Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Members on a number of area related issues for Members consideration.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      Members are asked to –

            Area Working Group Planning Sessions

·        note that the West and East AWG planning sessions are scheduled for the 28th and 29th of January respectively. A full report on the outcome of the workshops will be brought to a future SP&R meeting following completion

            Local Investment Fund  proposals

·        note that 4 projects which had previously been agreed for in principle funding (St. Paul’s GAC -WLIF2-11 and St. Paul’s ABC-WLIF2-12 – West AWG and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association – SLIF2-09 and Surestart Belvoir - SLIF2-11– South AWG) have now been scored by officers and all have successfully met the minimum threshold. It is recommended that these projects proceed to the Due Diligence stage of the LIF process

            Request for Council to act as Delivery Agent for other projects in local areas

·        Building Successful Communities – agree in principle that the Council acts as the delivery agent for the delivery of a playground project (Kids Together Outdoor Play Area) subject to due diligence being undertaken on the project including verification of costs, access issues and confirmation that there are no ongoing management or maintenance implications for the Council

·        Note that a number of letters of offer/contracts for funding have now been received for projects due to be funded under these initiatives and it is likely that more will follow in the coming weeks.  Members are asked to agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for projects being delivered under these streams with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver 

3.0       Main report

            KEY ISSUES

            AREA WORKSHOPS

3.1       The AWGs have recognised the need to think through the issues and context of their areas and agreed the need for a number of planning workshop sessions per area as a first step towards the development of local area plans and to allow Members to start to consider wider issues in their areas linking with the ongoing work on the Belfast Agenda, the outcomes framework and the forward Committee plans for People and Communities and City Growth.

3.2       Members are asked to note that the South and north AWGs have already held their workshops and both AWGs agreed that that they were very productive and that they should be the first in a series of such planning sessions. The West and East AWGs are scheduled for the 28th and 29th of January respectively. A full report on the outcome of the workshops will be brought to a future SP&R meeting following completion

            LIF Updates

            Projects recommended to be advanced to due-diligence

3.3       Members are asked to note that a number of projects which have previously received ‘in-principle’ commitment for funding have now been scored by officers (St. Paul’s GAC -WLIF2-11 and St. Paul’s ABC-WLIF2-12 – West AWG and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association – SLIF2-09 and Surestart Belvoir - SLIF2-11– South AWG) and all have successfully met the minimum threshold. It is recommended that these projects proceed to the Due Diligence stage of the LIF process.

            REQUEST FOR COUNCIL TO ACT AS DELIVERY AGENT FOR OTHER PROJECTS

3.4      Members will recall that they were previously updated that the Council has been requested to act as the delivery agent for a range of projects funded under a number of external initiatives including Urban Villages, the Social Investment Fund (SIF) and Building Successful Communities (BSC) These requests recognise both the successful track record of the Council as a delivery agent for capital projects and also the uniquely placed role of the Council as a civic leader in the city. This is a sign of confidence in the Council and recognition of the Council’s increasing role in terms of regeneration and emerging community planning role

            The Council has received a further request to act as delivery agent for a project under the Building Successful Communities initiative for the delivery of a playground project (Kids Together Outdoor Play Area) in the Glencolin/Lenadoon BSC area. Members are asked to agree in principle that the Council acts as the delivery agent this project subject to due diligence being undertaken on the project including verification of costs, access issues and confirmation that there are no ongoing management or maintenance implications for the Council

3.5       Members are asked to note that a number of letters of offer/contracts for funding have now been received including

            Delivery of alleygates (Lenadoon and Glencolin and Lower Falls) – BSC funded

            Bike Share Scheme – Lower Shankill –BSC funded

            It is anticipated that further letters of offer/contracts for funding will be received in the coming weeks.  Members are therefore asked to agree that the necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated for projects being delivered under these external funding streams with contracts to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver 

3.6      FINANCIAL & RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

·        Financial – No direct financial implications

·        Resource - Officers time to deliver projects. 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

            LIF has been equality screened.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.