Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes over 400 capital projects via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. The Council’s Capital Programme forms part of the Physical Programme and is a rolling programme of investment which either improves existing Council facilities or provides new facilities. This report includes stage movement requests relating to the Capital Programme.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is requested to consider the following items on the Capital Programme:

 

·        IT Programme – In Cab Technology and Routing System - Agree that this project is moved to Stage 3 – Committed and agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contract to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

 

·        Cremated Remains Burial Plots project –Agree that this project is moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted to allow an OBC to be developed.

 

·        Shankill Memorial Garden – to note the request from the organising committee of the Shankill Bomb Memorial Project and that tree planting will be carried out at Shankill Memorial Garden.

 

3.0       Main report

 

            Capital Programme 

 

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme which 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 Belfast Investment Fund (BIF), Local Investment Fund (LIF), Social Outcomes Fund (SOF) and Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund (NRF), as well as numerous capital programmes that we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include National Lottery Heritage Fund, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office, DfC, DfI via the Blue Green Infrastructure Fund and Living with Water Programme, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages, Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and others.  When appropriate, the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects that have been completed.

 

3.2       Members agreed that all capital projects must go through a three-stage process where decisions on which capital projects progress are taken by the 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 asked to note the following activity on the Capital Programme:

 

Project	Overview	Stage movement
IT Programme – In-Cab Technology and Routing System	Replacement of two current systems: Masternaut fleet tracking and Webaspx route optimisation software with one integrated system.	Move to Stage 3 - Committed
Cremated Remains Burial Plots	Development of cremated remains plots at Roselawn.	Move to Stage 2 - Uncommitted

 

            Proposed stage movement – IT Programme – In Cab Technology and Routing System

 

3.3       Members will recall that in March 2022 this project was moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted under the IT Programme which forms part of the overall Capital Programme. This project involves the replacement of two current systems Masternaut fleet tracking and Webaspx route optimisation software with one integrated system - a digital system that integrates frontline operations, operational control and the customer hub. The Outline Business Case has now been prepared.

 

            Members are asked to recommend that the In Cab Technology and Routing System project now progresses to Stage 3 – Committed and that it is held at Tier 0 – Scheme at Risk pending further development of the project and a satisfactory tender return. An update will be brought back to Committee at this stage along with the final budget allocation and confirmation that this is within the affordability limits of the Council.  Members are asked to agree that necessary procurement processes (including the invitation of tenders and/or the use of appropriate ‘framework’ arrangements) be initiated with contract to be awarded on the basis of most economically advantageous tenders received and full commitment to deliver.

 

            Proposed stage movement – Cremated Remains Burial Plots

 

3.4       Members will recall that in June 2023 this project was added to the Capital Programme as a Stage 1 – Emerging project to allow the project and costs to be fully worked up, with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course. The project is for the development of 622 cremated remains burial plots to utilise shallow land within Roselawn cemetery unsuitable for full earth burials. The number of cremated remains burials has more than doubled since 2015.  To provide for this increased demand and make efficient use of existing burial land at Roselawn it is proposed to develop a cremated remains only section. With the increase in cremations and the development of the Crematorium at Roselawn, the potential to use a portion of land for the creation of additional cremated remains only burial plots fits with the councils’ objective to adequately meet future needs and demands. A package of necessary survey work is now identified to inform the design as outlined in the Pre Application Discussion with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

 

            Members are asked to recommend that the Cremated Remains Burial Plots project is moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted on the Capital Programme. An Outline Business Case will now be worked up on the proposal with further detail to be brought back to Committee in due course.

 

            Shankill Memorial Garden

 

3.5       Members are asked to note that further to a request from the organising committee of the Shankill Bomb Memorial Project, tree planting will be carried out at Shankill Memorial Garden to mark the upcoming 30th anniversary on 23 October 2023.

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

3.6       Financial – Shankill Memorial Garden tree planting to be met within existing budgets

 

            Resources – Officer time to deliver as required

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

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

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.

 

            Forth Meadow Community Greenway

 

            The Interim Director of Legal Services advised the Committee that a decision was still required to be taken in relation to the erection of dual language signage at the Forth Meadow Community Greenway.

 

            She reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 24th March 2023, it had decided that the Beacons, Information Panels and the Directional  Finger Post Signs located in the Gaeltacht Quarter area (that is Section 3 – Fall Park, Section 4 – Bog Meadows, Section 5- Westlink to City Centre and Springfield Park/Dam) would all be in English and Irish.

 

            That decision was successfully called in on the basis that it had not been equality screened. It had since been screened and the screening concluded that an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) would be required. This would mean a 12-week consultation process and the Council would be unable to draw down the funding for the signage (circa £160k) before the funding deadline of December 2023.

 

            There were therefore 3 potential options available to the Committee, which were as follows:

 

a)     Proceed with an EQIA in respect of the March 2023 decision;

b)     Erect dual language signage in Sections 3,4 and 5 of the Greenway, excluding Springfield Park/Dam which would only have signage in English. This had been screened out so would not require an EQIA;

 

c)      Erect dual language signage in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Greenway, excluding Springfield Park/Dam which would be subject to a separate EQIA and associated consultation process in relation to dual language signage.

 

            After a lengthy discussion during which Members expressed concerns in relation to the timeliness of the issuing of the information and the lack of progress in the matter, it was:

 

Moved by Councillor Beattie,

Seconded by Councillor R. McLaughlin,

 

            That the Committee agrees that:

 

                      I.          an equality screening be undertaken by an external organisation with experience in minority languages in relation to the decision to erect dual language signage at the Forth Meadow Community Greenway;

 

                     II.          a further legal opinion be obtained on the issues raised from an appropriately qualified person in relation to minority language rights; and

 

                   III.          all the information, including the legal opinion, be subject to full disclosure. 

 

            On a vote, fifteen Members voted for the proposal and five against and it was declared carried.

 

            The Committee noted that, on the advice of the Chief Executive, the disclosure of the legal opinion would be subject to the agreement of the author of the report.

 

            The Committee agreed further that a special meeting be held to consider all the issues and information in relation to the signage.