Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, in August, 2012, it had agreed to support pilot area integration intervention to address particular problems or take advantage of opportunities which had been identified by the Area Working Groups.  A fund of £100,000 per Area Working Group, with a pro rata amount for the Greater Shankill, had later been established.

            The Director of Property and Projects reported that, to date, there had been expenditure in two of the Groups in regard to integration intervention funding.  The West Area Working Group had identified a need for a broader co-ordinated approach by various agencies in regard to crime and anti-social behaviour issues in the Divis area.  A developed programme of work in that regard was being taken forward by the Director of Health and Environmental Services given her current responsibilities within the Council.

            The South Area Working Group had expended some of its intervention funds in support for retail across four areas of South Belfast and was considering further intervention to support tourism and the economy.  The Director of Development was the lead officer on that given his economic development remit.

            The Director reported that the North Area Working Group had held a special meeting on 17th October to discuss its approach.  The Councillors had viewed anti-social behaviour as one of the biggest issues in North Belfast.  While the Group recognised the nature of the integrationist approach which was being undertaken in the Divis area, the problem was considered to be more widespread in North Belfast with various areas being identified as at risk by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other agencies due to the crime and anti-social behaviour activity.  Furthermore, the Group was of the opinion that current intervention across the public sector was limited in that regard and believed that practical application of the intervention money on projects such as additional alleygates would be more beneficial.  There was also a view that by undertaking a practical intervention such as that, the Council had a stronger argument to make with other agencies in terms of doing better.

            The Director explained that the Group did not want to use its money as a substitute for the capital programme projects Alleygating Scheme Phase 3 and 4 and had, in some areas such as Glenard, Shore Road and Whitehall, identified streets that would not be included in those Phases.  A number of other streets in other areas such as Ardoyne had also been identified, although the address details had not yet been confirmed.  In addition, the Group wanted to undertake a feasibility study with some of the intervention money to assist the Cavehill Antrim Road Regeneration Group, which currently undertook youth diversionary activity in an area that was not totally suitable for alleygates.

            The number of streets and consequent gates which had been identified by the Group was based on estimated costs which had been provided by staff of the Health and Environmental Services Department with an inbuilt contingency.  Officers had pointed out that those were only estimates and did not include costs such as legal advice and advertisements and it would be approximately one year before gates were on the ground and, therefore, an allowance for inflation would be necessary.  The Group had accepted that firmer costs would need to be provided and any impact on final decisions as to the number and location of gates would need to be agreed.  Officers had also been tasked with undertaking further work with regard to gates specification and procurement and to report back to the Group on the outcome.

            Accordingly, the Committee was requested to endorse the aforementioned approach to intervention by the North Area Working Group, subject to:

(i)      further refinement of the cost and scope of the work within the £100,000 intervention limit;

(ii)     there being no substitution or duplication with Alleygates Phase 3 and 4; and

(iii)    the Area Working Group giving further consideration on how to use the community safety intervention as a lever to get better responses from other agencies in North Belfast.

            The Committee agreed to endorse the approach as outlined.