Minutes:
Usdaw
Mr Michael Aylward, representing Usdaw, addressed the Committee. He indicated that he was disappointed that the item was back on the agenda less that a year after previous consideration. He referred to the economics argument and that in 2011 research undertaken by the Northern Ireland Assembly had indicated that there would be no economic benefit by extending Sunday trading. He stated that the pilot undertaken during the London Olympics had shown a decline in sales during that period.
He stated that the Union believed that the proposals for the extended Sunday hours would have a negative impact on retail workers. He stated that Usdaw had surveyed its members across the Uk and that 94% did not wish to have extended Sunday trading. With regard to protections and workers’ rights, he was of the view that, with what was currently in place, there was no protection for staff who refused to work the proposed extended Sunday hours and this could leave staff financially worse off.
He concluded by requesting the Committee to give serious consideration to the proposals. The Union did not believe it would benefit the local economy, that there were any major retailers asking for it and the negative impact it would have on smaller retailers by allowing larger store extended Sunday opening.
Mr Aylward then answered a number of questions, including issues relating to statutory protection for workers, and retired from the table.
Retail NI
Mr Glynn Roberts, representing Retail NI, was invited to address the Committee. He commented on the request he had made at the Committee meeting the previous year, when it had been considering this matter, for the Council to instigate with the various different players, that is, the Unions, Retail NI, the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, roundtable meetings to discuss and chart a weekend strategy for Belfast. He stated that he was disappointed that this has not happened. He referred to the current consultation of which 50.7% of the responders had opposed the extension of Sunday trading. He highlighted the impact he believed this would have on local independent retailers and stated that the extra hours they had to trade were vital to their businesses. The fact that the large businesses already had an unfair competitive advantage through free car parking and no traffic enforcement at their businesses. He made the point that if the Committee were minded to designate Belfast as a ’holiday resort’ this could have a major impact with other towns and cities following suit.
He stated that the existing laws had been a hard fought compromise. He accepted that more needed to be done to make Belfast a world-class city in terms of tourism but referred to those attractions already in place such as the Titanic building, the Ulster Museum and St. George’s Market. He concluded by requesting the Committee to oppose the proposals.
Mr. Roberts then answered a number of questions from the Members and retired from the table.
Hospitality Ulster, NI Hotels Federation
and Visit Belfast
Mr. Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster, Ms. Janice Gault, NI Hotels Federation, and Mr. Gerry Lennon, Visit Belfast, were invited to address the Committee.
Mr. Neill explained that, in terms of economic assets, tourism spend in Northern Ireland was half of that which was spent in the Republic of Ireland, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 5%, whilst the rest of the UK and the ROI was over 10%. There was a need to maximise the income from tourists by providing more for them to do. He made the point that the tourism industry respected the rights of people who worked in hospitality and retail and the rights to allow them to choose if they wished to work on a Sunday or not.
He stated that, to compete on a global tourism stage, the city must offer an attractive experience, one that added economic value to tourism. Hospitality Ulster believed the current restrictions were not providing visitors with the best experience and limited the opportunity to maximise the economic benefits. Accordingly, he requested the Committee to support the proposal to give Belfast ‘holiday resort’ status.
Ms. Gault stated that Belfast hotel room numbers were likely to increase in the region of 38% by the end of 2019. In order to grow as an industry, it was important that the visitor be offered choice, as it was a very competitive market where the visitor could choose to go to any city in the UK. She explained that issue most raised by visitors was what to do on a Sunday morning. People have expressed the desire to shop, to go out into the city and spend money. The industry felt it was important that visitors were offered those choices. In tandem with that, it was important that retail workers were offered a choice as well. Visitors to Northern Ireland spend approximately £169, whereas visitors to Scotland spend £335. Throughout Northern Ireland half a billion pounds is being invested in the hotel industry and it would like to be able to maximise that economy.
Mr Lennon explained that, from a Visit Belfast prospective, all its views were about its mission which was about driving up visitor numbers and spend. Thanks to the leadership shown by the Council, tourism has grown by 50% in the last 5 years to the point where overnight visitors were spending £300 million per year in the city. Research indicated that one third of that goes into retail. Retail is an important part of the visitor offering, it was crucial and the city was not maximising that to the full. There was 40-50% less spend here compared to the rest of the UK. The occupancy rates on a Saturday night were at 90% and it was estimated that were 10,000 visitors with time on their hands and money in their pockets on a Sunday morning. It was the view of Visit Belfast that the designation as a ‘holiday resort’ was a natural out working of the Council’s already stated policy on tourism.
The Deputation then answered a number of questions from the Members and then left the table.
Belfast Chamber of Trade
And Commerce
Ms. Michelle Greeves, Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Steven Simpson, Independent retailer, and Ms. Emer McKerr, retail worker, addressed the Committee.
Ms Greeves explained that the Chamber passionately supported choice. The choice for retailers to open or not and that choice was currently not there to open an extra couple of hours on a Sunday. Some retailers can open currently, that is, those whose premises were under 3,000 square feet in size and the Chamber was asking to treat all retail the same and allow that choice for all retail workers. In addition, in some parts of the retail sector, employees work longer than 1.00pm to 6.00pm and the Chamber was asking for consistency for all workers. This would also be extended to tourists and visitors to the city who would have the choice to shop. She stated that the city needed to be animated, and attracting people to the city was not just about retail, but that did add an extra choice. The Chamber welcomed the ‘charter for Sunday workers’ and would welcome the opportunity to work with the Council on what that charter need to cover.
Mr. Simpson referred to the current difficulties in the retail trade with many businesses having to close and therefore there was a need to introduce creative ways to bring people into the city centre on Sunday mornings. There were more tourists in the city centre on Sunday mornings and there was a need to look at ways to entice them to get involved in what Belfast has to offer. He explained that 50% of his staff were female and were originally managers and this would give them the opportunity to work more hours and earn more money, which they were in favour of.
Ms. McKerr expressed the view that she would like the choice to work on a Sunday morning, which she currently did not have. She was a working mother and worked every weekday and if she had the opportunity to work on a Sunday she could have a day off during the week to spend more time with her children. It would also allow her the choice of when to attend church as, at present, working from 1.00pm to 6.00pm she missed both the morning and evening services. She could also save on crèche fees.
She met regularly with other staff in her organisation and the topic of Sunday hours had been discussed regularly and the overwhelming feedback was that they wanted the extended hours as they would have more flexibility and the choice whether to work or not on a Sunday.
The Deputation then answered a number of questions from the Members and then left the table.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter until a special meeting to be held on Friday, 27th April at 9.30a.m.