Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes 170 capital projects with investment of £150m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. This report requests a movement on the Capital Programme for Cathedral Gardens Redevelopment project and notes a satisfactory tender return for IT Programme - Server and Storage Technology Refresh project.

2.1       The Committee is requested to consider the following items on the Capital Programme:

·        Cathedral Gardens Project - agree that the project is moved to Stage 3 – Committed and agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contract to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

·        IT Programme – Server and Storage Technology Refresh project - Note that a satisfactory tender return has been received and that the Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that this project is within the affordability limits of the Council and agreed that a maximum of £513,000 be allocated.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       The Committee will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme – a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves existing Council assets or provides new council facilities. The Council also delivers externally focused funding streams such as BIF, LIF and SOF, as well as numerous capital programmes that we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include NHLF, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office via Social Investment Fund and Urban Villages, DfC, DfI, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages and others.  When appropriate, the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects that have been completed.

            Proposed Movement – Capital Programme

3.2       Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a Three Stage process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. This provides assurance on the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project.

            The Committee is asked to agree to the following movements on the Capital Programme:

            Cathedral Gardens

3.3       The Committee will recall that, in January 2016, this project was moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted on the Capital Programme. The Council endorsed their commitment to the redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens as part of Phase 3 of the Streets Ahead project and agreed in principle to ring-fence an allocation (up to a maximum of £5m) as part of this subject to final confirmation of the costs and a commitment from Department for Communities for the delivery of Streets Ahead 3. In November 2019, in light of Department for Communities correspondence that the Belfast Streets Ahead scheme would not proceed, Belfast City Council agreed to de-couple it from the BSA project to include the Belfast Blitz memorial. This memorial involves the design, commissioning and installation of a permanent memorial to mark the Belfast Blitz.

            The redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens provides a significant opportunity to inject critical and much needed quality public urban space into the city centre. The area adjacent to and surrounding Cathedral Gardens is home to a rich history of fabrication and cultural identity. It is a precinct in the process of evolution through a mixture of commercial, education and housing related developments that are transforming this part of Belfast into a new and vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood for the city.

3.4       The Outline Business Case has now been prepared following public consultation.It is recommended that the project now progresses to Stage 3 – Committed and that it is held at Tier 0 – Scheme at Risk pending further development of the project and a satisfactory tender return. An update will be brought back to the Committee at this stage, along with the final budget allocation and confirmation that this is within the affordability limits of the Council.  Members are asked to agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contract to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

            IT Programme – Server and Storage Technology Refresh

3.5       Under the Council’s IT Programme, this project has been identified as being business critical and required to ensure continuity of service provision. Many of the Council’s ICT systems and information reside on Council owned servers and data storage units in two datacentres. The hardware is now six years old and must be replaced to ensure continuity of service and support, reduce risk of failure, and to avoid escalating support costs. Members will recall in June 2021 the project was moved to Stage 3 – Committed on the Capital Programme but held at Tier 0 – Scheme at risk pending a satisfactory tender return. The Committee is now advised that a satisfactory tender return has now been received. The Committee is further advised that the Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that this project is within the affordability limits of the Council and agreed that a maximum of £513,000 be allocated.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.6       Financial – IT Programme – Server and Storage Technology Refresh project: £513,000 under the Capital Programme. 

            Resources – Officer time to deliver as required.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

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

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.