Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1          The Council’s Capital programme is a rolling programme of investment which either improves the existing Council facilities or provides new Council facilities. This report seeks approval to move LTP – Templemore to the next stage of the capital programme.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to –

·         Project Movement - agree that LTP - Templemore is moved to a Stage 3 – Committed project, with a maximum £12mbudget allocated.

·         Service Yard, Falls Park/City Cemetery – note that a satisfactory tender has been returned and the project remains within the maximum £420,000 budget.

·         Local Full Fibre Networks Programme – agree to the procurement of additional fibre ducting assets/ infrastructure to enhance the existing ducting network as part of the Public Sector Asset Reuse (PSAR) project under the overall LFFN programme.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       LTP – Templemore

            Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a 3 Stage approval process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. This provides assurance as to the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project.

            Members are reminded that LTP – Templemore is an agreed Stage 2- Uncommitted project on the council’s Leisure Transformation Programme. Members will note that a full update report on the Leisure Transformation Programme is also presented to the Committee. Members are asked to agree that LTP - Templemore moves to Stage 3 - Committed with a maximum budget of £12m under the £105m Leisure Transformation Programme. Members will be aware that this project has also received £5m in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

3.2       Capital Programme - Service Yard, Falls Park/City Cemetery

            Members will be aware that the Service Yard/City Cemetery project involves the relocation of the existing service at the City Cemetery site. Members agreed that the project moved to Stage 3 - Committed on the Capital Programme in February 2019. The project was held at Tier 0 – Schemes at Risk pending planning approval and the tender return price at which stage the final budget was to be brought back to Committee. A satisfactory tender has been received and the budget remains £420,000 which is within the affordability limits of the Council.

            Members are asked to note that the project has since received planning approval and a satisfactory tender has been returned. 

3.3       Local Full Fibre Networks Programme

            Members will be recall that on 23rd March 2018, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee noted that Council was awarded £11.5m from the Department of Culture Media and Sport’s (DCMS) for the delivery of the Belfast Local Fibre Network Programme. The programme consists of two distinct projects: Public Sector Anchor Tenancy (PSAT) and Public Sector Asset Reuse (PSAR). The PSAR funding totals £206k and was approved to allow us to survey the condition of fibre ducts in the city centre, with a view to making them available to the telecoms market.  This in turn will greatly benefit the businesses and residents of the city centre. Following the survey results, Digital Services engaged industry experts to conduct and analysis of the ducting network, and assess the viability of offering them out to the telecoms market.  The output will enable a business case to be developed for DCMS. The results of the analysis suggest that demand will be high, but could be greatly enhanced by additional investment in the ducting network to make it more fit for purpose.  This investment will cost no more than £190k, and will be funded from external sources. Members are asked to agree the procurement of additional ducting infrastructure to enhance the viability of the existing ducting network as part of the overall LFFN programme.

3.4       Financial and Resource Implications

            LTP Templemore and Service Yard City Cemetery - The Director of Finance and Resources has confirmed that these projects are within the affordability limits of the Council.

            LFFN – works to be externally funded

3.5       Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

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

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.