Agenda item

            The Director of Development provided the Members with an update on the preparations for the Christmas Market which would operate in the City Hall grounds, and the immediate outer perimeter area on Donegall Square North, from 19th November to 22nd December, 2016. 

            The Director confirmed to the Committee that the delivery of the Christmas Market was put out to tender every year since its inception in 2004, with Marketplace Europe (MPE) having been appointed as the operator each year. 

            The Members were reminded that the Christmas Market was one of the main attractions for tourists over the Christmas season.  The Director reported that the last evaluation of the Christmas Market, carried out by Millward Brown Ulster in 2014, noted that the Market generated around £58million into the local economy, with 60% of Market attendees also visiting local shops and 39% visiting local restaurants and cafés.

            The Director also reported that a recent survey showed that 91% of traders within the Belfast One BID area felt that the Market was of significant direct value to the City, while the traders at St George’s Market also felt that the Christmas Market was complementary to their offer and had a positive impact on their trading performance. 

            The Director explained to the Committee that one of the most significant opportunities this year was the potential presented by the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016.  He advised that this year’s Market would feature a number of unique local food traders who would be located in 20 new chalets along the outer perimeter railings on Donegall Square North.  He pointed out that those stall holders would operate on a rota basis, changing twice a week, to ensure that they were able to produce sufficient stock.  He advised that those companies had been selected by Food NI and would come from all over Northern Ireland. 

            The Director pointed out that MPE had yet again invested in a significant outreach programme with schools, a range of family friendly activities and tours at quieter times for those with disabilities. He reported that the chosen charity for the Christmas Grotto at the Market would be the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital.  

            In response to a Member’s question regarding congestion at the Market, the Director advised that there would be around 90 chalets within the City Hall grounds, which was slightly fewer than in recent years as the organisers had worked to improve the layout in order to reduce congestion at peak times. 

            A further Member asked that measures be taken to ensure that the grounds of the City Hall be left in a good state of repair during the set-up and dismantling of the Market.

            The Director advised that MPE wished to open the Market from 12 noon on Sundays this year and that the Legal Services Section had advised that there were no reasons why that could not happen in principle.

            After discussion, the Committee:

1.     noted the update on the Christmas Market at the City Hall;

2.     agreed that the Market would open from 12 noon on Sundays;

3.     agreed that assurances be sought from the relevant persons in relation to marshalling and crowd control at the market; and

4.     agreed that due consideration and care be taken during the build of the Marketand that the grounds and surrounding area of the City Hall be left in a good state of repair after the Market departed.