Belfast City Council Development (Tourism and Promotion of Belfast) Sub-Committee Minutes 9 March 2005
From Nigov
E4104
Wednesday, 9th March, 2005
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT (TOURISM AND PROMOTION OF BELFAST) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor McCausland (Chairman); and Councillors M. Browne, M. Clarke, Convery, Hartley, P. Maskey, McClenaghan, Patterson and Toan.
In attendance:
- Ms. S. McCay, Head of Economic Initiatives;
- Mr. G. Copeland, Events Manager;
- Miss P. Morrow, Acting Tourism Development Manager;
- Ms. M. Hutchinson, Events Officer; and
- Mr. N. Malcolm, Committee Administrator.
Chairing of Meeting
In the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, the Sub-Committee agreed that Councillor M. Browne take the Chair.
(Councillor M. Browne in the Chair.)
Minutes
The minutes of the meetings of 8th and 9th February, copies of which had previously been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that the minutes of the meeting of 9th February, as adopted by the principal Committee at its meeting on 1st March, had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st March, subject to the omission of the minute under the heading “Fáilte Feirste Thiar Eurozone Proposal”, which, at the request of Councillor McCann, had been taken back to the Sub-Committee for further consideration.
Fáilte Feirste Thiar Eurozone Proposal
(Councillor P. Maskey declared an interest in this item in that he was employed by Fáilte Feirste Thiar.)
The Sub-Committee considered further the minute of the meeting of 9th February under the heading “Fáilte Feirste Thiar Eurozone Proposal” which, at the request of Councillor McCann, had been taken back for further consideration by the Council at its meeting on 1st March. A copy of the minute in that regard is set out hereunder.
The Sub-Committee agreed to rescind its decision of 9th February not to accede to the request from Fáilte Feirste Thiar for financial assistance towards the promotion of its Eurozone initiative and accordingly agreed to provide funding in the sum of £8,478.31 to the Organisation in connection with its Eurozone scheme.
(Councillor McCausland, Chairman, in the Chair.)
Lord Pirrie Memorial Plinth
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report regarding the Lord Pirrie Memorial Plinth.
The Events Manager drew the Members’ attention to various aspects of the report and indicated that, should the Sub-Committee be minded to agree to proceed with the work on the Plinth, it would be necessary to request the Policy and Resources Committee to agree a specific location within the City Hall Grounds for the Plinth to be situated.
During discussion in the matter, several Members expressed concern at the costs involved in the project, particularly those associated with producing the replica monuments.
In response, the Events Manager stated that the cost of the project had increased because the Plinth would require more restoration work than that which had been anticipated originally and because it had been decided to construct the replicas of the Plinth from stone rather than resin as it had been ascertained that resin could not withstand the elements and could be prone to vandalism. In addition, two of the original plaques were missing and would require replacement. He informed the Members that the original estimates had been provided by Harland and Wolff and Titanic Quarter Limited and that it had only been when the Plinth had been examined by Consarc Conservation that its poor state of repair had been discovered.
He reminded the Sub-Committee that it was intended that the Plinth would be erected in the City Hall Grounds before 2006, the year which would mark the centenary of the opening of the City Hall. It was therefore important that permission to undertake the restoration work and siting of the Plinth were approved as soon as possible.
After further discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed that the refurbishment of the Lord Pirrie Memorial Plinth be undertaken, that tenders for the work be sought and that the Policy and Resources Committee be requested to agree a location within the City Hall Grounds for the siting of the Plinth. The Sub-Committee agreed further, due to the costs involved in producing the replicas, that, subject to Titanic Quarter Limited making a significant financial contribution, only one be made and that it be located within the Titanic Quarter.
Titanic Exhibition 2006
The Events Manager reminded the Sub-Committee that, at its meeting on 9th June, 2004, it had agreed in principle to stage the Titanic Ship of Dreams Exhibition 2006 at W5 Odyssey Pavilion, subject to sufficient exhibition space being available at that location.
He informed the Sub-Committee that 7,500 square feet of space had been made available at W5. However, due to other touring exhibitions scheduled to be held at that venue, the Titanic Exhibition could be only displayed from late March to the end of June, 2006. As a result of this shorter exhibition period, the costs of holding it had been reduced from £600,000 to £350,000. He reminded the Sub-Committee further that an amount of £250,000 had been set aside for the 2006 Titanic Exhibition and that the remaining £100,000 required to stage the event would be sought from the Museums and Art Galleries of Northern Ireland and from private sector sponsors.
The Events Manager stated that the Exhibition would be located within the existing W5 Exhibition area, with a result that no additional admission charges would be levied. He made the point that, since this would be the first time that the exhibition had been seen outside Orlando, there would be considerable promotional opportunities for Belfast whilst the exhibition was in the City. Accordingly, the Events Unit, together with the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, would be developing a suitable marketing campaign in order to attract visitors. The Titanic Exhibition would also be a key element in the Council’s Celebrations programme of events during 2006.
The Events Manager indicated that, should the Sub-Committee be minded to approve the staging of the Titanic Exhibition in W5 in 2006, it would be necessary for a detailed contractual agreement between the Council, W5 and the Titanic Ship of Dreams Exhibition owners to be prepared by the Director of Legal Services.
In answer to Members’ questions, the Events Manager indicated that the small scale events, such as lectures and walks, which had been held in recent years to coincide with the Titanic Exhibition, would still be held in 2006 and he was hopeful that the Council would receive a proportion of the admittance charge levied by the owners of W5.
The Head of Economic Initiatives pointed out that the Titanic Exhibition would be a flagship event within the Council’s Capital Celebrations Programme during 2006, that the Council was keen to secure as much sponsorship as possible for these events.
After further discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed that the Titanic Ship of Dreams Exhibition be held within W5 from late March to the end of June 2006, that a sum not exceeding £250,000 be set aside for this project and that the Director of Legal Services prepare a detailed contractual agreement in connection therewith.
Evening Economy
The Sub-Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 15th September, 2004, it had approved an Evening Economy Action Plan, which had highlighted the requirement for additional resources to ensure the successful development and promotion of the Evening Economy Initiative.
The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Members that funding of £100,000 had been secured under the Council’s Brighter Belfast initiative to manage, co-ordinate and develop the Evening Economy Initiative for the period 2005-2006. She indicated that it was anticipated that further funding would be obtained in future years from Government Agencies and the private sector. She reported that, following the receipt of money from the Brighter Belfast scheme, an officer would be recruited to deliver the projects included within the Evening Economy Initiative Action Plan.
The Sub-Committee agreed that a post of Tourism Product Development Officer be recruited for a fixed-term contract period of one year in connection with the Evening Economy Initiative and, on the basis that, should additional funding be obtained, the term of the contract be extended.
Cultural Tourism Visitor Management Plan
The Head of Economic Initiatives informed the Sub-Committee that, following public advertisement, four tenders had been received for the design, construction and maintenance of signage and interpretation projects as detailed in the Cultural Tourism Visitor Management Plan. These tenders had been evaluated by a panel appointed for the purpose using pre-agreed criteria. As a result of this process, the panel had recommended acceptance of the tender submitted by Image Technical Services, Lowes Estate, Carryduff, in the sum of £1,119,993.62, it being the most advantageous received.
During discussion in the matter, a Member enquired as to whether the signs in certain locations would be written in English and another language such as Irish or Ulster Scots.
In response, the Head of Economic Initiatives indicated that the signs would be in English only and, in accordance with the Sub-Committee’s decision of 11th August, 2004, would be located in Queen’s Quarter, Cathedral Quarter and the City centre. However, she reminded the Sub-Committee that an application for funding had been submitted to the Belfast Regeneration Office in relation to Community Tourism Initiatives. She indicated that, should funding be obtained, it was possible that it could be used to produce additional signs at other locations within the City.
After further discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to accept the tender from Image Technical Services in relation to the design, construction and maintenance of signage and interpretation projects, as detailed in the Cultural Tourism Visitor Management Plan.
Community Tourism/Area Partnership Boards
The Sub-Committee agreed to receive at its next monthly meeting a presentation from representatives of the Area Partnership Boards in relation to their proposed future plans and community tourism initiatives.
Regional Tourism Partnership
The Sub-Committee agreed that a special meeting be held on a date to be determined in conjunction with the Chairman to receive a presentation from representatives of Frontline Consultancy Firm, the company which had been appointed to undertake the Regional Tourism Partnership Plan.
Application for Conference Subvention
The Head of Economic Initiatives advised the Sub-Committee that a Conference organised by Queen’s University’s School of Languages, entitled “Betwixt and Between: Place and Cultural Translation”, would be held in Belfast from 8th to 10th April. The organisers had indicated that it would attract approximately 125 persons, the majority of whom would be staying in hotel accommodation throughout the City. The application had been assessed in accordance with the agreed funding criteria. Accordingly, she recommended that a subvention in the sum of £600 be allocated to the hosting of the Conference.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Chairman
