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 200 live regeneration projects across a range of funding streams including the Capital Programme, Leisure Transformation Programme, LIF, BIF, SOF (Social Outcomes Fund) and the projects which the Council is delivering on behalf of other agencies. This report provides an update for Members on the Physical Programme. 

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to –

·        note that a tour of a number of physical projects (both completed or underway) has been scheduled for Saturday 22nd September - the proposed itinerary for the site visits is attached at Appendix 1.  All Members are encouraged to avail of this tour in order to gain an understanding of the scale and complexity of the Council’s physical programme

·        agree that a series of Party Group briefings on the Physical Programme are undertaken in October

      Project Updates

·        Capital Programme - Fleet Programme 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 – note the Fleet Programme for 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated with the delegation of subsequent evaluation and award processes to the Director of Property & Projects

·        Leisure Transformation Programme - Robinson Centre - endorse the recommendation from the East AWG that the skate park is removed from the agreed facilities mix and that the existing playground and proposed 5-a-side pitch are extended on the basis that this remains within the agreed budget envelope. Members are also asked to agree that the option of the local community managing the second 5-a-side pitch be investigated.

·        Tropical Ravine – note that the Tropical Ravine won the NI RICS project of the year in June and will now go on to compete in the national final in November in London.  Committee is asked to authorise the attendance of the Chair of the SP&R Committee and/or the People and Communities Committee (or Deputy Chairs or nominees) and appropriate officers at the awards ceremony

·        DFC match funding - note that letters of offer from DfC has been received for a range of Council projects as at 3.8 below on the basis that this spend can be completed within this financial year and that these were projects that had already been agreed by the Council and would have been progressed

·        Urban Villages – note that Committee had previously agreed that the Council would act as the delivery agent for a range of projects due to be funded under the Urban Villages initiative.  Members are asked to note that letters of offer have now been received for the delivery of 8 projects this year (see 3.9 below) and that the Council continues to be in discussions with UV on a further range of projects    

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial physical programme covering over 200 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. There are currently approx. 200 ‘live’ projects on the physical programme worth in excess of £300m.   This makes it one of the most visible and easily recognisable signs of the Council’s civic leadership role in the city. However it is also important to ensure that the physical programme is not simply about the stand-alone development of new facilities or assets but that all physical projects are an enabler in their own right towards the achievement of the City’s and the Council’s wider strategic objectives under the Belfast Agenda and the Corporate Plan. 

3.2       Members previously agreed that, given both the current scale of the programme and the number of new Members, that a tour of a number of physical projects (both completed and underway) across the city is scheduled for all Members. Members are asked to note that this tour has been scheduled for tomorrow morning (Saturday 22nd September 9.30am-12.30pm with breakfast beforehand.  A proposed itinerary for the tour is attached at Appendix 1.  All Members are encouraged to avail of this opportunity and to contact the Property and Projects Department if they are interested in attending.

3.3       Members are asked to note that moving forward the Council will faces a number of challenges in respect of the physical programme including pressures on the capital financing budget; managing expectations in terms of delivery; that the Council’s estate is ageing which increases pressure on maintenance budgets and competing demands for investment.  Given the complexity of this issue and its implications for Members in terms of future decision making it is proposed that a series of Party Group briefings are undertaken in October on the Physical Programme. 

            Project Updates

3.4       Capital Programme - Fleet Programme 2019-2020 and 2020/2021– Members will know that the Council needs to run and maintain a substantial fleet in order to deliver its services. In March 2018 SP&R agreed to allocate £1.97m towards the Fleet Programme for 2019-2020 and £2.2m for 2020/2021. 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 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and agree that the necessary procurement processes are initiated with the delegation of subsequent evaluation and award processes to the Director of Property & Projects.

3.5       Leisure Transformation Programme - Robinson Centre - Members are asked to note that the agreed facilities mix for the Robinson Centre included a skate park at the rear of the site. The consultation feedback evidenced no demand for a skate park and in addition a number of concerns had been raised in relation to including this. This element has therefore not been submitted for planning. 

            On the basis of the consultation feedback the East AWG, at its meeting on 6th September, agreed that the skate park should be removed from the agreed facilities mix for Robinson and that the existing playground and proposed 5-a-side pitch are extended on the basis that this remains within the overall agreed budget envelope. SP&R Committee is asked to endorse this recommendation.  Members are also asked to agree that the option of the local community managing the second 5-a-side pitch be investigated.

3.6       Capital Programme - Tropical Ravine – Members will recall that they were advised in June that the recently renovated and re-opened £3.7m Tropical Ravine project had won the prestigious Northern Ireland RICS project of the year with the judges noting ‘The Tropical Ravine was unanimously supported as Project of the Year. Its sensitive conservation approach was professional, and the partnership created of caring community groups and the Heritage Lottery Fund added strength and injected a variety of views, often conflicting, and aspirations which collectively have transformed this neglected overgrown corner of Botanic Gardens into a visitor attraction with an amazing story to be absorbed at leisure’.  The Tropical Ravine will now go on to compete in the national final in November in London.  Committee is asked to authorise the attendance of the Chair of the SP&R Committee and/or the People and Communities Committee (or Deputy Chairs or nominees) and appropriate officers at the awards ceremony

            Externally funded initiatives

3.7       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 on behalf of the Department for 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.

3.8       Department for Communities- Match funding – Committee is asked to note that a couple of months ago the Department for Communities (DfC) approached the Council regarding the potential to match fund a range of Council projects with the proviso that these had to be projects which were already approved by the Council, that DfC would be a minority funder and that the money could be spent within this financial year.  Due to these restrictions Members are asked to note that only a small number of Council projects were identified as being suitable and that letters of offer for match funding towards the following projects have been received –

            Members are further asked to note that a number of other projects are under consideration include upgrades to the existing facility at White Rise; Cathedral Gardens - Relocation of the Buoys; Grace Family Centre; Cancer Lifeline and Paisley Park.  In regard to White Rise Members are asked to agree that the option of the local community managing the upgraded facility be investigated.

3.9       Urban Villages - Members previously agreed that the Council acts as the delivery agent for a range of projects under the Urban Villages initiative on behalf of the Executive Office. At this stage the list of projects was unknown. Members are asked to note that letters of offer have now been received for a range of projects which have profiled spend for this year and that officers are now working on these.

            Members are also asked to note that officers are continuing to work with the UV team and it is anticipated that further LOOs will be received. Many of the proposed future projects on the UV lists either align closely to ongoing Council initiatives or to projects already being funded or proposed for funding by the Council under other funding streams including LIF/BIF/SOF.

3.10      Financial & Resource Implications

            Financial – Fleet Programme and Robinson are both agreed projects on the Council’s capital programme

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

3.11      Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

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

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.