Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1          To seek the Committee’s approval of the minutes of the most recent round of AWGs and any additional recommendations to this Committee arising from those meetings.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·         AWG Minutes - Approve the most recent round of AWG minutes (South – 26th October, West – 29th October, East – 5th November);

·         Physical Programme – Agree the recommendations on allocations under the BIF Programme from the South AWG to three projects as laid out below in 3.2; and

·         Locality Planning - Agree the recommendation that the remaining budget in West Belfast is allocated to two projects as laid out below in 3.3.

3.0       Main Report

            KEY ISSUES

            Area Working Group Minutes

3.1       Members agreed in June 2016 that the Area Working Group minutes would be taken into the SP&R Committee for approval going forward, in line with the Council’s commitment to openness and transparency and to ensure a consistent approach with other Member-led Working Groups. Members are asked to approve the most recent round of AWG minutes (South – 26 October, West – 29 October, East – 5 November) as attached.

            Project Updates

3.2       South AWG - Members are asked to approve the following allocations as recommended by the AWG at its meeting on 26th October.

            BIF Programme

            Allocation of the ringfenced BIF allocation for projects within the Sandy Row area (£1.35m) that had been previously aligned to Gilpins to the following project proposals:

·         Café Culture project in partnership with Urban Villages,

·         Sandy Row Open Space project and;

·         BSCR IT Exam Centre project.

            The AWG recommended that these three projects are added to the BIF Programme as Stage 1 – Emerging.

3.3       West AWG - Members are asked to note the following project updates and agree the movements as recommended by the AWG at its meeting on 29th October.

            BIF Programme

            Note the update provided on the Greater Shankill Community Council - Royal British Legion project proposal.

            Locality Planning Pilot Project

            Allocation of the remaining budgets within the Whiterock Locality Planning Pilot Project as follows:

3.4       East AWG - Members are asked to note the following project updates as recommended by the AWG at its meeting on 5th November.

            BIF Programme

·         Lisnasharragh and Cregagh Community Schools project - Note the progress to date from the Education Authority and that the project can be progressed.

·         Castlereagh Presbyterian Church – Note the progress to date and that a report will be brought to a future meeting in relation other funding streams, project outcomes and community benefits and congregation fundraising towards the project.

·         Strand Arts Centre and Bloomfield Community Association – Note that an update report will be submitted to a future meeting to include details on when DfC can make a funding decision and other possible funding streams for both these projects.

            Financial and Resource Implications

3.5       Financial – BIF Programme – all projects already have in-principle ring-fenced allocations agreed by Committee

            Resources – Officer time in working with Groups

3.6       Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

            No implications.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.