Minutes:
The Committee considered the undernoted report:
“1.0 Relevant background information
1.1 In January 2013 to inform future decisions SP&R adopted the following principles regarding leisure provision in the city: Quality; Focus on health and well-being outcomes; Value for money; Balanced investment and accessibility; Partnership; and Affordability.
1.2 Subsequently, at its meeting in June 2013, SP&R set a £105m capital expenditure affordability limit for the LTP and agreed an indicative phasing of capital transformation:
· Phase 1: Investment Programme (Windsor/Olympia; Andersonstown; Girdwood)
· Phase 2: LGR (e.g. Avoniel; Castlereagh; Lagmore/ Poleglass/ Colin)
· Phase 3: One Public Estate (e.g. Ballysillan; Ozone; Shankill; Loughside; Whiterock)
1.3 This paper provides an update on the current status of the capital projects under Phase 1, an update on Phases 2 and 3 and also an update on the community benefits proposition.
2. Key issues
Phase 1 Update – Olympia, Andersonstown and Girdwood
2.1 Olympia - Phase 1 of the LTP includes a regeneration project to reconfigure and develop the site at Olympia. This is aimed at maximising opportunities arising from the re-development of Windsor Park which has been part funded by DCAL. There is a very tight timescale for the delivery of Olympia given the construction programme for the new stadium. The first phase is integral to this development because the project design involves sharing a new roof structure.
2.2 Members will recall that in October 2013, approval was given to progress the Olympia project from Stage 2 to Stage 3 – Committed on the Capital Programme and subject to the resolution of outstanding issues, to award contracts. In April 2014, all outstanding issues in relation to Olympia were agreed at full Council, subject to further information on a mutually beneficial community benefits partnership between the Council, IFA and DCAL being brought back. An update on community benefits is included at 3.0.
2.3 Planning approval for the new facility was received in April 2014 following public consultation on the entire scheme in 2013. This phase is now at tender stage. A planning application for the wider site was submitted in May with a decision anticipated by October. Detailed design for the wider site is underway and an additional consultation session on the new play space proposals is now scheduled for 17 September in Olympia Community Centre.
2.4 Andersonstown - The project at Andersonstown will provide new leisure facilities at the site of the existing Leisure Centre. It will also include regeneration of the wider site for potential uses including recreation and commerce. A number of options have now been developed for consideration in the draft OBC following public consultation and ongoing engagement with various project stakeholders.
2.5 These options were presented to the West AWG in June who requested that further design work was done on a number of the options including design work. These options are currently being thoroughly tested in terms of their deliverability and sustainability. There has also been ongoing engagement with external stakeholders including the Ulster Bank (who hold a lease for a facility on the present site), DCAL, DoE Planning, Belfast Trust and the GAA. It is anticipated that this work will be brought back to the Area Working Group in the Autumn.
2.6 Girdwood Hub – Work on Hub is well underway and is on programme to open in June 2015. The Property & Projects Department can arrange a site visit for any Members/ Party Groups to the site. Members will be aware that it was previously agreed in April that the leisure facilities at Girdwood would be included in the transfer to the new leisure trust. Members are asked to note that as part of the LTP report which is also on the agenda for discussion at today’s Committee there is a proposal that the management of the overall Hub is transferred to the Trust. It is proposed that Council officers work closely with the operating partner to ensure a focus on the delivery of peace and reconciliation outcomes at the Hub in accordance with the terms and conditions of SEUPB grant aid.
Phase 2
2.7 As outlined at its meeting in April 2014 SP&R was informed that ongoing consultation via the AWGs and party group briefings would continue to help develop the content of Phase II. A feasibility study is now underway to identify a range of options for future leisure provision in Outer West and Inner East. Discussions continue with other partners including Belfast Metropolitan College and the Health Infrastructure Group.
2.8 Castlereagh – Members are asked to note that correspondence has been received from the Chief Executive in relation to the CHP plant at the Robinson Centre. This has been identified as needing a full overhaul in addition to normal servicing works. The combined costs of these works has been estimated as £22k which would equate to the projected savings which could be generated from the plant if it were operating successfully for the year.
Members will be aware that the Robinson Centre is due to transfer to the Council under LGR and Castlereagh have approached the Council to ascertain if BCC may wish to contribute towards the costs of this work to ensure that the CPH unit is operational when the asset transfers. Condition surveys have been undertaken on all the leisure estate, including the transferring LGR properties, and that the current condition of the CHP unit in the Robinson Centre has been flagged as a key issue under the survey.
2.9 Members are asked to agree if they wish that the Council makes a contribution towards these costs and if so to consider how much of a contribution should be made. The Director of Finance & Resources has advised that this is within the affordability limits of the Council on the basis that it is preferable that the CHP unit is functional when the asset transfers and Legal Services have confirmed that such a payment can be made in advance of the transfer.
3.0 Community Benefit – Proposal to develop an ‘Enhanced Sports Development Programme’
3.1 Members will be aware that the development of a mutually beneficial community benefits partnership between the Council, IFA and DCAL was previously proposed as an integral part of the Olympia regeneration. An update on the progress of this partnership was presented to Committee in April and at this stage Members expressed concerns that this focused on one sporting code and requested that officers explore a wider partnership to include the other sporting codes to ensure any such partnership delivered maximum social and community benefits for the city.
3.2 Members are asked to note that discussions with the 3 sports governing bodies, Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Irish Football Association (IFA) and Irish Rugby Football Union (Ulster Branch) (IRFU) and DCAL have been on-going since this time. Members are asked to note that the proposition has now evolved and it is now proposed that an enhanced sports development programme is delivered in partnership with the 3 sporting governing bodies –– to address social exclusion and tackle health inequalities in the city by encouraging and enabling more people to be more active, more often, now and for generations to come. A draft of this proposal has been circulated.
3.3 Under this proposal a team of sports development and community participation officers will be jointly funded to work in and across the sporting codes to ensure that the public investment in the stadium and surrounding area improves the quality of life now and for future generations. All stakeholders – DCAL, the Council and sports governing bodies – recognise the benefits of collaborating on these major sports infrastructure projects and are committed to delivering increased participation in physical activity, as well as contributing to a wide range of social outcomes including tackling social isolation, promoting good relations, reducing anti social behaviour and improving employability across the city.
3.4 The objectives of the partnership would be to:
(a) Create welcoming, safe and accessible public facilities and spaces which are integrated into the daily life of local neighbourhoods, and attractive to all residents of Belfast, especially those closest to the three stadia[1], and visitors to the city;
(b) Reduce health inequalities in the city by encouraging and enabling more people to be more active, more often, now and for generations to come;
(c) Contribute to government policy objectives, as laid out in the NI Executive’s Programme for Government as well as the DCAL’s mission statement to promote equality, and to tackle poverty and social exclusion; and
(d) Ensure that the public investment in the stadium and surrounding area improves the quality of life now and for future generations, especially those who are socially marginalised and excluded across the city.
An annual programme of activities (sports, heritage, environmental and arts based activities e.g. midnight soccer, ‘try-it’ events, schools programmes) would be supported under this partnership to encourage participation in sports as well as include multi-sport initiatives including Game of 3 Halves.
This would link to work in relation to Neighbourhood Renewal as well as the emerging Belfast Community Plan.
3.5 Members are asked to note that it is proposed that management of the enhanced sports development programme is overseen by a joint working group convened by the Council and made up of the three sporting bodies and DCAL. A set of robust performance indicators, which will be reported back to Committee on a regular basis, will also be developed. This will be aligned to the Council’s sports development programmes and also the outcomes framework of the Belfast Community Plan as well as the Programme for Government.
3.6 All the bodies have expressed a commitment to financially supporting this programme although the level of contribution is still to be determined. Committee is therefore requested to consider a contribution towards this programme which will be matched funded by the sporting codes and to consider how much of a contribution would be appropriate. It is recommended that Committee considers an amount up to £100k per annum.
3.7 In addition, the partnership proposal positions the Council and its partners to lever in additional funding and deliver on strategic programmes, including:
· Delivering Social Change
· Together: Building a United Community
· Peace IV Programme.
The objectives outlined above and the proposed activities fit well within all of these programmes, and the financial investment by the Council could be multiplied within the city.
4.0 Resource Implications
Financial Implications: £105million has been set aside for the LTP. Up to £100k per annum for revenue funding for the Community Benefits Partnership. It is recommended that the costs are financed as part of the VR cost reduction exercise.
Asset Implications: Phase 1 – New centres at Olympia and Andersonstown and a new Hub at Girdwood
Phase 2 - Unknown at present – to be determined as part of the feasibility studies underway
Human Resource Implications: Staff resource from Parks & Leisure and Property & Projects.
5.0 Equality Implications
Phase 2 - To be screened when Phase II capital programme is considered by Committee
6.0 Recommendations
Members are requested to note that the contents of this report:
Phase 1 and 2 Updates
(i) Note that special AWGs for the West and East will be scheduled for September in relation to the feasibility studies for Inner East and Outer West
(ii) CPH – note the correspondence which has been received from Castlereagh Borough Council and agree that the Council should contribute 50% towards the £22k costs for the overall haul and servicing of the CHP unit at the Robinson Centre.
Community Benefit
(i) note that discussions with the three sporting codes (IFA, GAA and IRFU) and DCAL have been ongoing to develop a partnership arrangement which will deliver maximum social and community benefits for the city
(ii) agree to support the ‘Enhanced Sports Development Programme’ proposal and provide up to £100,000 per annum of revenue funding. It is recommended that the costs are financed as part of the VR cost reduction exercise.
(iii) note that the Programme will be overseen by a joint working group which will be convened by the Council and on which all the sporting codes and DCAL will be represented. A robust performance framework will also be developed and progress on this will be reported back to Committee at
(iv) note that the 3 sporting codes have all expressed a commitment to financially support this programme.”
The Committee adopted the recommendations.
Supporting documents: