Agenda item

DfI Roads Report – Autumn 2020

            The Strategic Director of Place and Economy provided an overview of the infrastructure related items which had been previously raised by Council in advance of the DfI Autumn Report including:

·         Partnership working;

·         City Maintenance;

·         Belfast Bike Network Update;

·         Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan; and

·         Residents Parking Zones.

DFC Revitalisation Programme – Blue and Green Infrastructure Projects

            The Committee was reminded that the Tranche 2 Letter of Offer had been received from the Department for Communities (DfC) for the Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme on 28th October.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development explained that the DfI contribution had been allocated from its Blue and Green infrastructure fund. Accordingly, the Department has identified that the funding should be directed to projects that would sustain and improve the availability of sustainable green and blue infrastructure in the city.  She advised that the funding was for capital works only, and was predicated with a requirement to be delivered before the 31st March, 2021.

            She informed the Committee that officers from Place and Economy and Physical Programmes have reviewed existing work-streams to ensure maximum benefit of the allocated funding aligned with the requirement to meet the in-year funding requirement and outlined the proposed project delivery aligned to the DfI Blue and Green Infrastructure fund, as set out in the report.

During discussion, the Committee welcomed the additional funding for the Blue and Green Infrastructure Projects

DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Fund – DfC Capital Allocation

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting in October, it had approved the allocation of £140k to the Destination CQ BID for the delivery of interventions to support pedestrianisation and environmental improvements in Union St and Exchange Place / Warehouse Entry.

            The Director of City Regeneration and Development advised that, subsequently, an engineering assessment had introduced the requirement for additional structural support and a request for additional funding allocation in the amount of £20k to Destination CQ to support the additional works at Union Street had been received to be allocated to the Letter of Offer for Destination CQ Bid.

            In response to questions from Members, the Director of City Regeneration and Development advised that feasibility and future proofing of the projects would be taken into consideration and preparation for the potential of further funding would also be undertaken. She advised that further information would be provided to the Committee on the upgrade of the Belfast Bikes.

            In response to a question from a Member, she also advised that DfI had indicated that the Experimental Road Order for the temporary pedestrianisation of Union Street should be progressed in early December..

            After discussion, the Committee:

1.     Approved the proposed budget lines for the Department for Infrastructure contribution of £749k to the Department for Communities Covid-19 City Revitalisation programme, as outlined in the report;

2.     Approved additional funding allocation in the amount of £20k to Destination CQ to support additional works at Union Street;

3.     Agreed the funding allocation of £99k to BIDONE to deliver the Green and Blue Infrastructure elements for Church Lane; and

4.     Noted the updates on infrastructure related items in advance of the DfI Autumn Presentation.