Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes 170 capital projects, with investment of £150m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. This report requests a movement on the Capital Programme and provides an update on the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund.

2.1       The Committee is requested to:

·        Proposed movement on the Capital Programme: City Hall Stained Glass Windows – Health Service and LGBT community- agree that both projects be added to the Capital Programme at Stage1 – Emerging.

·        Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund – note the update provided on the new capital fund.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme – a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the City which improves existing Council assets or provides new Council facilities. The Council also delivers externally focused funding streams such as BIF, LIF and SOF, as well as numerous capital programmes which we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include NHLF, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office via Social Investment Fund and Urban Villages, DfC, DfI, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages and others.  When appropriate, as per Covid 19 public health guidance, the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects which have been completed.

            Proposed Movement – Capital Programme

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

            The Committee is asked to agree to the following addition to the Capital Programme:

            City Hall Stained Glass Windows – Health Service and LGBT community

            Members will recall that, in November 2018, the Committee agreed to progress a stained-glass window to recognise the LGBT community. All proposals in relation to stained glass windows are now taken via the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installation Working Group. At its meeting on 12th April 2022, the Installations Working Group agreed to recommend to the Committee that the stained-glass windows in recognition of the Health Service and the contribution of LGBT citizens be progressed to Stage 1 – Emerging on the Capital Programme. This will allow the business case to be developed with further detail to be brought back to the Committee in due course. This project is in reference to the following Notices of Motion: ‘Recognition of the Health Service in Belfast’ (Notice of Motion 03/05/2016), and ‘The acknowledgement of the positive role which the LGBT community plays in our city’ (Notice of Motion 03/04/2017). The Working Group was asked to note that there are a limited number of windows left within the City Hall, and it agreed to keep any remaining proposals under review.

            Programme update - Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund

3.3       Members will recall that, in November 2021, they agreed the programme framework including the project pathway, open call application process and the outcomes approach for the £8m Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund.  The 12-week open call process has now taken place and the application stage closed on 12th May. The fund has attracted significant interest and a high volume of applications has been received. An intensive period of eligibility review and validation is now underway ahead of assessment and moderation. A project must score over a minimum threshold in order to proceed to the next stage. Members will then make recommendations via Area Working Group meetings on which projects can progress to the next stage. These recommendations will be brought to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for approval. It is anticipated that this will take place in Autumn 2022, however, due to the high volume of applications received, this timeline may be subject to change. Members will be kept updated on progress.

3.4       Financial and Resource Implications

            Financial – None at this stage

            Resources – Officer time to deliver as required

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.