A proposal to “stall” the draw-down of £300,000 from the Department for Social Development (DSD) to fund the construction of a new West End Community Centre on Windmill Road was rejected at Tuesday night’s meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC).

Instead, a majority of Councillors agreed that the Council will pay £100,000 towards the construction of a new community centre on Windmill Road in order to secure the £300,000 from DSD.

Councillors were updated on the project, which has caused controversy, with some residents of Windmill Road opposed to the construction of a community centre in their area because it would be used by residents of three other areas: Windmill Heights, Coleshill and Galliagh Park.

At a recent workshop with FODC, DSD agreed to provide £300,000 funding for the West End Community Centre on the condition that FODC meet the funding deficit of £100,000 plus any additional expenditure if DSD functions transfer to local councils on April 1, 2016. The Council remains dubious that these functions will transfer next year because the legislation is still not in place and Stormont remains at a stalemate. It was recommended that Councillors agree to meet the deficit in order to secure the funds from DSD and get the community centre underway.

UUP Councillor Howard Thornton opposed this recommendation, saying: “I wouldn’t have chosen that location.

“My concern is that there’s no commitment from the department; it’s ‘if, but, however’. We should not agree with this recommendation until such time as DSD makes a firm commitment to the project.

“This has been dragging on. We have to look at this as a £400,000 project for the Council rather than a £100,000 project.” He continued: “While I fully support the West End and the work it carries out, I want to know how are other community centres funded? Is this an exception? ...My proposal is that we stall this recommendation at the moment.” His UUP colleague Robert Irvine agreed, stating; “The position and siting of this community centre has caused disruption in the neighbourhood it is sited in. This issue is cementing some of the community but driving away other sections of the community. If we put that aside, what we are looking at is a funding deficit and I think it would be prudent of us to procure the facts and figures before we move forward.” Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie Coyle proposed that the Council agree to funding the deficit in order to secure the £300,000, stating: “We worked hard in a recent workshop with DSD to secure this funding so it would be ridiculous if the Council did a u-turn now; I don’t know where this has come from.” She said: “This project is different from other projects in Fermanagh” and outlined that the centre had been requested by community representatives from Windmill Heights, Coleshill and Galliagh Park through their participation in the Enniskillen Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

Councillor Coyle added: “These community representatives don’t do paid work. You couldn’t put a monetary value on the amount of voluntary work that goes on.” SDLP Councillor Patricia Rogers agreed, saying: “I have reservations about Howard’s suggestion. I say we press on and draw down the funding from DSD before the transfer of powers in 2016.” Director of Regeneration and Community, Robert Gibson stated: “The issue tonight is not the cost of the building. The Council would not accept a tender of £500,000. The issue tonight is to request the funds from DSD, therefore they need an estimated cost (which is £400,356.34).

“We won’t have the exact cost until it is tendered and if you stop the project for exact costs, you will stop the tendering process.” Chief Executive of FODC Brendan Hegarty added: “There was previous agreement to move this project forward. A few months ago we thought there was no money. Now, DSD want the Council to underwrite and overspill and they will be minded to commit £300,000. If the Council does not agree this tonight, DSD’s answer will be ‘No.’ “My suggestion is to go back and examine the amount of work that has been done to get to this stage.

“We have raised community expectations.

“The current venue is not sustainable. There is the risk that there will be no venue and we will have undone all the good work to date.” A vote was taken on Councillor Thornton’s proposal and on Councillor Coyle’s proposal. Councillor Coyle’s proposal was passed with 20 for, 12 against and one abstention.