Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Aldermen Ekin and Humphrey.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 15th June, that it had agreed to hold a special meeting, to which the key stakeholders from Titanic Quarter would be invited, in order to discuss matters pertinent to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and Titanic Quarter Limited. Accordingly, the Committee considered the undernoted report: 

“1        Relevant Background Information

1.1       Members will recall that Council’s Development Committee, at a meeting on 15th June 2011, agreed that a Special Meeting, to which all key Titanic Quarter stakeholders would be invited, be held to receive an update on the regeneration of Titanic Quarter including the construction and operation of Titanic Belfast; and to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding and its associated achievements.

1.2       Members have previously noted that Titanic Quarter Ltd (TQL) is the company taking forward the development of the Titanic Quarter in a joint venture with the owners of the land, BelfastHarbour Commissioners.  At £7bn and covering 185-acres, Titanic Quarter is the largest urban regeneration project in Northern Ireland’s history and one of the largest waterfront schemes in Europe.  Mike Smith, the Chief Executive of TQL will be present at the meeting to update Members on the overall development of Titanic Quarter.

1.3       Located in the heart of Titanic Quarter is Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland’s largest ever tourism project.  It is funded by the NI Executive, BelfastHarbour, BelfastCity Council and TQL and is on schedule for completion by March 2012 in time to mark the centenary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage a month later.  Titanic Belfast is an iconic six-floor building featuring nine interpretive galleries over four floors.  The building will house temporary exhibits, a 1,000-seater banqueting suite, education and community facilities, catering and retail space and a basement car park.  With around 400,000 visitors per year expected it will generate significant economic and social benefits for all of Northern Ireland.  Titanic Belfast will be a major driver of tourism, giving Belfast a truly stunning visitor experience and providing a focal point for Belfast’s unrivalled Titanic heritage – integrated for the first time under the banner of Northern Ireland’s ‘Titanic Signature Project’. 

1.4       Owned by a new charitable trust, Titanic Foundation Ltd (TFL), Titanic Belfast will be a platform for innovative educational initiatives and cross-community events to inspire future generations of ‘Titanic Thinkers’.  The TFL Board consists of seven independent trustees.  The present Chairman of the board is Jonathan Hegan, a past chairman of RPS Consulting Engineers, and the acting Chief Executive of TFL is Brian Gregory.  Both will attend the Committee meeting to update Members on the construction of Titanic Belfast, which is being undertaken by Harcourt Construction (NI) Ltd, in contract with TFL.  TFL’s update will include the implementation of social clauses within the construction contract.

1.5       In April 2011 TFL announced that Harcourt Developments Ltd had been appointed operator of the iconic £97m visitor attraction.  As operator, Harcourt will be responsible for delivering Titanic Belfast  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.