Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls Board 26 April 2006
From Nigov
Community and Recreation Committee Wednesday, 26th April, 2006
Contents |
MEETING OF BELFAST WATERFRONT AND ULSTER HALLS BOARD
Members present
Councillor Stalford (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Convery); and Councillors Austin, Empey, Kirkpatrick, Lavery, Mhic Giolla Mhín, O'Reilly and Rodway.
In attendance
- Mr. M. Irvine (Operations Manager)
- Mr. S. Glynn (Finance and Administration Manager)
- Mr. J. Kerr (Technical Services Manager)
- Mr. P. Mulholland (Facilities Co-ordinator)
- Mr. J. Heaney (Committee Administrator)
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 29th March were taken as read and signed as correct.
Impact of 2006/2007 Pricing Policy Review
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 29th March, it had agreed to the implementation of a revised pricing policy for the hire of facilities at the Belfast Waterfront Hall with effect from 1st April, 2006 and noted that a report in relation to the effect which the increase would have on the Hall's operating deficit would be submitted in due course.
The Finance and Administration Manager pointed out that, unlike previous price increases which had been based on the rate of inflation, the 2006/2007 pricing policy had, following an extensive benchmarking exercise, sought to introduce a pricing policy framework which would enable the Hall to create the potential for an increase in the level of occupancy and thus create additional revenue for the associated support services provided thereat. He outlined how the estimated increase in bookings for the venue might affect the total revenue generated.
The Board was informed that the revised estimate of £1,448.584 for hire income represented an increase of £53,000 in excess of the original estimate which had been agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 20th January, the overall effect of which would be to reduce the Hall's operating costs. However, it was pointed out that the impact of the new pricing policy would be tempered due to the timing differences caused by the fact that 52% of the budgeted hire income had been contracted during 2005/2006 at the hire rates prevailing at that time. Therefore, the actual impact of the new pricing policy would become apparent gradually as the new financial year progressed.
The Finance and Administration Manager advised the Board that, since a 5% increase across all services had been applied, the anticipated financial impact of the revised pricing policy in respect of the Ulster Hall would be in line with projections for 2006/2007. He indicated that the next pricing review relating to the Ulster Hall would take into consideration the outcome of the planned second phase capital developments which might be undertaken at the venue.
The Board noted the information which had been provided.
Repairs and Maintenance Report at the Waterfront Hall
The Board considered the undernoted report in respect of the development of a separate Repairs and Maintenance Contract for the building fabric element of the Belfast Waterfront Hall.
After discussion, the Board granted the approvals sought.
Quarterly Complaints Monitoring Report January 2006 - March 2006
The Board noted the contents of a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in relation to the number of complaints which had been received by the Council in respect of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls for the period from 1st January, 2006 till 31st March, 2006. In accordance with the Council's complaints procedure, any complaint received within this period had been resolved and the appropriate action identified to ensure that avoidable problems did not recur.
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE UNDERNOTED ITEMS IN PURSUANCE OF THE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON 5th JULY, 1995
Progress Report
The Operations Manager submitted for the attention of the Board a progress report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in relation to the operation of the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Halls. He provided information in relation to the management of the venues and the staging and outcome of events thereat under the undernoted headings:
- Operations
- Events
- Ulster Hall
- Event Promotion
- Conference Sale Business
- Sponsorship
- Public Relations
The Operations Manager highlighted a number of recent events which had been held at the venues and which had proved to be extremely successful. He pointed out that the World Irish Dance Championships, which had returned to the Waterfront Hall for the third time, had attracted in excess of 3,500 competitors, with an estimated 12,500 dancers, teachers, families and audiences coming to the Waterfront Hall over an eight-day period. He suggested that the event had been extremely beneficial to the City as a whole with visitors travelling from all over the world, with particularly high levels of interest generated in the United States and Canada. Other successful events had included concerts by Katie Melua, Don Williams and Bonnie Raitt, as well as opera and ballet performances and comedy shows.
The Board noted the information which had been provided.
Chairman
