Council meeting update
Thu, March 03, 2022
A full meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was held on Tuesday 1st March 2022.
The Mayor, Councillor Richard Holmes, opened proceedings by offering his congratulations to members of the Victoria Lagan Dance and Drama School who are preparing to take part in the Dance World Cup finals in Spain. He described their participation as a huge achievement and encouraged support for their ongoing fundraising campaign.
He also reflected on the unfolding situation in Ukraine, highlighting that collection points for aid and donations were being set up across the Borough.
During the meeting, elected members ratified the following decisions:
Environmental Services committee
Pavement café licences
Changes were agreed which would see the process revert to the pre- April 2021 application procedure and fee structure (Application for granting of a three-year Pavement Café Licence - £375.00, application for renewal of Pavement Café Licence - £285.00 and application for a Variation - No Charge).
Asset Realisation
Land located off Coleraine Road, Garvagh, Station Road, Dunloy, Lisnagunogue, Bushmills and Portrush Road, Coleraine was declared surplus to requirements. Asset Realisation will now review possible options for the sites and report back to the Land & Property Sub-Committee.
Leisure and Development committee
Coast and Countryside Infrastructure Works
Advance the replacement of Runkerry Footbridge and Ballycastle Viewing Platform and complete on design specification and procurement, prior to reverting to Council for an investment decision.
Queen’s Jubilee Draft Programme
Approve an initial draft programme for Council’s Jubilee Programme.
Taste Causeway
Recommend future support to Taste Causeway through annual funding for the duration of Phase 3 of Invest NI’s Collaborative Growth Programme, up to a maximum of three years, pro rata (conditional upon Taste Causeway being successful in their bid for Phase III funding, currently awaiting Invest NI’s decision). An allocation of £20,000 has been included in the Prosperity & Place budget estimate for 2022/23.
Exploring Enterprise
Provide match funding at 22.5%, amounting to £20,000.
The programme is delivered throughout the Borough to all people, providing equality of opportunity and particularly for those hardest to reach people and places where disengagement is prevalent, the long term unemployed or long term economically inactive, those living in areas of deprivation, where the number of workless families is high, those from underrepresented groups such as lone parents, women, ethnic minority groups; prisoners, individuals with no or low education and skill levels and those from areas suffering from the economic impact as a result of major employer closures and redundancies including significant Covid-19 related job losses.
Causeway Learn to Earn Programme
Provide match funding of £20k, allocated in the 2022/23 period, for an additional year of the Causeway Learn to Earn Programme.
The programme is aimed at the economically inactive, under and unemployed, aged 18- 65. Activities include career ideas and CV support, workplace experience, assisted job search, gaining a qualification and dedicated mentor support. Some of the courses and skills development available include NVQ Level 1 in Hairdressing, Childcare, Construction, Numeracy and Literacy, Certificate for IT Users, Employability Skills and CV Writing Skills.
Portrush Harbour and Kerr Street Improvement Works
Approve the scope of the project including final concept design for Portrush Kerr Street and Harbour EIS in order to progress the project to Stage 2 of the Capital Project Management Process.
The Department for Communities intends to link all previous projects and conclude public realm works in Portrush, with this being the final part of the Executive-endorsed £17m Portrush Regeneration Programme.
Holiday and Leisure Parks Capital Investment
Recommend progression of the project to completion, with a view to implementation either prior to, or early in, the 2022 Holiday and Leisure Park season.
A total investment decision of £107,450 is required which will ensure continued maintenance and delivery of high standards across Council’s Holiday and Leisure Park provision.
The investment includes purchase of Online Booking software, upgrade of Camping Pod provision, refurbishment of Camping Pods at Cushendun and replacement of RTVs at Carrick Dhu and Juniper Hill.
Coleraine Leisure Centre Investment
Replace existing equipment, upgrade flooring & air conditioning at a cost of £150,000.
Greenway Projects
Officers will proceed to commission AECOM, via Council's Professional Services Framework, to increase capacity to deliver landowner consultations as soon as possible at an expected cost of around £45,000 (circa 50% funded by DfI, subject to OBC approval).
Officers will also explore the viability of a replacement Greenway project between Portrush and Portballintrae/Bushmills at a cost of up to £15,000, and thirdly, that Council agrees to use of compulsory purchase option as a tool of last resort, subject to council agreement.
Funding Support for Large Events
Offer a grant programme for Tourism Large Events Fund in accordance with Council’s Grant Funding Policy and the parameters and criteria presented to Council in October 2021. A decision on Recommendation 2 (in return for the non-financial support provided by Council to external events, a ‘Contra Arrangement’ is negotiated with the event organiser, in which Council benefits from advertising / marketing opportunities) was deferred until receipt of required independent legal and HMRC advice as outlined in the report.
Small Settlements Regeneration Programme
A Letter of Offer from the Department of Communities for £2,250,000 was accepted along with 10% match funding from Council of £250,000.
The Small Settlements Regeneration Programme is made up of combined funding from the Department for Communities, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Infrastructure.
The overall programme features three strands:
Continuation of Village Renewal Schemes £1,419,000
Nine schemes identified under the previous Rural Development Programme village renewal plans in Dernaflaw, Drumsurn, Magilligan, Burnfoot, Dervock, Rasharkin, Armoy, Gortnaghey, Mosside and Cushendall.
Restore & Reactivate Grant Programme £500,000
This pilot grant scheme will Restore and Reactivate derelict or vacant properties across the 12 settlements within Causeway Coast and Glens with an eligible population threshold in Dungiven, Kilrea, Ballykelly, Cloughmills, Greysteel, Bushmills, Cushendall, Garvagh, Castlerock, Dunloy, Rasharkin and Armoy.
Active Travel Infrastructure £171,000
Improvement of the core path network within Bushmills, Cushendall and Dungiven and an All Ability Cycle Pilot Project in Garvagh.
Corporate Policy and Resources committee
Contract for the Provision of Temporary Labour
The contract for the provision of Temporary Labour was awarded to Staffline.
Twinning Association
It was agreed that Council continue in line with a previous Council decision of 22nd May 2018 to assist Twinning Associations through the Grant Funding Process and arrange a meeting of the Twinning Sub-Committee with invited representatives from each Twinning Association to submit plans (if any going forward), gauge current position and level of engagement going forward. Following this meeting, a report will be brought to the committee with further options for the operation of Twinning arrangements for consideration.
As per normal Council procedures, all decisions are subject to the ‘call-in’ process.
For more information about the items discussed at the meeting go to https://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/council/minutes/1st-march-2022-council-meeting
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ENDS