‘Rural communities must not be left behind in Covid recovery grant’

By Adam Morton, Local Democracy Reporter

A NUMBER of councillors from across the political divide have voiced their concerns about a Stormont funded Covid-19 recovery programme for small settlements.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of Council’s development committee on Thursday, November 11.

Funded by the Department for Communities (DfC), the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) the COVID-19 recovery small settlements regeneration programme aims to target rural settlements with 1,000 – 4,999 inhabitants.

Mid Ulster District Council is set to receive £2.3m of the £19.5 million available from the scheme and the council will be expected to provide 10 per-cent match funding (£230,000) to the project and all funding must be spent by March 2023.

Councillor Kim Ashton asked about Moygashel’s status in this programme and was informed that while confirmation still needs to be sought it is officers’ understanding that Moygashel is considered part of the Dungannon settlement.

The committee’s chair, Councillor Dominic Molloy asked if Council had projects ready to go should this funding be made available and was told officers hope to present councillors with a range of options.

proposal

Councillor Dan Kerr said he was happy to propose that officers work up the proposed options and bring a report back to members for discussion but asked if a similar programme would be running for smaller settlements as well.

Councillor Frances Burton also expressed concern some settlements like Aughnacloy and Caledon could miss out while Councillor Barry Monteith urged the chamber to fight for funding for the district’s smaller settlements.

“Smaller settlements will be left behind, we have been down this road before,” he warned.

“There are significant rural communities, like Killeeshil – it is a large spread out area but has a very vibrant community centre.

“The Mid Ulster area is full of areas that would not have settlements anywhere near 1,000 people and I am very concerned that folk will rightly go, you have looked after towns, now villages and what about us?”

Responding to these comments, council’s Chief Executive, Adrian McCreesh said his officers would concur with the concerns expressed.

“We accept everything that members have said and concur as an officer team. What we have not already raised we will do as part of this response. However, we welcome this funding opportunity and would be naive not to,” he said.

“This is a fairly complex programme, it is welcome but extremely difficult. We have three departments seeking different things out of the one programme.”

The committee Chair, Councillor Dominic Molloy noted there is “no firm rule to preclude settlements below 1,000 people” and said he felt this gave officers’ room to work with.

Councillor Kerr’s proposal to give officers permission to work up proposals for how best to spend this money was then seconded by Councillor Burton and the committee voiced its approval.