Agenda and minutes

Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman Dorrian and Councillor Bradley.

            The minutes of the meeting of 19th August were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council, at its meeting on 1st September, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            Councillor Pankhurst declared an interest in relation to agenda item 9 – Request to Present, on the basis that he was employed on a temporary contract by Queen’s University.

            Councillor Spratt also declared an interest in respect of this item, on the basis that his wife was employed by the Ulster University.

            The Members were advised by the Chief Executive that, as the item related only to a request for representatives of both universities to attend a future meeting, they were not required to leave this meeting whilst it was being considered. 

Resolved – That the Committee agrees to exclude the members of the Press and public from the meeting during discussion of the following four items as, due to the nature of the items, there would be a disclosure of exempt information as described in Section 42(4) and Section 6 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

            The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an assessment of the key issues which would influence the rate setting process for 2023/24 and the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for 2023/24 - 2025/26.

            After discussion, the Committee:

                             i          noted the challenges to be taken into consideration as part of the annual and medium-term rate setting; and

                            ii          agreed to receive monthly rate update reports to enable the striking of the district rate by February, 2023.

            The Committee agreed also, with thirteen Members voting for and five against, that a letter be forwarded to Mr. Jeffrey Donaldson M.P., the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, requesting that his Political Party engage immediately with the other Political Parties in order to form an Executive to address the cost-of-living crisis.  

            (With the exception of the Chief Executive, the Senior Democratic Services Officer and the Democratic Services Officer, all officers left the meeting whilst this item was under consideration.)

            The Chief Executive reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 19th August, it had agreed that a report be presented to its next meeting on a proposed structure for a revised Corporate Management Tier.

            Accordingly, he drew the Committee’s attention to the following proposed organisational model:

            The Chief Executive went on to seek the Committee’s approval to implement the following changes at officer leadership level, which would be required under the proposed model:

                               i.          to replace the post of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources with a post of Director of Corporate Services, with:

·    the finance function to be removed from the portfolio of services and the City Innovation Team to be added; and

·    the Customer Hub and Customer Programme SRO responsibilities and the Corporate Performance Management function to be moved to the Director of City and Organisational Strategy;

                              ii.          to redesignate the Head of Finance to Director of Finance, with that officer to report directly to the Chief Executive and become a member of the Corporate Management Team in his/her own right;

                            iii.          to move the Facilities function to the Director of Physical Programmes; and

                            iv.          to redesignate the Head of Human Resources to Director of Human Resources and the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications to Director of External Affairs, Communications and Marketing, with each officer to have a direct reporting line to the Chief Executive and become a member of the Corporate Management Team in their own right.

            The Committee approved the aforementioned changes and noted that, upon completion of the recruitment of the Strategic Director roles, an expression of interest would be undertaken to fulfil the role of Deputy Chief Executive.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 19th August, it had agreed that all Council staff below Chief Officer grade would receive two cost-of-living payments and that information on the cost implications of making such payments to agency and casual staff be presented to its next meeting.

            The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources informed the Committee that, as of 7th September, 319 agency staff were employed by the Council. The cost of making two cost-of-living payments to them would be £540,000 and he requested the Committee to consider if it wished to approve those payments.

            He went on to report that an analysis of casual workers had indicated that 29 workers undertook casual shifts for the Council on a regular basis and had worked a number of shifts since January, 2022. With that in mind, he presented the following costing options for the Committee to consider:

                       i.        make two payments to the 29 casual workers who had worked since January 2022, at a cost of £50,000, regardless of the number of hours worked; or

                      ii.        make two payments to the 16 casual workers who had worked an average of more than one day per week, at a cost of £28,000 and, on a pro-rata basis of 50%, to the remaining 13 casual workers who had on average worked less than one day per week, at a cost of £11,500. 

            The Committee agreed to make two cost-of-living payments to agency staff and to proceed with option i. for casual workers. 

            The Chief Executive confirmed that the points which had been raised by a number of Members around the difficulties faced by agency staff in securing permanent posts in the Council would be addressed in the report which he had, on 19th August, undertook to submit to a future meeting.

            The Committee noted the contents of a report providing an update on the progress being made across each of the operational areas in implementing the City Hall re-opening and recovery plan.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 19th June, 2020, it had agreed that a motion on Disabled People and Older People, which had been proposed by Councillor McMullan, would be considered within the context of the Council’s overall Recovery Programme, to ensure that the response and recovery would be inclusive of disabled people, older people and carers.

The Interim City Solicitor/Director of Legal and Civic Services pointed out that the motion had, amongst other things, called for the creation of a Reference Group for Disabled People to enable Members, the Council’s Disability Advisory Panel, Council officers and, from time to time, other relevant stakeholders and experts to discuss and progress actions on the Council’s commitment to becoming an accessible City for all by 2035.

She explained that it was proposed that an All-Party Working Group on Disability be established, which would meet on a quarterly basis and provide a forum for discussion, as well as receiving updates on the Council’s Disability Action Plan. The Working Group would make recommendations on proposed actions and policy development, which would then be presented to this Committee for approval, as required. Accordingly, she recommended that the Committee approve the establishment of the Working Group and endorse the Terms of Reference which had accompanied the Committee report.

Councillor McMullan reinforced the need for a Working Group on Disability and confirmed that he wished to make a number of amendments to the Term of Reference.

After discussion, the Committee approved the establishment of the Working Group on Disability and agreed that the Terms of Reference should be the first item to be considered at its inaugural meeting.    

The Committee was reminded that the Standards and Business Committee, at its meeting on 23rd August, had agreed to adopt the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Michael Collins:

“This Council recognises the importance of collective bargaining in the workplace and the central role of trade unions to this process, as representative voices for workers. Moreover, in a period where very many workers are opting to take industrial action, the Council recognises the right of workers to do so, and the role it can play in winning much needed pay increases during a cost-of-living crisis and while inflation continues to rise.

The Council notes that there are ongoing issues in Council leisure centres across our city, which workers and their trade unions have been attempting to resolve. The Council also notes, with disappointment, that GLL does not officially recognise trade unions in Council leisure facilities, denying workers the ability to collectively bargain effectively.

This Council agrees that GLL should officially recognise trade unions in Belfast City Council leisure centres and will write to the leadership of the organisation to urge it to do so.

The Chief Executive of the Council will also convene a meeting with the relevant trade unions to hear directly about the issues facing workers in our leisure centres and commit to address them with GLL.”

            The Chief Executive informed the Committee that a response had been received from Mr. G. Kirk, Senior Regional Director of GLL.

            Mr. Kirk had begun by explaining that, as a worker owned, charitable social enterprise with an elected worker board, the interests of its people were represented at the highest level within the company.  The nature of GLL’S business meant that it was organised primarily on a partnership basis and the company had a good record of working closely with Trades Unions in these local environments.  He had highlighted the fact that the Trades Union forum in Belfast worked particularly well, with both GLL’s management and the Trades Unions being able to raise issues and discuss collectively, in order to reach a favourable conclusion for both parties.  This arrangement had worked very well for the past seven years and had created very strong partnership working and outputs for staff under this model. GLL did not, therefore, see any reason for this to change.

            Mr. Kirk had gone on to state that there was strong evidence in the outputs across the City, within staffing teams, that reinforced how successful the social enterprise partnership between the Council and GLL had been.  There had been over 200 GLL promotions in recent years, which demonstrated an inward focus on staff and excellent delivery of learning and development opportunities.  All of GLL’s staff had received an average 4% pay increase in April 2022, in recognition of the current cost-of-living challenges which many faced.  In partnership with the Council, there had been seventeen leisure employment academies, resulting in over 100 local people gaining training and then employment within leisure centres.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

            The Chief Executive submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1      This report is to provide the Committee with an update on the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD), including a detailed update on progress to secure in excess of £7m of funding through the Complementary Fund to establish a Northern Ireland wide Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) which will help to address the financial barriers facing small businesses and social enterprises wishing to digitally transform.

2.0       Recommendations

            The Committee is requested to:

                                                 i          note that it is intended that the DTFF will operate on NI wide basis and be led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council through its existing arrangements operating the Full Fibre NI Consortium;

                                               ii          note the revenue costs associated with operation of the Fund, across a three-year delivery period as outlined in the appendix to the report.  (There is no additional financial ask for the Council, as revenue costs identified have already been accounted for within existing Belfast Region City Deal budgets;

                                             iii          approve the Council’s participation in the DTFF, requiring the Council to join the FFNI consortium along with the other ten partnering councils currently members of this partnership and for revenue costs associated with the delivery of the project to commence from November 2022 to enable pre-development work to commence;

                                              iv          note the update in relation to Belfast Stories and approve the extension for the Programme Director in line with the project timetable which will be financed from existing BRCD resources;

                                               v          note the update in relation to the Belfast Digital Innovation Commissioner;

                                              vi          approve the contribution to Innovation City Belfast, which will be financed from existing BRCD resources; and

                                            vii          note that the next meeting of the BRCD Council Panel will be hosted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on 28th September.

3.0       Main Report

            Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF)

3.1       As the Committee will be aware, supporting digital innovation is a key priority in the development of the spectrum of projects emerging through city and growth deals across Northern Ireland.  The DTFF concept was initially developed in response to the low levels of innovation and digital transformation taking place across the region - particularly among the small business community.  The DTFF aims to address the financial barrier that small businesses face when seeking to digitally transform by establishing a capital grant fund that will support investment in the types of capital equipment considered critical to their strategic digital transformation ambitions (e.g. hardware, software, bespoke system development).

3.2       To date, £6m of funding for this project has been ring-fenced through the NI City and Growth Deal Complementary Fund.  The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has committed a further £1.1m.  Due to its ineligibility for the Complementary Fund, engagement is ongoing with the Derry City and Strabane Growth Deal to secure an additional £450k to create a total capital grant fund of £7.5m  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

            The Director of Neighbourhood Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       To update the Committee on the Age Friendly Belfast Draft Plan 2022-2026 and agree the Age Friendly Belfast Draft Plan to go to public consultation.

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to approve the Age Friendly Belfast Draft Plan 2022-2026 here for public consultation in Autumn 2022.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            Background

3.1       In 2012, the Council’s Reference Group on Older People provided the initial leadership to explore Belfast becoming an Age Friendly City, and, in May 2012, the Lord Mayor signed a declaration committing Belfast to this process. HASP coordinated delivery of two Age Friendly Belfast Plans in 2014-2017 and 2018-2021.

3.2       The Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership (HASP) coordinates the work of many organisations and agencies working with and for older people. HASP manages the development and implementation of the city’s Age Friendly Plans on behalf of the Council and the wider Community Planning Partnership.

3.3       The draft plan will be issued for consultation in the Autumn, as part of October Positive Ageing Month, with a launch in December 2022/January 2023 and submission to WHO. An accessible version of the final plan will also be made available.

            Age Friendly Draft Plan 2022-2026

3.4       The plan will retain the vision A city where older people live life to the full.

3.5       Consultation has identified the following four strategic themes and associated actions:

1.      Infrastructure/Getting out and about

·        Develop a joined-up approach to engagement and co-design with older people on local and city centre developments, led by Greater Belfast Seniors Forum, the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) and the Department for Infrastructure

·        Develop age friendly design principles, which can be used to inform new infrastructure developments, led by Age Friendly Network NI and Belfast City Council

·        Review and improve access to seating and toilets, led by Belfast City Council, Department for Communities and Department for Infrastructure

·        Raise awareness and provide training for bus drivers on the needs of older people using their services, led by Age Partnership Belfast

2.     Social Connections

·        Support recovery of groups/programmes with older people led by Age Partnership Belfast, Belfast City Council and voluntary and community sector partners

·        Coordinate an Age Friendly Belfast annual programme of events/activities, led by BCC Age Friendly Co-ordinator, supported by a range of city partners

·        Develop local connection hubs and a city centre hub where older people can meet each other and access information, led by Greater Belfast Seniors Forum

·        Develop dementia carers cafes in all four dementia friendly neighbourhoods, led by Dementia Friendly Neighbourhood groups and supported by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

·        Develop a recruitment drive to encourage older people to re-engage in volunteering, and to recruit new volunteers. Promote initiatives to manage and support older people’s participation in volunteering, led by Volunteer Now

3.     Health and Wellbeing

·        Work with Greater Belfast Seniors forum to link with GP representatives and multi-disciplinary teams  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

            The Interim City Solicitor/Director of Legal and Civic Services submitted for the Committee’s approval the final version of the revised Dual Language Street Signs Policy. The revised wording reflected the updated approach to carrying out Equality and Good Relations assessments, as agreed by the Committee on 17th June, and related primarily to the fact that each application would, in the first instance, undergo an ‘initial assessment’ for any potential adverse impacts on equality, good relations or rural needs, rather than an ‘equality screening’. The Policy had been live since the Committee’s decision had been ratified by the Council and over 500 applications had been received to date.

            After discussion, the Committee approved the final version of the Dual Language Street Signs Policy for publication on the Council’s website and agreed, in response to a request from a Member, to initiate the process for the erection of dual language signage at Páirc Nua Chollann. 

            The Committee agreed to defer consideration of a report seeking approval for the Council to enter into a funding agreement, to the value of £10,000, with the organisers of a climate business conference being planned for Belfast, to enable further information to be provided on other potential funders.  

            The Committee approved the extension of the current term of the ground lease at Plot 24, Balmoral Estate to a term of 125 years, from 2022, with the Council to receive a single premium payment of £8,000 and approved also the variation of the user clause to include commercial use as a permitted use.

            The Director of Physical Programmes submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The Council’s Physical Programme currently includes 170 capital projects with investment of £150m+ via a range of internal and external funding streams, together with projects which the Council delivers on behalf of external agencies. This report requests movements on the Capital Programme for Alleygating Phase 5 and City Hall Stained Glass Windows.

2.1       The Committee is requested to consider the following proposed movements on the Capital Programme:

·        Alleygating Phase 5 Project - agree the proposed list, as attached, and that the project be moved to Stage 3 – Committed.

·        City Hall Stained Glass Windows project - agree that the project be moved to Stage 2 – Uncommitted to allow the Outline Business Case to be developed.

3.0       Main Report

3.1       The Committee will be aware that the Council runs a substantial Physical Programme. This includes the rolling Capital Programme – a multimillion regeneration programme of investment across the city which improves existing Council assets or provides new council facilities. The Council also delivers externally focused funding streams such as BIF, LIF and SOF, as well as numerous capital programmes that we deliver for central government. Our funding partners include NHLF, SEUPB Peace IV, the Executive Office via Social Investment Fund and Urban Villages, DfC, DfI, DAERA, Ulster Garden Villages and others.  When appropriate, the Physical Programmes Department is happy to arrange site visits to any projects that have been completed.

            Proposed Movements – Capital Programme

3.2       Members have previously agreed that all capital projects must go through a Three Stage process where decisions on which projects progress are taken by Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. This provides assurance on the level of financial control and will allow Members to properly consider the opportunity costs of approving one capital project over another capital project.

            The Committee is asked to agree to the following movements on the Capital Programme:

            Alleygating Phase 5

3.3       In August 2022, the Committee agreed to move Alleygating Phase 5 to a Stage 2 - Uncommitted project on the Capital Programme. The Council has delivered four phases of the alleygating programme to date across the city which has seen the installation of 1081 gates, with both Council funding and funding from external funders. As part of the 2021/22 rate setting process, Members will recall that £500,000 has been made available for Alleygating Phase 5 across Belfast. Following the August decision, each Area Working Group has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meetings of the South Belfast Area Working Group of 22nd August, the West Belfast Area Working Group of 25th August, the North Belfast Area Working Group of 30th August and the East Belfast Area Working Group of 8th September, including the following recommendations:

            South Belfast Area Working Group

·        to approve a request from the Urban Villages Initiative for a specific and total allocation of £584,167 for the Arts and Digital Hub project, to enable the release of a Letter of Offer.

            West Belfast Area Working Group

·        to reallocate £750,000 which had been set aside for the Shankill Mission project (which was no longer viable) as follows:

                                 i.    Berlin Swifts and Greater Shankill Community Council (Legion) Projects – to meet the funding deficits on both projects, with up to £113,000 to be allocated to Berlin Swifts and the final budget allocation for the Greater Shankill Community Council project to be agreed once the tender has been returned;

                               ii.    £50,000 to be allocated to a small-scale environmental improvement project for the Shankill Road; and

                              iii.    in terms of the remaining allocation, to examine a number of other proposals in Woodvale Park, namely, MUGA upgrades and the development of a sensory garden, with further detail to be brought back to the Working Group in due course.

North Belfast Area Working Group

·        that the remaining allocation of £71,413, which had become available from the underspends within the Cancer Lifeline and Grace Family Centre projects, be allocated to the Cavehill Tennis Club for capital works relating to floodlighting and pitches.

East Belfast Area Working Group

·        that representatives of Castlereagh Presbyterian Church be invited to the next meeting of the Working Group and that a further site visit be undertaken, and

·        to undertake a site visit to the Templemore leisure facility, as it moved into the completion stage.

            The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Resources submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1             The purpose of this report is to present to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the Statement of Accounts of the Council, including the Annual Governance Statement, for the period ending 31 March 2022.

1.2             The Statement of Accounts are an important element of the council’s overall corporate governance framework as they provide assurance to Members and ratepayers on the stewardship of the council’s finances and its financial position.

1.3       The Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022, which can be accessed from the Council website here, have been prepared in line with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2021/22 based on International Financial Reporting Standards and the Department for Communities Accounts Direction, Circular LG 02/22 dated 7th January,  2022 and 23rd March, 2022.

1.4       I can confirm that the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 has been prepared in the form directed by the Department for Communities and in my opinion the Statement of Accounts give a true and fair view of the income and expenditure and cash flows for the financial year and the financial position as at the end of the financial year.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

                                            i     approve the Council’s Statement of Accounts and incorporated Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March 2022; and

                                          ii     agree that this report should not be subject to call-in (as indicated above) because it would cause an unreasonable delay which would be prejudicial to the Council’s and the public’s interests given that the statement of accounts must be published by 30th September, 2022.

3.0       Main Report

            Key Issues

            Normal Approval Process

3.1       The Committee will be aware that the normal approval process allows for the Statement of Accounts to be presented to the Audit and Risk Panel to allow them to review the annual statement of accounts.  Specifically, to consider whether appropriate accounting policies have been followed and whether there are concerns arising from the financial statements or from the audit that need to be brought to the attention of the council prior to this report going to the SP and R Committee.

            However, the Audit and Risk Panel was postponed on 13th September, in line with agreed protocol for the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.  The meeting has now been reconvened for Wednesday 21st September, at which the Statement of Accounts will be discussed, any issues raised by the panel will be verbally reported to this Committee.

            Audit Opinion

3.2       It is the Local government Auditors’ opinion that:

·        the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with relevant legal and statutory requirements and the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2021-22, of the financial position of Belfast City Council as at 31  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Committee:

·        approved the public advertisement of tenders, as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 1 below;

·        approved the award of the Single Tender Action, in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 2 below;

·        approved the modification of the contract, as per Standing Order 37a, as detailed in Table 3 below; and

·        noted the award of the retrospective Single Tender Action, in line with Standing Order 55 exceptions, as detailed in Table 4 below.

Table 1: Competitive Tenders

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Shared City Partnership of 20th September, including the recommendations:

PEACE IV

                  Secretariat

·        to note the request for an Expression of Interest from the Special European Union Programmes Body for funding up to £100k for Good Relations activity and to recommend to the Committee that the Council should not submit an Expression of Interest, given current pressures.

Building Positive Relations

      BPR3

Transform for Change – NICVA

·        to approve a request to progress payment of 30% of the NICVA contract end payment in line with the deliverables completed and supporting evidence that has been submitted; and

·        to approve, in principle, an extension to November 2022 for the delivery of community led Action Plans.

                  BPR5

                  LINCS

·        to extend the project to 30th November, 2022 to allow for a closure event to take place.

                  Traveller Support Project

·        to approve a further extension until the end of October, 2022 to allow for the completion of all elements of the Traveller Support project.

                  Morrow Communications

·         to approve an extension to 31st December, 2022 to allow for a closure event to take place.

Good Relations

·      to note the request for the Partnership to engage with Rubicon Consulting in the development of the Audit;

·      to approve the request to invite Dr. Lucy Michael to the next meeting of the Partnership to present the draft findings of the research on the lived experience of ethnic minority communities in Belfast; and

·      to approve funding of £10,000 to Duncairn Community Partnership for the Interactive Trail project in Alexandra Park, subject to no recurring costs under the Good Relations Action Plan.

PEACE PLUS

·      to approve the updated stakeholder engagement plan and key milestones for developing the plan.

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Party Group Leaders’ Consultative Forum of 15th September.

The Committee adopted the recommendations in respect of those applications received up to 9th September, as set out below:

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the Language Strategy Working Group of 26th August.

            The Director of Physical Programmes submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1            The purpose of this report is to seek the Committee’s approval of the preferred design for the Carson Tile in the Rotunda area in the City Hall. 

2.0       Recommendation

2.1       The Committee is asked to approve the recommendation from the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group of 31st August on the proposed design for the Carson Tile to be installed in the Rotunda in City Hall as being Option 3, as pictured in paragraph 3.3 below.

3.0       Main Report

            Carson Tile

            Background

3.1       In November 2012, the Council received an independent Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) relating to the City Hall and City Hall grounds. This EQIA was carried out in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Council’s Equality Scheme. This EQIA underpinned the decision to relocate memorabilia into the exhibition, allowing it to be seen and understood in a different way. Whilst the relocation of the artefacts and memorabilia from various parts of the City Hall into the exhibition space addressed the issue of the City Hall itself, in terms of the EQIA, the EQIA also applied to the City Hall grounds, in respect of which no steps have been taken to address the report’s findings that there is a need to provide a contemporary image of the City, reflective of its vibrancy and diversity.

3.2       At the time when the relocation of memorabilia to the exhibition was agreed, there was, as part of that arrangement, a commemorative tile to be installed marking the place at which Sir Edward Carson stood when he signed the Ulster Covenant.  HED approval is required for this and following ongoing discussions with HED it has been agreed that this will take the format of a tile within the Rotunda area.  The SP and R Committee was updated on this at its meeting in May 2021 and approved approve the installation of a plaque with the final design to be agreed.  This was referred to the City Hall Installations Working Group for further consideration.  HED have subsequently confirmed that marble is the preferred material for installation.

3.3       The City Hall Installations Working Group has considered three options for the design of the Carson Tile which will be installed within the Rotunda in the City Hall.  The designs considered are set out below:

3.4       Three Members expressed a preference for Option 3 (the design on the far right), while two Members expressed a preference for Option 1 and one for Option 2. 

            The Committee is, therefore, asked to endorse the recommendation of the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group of 31st August on the proposed design for the Carson Tile as being Option 3. This will enable this to proceed to final design in advance of manufacture and installation.

            Financial and Resources Implications

3.5       Following confirmation of final concept, a detailed design can be produced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

            (The Committee had, earlier in the meeting, within a separate report, adopted the recommendation of the Working Group to adopt Option 3 as the design of the Carson tile to be placed in the Rotunda area of the City Hall.) 

            The Committee approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting of the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group of 31st August.

            The Committee noted the key issues which had been discussed at the meeting of the Audit and Risk Panel on 21st September and approved and adopted the minutes of the meeting.

To consider a request from Mr. Eamon Deeny, Public Affairs Manager, Queen’s University, for representatives of Queen’s University and the Ulster University to attend a future meeting to highlight the role of Purpose Built Managed Student Accommodation in Belfast.

            The Committee approved a request for representatives of Queen’s University and the Ulster University to attend a future meeting to highlight the role of Purpose-Built Managed Student Accommodation in Belfast.