Politics

Eleventh hour intervention blocks funds for DUP-Sinn Féin council 'carve up'

Plans to reallocate £4m of Belfast City Council funds was labelled a 'political carve-up'
Plans to reallocate £4m of Belfast City Council funds was labelled a 'political carve-up' Plans to reallocate £4m of Belfast City Council funds was labelled a 'political carve-up'

A DUP and Sinn Féin-backed reallocation of £4m of Belfast City Council funds that opponents labelled a "political carve up" has been blocked at the eleventh hour.

Councillors were tonight expected to rubber stamp money for nine projects in the west and east of the city, including £1m for a James Connolly Interpretive Centre and £750,000 earmarked for a so-called social economy training hotel in the Shankill area.

But SDLP and Alliance representatives yesterday lodged papers 'calling in' the controversial decision taken last month by Belfast City Council's strategic policy and resources committee.

They want the money to be reallocated and claim the way projects were selected for the council's Social Outcomes Fund was not transparent.

Their intervention means the fund is unlikely to be discussed at tonight's council meeting as planned.

Alliance councillor Sian O'Neill said the matter was being called in on procedural grounds.

She said the fund was originally designed to tackle inequalities in deprived areas of Belfast's inner city, including Short Strand, the Markets and Sandy Row.

"We can now see that the people who are in place to do the best for residents living in these places are the very people who have turned this into what best suits their own interests," she said.

She added that it appeared that Sinn Féin and the DUP had been making deals behind the scenes.

SDLP councillor Tim Attwood told The Irish News the process was neither "open or inclusive".

"There was no proper consideration of the facts or issues and other potential projects did not get a fair hearing," he said.

Mr Attwood said there were merits in many of the projects for which funds had been earmarked but that the criteria for selection remained a secret.

He said the decision making process was also "flawed on community impact grounds".

"The majority of projects are in east and west Belfast, with a small amount for inner south around the transport hub – the decision would disproportionately affect those living in north and outer east and south Belfast," he said.

The SDLP representative said recent concerns about the Stormont executive's Social Investment Fund meant there was a responsibility to ensure the allocation of public funds was always " rigorous and fair".

Other projects earmarked for funds include £1m for a Roddy McCorley museum and £80,000 for an Orange Hall museum.

Supporters says the reallocation of funds say the aim is to prioritise tourism projects in east and west Belfast to capitalise on investments in transport infrastructure in those areas.

Last month the council told The Irish News that the proposed projects were identified through its area working groups.

"Each project will be subject to the already agreed three-stage due diligence process before any money can be allocated," a council spokesman said.

"The committee approved that other projects could be considered for potential funding if any of the agreed emerging projects fail due diligence."