Belfast City Council Development (Tourism and Promotion of Belfast) Sub-Committee Minutes 21 March 2005
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E4158
Monday, 21st March, 2005
SPECIAL MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT (TOURISM AND PROMOTION OF BELFAST) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor McCausland (Chairman); and Councillors M. Browne, Hartley, P. Maskey,McClenaghan, Stoker, H. Smyth, Toan and Walsh.
Also attended: The Deptuy Lord Mayor (Councillor Template:Bcc0405-O’Donnell); the High Sheriff (Councillor D. Browne); and Councillors Crowe, Cush, Lavery, McCann, Newton, Template:Bcc0405-Nί Chuilίn and Rodgers.
In attendance:
- Ms. S. McCay, Head of Economic Initiatives;
- Mr. G. Copeland, Events Manager; and
- Miss. K. Mullen, Senior Committee Administrator.
Chairing of the Meeting
In the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, it was agreed that Councillor Stoker take the Chair.
(Councillor Stoker in the Chair.)
Presentation of the Titanic Signature Project
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 9th February, it had agreed to receive a presentation on Phase 1 of the Titanic Signature Project. It was reported that Mr. M. Counahan, CHL Consulting, was in attendance and he was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Acting Chairman (Councillor Stoker).
Mr. Counahan updated the Members with regard to the approach which had been adopted whilst completing the first phase of the feasibility study into the Titanic Signature Project and stated that the completion date for that particular part of the Project was April, 2005.
(The Chairman, Councillor McCausland, in the Chair).
Mr. Counahan explained that the concept of the Project was to establish a world-class visitor attraction for the City of Belfast. He outlined the suggested approaches to the building’s design and some possible elements to be contained within it which might include: the world’s largest model of the Titanic; temporary exhibition spaces; conference and banqueting facilities, together with retail opportunities and a range of restaurants and cafes. He provided for the information of the Members a range of sketches and drawings of the proposed elements of the project and an overall plan of the site.
The Members indicated that they were satisfied that all of the elements which had been raised in discussions with all the Party Groupings on the Council had been contained within the proposals for the Titanic Signature Project.
The Chairman (Councillor McCausland) thanked Mr. Counahan for attending and he retired from the meeting.
The Head of Economic Initiatives provided the Members with an update in respect of the key issues to date with regard to the Titanic Signature Project: These included the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, which had indicated areas of possible light industrial use on or near the Titanic slipways, the need for a communications plan, together with potential sources of funding for the scheme. She advised the Sub Committee that the next phase of the process, Phase 2, would be to undertake an economic appraisal of the Titanic Signature Project which would include a costing for all of the components which had been outlined by the Consultant to the Project. She confirmed that a further report in this regard would be submitted to the Sub-Committee in due course.
The Sub-Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Chairman
