Agenda item

            The Members of the Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The Council’s Physical Programme covers 170 current capital projects under a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. The Capital Programme forms part of the Physical Programme and is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. The purpose of this report is to seek approval for Stage movements on the Capital Programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Members of the Committee are asked to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:

·        City Hall Statues - Move ‘City Hall Statues - Winifred Carney’ to Stage 2 – Uncommitted on the Capital Programme; and

·        City Cemetery Project - note the update provided on the appointment of a mapping and genealogy software specialist.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial physical programme 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, the Department for Communities and Department for Infrastructure. There are currently 170 live projects worth in excess of £120m, as well as 100+ early stage uncommitted projects and £300m + of completed projects which still receive dedicated resourcing effort.

            Proposed Movement - Capital Programme 

3.2       Members agreed that all capital projects must go through a three-stage process where decisions on which capital projects progress are taken by the Committee. This provides assurance as to the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project. Members are asked to agree to the following movements on the Capital Programme:

            Members will be aware that the overarching City Hall Statues project was approved at SP&R Committee in January 2020 as a Stage 1 - Emerging project on the Capital Programme. Members are asked to recommend that one element of the statues, Winifred Carney, is moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted on the Capital Programme.  Further detail on this is contained with the ‘Installations – City Hall/City Hall Grounds’ report which is also on the agenda for discussion by the Committee at its meeting on 21st May. An Outline Business Case (OBC) will now be worked up on the proposal with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

3.3       City Cemetery Project – Mapping and Genealogy Software Specialist

            Members will be aware that the City Cemetery project was approved at the SP and R Committee in August 2018 as a Stage 3 – Committed project on the Capital Programme. The project is designed to protect and enhance the rich heritage within the cemetery, and incorporates a number of elements such as the development of a new visitor centre, restoration of key heritage assets and enhanced interpretation. Members are asked to note that the specialist company Plotbox will now be appointed under delegated authority, with the costs to be met from the overall capital project budget.

3.4       Financial and Resource Implications

            Financial – City Cemetery Project – costs will be drawn from the existing project budget

            Resources – officer time to deliver as required.

3.5       Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

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

            After discussion, the Members of the Committee agreed to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to adopt the recommendations contained within the report and, in line with its earlier decision, to move City Hall Statues – Mary Ann McCracken to Stage 2 Uncommitted on the Capital Programme.