Agenda item

            The Head of Economic Initiatives advised the Committee that a request for funding had been received from the Federation of Passenger Transport Northern Ireland.  She explained that the Federation was a small not-for-profit organisation which had been set up to promote passenger transport and coach tourism.  It represented 70% of private coach companies in Northern Ireland, involving over 300 coaches, as well as Translink, and worked in partnership with other organisations such as Coach Tourism and the Transport Council in the Republic of Ireland.

            She explained that the Federation was seeking support towards the initial set up costs of establishing a new coach parking facility at Donegall Quay, on the site of the old Seacat terminal.  The site, which comprised 0.78 acres and which could accommodate 35 large and 5 medium sized coaches, was owned by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.  The Federation planned to secure the area by a series of Closed-Circuit Television cameras with 24 hour surveillance.  A new gate would be erected and controlled by a remote keyless entry system, which would be supported by an online booking facility and randomised entrance codes for vehicles.  There would be a 24 hour emergency and call out facility.

            The Federation’s business plan for the Coach Park was based on 50% of the space being allocated to local hotels in Belfast at a cost of £2,000 per annum (£2.74 per day) and the remaining spaces being made available to visiting coaches at a cost of £10.00 per day.  The business plan showed a deficit of £8,300 in year one.  However, in years two and three the model demonstrated a profit of £7,199 and £12,615 respectively.  Any profit would be reinvested into the development/expansion of the facility.  Therefore, the Federation was seeking support from the Council towards the initial set up costs, that is, the £8,300 deficit in year one.

            The Head of Economic Development stated that at present there were six coach parking bays at College Square North, two bays at Glengall Street and one bay for drop off/hop on at Victoria Square.  However, there had been reports of vandalism from coach operators due to lack of secure overnight parking in the City.  She indicated that the proposal fitted in well with the draft Belfast Integrated Strategic Tourism Framework 2010-2014, which the Committee had approved in February.  That Framework had identified the need to sustain quality infrastructure and services across the City, of which coach parking would be an essential requirement.  The Framework had identified also the need to exploit the opportunity presented by the Republic of Ireland market and the all island touring market.  In both instances, coach operators played an important role in delivering visitors to the City.

            The Northern Ireland Tourist Board was supportive of the proposal and had agreed in principle to offer support of 25% of the year one deficit on the basis that the Council would cover the remaining 75%.

            The Committee agreed to provide a one off payment of £6,230 to the Federation of Passenger Transport Northern Ireland towards the initial set up costs of a coach parking facility at Donegall Quay, subject to any profits accruing in years two and three being reinvested into the facility and on the condition that the coach park would be open to non-Federation members.