Agenda item

         The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The Council’s Capital Programme is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new Council facilities. This report outlines highlights of current status of projects under the Programme; projects recommended to be moved/added to the Capital Programme and a number of project updates.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to;

 

            General

 

·        Note the update in relation to the Capital Programme as outlined in 3.1 and that the Property & Projects Department is happy to arrange site visits for Members/ Party Groups to any capital project (section 3.1)

 

            Proposed movements on/additions to the Capital Programme

 

·        Agree that the HLF – City Cemetery project is moved to Stage 3- Committed on the Capital Programme with a maximum budget of £620,000 to be allocated (see section 3.3-3.5) – the Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed that this is within the affordability limits of the Council. It is recommended that this is held at Tier 0 – Schemes at Risk pending confirmation of funding from the HLF.  Members are further asked to agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated as required with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

 

·        Agree that the following projects at are added as Stage 1 – Emerging Projects –

 

-       Destination Hub/Belfast Story – further detail to be brought back to Committee (section 3.6)

-       Waste Plan – New citywide kerbside collection system – SOC to be worked up and brought back to Committee for further consideration (section 3.7)

-       Waste Plan – Waste Transfer Station Upgrade - SOC to be worked up and brought back to Committee for further consideration (section 3.8)

-       Waterfront – New PA system – SOC to be worked up and brought back to Committee for further consideration (section 3.9)

 

 

            Project Updates

 

·        Capital Programme - Fleet Programme 2018/2019 – note the Fleet Programme for 18/19 (Appendix 1) and agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated with the delegation of subsequent evaluation and award processes to the Director of Property & Projects (see 3.10)   

·        BIF – Colin Glen Trust – approval the submission of the second stage application for a Rural Tourism Project under the Rural Development programme 2014-2020 for an Alpine Coaster in the Colin Glen Forest Park.  This follows a successful initial Expression of Interest which was previously agreed by Committee in March 2016. £2.5m has been ringfenced under BIF for the Colin Glen project (see 3.11)

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Key Issues

 

            The Council’s rolling Capital Programme is a significant programme with over £185m of projects recently completed or currently underway. Members are asked to note the updates under the Capital Programme since the last update report.

 

            Projects recently completed/in final stages of completion

 

·        the £3.7m upgrade of the Tropical Ravine which has been handed over to the C&NS Department – the official opening for this project will take place

·        the new £700k Sally Gardens Changing Pavilion which was officially handed over earlier this month – this received match funding from DfC

·        New playgrounds at Colin Valley and Blacks Road  

 

            Projects currently on the ground

 

·        New 3G pitches and pavilions at Falls Park and Cherryvale as part of the Pitches Strategy

·        Works on the new leisure facilities at Andersonstown and Robinson and Phase 2 of works at Olympia

·        Environmental upgrades at Falls Park and Skegoneil

·        Phase 4 of the citywide alleygating programme

 

            Projects at tender preparation stage 

 

·        Preparatory work is continuing on a wide range of projects including the works at the West Wing including upgrades at the Cenotaph at the City Hall, Clarendon mini 3G pitch, the baby plot memorial at the City Cemetery and a range of IT projects including a new HR/payroll system

 

            Proposed movements on/additions to the Capital Programme 

 

3.2       Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a 3 Stage process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by SP&R. Members are asked to agree to the following movements on the Capital Programme

 

 

Project	Overview	Stage
HLF – City Cemetery	This project, to be delivered in association with the HLF, is designed to maximise the heritage potential of Belfast City Cemetery. The project involves a mixture of capital, restorative, interpretive and promotional works.  Funding of £1,687,070 from HLF is being sought Maximum of £620,000 to be allocated - The Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed that this is within the affordability limits of the Council	Move to Stage 3- Committed Recommended to be held as at Tier 0 - Scheme at Risk pending confirmation of funding from HLF
Destination Hub /Belfast Story	The development of a new world class visitor attraction within the city centre Identified within the Belfast Agenda	Add as an Emerging Project
Waste Plan – New kerbside collection system	The implementation of a new city wide kerbside collection scheme for dry recyclables and food waste. Required to help the Council met its challenging recycling targets Identified in the 10 Year Waste Plan agreed by the People and Communities Committee in June 2017	Add as an Emerging Project
Waste Plan – Waste Transfer Station upgrade	Construction of an additional Waste Transfer Station at the North Foreshore, to accept segregated dry recyclables and food waste from a kerbside sort collection scheme, as well as other associated recyclables. Required to help the Council met its challenging recycling targets Identified in the 10 Year Waste Plan agreed by the People and Communities Committee in June 2017	Add as an Emerging Project
Waterfront – Replacement PA system	Replacement Stage PA system Identified as a service need given the age of current PA system	Add as an Emerging Project

 

 

            Move to Stage 3 – Committed

 

3.3       HLF – City Cemetery project – Members will recall that in October 2015 they agreed that the HLF – City Cemetery restoration project would be moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted under the Capital Programme.  At this stage Members were updated that the Council had been successful in its Stage 1 application for the project under the HLF’s ‘Parks for People’ programme and had been awarded a development grant of £165,000 to work up a Stage 2 proposal.  Members are asked to note that since this time officers have been progressing work on the proposal and are now required to submit this by 15th December to meet HLF funding deadlines.  This project is designed to maximise the heritage potential of Belfast City Cemetery and protect and preserve it for future generations. To achieve this goal the proposed project has five main elements:

 

·        Capital - Development of improved visitor/community amenities including a new visitor centre

·        Restoration - restoration of the key heritage assets (many of which are listed) within the cemetery including the fountains and the steps

·        Interpretation - Enhancements of the site’s interpretive potential to ensure users are able to gain a fuller understanding of its history and heritage.

·        Biodiversity - Enhancement of the natural heritage located within the site through various biodiversity related initiatives

·        Promotion - Maximise footfall through the site by various methods such as the creation and formalisation of a range of cemetery tours, website development, promotional literature, tie in with local tourism/education and community organisations, links with bus and taxi tours etc.

 

3.4       Match funding of £1,687,070 from the HLF is being sought towards the project.  Members are asked to note that the Council is required to demonstrate its commitment to this project as part of the Stage 2 application to HLF which is due to be submitted by mid- December. It is therefore recommended that the HLF City Cemetery project is moved to Stage 3 – Committed on the Capital Programme but that this is recommended to be moved to Tier 0 – Schemes at Risk pending confirmation of funding from the HLF (likely to be April 2018 before this is known) with a maximum budget of £620,000 to be allocated to the project – this includes £515k of capital costs and £105k of revenue costs.  The Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that this is within the affordability limits of the Council. 

 

3.5       In addition, Members are asked to agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver for the above projects as required. 

 

            Add as Stage 1 – Emerging

 

3.6       Destination Hub/Belfast Story – Members will be aware that the Belfast Agenda sets out the ambition to deliver a second world class visitor attraction to generate additional tourist spend and footfall in the city centre. This was also set out in the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy 2015. In addition, a number of agencies (Arts Council NI, Tourism NI, NI Screen, National Museums NI) have identified the need for additional facilities to support the growth of the cultural and tourism offer in Belfast and NI as a whole.  The new Destination Hub/Belfast Story is also an integral underpinning component of the ‘We are 2023’ European Capital of Culture bid.  The Destination Hub proposal is for a single site in the city centre incorporating a range of facilities including the ‘Belfast Story’ visitor destination, a Northern Ireland film centre, gallery and exhibition space and a digital media/skills training facility.

 

            Members will be aware that work has already been undertaken to SOC stage on the Destination Hub proposal and that work is continuing including looking at the identification of potential capital funding sources as well as possible commercial operating models. Members are asked to note that wider discussions around funding are currently being progressed with other government departments and also through the Belfast Region City Deal however given that a Council capital contribution may ultimately be required it is recommended that this project is added onto the Capital Programme as a Stage 1- Emerging Project.

 

3.7       Waste Plan – New kerbside collection system – Members will be aware of that the Council has significant waste targets to meet and as part of this in June 2017 the People and Communities Committee agreed the Council’s 10 Year Waste Framework.  This Framework set out the challenging targets which the Council is required to meet in terms of recycling levels including the statutory obligations under the Northern Ireland Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS) aimed at reducing the tonnage of waste disposed of at landfill and achieving a 50% recycling rate by 2020 as well as aiming towards a 65% recycling target by 2030. In addition other legislation such as the Food Waste Regulations (2015) has shifted the dynamics on how waste will be collected and treated. Given this there will be a requirement for capital investment in order to ensure that the Council can meet these challenging targets and one of the options proposed under the Waste Framework is the implementation of a new citywide multi-sort, kerbside collection of dry recyclables and food waste.

 

            Members are asked to note that DAERA is seeking to drive improved recycling performance in order to attain the 50% recycling rate for NI by 2020 as required under the EU Waste Framework Directive. It is supportive of the above proposed new kerbside system and is in the process of determining the level of financial support available to Councils which embrace segregated waste collection arrangements. It should be noted that the window of opportunity in terms of the funding arrangements with DAERA is likely to be extremely tight and it is therefore recommended that this project is now added to the Capital Programme as an Emerging Project with further detail to be worked up and brought back to Committee in due course for consideration.

 

3.8       Waste Plan – Waste Transfer Station Upgrade – The Council currently relies heavily upon the private waste management sector to store, treat and dispose of its waste and the Waste Plan therefore identified as a priority the need for increased self-sufficiency for the Council. Related to the above proposed project Members are asked to note that the challenging recycling targets and the proposed implementation of a new city-wide kerbside collection system will have an impact on the Council’s current waste infrastructure. The Waste Plan therefore identified a potential expansion and improvement to the waste facilities at the North Foreshore involving the construction of an additional Waste Transfer Station (WTS) for segregated materials arising from the proposed change to kerbside collection schemes and any associated recyclables which may arise from further segregation of the residual waste stream.  Members are asked to note that the development of a new Waste Transfer Station will also provide additional capacity and contingency arrangements in the event of an unplanned closure of one of the bays in the existing WTS.  It is therefore recommended that this project is now added to the Capital Programme as an Emerging Project with further detail to be worked up and brought back to Committee in due course for consideration. Members are asked to note that it is recommended that the Waste Plan replaces the proposed Recycling Centre No.5 project which is currently on the capital programme as the overall waste infrastructure requirements will emanate from the Waste Framework.

 

3.9       Waterfront and Ulster Hall – Replacement PA System – Members are asked to note that the current Stage PA system within the Waterfront is 19 years old having been in place since the Waterfront was originally opened. Members will be aware of the significant investment which has been undertaken in the Waterfront, in both the new conference facilities and in upgrading the existing facility to be on an equal par with the new extension which has helped to underpin the stated ambition for the Waterfront to be one of the world’s leading conference and exhibition facilities.  However, there have been a range of technological advances since the original PA system was installed and as a result the system is no longer ‘fit for purpose’ and no longer meets the required specification for a large number of promoters and has no appeal to promoters who choose to tour with alternative equipment.  In addition, the sound quality has deteriorated over the years and some seating areas are not adequately covered by the system and when in use require augmentation by an additional PA system which has an associated cost.  It should be highlighted that complaints have been received from members of the public and from promoters due to the quality of the sound and the existing system.  Members should note that the ageing nature of the system means that there is a greater risk of failure and that maintenance costs are also high. It is therefore recommended that options for a replacement PA system are investigated and that this project is placed as an Emerging Project onto the Capital Programme with further details to be brought back to Members in due course.

 

            Project Updates 

 

3.10     Capital Programme - Fleet Programme 2018-2019 – Members will know that the Council needs to run and maintain a substantial fleet in order to deliver its services. In March 2013 SP&R agreed to allocate £1.9m towards the Fleet Programme for 2018-2019. Members are asked to note that the Fleet Programme has been developed in conjunction with Council departments and reflects the service needs of the organisation.  Members are asked to note the agreed Fleet Programme for 2018/2019 (see Appendix 1) and agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated with the delegation of subsequent evaluation and award processes to the Director of Property & Projects.

 

3.11     BIF – Colin Glen Forest Park – Rural Development Programme application – Members will recall that £2.5m has been ringfenced under BIF for a project in the Colin Glen Forest Park. In March 2016 Members approved the submission of an Expression of Interest application for a Rural Tourism Project under the Rural Development programme 2014-2020 to fund an Alpine Coaster in the Colin Glen Forest Park.  Members are asked to note that this initial application has been successful and that a second stage application is now required.  Members are asked to agree that the Council, on behalf of the Colin Glen Trust, take this application forward.

 

3.12     Financial & Resource Implications

 

            Financial –The Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that the HLF City Cemetery project which is recommended to move to Stage 3 (as outlined in 3.3) is within the affordability limits of the Council – given that this is subject to external funding it is recommended that this is held as a Scheme at Risk.

 

            Costs for the other projects will be worked up as part of the Stage Approval process and brought back to Committee for further discussion before any decision to invest.

 

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

 

3.13     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            All capital projects are screened as part of the stage approval process.”

 

         The Committee adopted the recommendations set out in the report.