2-16 - £36,000); St Paul’s Amateur Boxing Club (WLIF2-12- £25,000); Cavehill Bowling and Tennis Club (NLIF2-01 - £100,000); Solas (SLIF2-04 - ££100,000) and Gort Na Mona 3G pitch (WLIF2-05 -£140,000)

 

            Members are asked to note that upcoming engagement and planned events in respect of projects under the physical programme

 

·        LTP - Andersonstown and Robinson development (Oct 18th) – ‘Cutting the sod’ photo-call/social media etc. to mark works starting on site on the two new £45m leisure developments

·        LTP - Stakeholder Engagement event (6th November – City Hall) – this is a meet and greet event for employability and local training providers providers to promote upcoming employment opportunities under the LTP and provide an insight into the skills and/or qualifications required as well as the recruitment and selection process

·        BIF - Stranmillis Gateway – ‘Cutting the sod’ – (early Nov – date TBC) - photo-call etc. to mark works staring on the new £3.7m works at Stranmillis which will include the development of a navigation lock, an iconic foot and cycle bridge, the refurbishment of the existing weir and high quality landscaping with associated path connections

·        Urban Villages – Lagmore Community Forum (Nov 16th) - Official opening of this new community facility – this new £370k facility was funded by Urban Initiatives and delivered by the Council 

 

            Belfast Investment Fund

 

3.3       North AWG - The North AWG at its meeting on 27 September 2017, made the following recommendations for the consideration of SP&R in relation their BIF allocation.  Members are asked to note that this project is being added as a Stage 1 – Emerging project and will be required to go through the Council’s agreed stage approval process

 

Project	Stage	Notes
Hillview Boxing Club	Add as Stage 1 – Emerging with an indicative ring-fenced allocation of £400,000	To be considered in the context of facilities in the wider area including the Upper Ardoyne Youth Centre which the People & Communities Committee at its meeting on 10th October agreed would be brought back into Council ownership

 

3.4       South AWG – Stranmillis Gateway – As outlined in 3.2 above work is due to commence next month on the new £3.7m Stranmillis Gateway which has received £2.15m of funding under BIF. Members are asked to note that the awarding of this contract will require Council to enter into access agreements with adjoining Landowners to facilitate the works. These arrangements can only be made after the appointed contractor has met with Council Officers and the access requirements are finalised. In order that construction is not delayed approval is sought to grant delegated authority to the Director of Property and Projects in conjunction with the Director of Legal Services to make arrangements and enter into any necessary Agreements to progress and complete the works.

 

            Local Investment Fund

 

3.5       South AWG - Members are asked to note that the South AWG at its meeting on 25th September made the following recommendations for the consideration of SP&R in respect of LIF

 

Project	LIF Allocation	Notes
GVRT (SLIF2-12) Blythefield	£20,000	£20,000 transferred back into the LIF2 fund and reallocated to other projects subject to officer feedback

 

            Capital Financing – Non-recurrent projects 

 

3.6       Members will recall that in March of this year they agreed that the unallocated capital financing budget would be ringfenced for projects which may arise through in 17/18 which required non-recurrent capital funding. Members are asked to note that a number of projects have been proposed which require non-recurrent capital funding and Members are asked to agree the two projects as outlined below

 

-       Belfast Bike Share Scheme – Proposed relocation of docking stations ­– The City & Growth Committee at its meeting on 13th September agreed the relocation of a number of 5 under-performing bike docking stations (either due to low rentals and/or their close proximity to other sites) to enable a better deployment of the existing resources to increase usage and membership income without increasing the management cost. It was noted that this would cost up to £30,000 (approximately £6k per site). Members are asked to note that the 5 new sites have been picked due to high levels of interest in these sites, requests from the public and Members feedback, areas of high footfall and that their natural fit with the wider network both in relation to the Belfast Bikes and the national Cycling Network.  The City Growth and Regeneration Committee recommended that this was referred to the Strategic policy and Resources Committee (SP&R) given the capital implications.  Members are asked to agree that £30,000 of non-recurrent monies are allocated to this relocation

-       Rural Development Programme - match funding requirement of up to £16,666 from the Council to ensure that monies can be secured under the Rural Development Programme for the Basic Services Measure in support of Hannahstown Community Association.  The City Growth and Regeneration Committee, at its meeting on 11th October, asked that this be referred to the SP&R Committee for consideration

-       The Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that these are within the affordability limits of the Council 

 

            Peace IV  

 

3.7       Members will note that there is an update on Peace IV also on the agenda for discussion at today’s Committee.   One of the key aspects of the Council’s Local Action Plan is the Shared Spaces theme which contains a substantial element of the capital works.  Members will be aware that there is a tight timescale of respect of Peace IV and although the Council is not yet in receipt of a formal letter of offer it is recommended agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for any Peace IV capital projects as required with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver to ensure all projects can be delivered within the funding deadline. 

 

3.8       Financial & Resource Implications

 

            Financial – The physical programme is worth approximately £325m 

            Resources – Resources from Property and Projects and appropriate departments in working up proposals in conjunction with groups.

 

 

3.9       Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            No implications.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.