Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Humphrey and Councillors Curran, Lavery and Mallon.

          No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated Councillor Austin on the birth of her grand-daughter earlier in the day.

            The Director advised the Committee that correspondence had been received from the Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr. B. McCrea, M.L.A., seeking comments in respect of the proposed dissolution of the Department for Employment and Learning.  He pointed out that responses to the consultation were due to be submitted by 9th February and, accordingly, he recommended that the Committee agree that the correspondence be forwarded to each of the Party Leaders on the Council to enable individual responses to be formulated.

            The Committee agreed to this course of action.

                The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1            Relevant Background Information

1.1           In 2006 the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) commissioned a report into the physical condition of the buildings at the University of Ulster (UU) Campus at Jordanstown.  The report concluded that the main educational buildings were reaching the end of their useful life and were no longer fit for purpose as a modern educational establishment.

1.2           Following the condition survey a further study was undertaken to identify the preferred option for replacement facilities.  DEL and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) subsequently approved a full business case which identified York Street as the most academically attractive and cost effective solution for replacement.

1.3           Since the completion of the business case the University has acquired a number of sites adjacent to its existing York Road campus, including the Interpoint building to facilitate the development of a new city centre campus. The project represents an investment of £250m in the area. The University have been awarded funding of £16m by DEL with the remainder being funded over a 25 year period from the University’s income. 

1.4           The Project Team has now completed the concept design for the new campus and wish to present the proposals to Elected Members as the first stage of an extensive engagement exercise in advance of submitting its planning application at the end of March 2012.

1.5           The University hopes to have full planning approval in place by late 2012.  Contractors are expected to be appointed in mid 2013 with the new campus ready for occupation in 2018.

2              Key Issues

2.1           The relocation of the University of Ulster to the York Street area represents one of the biggest regeneration opportunities which the city is likely to see for decades to come.

2.2           Evidence from elsewhere would suggest the locating of a major anchor institution within a city centre presents the opportunity for substantial social, environmental and economic regeneration.

2.3           Should the planned relocation proceed, some 14,000 students and 2000 staff will be transferred to the York Street campus.  The additional economic activity which will be generated has the potential to transform the economic future for this area of the city and present substantial benefits for communities in the vicinity of the campus and further afield.

2.4           The relocation will bring educational opportunities into the heart of the city centre.  The project will bring with it a range of employment opportunities.  The lead in period will present the potential for the Council, DEL and UU to support local communities to avail of employment opportunities both during the construction phase through social clauses and in the longer term.

2.5           In addition to employment opportunities within the University itself, the project will drive further commercial activity in the area, develop the night time economy and present real business opportunities for social enterprises in neighbouring areas through the provision of ancillary services.

2.6           The University is keen that its facilities will be accessible to local communities, helping build  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.Relevant Background Information

1.1The Belfast Waterfront (the Waterfront) is a large purpose-built arts and entertainment centre which opened for business in 1997. It was constructed at a total cost of £37 million.

1.2The facilities offered within the existing building include:

·         auditorium of seating capacity in excess of 2,200;

·         studio with a seating capacity of 380;

·         20 small meeting rooms;

·         two bars;

·         fully Licensed Restaurant;

·         gift Shop; and

·         box Office.

      In addition to the above public space, the venue includes office space for staff; dressing rooms for performers; technical areas; and 2 small kitchens.

1.3The Waterfront is located on the banks of the River Lagan and adjacent to the Belfast Courts Complex, Hilton Hotel, and BT Tower in an area which is now considered a business hub within Belfast.

1.4In 2008, Belfast City Council (BCC) commissioned a Feasibility Study for the development of a Convention Centre in Belfast. The key driver behind this Feasibility Study was that despite experiencing considerable success as a conference destination, the Waterfront was unable to attract a significant number of events from within their key target market i.e. the Association Conference Market. This study concluded that the provision of a larger conferencing facility in the City could attract additional conferences, resulting in significant economic benefits being realised.

1.5In February 2011, BCC commissioned a Business Case to explore the feasibility of creating a link between the Waterfront and the vacant Level 0 and Level 1 at the Lanyon Quay Building.

1.6The Business Case concluded that the development of a link bridge and the conversion of Levels 0 and Level 1 could potentially provide the venue with significant additional space, thereby providing the potential to attract large scale international conferences.

1.7Following the completion of the Business Case, BCC commissioned RSM McClure Watters to complete a Full “Green Book” Economic Appraisal to consider the most appropriate option for the development of integrated conferencing facilities in Belfast.

1.8RSM McClure Watters have been invited by the Committee to present their conclusions and recommendations.

2.   Key Issues

2.1The development of new/enhanced conferencing/convention facilities represents a significant opportunity to contribute to:

·         The promotion of business tourism within Belfast;

·         The development of Belfast as a prime tourism destination;

·         The economic growth of Belfast and the wider region;

·         Job creation; and

·         Urban regeneration

2.2Specifically, the growth of the business tourism market is cited by both the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s (NITB) Draft Tourism Strategy 2020 and the Council’s Integrated Strategic Framework for Belfast Tourism as a key strategic priority and significant opportunity for the growth of Belfast and Northern Ireland over the next 10 years.

2.3Business Tourism

      Business Tourism is identified as a key growth area for the local economy over the next 10 years. It is considered:

·         resilient, sustainable and complements the leisure tourism sector;

·         to be at the high quality, high yield end of the tourism spectrum;

·         to create quality, year-round employment opportunities;

·         that investments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.