Agenda and minutes

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

            It was reported that no requests had been received.

            The Committee was reminded that the Department for Regional Development had, on 12th October, initiated a consultation exercise on its proposed routes for a pilot project in respect of the Belfast Rapid Transit System.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information provided and noted further that a draft Council response to the consultation document would be considered by the Committee at its meeting in December.

            The Committee agreed that the total costs for this project would be £385,394 and that the Development Department would ring fence a maximum of £190,000 towards it.  Any shortfall of funding would be applied for from NITB Tourism Development Scheme and Titanic Belfast.

The Committee agreed to note the information provided and it was noted further that:

·         The Director would bring back a report to a future meeting highlighting areas of best practice in the implementation of social clauses from other projects and jurisdictions;

·         The Director agreed to seek a legal opinion in respect of:

(a)   the Council’s ability to include the social clauses within Council contracts; and

(b)   the constraints surrounding social clauses within procurement procedures for other public bodies; and

·         to make a request to representatives of Titanic Foundation Limited and Harcourt Developments Limited to attend a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the issue of social clauses.  

            The Committee the contents of the Service Level Agreement from 2011-2015..

            The Committee endorsed the contents of the consultation document in respect of proposed revisions to the Industrial Development Act 1982.

The Committee agreed to provide sponsorship in the sum of £750.00.

            The Committee noted the information provided.  

The Committee agreed to the following course of action:

·         to the re-constitution of the Belfast Tall Ships Company Limited to oversee the Council’s delivery of the event;

·         to agree that the signed Port Contract be returned to the organisers together with the payment of the initial instalment in the sum of £31,000; and

·         to agree to nominate two representatives to Belfast Tall Ships Company Limited.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations as set out in the report.

            The Committee agreed that the response be strengthened to reflect the view  that the issue of the scale of charges for childminding be addressed sympathetically, the Committee agreed to endorse the undernoted response as the Council’s stance in this matter.

            The Committee noted that a total of 93 applications had been received and that funding had been awarded to the undernoted 87 groups which had met the criteria.

            The Chairman informed the Committee that Ms. Barbary Cook, Policy and Development Manager, would be leaving the Council at the end of October. On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman expressed his thanks to Ms. Cook and wished her every success in the future.