A former DUP Lord Mayor has said he hopes an ABC Council shopfront paint scheme can be repeated next year with a bigger budget and everything possible done to help businesses who are being “crushed by a heartless Labour Government”.
Alderman Stephen Moutray was speaking after details of a current scheme were presented to council’s economic development and regeneration committee.
Approved in April, the initiative, which had a budget of £70,000, saw 146 applications received from local businesses.
Of these, 93 applications were deemed to be eligible.
Infrastructure and Economic Development Manager Elaine Cullen explained that 60 letters of offer had been issued and, due to a “funding gap” and at councillors’ request, the Department for Communities had been contacted and asked if there would be any “underspend” from the Covid Small Settlements Programme which would be utilised.
DfC had agreed to allow additional funding, to the value of £16,400, for a further 11 rural applications to proceed.
Council also agreed to cover an additional budget of £11,332 from economic development to cover the remaining 12.
The heavily over-subscribed scheme had been hailed a success and a “good news story” by all councillors.
Councillor Kyle Savage, who chaired the committee, said it was “great to see”, while Alderman Ian Burns added: “I think this is a fantastic project and you can see the brightness coming on to the high streets of all the towns and, the fact that it’s going out to rural areas as well, is brilliant.”
Ms Cullen responded to several questions from other councillors who also hailed the work of officials in delivering the paint scheme and the difference it would make.
She confirmed, in response to Alderman Paul Greenfield, that those who had not been successful had been informed and advice given on how they might apply if the programme is repeated.
Some of the reasons why they had not been successful was that applicants were requesting items that were not eligible, such as signage, while the majority of those who did not proceed fell down because they “didn’t provide the necessary number of quotes”.
“We have given them advice and we will continue to give them advice and support moving forward, because we would like that number to be a lot lower,” added Ms Cullen.
Independent Unionist Councillor Paul Berry had previously asked if businesses in Markethill, Gilford and Rathfriland, where funding had been approved for environmental improvement schemes, currently ongoing, would benefit.
“All of those villages were able to apply under the scheme,” said Ms Cullen, “and we did get a good number, which was really positive. We will continue to liaise with the Department once the environmental improvement scheme is completed to look at other funding opportunities for further public realm works.”
She also agreed, in response to a request by Alliance Councillor Peter Lavery, to present a list of successful applicants to a future committee sitting.
Councillor Lavery had described it as a “good news scheme” for council, adding: “We should be shouting about this and how much it will be able to deliver and brighten up the streetscape of those urban and villages town centres.”
DUP Alderman Stephen Moutray also described it as “a good news story for council” and congratulated the official and her team for all of their work.
But he believed more money should be made available – and more support offered – to businesses at this time.
“I would hope that this scheme will be able to be run again next year and I would hope that council is able to spend a bigger budget on it,” said Alderman Moutray.
“Because, in the round of things, £70,000 isn’t a big amount when we run many facilities within this council that are costing up to half a million per annum.
“So I hope that we can look favourably on the small businesses at a time when they’re being crushed by a heartless Labour Government and to try and help them as a local authority.”
