Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 “1.        Relevant Background Information

1.1       Members will recall that the Council’s bid for a community hub located at Girdwood was deferred in May 2010, under the Peace III Priority 2.1, total value £9.6m. SEUPB has now advised the Council that it requires all outstanding information by 20 April 2011.

1.2       It should be noted that the Community Hub proposal has not yet been formally signed off for an award.  It is anticipated that a number of projects will be brought to the June meeting of the SEUPB Priority 2.1 Steering Committee. 

1.3       All expenditure for the capital project must be claimed from SEUPB by mid-2015, at the very latest. After this point, any capital expenditure will be carried at risk by the Council.  No allocation has been made for this in the Council’s capital programme.

2.         Key Issues

2.1       As per Committee’s recommendation in June 2010, Council officers have continued to develop the proposal for final submission to SEUPB.  This has included a number of community meetings, briefings for the relevant Ministers and meetings with relevant departmental officials.   Following a briefing paper and subsequent meeting with community representatives (10 March), 4 key issues have emerged:

2.2       Proposal relocation of Hub

            As landowners for the site, DSD and OFMDFM officials raised that it will be difficult to proceed with the location as previously envisaged.  It was suggested that the footprint for the hub should move towards the Cliftonpark Avenue end of the Girdwood site.  This revised footprint would encompass some of the land set aside for ‘mixed-use’ development and a strip of derelict land owned by the NIHE. It was agreed that the appropriate Ministerial approvals be sought, subject to engagement with community representatives and Council agreement.  An indicative map is attached.

            At the meeting with community representatives (10 March), there was some discussion on the location.  It was noted that there is real potential to use the Hub to transform Cliftonpark Avenue from a barren ‘no-man’s land’ into an attractive, vibrant building and public realm on the edge of the Girdwood site.  It was generally agreed that there were benefits to this relocation but further engagement needed to happen to address some of the concerns raised regarding access and safety.

2.3       Political endorsement

            Community representatives are keen to secure the potential for a substantial investment into North Belfast. At the meeting, it was highlighted that political leadership was critical to the success of any community engagement process, and the sustainability of the Hub itself.  It was suggested that it would build confidence in the project if political representatives publicly endorsed the community engagement process and the Hub concept.  Community representatives were also anxious that political representatives would participate in a community engagement process, as a visible demonstration of commitment to the project.

2.4       Community engagement process

            Given the sensitivities in the process, community representatives stressed the need for an inclusive and participative engagement in designing the Hub, its management and the facilities, services and programmes therein.  The Director of Property and Projects highlighted that this needed to some degree to be time-bound, in order to meet pressing deadlines, such as planning approvals.  It was agreed at the meeting, subject to Committee approval, that the representatives would convene again to design a robust engagement process with support from Council, DSD and OFMDFM. 

            Representatives also raised the real need to maximise local community benefit realised by the Hub.  The Director of Property and Projects agreed to draft a Business and Community Opportunity Plan for future discussion.

            It was proposed that a number of other partners could support the process.  This included the Belfast Regeneration Office and the NI Housing Executive.  Initial discussions with these agencies have been positive towards the process.  Further partners will be identified as the project develops.

2.5       Strategic partners

            When the application was submitted, it was envisaged that the library would be a key anchor tenant.  This is no longer possible due to budgetary constraints.  There is now scope to identify other strategic partners as tenants or users. 

2.6       Conclusion

            This iconic, transformational project will not proceed in the short- or medium-term without Peace III funding.  The costs for this capital project are not included in the council’s current capital programme priorities and, resources are unlikely to be made available in the next 5 years, given the current economic situation of the Council, its partners and the wider economic environment.

3.         Resource Implications

                        Financial

            Up to £3,000 towards the costs of the community engagement process.  Provision for this been made within revenue budgets. An application will be made to the Community Relations Council for £3,000.

            Human Resources

            Officer time to participate in engagement process. 

            Assets

            Further updates will be brought to Committee on a timely basis.

4.         Equality Implications

            An equality consultation document, community engagement/consultation process and equality screening will be submitted as supplementary information to SEUPB.

5.         Recommendations

                        The Committee is asked:

-     For their feedback on the issues highlighted above;

-     To publicly endorse the community engagement process and the overall project; and

-     To agree to participate in the wider community engagement process, including innovative ways of engaging people in design processes and longer term programming of the Hub.

6.         Decision Tracking

            The Director for Property and Projects will complete the submission to SEUPB by 20 April 2011 and report to SP&R Committee in September 2011 on the outcomes of the community engagement process, subject to an award from SEUPB.

7.         Key to Abbreviations

            DSD – Department for Social Development

            OFMDFM – Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister

            SEUPB – Special European Union Programmes Body”

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations.