Agenda and minutes

            An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor Clarke.

            No declarations of interest were recorded.

The Information contained in the following report is restricted in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the development of the revenue estimates for 2017/18 and the key issues which Members needed to consider as part of the rates settlement process.  The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 16th December, it had agreed, amongst other things, that those areas for potential savings which had been identified by the Political Parties be considered in the first instance by the Budget and Transformation Panel.

The report outlined a number of further efficiency savings which the Panel, at its meeting on 20th December, had agreed should be presented to the Committee for consideration, together with a number of outstanding issues, namely, the Belfast Agenda, Community Grants and the future Efficiency Programme and targets.

After a lengthy discussion, the Committee made the following decisions:

Membership of the Northern Ireland

Local Government Association (NILGA)

The Committee agreed to consider further the Council’s membership of NILGA and the associated subscription at its meeting on 20th January.

Elected Members’ Personal Development Plans (PDPs)

The Committee agreed to consider further the budget for the Elected Members’ PDPs at its meeting on 20th January.

Rate Impact of Change to 3G Pitch Charges

The Committee agreed to consider, at its meeting on 20th January, the rating implication of the decision of the People and Communities Committee to reduce the price of 3G pitch hire by 25%.

Revision to the Management of the City Hall

Function Booking Processes

The Committee:

a)     Approved the revised criteria for the booking of rooms in the City Hall as set out below;

b)     Approved the Protocol for the use of the Conor and Lavery Rooms as set out below;

c)     Approved the room hire charges for the use of the City Hall as follows:

·        £825 for a full evening function in the Great Hall

·        £300 for an evening function in the various function rooms

·        £115 for a daytime function in the various function rooms

·        agreed that Community and Voluntary Groups be excluded from the  hire charge rate

(with £13,850 of additional income to be included in the revenue estimates)

d)     agreed to cease the provision of hospitality for City Hall events, with the exception of Civic Events;

(with £28,800 of additional income to be included in the revenue estimates)

e)     agreed to impose a “one-in-three-year” rule in respect of commercial events, which are defined as ‘for profit’ and those events which, if not accommodated in the City Hall, would need to avail of private sector facilities and pay a full commercial rate; and

f)       delegated authority to the Director of Property and Projects to approve or reject requests for the use of a function room in the City Hall in circumstances where there was insufficient time to present the matter to the Committee or where the request was of a minor nature and was non-contentious, on the basis that any authority exercised be reported back to the Committee.

Proposed revised criteria for booking the

function rooms in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

The Committee noted that work was due to commence on the City hall passenger lift and Members would be advised, in writing, in due course on the time schedule for the works.