Agenda item

            The Director of Property and Projects submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes over 200 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. 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 presents requests for a stage movement approval under the Capital Programme, along with updates on capital letters of offer and contracts awarded.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Capital Programme - Dual Language Street Signs - Gaeltacht Quarter project - Agree that this project is moved to Stage 3 – Committed with a maximum budget of up to £170,000.

·        Leisure Transformation Phase 4 – note that an update on this will be part of the Party Group briefings being scheduled to inform work on future capital priorities.

·        Capital Letters of Offer – to note the update in relation to capital letters of offer.

·        Contracts awarded in Q2 2023/24 – to note the update in relation to contracts awarded.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

            Capital Programme - Proposed Movement

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. Members are advised that the Property and Projects Department is happy to arrange a site visit to any projects that have been completed or are underway.

3.2       Members have 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:           

3.3       Dual Language Street Signs - Gaeltacht Quarter

            In March, SP&R Committee agreed to move the Gaeltacht Quarter Dual Language Street signs project to Stage 2 – Uncommitted. As per the three stage approvals process, an Outline Business Case has been completed and the team can now progress to delivery stage.

            Members are asked to agree that this project is moved to Stage 3 – Committed with a budget of up to £170,000. The Director of Finance has confirmed that this is within the affordability limits of the Council.

3.4       Leisure Transformation – Phase 4

            Members will recall that last month it was agreed to hold a series of party briefings to inform the future proposed workshop with Members on capital priorities.  As Members are aware Space and Place Architects have been engaged by the Council to carry a review of current leisure provision across the city including a review of metrics such as facilities mix, usage, catchment, condition, revenue costs and current subvention levels of the leisure facilities which have not been taken forward as part of the leisure programme to date and also those independently managed community centres which have a focus on leisure.  The review has also considered the impact of the LTP to date. Leisure has already been identified by Members as a key priority for the next few years and it is therefore proposed that an update on leisure and the S&P repot will be part of the party group briefings to be held prior to the future capital workshop. 

3.5       Capital Letters of Offer

            Members are asked to note the update in relation to capital letters of offer from December 2023 to March 2024 at Appendix 1.

3.6       Contracts Awarded

            Members are asked to note the award of tenders for capital works including services related to works in Q2 2023/24 at Appendix 2.

3.7       Financial & Resource Implications

            Financial – Dual Language Street Signs - Gaeltacht Quarter – Maximum budget of £170,000.

            Resources – Officer time to deliver as required

3.8       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.