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 the existing Council facilities or provides new Council facilities. This report provides:

 

-         An overview of capital projects recently completed

-         An update on Covid 19 implications and key actions

-         Capital programme 2020/21 project update movements

 

2.0     Recommendations

 

2.1     The Committee is requested to –

 

-         note the update on the Physical programmes completed projects as at 3.1 below and in Appendix 1.  When appropriate, as per Covid 19 public health guidance, the Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects that have been completed.

-         note the update on impact of Covid 19 on the capital programme for 2020/21

-         agree to include 2 new IT projects under the council’s IT Programme due to business criticality and to ensure ongoing business continuity – a new Backup platform infrastructure, and new Uninterruptible Power Supply - and move to Stage 3 Committed with a maximum £100,000 and £150,000 (respectively) budget allocated.

-         Agree that the Belfast Zoo Health and Safety project is moved to Stage 3- Committed with a maximum £1.6m budget allocated.

 

3.0     Main report

 

         Physical programmes update

 

3.1     The Council’s Physical Programme includes Council’s rolling Capital Programme is a significant regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves the existing Council assets, or provides new council facilities; it also includes funding streams (BIF, LIF and SOF) and acting as a delivery agent for other government departments (UV, SIF, DfC). 3.2 below provides an update on the current impacts of Covid 19 on the delivery of physical projects, however over the last 6 months a number of projects have been completed including: 

 

-         Leisure and sports facilities: The new Andersonstown Leisure Centre (LTP); 3G carpet replacement at LORAG Shaftesbury centre and Cregagh; 3G pitch at Hanwood (BIF); new MUGA and outdoor facilities at John Paul Youth Club (LIF/UV);

-         Upgrades to parks, open spaces and playgrounds - playground refurbishments at Ormeau Park (lower Ormeau/Ravenhill playground), Geeragh Community Centre at Finaghy; Rev. Robert Bradford playground and new MUGA (UV/DfC);

-         Community facilities: Cancer Life line facility (BIF/DfC); PIPS Suicide prevention facility refurbishment (SIF); New Diamond project facility (UV).

 

         Photos of the completed projects are attached in Appendix 1. When appropriate, as per Covid 19 public health guidance, the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects that have been completed.

 

3.2     Covid – 19 impact update

 

         In the April Physical Programmes update report, Members were advised that an analysis and ongoing monitoring exercise on the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of the Council’s wider Physical Programme was being carried out by the Physical Programmes Department, working closely with Financial Services and Legal Services.  Some 24 projects were at an On Site stage of delivery when Covid 19 restrictions took effect in March. Almost all projects temporarily ceased works - with the exception of essential works projects, such as Waste Transfer Weighbridge improvements. 18 projects are now live with remaining projects working through return to site measures and any outstanding issues to starting on site. 

 

         The key Covid 19 impacts are: delay to completion dates/ change of delivery programme; Return to Site costs and subsequent ongoing Covid 19 related costs that are additional to budgeted costs.  Of the 24 live projects, half are projects with either external funding (eg DfC, SEUPB) or projects being delivered on behalf of external funders (UV and SIF), which means that funding agreement commitments needed to be assessed. We have been liaising closely with all funders to regularly update and review Covid 19 impacts, with the view to seek additional costs via funder budgets. The final cost implications are not yet known and are still being monitored and reviewed.  In additional, with regards to Covid 19 cost implications on projects on council’s capital programme, a claim will be made to DfC under the DfC assistance fund for Council’s to seek reimbursement.  Officers continue to engage with contractors and external stakeholders to closely monitor this evolving situation.

 

         Capital programme 2020/21 - Project movements

 

3.5     IT Programme – a new Backup platform infrastructure, and new Uninterruptible Power Supply

 

         Under the Council’s IT Programme of work, two projects have been identified as being business critical and required to ensure continuity of service provision –

 

-         New Backup platform infrastructure: With the recent home working demands and subsequent capacity constraints, coupled with the ever increasing risk of cybersecurity attacks, there is an urgent need to re-evaluate the systems back up architecture. The purpose of this project is to replace the current backup environment with one which is capable of providing a standardised, scalable solution enabling the council to meet its backup needs for the next 5 years, whilst making use of the advancement in backup technologies to improve the efficiency of our business continuity options. This should result in quicker, more space-efficient backups on storage separate to the current live storage environment.

-         New Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS):to protect equipment in the server rooms from power surges – it ensures the seamless transition to standby generators in the case of a mains power failure; and also allow time for a graceful shutdown of sensitive IT equipment in the event of a backup generator failure, protecting equipment from damage and preventing data loss. The UPS in the secondary server room is nearing end of life and requires replacement, and there are no UPS in place to protect network equipment in several key communications cabinets that are an important part of the corporate data network. The network team have been experiencing issues with distributed network equipment being damaged and losing their configuration when the power supply to different buildings is interrupted either as the result of a power cut or as the result of maintenance work. UPS in communication cabinets would protect network equipment during power outages, thus avoiding service outage associated with power cuts. This project will ensure resilient access to the Council backup server room and prevent damage to network equipment elsewhere in the council in the event of a power outage.

 

3.6     Members are asked to agree that each project moves to Stage 3 Committed in order to expedite the necessary procurements and it is recommended that a maximum budget of £100,000 and £150,000 respectively is allocated.  The Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed the affordability of these projects due to the corporate criticality requirements and to ensure business continuity is maintained.

 

 

3.7     Belfast Zoo Health and Safety

 

         Members are reminded that the Belfast Zoo Health and Safety programme of work is an agreed Stage 2- Uncommitted project on the council’s Capital Programme. This emerged from a number of independent reports which included measures required to safeguard animals, zookeepers and the public. Since then a number of key activities have been completed: an outline business case examining a new Large Cats enclosure, and Water Treatment in the Sea Lion Pool – both of which are required to eradicate immediate health and safety issues. Additional measures were assessed and scored according to their impact on health & safety, visitor experience and strategic priorities.  It is therefore recommended that works associated with new Large Cats enclosure, Water treatment of Sea Lion pool, wider enclosure and access improvements (health and safety specific), and Zoo wall/landscape issue at car park, are included within the current health and safety capital programme for the Zoo. Any further or additional capital-related health and safety requirements will be kept under review.

 

3.8     Members are asked to agree that the Belfast Zoo Health and safety project is moved to Stage 3- Committed but each health safety measure being held at appropriate Tier to reflect readiness to proceed on site and satisfactory tender; with a maximum £1.6m budget allocated.  The Director of Finance & Resources has confirmed the affordability of these projects due to the health & safety requirements and the need to protect the public, zookeepers and the animals. 

        

         BIF/LIF/SOF Updates

 

3.9     At the last round of Area Working Group meetings in January 2020, an update on the status of projects allocated under LIF, BIF and SOF programmes was provided. It was agreed by each AWG that a letter would be issued to those groups where there had been no information or progress for some time (seven in total), with a deadline of 22 April set where information on project was sought and/or confirmation the group wished to remain in the funding programme process.  Given the Corona pandemic this was subsequently extended to 3rd June 2020.   Members are asked to note the following updates in respect of these projects

 

 

Project	Funding amount
Braeheid (Ulster Scots Hub) – BIF31	£500k (BIF)	Confirmation of withdrawal from the Programme
Intercomm Antrim Road NLIF2-13	£75k (LIF)	Confirmation of withdrawal from the Programme
Holy Family Church NLIF2-18	£15k (LIF)	No response received – assumed withdrawal from Programme
Mercy Primary School NLIF2-05	£15k (LIF)	Information received and project progressing
The Dock Café ELIF1-14	£15k (LIF)	Confirmation of withdrawal from the Programme
Castlereagh Presbyterian Church BIF38	£382k (BIF)	Information received and project progressing
Royal British Legion BIF29	£500k (BIF)	Confirmed remaining in the Programme and attending next AWG to present project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Members are asked to note that an update on the above will be brought into the next round of AWGs so that the AWGs can consider their projects and agree on any re-allocations of monies to be recommended back into SP&R.  BIF and LIF were agreed on an area basis and therefore any allocations remain within these areas to be reconsidered.

 

3.10   Financial & Resource Implications

 

         Financial –-

 

-         IT Programme - a new Backup platform infrastructure, and new Uninterruptible Power Supply – maximum £100,000 and £150,000 budget allocation.

-         Belfast Zoo Health and safety projects; and a maximum £1.6m budget allocation.

-         BIF/LIF – to be considered by the AWGs

 

         Resources – Officer time to deliver as per project requirements.

 

 

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.