Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             To provide the Committee with an update on the PEACEPLUS Programme, specifically the opening of the calls under Theme 1.1 and Theme 1.4, as well as a request for a letter of support for Development Trust Northern Ireland under the Community Ownership Fund.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked:

i.       PEACEPLUS 1.1. Co-designed Local Community Peace Action Plan – to note that this SEUPB funding stream is now open, closing on 14th December 2023 and further note the approach for development of the capital proposals and that a detailed update will be brought to Committee in August;

ii.      PEACEPLUS 1.4 Reimaging Communities – to note that this SEUPB funding stream is now open, closing on 7th September 2023 and that officers are continuing to develop the proposals as previously agreed by the Committee (LGBTQIA+ Hub and Reconnected Belfast);

iii.    PEACEPLUS – Request for letters of support and/or request for Council to act as a delivery agent – to note that is likely that the Council will be requested to act as delivery agent and/or provide letters of support for projects being submitted under Theme 1.4 Reimaging Communities.  The Committee is asked to note that officers are currently clarifying the implications of this with SEUPB and that an update on requests for support will be brought to Committee in August for consideration; and

iv.    Community Ownership Fund – to agree to provide a letter of support to Development Trust Northern Ireland for its proposal under the Community Ownership Fund.

3.0       Main Report

            PEACEPLUS PROGRAMME

3.1       The EU PEACEPLUS Programme aims to build prosperity and peace within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The PEACEPLUS Programme has been divided into six themes – each of which aims to address longstanding social, environmental and economic challenges which have and continue to impact our community. Within each theme there are several investment areas – these will have a more specific focus and target organisations such as local authorities or community groups. The PEACEPLUS Programme offers a significant funding opportunity with approx. £1billion of funding available across the 6 themes.  The Committee is asked to note that a number of calls have recently opened under the Programme.

3.2       Theme 1.1 Local Action Plan – Community Regeneration and Transformation (Capital)

            The call for Local Action Plan applications has been opened by SEUPB. The closing date is confirmed as 14 December 2023. Shared City Partnership agreed on 12 June 2023 to an indicative % allocation model on the basis that there is significant work still required to agree specific budget allocations for both Capital and Revenue spend under each project concept area and that this model is subject to change. The allocation for capital was agreed as 40% which is anticipated to be approximately £4.8m for Belfast. It should be noted however that work is still ongoing on refining the % allocations that will be available as further implementation costs may be taken from each of the allocations e.g., depending on the staffing model; each theme may require a dedicated Project Officer for the lifetime of the plan and there will also be animation costs for revenue and capital projects. 

            The development of the £15.1million Local PEACE Action Plan includes three thematic areas:

i.       Community Regeneration and Transformation (Capital Projects)

ii.      Thriving and Peaceful Communities

iii.    Building Respect for All Cultural Identities

            The outworking of the current activity with stakeholders on themes ii and iii will feed into the capital theme (theme i) and is being delivered through the facilitation of Thematic Working Group sessions led via City and Neighbourhoods. The following 11 concept areas are under consideration and the capital proposals will flow from here:

            For Theme 1 (Community Regeneration and Transformation - Capital), an initial assessment of potential projects is underway using consultation from PEACEPLUS and other pipeline capital proposals, these will be tested for alignment to peace outcomes as well as deliverability within the constraints of the funding model. It is likely that under this theme a number of smaller projects will be taken forward at around £500,000 per capital project. Officers are currently undertaking an assessment of potential projects using the parameters and principles that were agreed by the SCP and those required by SEUPB. The capital projects identified will be developed via project specific co-design processes once identified. The Committee is asked to note that an update on proposed projects will be brought to Committee in August.  There will also be further engagement with stakeholders as part of the co-design process. 

            Key Milestones – Capital Theme

            The Committee is asked to note that PEACEPLUS 1.1.  Co - designed Local Community Peace Action Plan SEUPB funding stream is now open, closing on 14th December, 2023 and further note the approach for development of the capital proposals.

3.3       Theme 1.4 Reimaging Communities

            The Committee will recall that, in October 2022, it noted a report on the PEACEPLUS Investment Area 1.4 and agreed to further develop the LGBTQ+ Hub and the Reconnected Belfast (including redevelopment aspects of the Waterworks and Alexandra Park) proposals to ensure their readiness for application stage. The call for applications has been opened by SEUPB. The closing date for applications under investment area 1.4 is confirmed as 7 September 2023. The Committee is asked to note that officers are continuing to develop the proposals which it had previously agreed. A further update on these will be brought back to the Committee in August. 

3.4       PEACEPLUS Request for the Council to act as delivery agent/provide letters of support

            The Committee is also asked to note that it is likely that the Council will be asked to endorse/provide letters of support for other Peace Plus Theme 1.4 applications and that the Council is also likely to receive requests to act as delivery agent for some projects.  The potential implications of this are being checked with SEUPB.  The Committee is asked to note that work is underway on a mechanism through which requests for letters of support/ requests for the Council to act as a delivery agent will be assessed with requests to be endorsed by Committee. Given the deadline for applications under this round, this will be brought into the Committee in August.

3.5       COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP FUND

            The Committee was previously advised that the Community Ownership Fund (COF) was announced by DLUHC on 27 May 2022. The £150 million COF is for communities across the United Kingdom. It has been set up to help communities take ownership of assets at risk of closure with funding supporting the purchase and/or renovation costs of community assets.  The Community Ownership Fund is not open to local authorities and is only open voluntary and community organisations. The closing date for the latest round of the Community Ownership Fund is 14th July.  The Council has been approached by the Development Trust Northern Ireland (DTNI) who are submitting a proposal to acquire and develop the former synagogue in Annesley Street into a multi-purpose space to include exhibition and cultural space, office space and community engagement space.  DTNI is seeking a letter of support from the Council to submit with their proposal.  The Committee is asked to agree to submit a letter of support on the basis that there is no financial or other commitment required from the Council. 

3.6       Financial and Resources Implications

            Finance –The PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan and projects under Theme 1.4 will be equality screened.

            Resources – Officer time to deliver as required.

3.7       Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

            None.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations and delegated authority to officers to approve any additional requests for the Council to provide a letter of support to accompany applications to the Community Ownership Fund, given that the application process would close in mid-July.