Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report on the proposed scale of charges for 2011/2012:

 

“1        Relevant Background Information

 

1.1       The purpose of this report is to consider the annual review of prices for hire/rental charges at the Belfast Waterfront, Ulster Hall, St George’s Market and Community Centres and to agree an implementation with effect from 1 April 2011.

 

2          Key Issues

 

2.1       Belfast Waterfront / Ulster Hall

 

            Following a standard 2% price increase in 2010/2011 it is recommended that Members give approval to retain existing prices for hire charges relating to all areas of the Belfast Waterfront, including Main Auditorium, Studio, Meeting Rooms, Exhibition areas including Concourse, Gallery Levels 1 and 2, Bar Levels 1 and 2 and also the Ulster Hall and, where appropriate, event services hire charges, for 2011/2012.

 

2.2       It is suggested that the proposed “no price increase” for 2011/2012 is necessary to keep hire fees at both venues competitive in what will inevitably be a very difficult trading environment over the next 12 months.

 

2.3       St George’s Market

 

            In January 2010 Members approved an increase in stallage and hire charges for a 2 year period from 1 April 2010 – no increase is therefore proposed.

 

            The Development Committee also approved in October 2004, a 25% incentive discount for those paying in advance. It is proposed that as a result of the high cost in administering the scheme and to simplify and introduce daily market reconciliations that the 25% payment in advance incentive discount scheme is now discontinued. The issue has been raised with traders’ representatives and to date no issues have been raised

 

2.4       Community Centres

 

            Following a standard 2% price increase in 2010/2011 it is proposed to increase prices in 2011/2012 by just over 2% to take account of the VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% which changed on 4 January 2011.

 

            The proposed schedule of prices for each of the Community Centres is detailed at Appendix 1.

 

3          Resource Implications

 

3.1       Financial

 

            The recommendations above have all been factored into the Departmental Revenue Estimates for 2011/2012 approved by Committee in January 2011.

 

3.2       Human Resources

 

            There are no additional human resource requirements in relation to implementation of the proposed Pricing Policy.

 

4          Equality and Good Relations Considerations

 

4.1       There are no equality implications in agreeing the 2011/2012 Departmental Scale of Charges.

 

5          Recommendations

 

5.1       It is recommended that Members note the contents of the report and approve the following :

 

1.      No increase in hire charges at Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall

2.      No increase in stallage or event hire fees at St George’s Market

3.      The removal of the advance discount scheme at St Georges Market

4.      An increase of just over 2% in Community Centre pricing as a result of the recent VAT increase

5.      An effective date of 1 April 2011 for all areas

 

6          Decision Tracking

 

            Further to approval the recommended actions will be completed .

 

            Time line:   1 April 2011  Reporting Officer:  David Orr

 

            Documents Attached

 

            Appendix 1 –  Community Centres Charges from 1 April 2011

 

Appendix 1

 

COMMUNITY CENTRES RATE OF CHARGE 2011/2012		APPENDIX 1
		£ Per Hour	£ Per Hour
Centre	Facility	7.00pm-12.00pm	9.00am-7.00pm
		prices from Apr 11	prices from Apr 11
Ardoyne	Main Hall	5.30	3.50
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.20
	Activity Room	1.20	1.00
	Committee Room	0.90	0.60
	Kitchen	1.70	1.70
	Loft	1.30	1.00
Concorde	Main Hall	5.00	3.10
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Activity Room	1.70	1.20
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00

 

		£ Per Hour	£ Per Hour
Centre	Facility	7.00pm-12.00pm	9.00am-7.00pm
		prices from Apr 11	prices from Apr 11
Dee Street	Main Hall	4.20	2.80
	1st Floor Recreation	3.40	2.20
	Activity Room	1.90	1.20
	Arts & Crafts Room	1.80	1.10
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00
	Dark Room	1.00	1.00
Divis	Main Hall	6.30	4.00
	Minor Hall	3.40	2.30
	Activity/Project Room	1.10	1.20
	Committee Room	1.10	1.20
	Kitchen	1.10	1.20
DonegallPass	Main Hall	3.50	2.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Committee Room	1.50	0.90
	Kitchen	0.80	0.80
Duncairn	Main Hall	4.20	2.70
	Minor Hall	1.90	1.50
	Ground Floor C.Room	1.20	0.90
	Kitchen	1.50	0.80
Finaghy	Main Hall	3.80	2.70
	Recreation Room	2.30	1.90
	Committee Room	1.20	1.20
	Office	0.60	0.60
	Kitchen	0.90	0.90
Glen Road	Main Hall	8.30	5.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	2.00
	Committee Room	1.70	1.70
	Project Room	1.70	1.70
	Activity Room	1.70	1.70
	Kitchen	1.50	1.50
	Stage	1.50	1.50
Hammer	Main Hall	5.20	3.90
	Committee Room	1.70	1.70
	Activity Room	1.70	1.60
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00
	Minor Hall	2.00	2.00
	Pitch-Junior	13.00	6.30
	Pitch-Senior	17.00	7.90

 

		£ Per Hour	£ Per Hour
Centre	Facility	7.00pm-12.00pm	9.00am-7.00pm
		prices from Apr 11	prices from Apr 11
Highfield	Main Hall	7.00	4.20
	Committee Room	2.00	2.00
	Project/Activity	1.70	1.70
	Kitchen	1.70	1.70
Horn Drive	Main Hall	3.90	2.30
	Minor Hall	1.70	1.20
	Office(Back)	1.40	1.40
	Office (Small)	1.00	1.00
	Committee Room	1.00	1.00
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00
Inverary	Main Hall	6.30	4.40
	Committee Room	1.90	1.20
	Kitchen	1.60	0.60
	Activity Room	1.70	1.70
	Project Office	1.00	1.00
Knocknagoney	Main Hall	3.50	2.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Committee Room	1.50	1.00
	Project Room	1.50	1.00
	Kitchen	0.80	0.80
Ligoniel	Main Hall	4.40	2.80
	Minor Hall	2.30	1.90
	Committee Room	1.20	0.80
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00
	Dark Room	0.80	0.80
Markets	Main Hall	3.90	2.70
	Minor Hall	1.80	1.50
	Committee Room	1.20	1.20
	Kitchen	1.10	1.10
Morton	Main Hall	2.20	1.70
	Kitchen Downstairs	0.80	0.80
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Kitchen Upstairs	0.60	0.60
	Committee Room 2	1.50	0.80
	Committee Room 1	1.50	0.80

 

		£ Per Hour	£ Per Hour
Centre	Facility	7.00pm-12.00pm	9.00am-7.00pm
		prices from Apr 11	prices from Apr 11
North Queen Street	Main Hall	5.30	3.40
	Minor Hall	3.30	2.20
	Committee Room	1.20	1.20
	Project Room 1	1.50	1.50
	Library	1.20	1.20
	Kitchen	1.60	1.60
	Project Room 2	1.00	1.00
Olympia	Main Hall	3.50	2.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Committee Room	1.50	1.00
	Project Room	1.50	1.00
	Kitchen	0.80	0.80
Sandy Row	Main Hall	4.90	2.80
	Activity Room	1.70	1.70
	Committee Room	1.20	1.20
	Kitchen	1.50	1.50
	Project Room	1.20	1.20
	Games Room	2.00	2.10
Suffolk	Main Hall	3.50	2.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.50
	Committee Room	1.50	1.00
	Project Room	1.50	1.00
	Kitchen	0.80	0.80
Whiterock	Main Hall	3.80	2.20
	Minor Hall	2.00	1.70
	Committee Room	1.20	1.20
	Club Room	1.00	1.00
	Project Room	1.00	1.00
	Kitchen	0.80	0.80
Woodvale	Main Hall	4.20	2.70
	Committee Room	1.00	0.80
	Kitchen	1.00	1.00”

 

            A Member suggested that the proposed 2% price increase in the charges for the use of community centres would impact adversely on local communities.  He indicated, given that there was no increase proposed for the commercial hire of both the Waterfront and Ulster Halls, that the matter be re-examined.  

 

            In response to a further question, the Head of City Events and Venues, indicated that the Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting on 10th February, had agreed to increase its charges for the hire of BelfastCastle and Malone House by an average of 2.5%.

 

            After discussion, it was

 

Moved by Councillor Ekin,

Seconded by Councillor Crozier,

 

      That the Committee agrees to approve the proposed Scale of Charges for 2011/2012.

 

            On a vote by show of hands three Members voted for the proposal and ten against and it was accordingly declared lost.

 

Further Proposal

 

Moved by Councillor Mac Giolla Mhín,

Seconded by Councillor Groves,

 

      That the Committee agrees to approve the Scale of Charges for 2011/2012 for the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall and St. George’s Market and that no increase be applied to the rate of charges for community centres.

 

            On a vote by show of hands ten Members voted for the proposal and two against and it was accordingly declared carried.