Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To advise committee of Sport NI ‘Your School Your Club’ funding and applications submitted from schools in Belfast City Council area.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       That Committee agrees to note;

·        the support for two applications to Sport NI, Your School Your Club funding.

·        that further information on how Sport NI intend to roll out the 20/21 fund will be provided to Members in the future, including clarification on what role is expected of Council.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       BACKGROUND

            Your School Your Club is an initiative to promote community use of school sports facilities. The opening of the school sports estate to community and club use will have a major impact on the provision of sports facilities throughout Northern Ireland. Your School Your Club seeks to develop strategic partnerships in order to revitalise existing sports facilities or to develop new/additional provision.

3.2       The Your School Your Club Joint Working Group is governed by the Department for Communities (DfC); current membership includes DfC, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), representatives of District Councils, Department for Education (DE), Education Authority (EA) and Sport Northern Ireland.

3.3       Sport NI have not widely advertised access to the fund and Council was approached directly by the two schools requests requesting support for their submissions as Sport NI required Council sign off of the applications before the deadline 13 November 2019.

3.4       Given the fact that Council has no prior notice of this fund being available and that there was insufficient time between Council being approached by the schools and the deadline set by Sport NI for Committee consideration the applications were signed by the Director of Neighbourhood Services under delegated authority.

3.5       Council officers intend to meet with Sport NI to clarify how they intend to manage the 20/21 fund, to include how they will advertise and make all potential applicants aware of the availability of funding.  Further information will be provided to Members following that meeting.

3.6       INVESTMENT

            Sport Northern Ireland on behalf of the Your School Your Club Working Group is establishing a list of potential projects that would benefit from support and funding this financial year (i.e. no later than 31 March 2020). Sport Northern Ireland has a capital budget of £300,000 remaining for 2019/20, to assist the implementation of the outcomes envisaged by Your School Your Club. Sport Northern Ireland hopes to bid for additional capital funds in future years. These projects will involve schools that make their sports facilities open to the community/clubs if the appropriate sports facility infrastructure is provided. Successful projects will be predicated on the principle that schools involved are committed to making their sports facilities accessible to sports clubs/local communities subject to the provision of fit for purpose and appropriate (sports) infrastructure.

3.7       FUNDING THRESHOLDS

            Potential funding will be considered on a project by project basis within the following principles:

·        The aim of YSYC is to enhance community access to the school sporting estate;

·        While there is no minimum investment threshold, Value For Money and additionality will be taken into account in assessing projects;

·        For large scale projects, partnership funding will normally be required. YSYC will not be the majority funder in these projects;

·        For projects in, and/or benefitting rural areas, flexibility in funding will normally be provided.

3.8       FUNDING IN 2019/20

            At a recent workshop hosted by CLOA (Chief Leisure Officers Association) SportNI outlined the current year funding status noting that approximately £300,000 was available out of the annual £1 million for projects. SportNI noted that they were particularly keen to have completed Expressions of Interest forwarded by Schools via Local Authorities by a deadline of 13th November for small projects of up to £60,000. SportNI noted they also are keen for Expressions of Interest for larger projects as well to support budget formation and that Expressions of Interest are welcome at any time from schools.

3.9       BELFAST APPLICATIONS

            The Council received applications for submission from Rathmore GS and St Mary’s GS. Sport NI have confirmed that the Rathmore submission is to be progressed this year and the St Mary’s submission is on a long list for future consideration.

3.10      Financial & Resource Implications

            No financial contribution is required from Belfast City Council. Sport NI have confirmed that further funding may be available in the 2020 – 2021 financial year.

3.11      Equality or Good Relations Implications and Rural Needs Assessment

            Equality and Good Relations implications and rural needs assessment are the responsibility of the funder Sport NI.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.