THE Audit Office has told Belfast City Council to review a multi-million-pound fund for community projects amid concerns over how money is allocated.
A review of the Local Investment Fund (LIF) should "assess and consider the appropriateness and effectiveness of this method of funding projects", the watchdog told the council.
The Alliance Party had raised concerns about a "lack of openness and transparency" surrounding LIF and asked the Audit Office to examine it.
It comes just weeks after a row over plans to reallocate a separate £4m funding pot to nine projects in east and west Belfast without a public bid process.
Alliance accused the DUP and Sinn Féin of a "political carve-up" over the City Centre Social Outcomes Fund, but the two parties rejected the criticism, saying the funding will boost tourism.
Michael Long, Alliance's council group leader, welcomed the Audit Office move and said it would ask the watchdog to also examine the social outcomes fund.
"It is an indication of our concerns that we have raised. We want to see all applications for this type of funding done through an open competition," he said.
In response to the Audit Office, the Belfast City Council agreed to review LIF "in the context of the development of a corporate neighbourhood regeneration strategy".
Alliance also complained about the £27m Belfast Investment Fund (BIF), but the Audit Office said it has not been reviewed yet as the projects are still to be delivered, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
