Minutes:
The Committee was reminded that, following its decision in December, 2025, to defer consideration of the option to extend the contract with BWUH Ltd., a Committee workshop was held on 13th January, 2026, which provided Members with further information on a range of matters in relation to the contract extension and governance arrangements.
The Director of Economic Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration an updated report on the option to extend the contract between the Council and BWUH Ltd., for a further five years to 2031, for the operation of the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall and International Convention Centre (ICC) Belfast.
The report also outlined recommended amendments to the following clauses within the Shareholders’ Agreement:
· clause 7.1.13 (entering into any arrangement, contract or transaction outside the normal course of its business or otherwise than on arm's length terms, or where the annual consideration to be paid by the Company under the contract exceeds £100,000) and clause 7.1.14 (giving notice of termination of any arrangements, contracts or transactions of a value of more than £100,000 per annum, which are material in the nature of the Company's Business, or materially varying any such arrangements, contracts or transactions). That those clauses be amended to provide that the value of the contract thresholds be increased from £100,000 to £140,000 to align with inflation (over the contract period), and that this would be reviewed and increased with inflation annually thereafter; and
· clause 7.1.21 (agreeing to remunerate (by payment of fees, the provision of benefits-in-kind or otherwise) any new key employee of, or consultant to, the Company at a rate of or in excess of £50,000 per annum. This consent will not be required if any key employee is replaced and the replacing employee receives a remuneration package in an amount which is no more than 110% of their predecessor). That the clause be amended to provide that the threshold for remuneration for new employees be increased from £50,000 to £75,000 to align with the Council’s salary grading and inflation, and that this would be reviewed and increased in line with the National Joint Council (NJC) Pay Awards annually thereafter.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Brennan,
Seconded by Councillor McCann,
“That the Committee approves the option to extend the duration of the current operator contract with Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. for a further five years, commencing on 3rd June, 2026, subject to the insertion of a clause within the contract that continuation beyond three years should be on the basis of meeting agreed targets.”
On a vote, nine Members voted for the proposal and six against and it was declared carried.
During discussion, the Strategic Director for Place and Economy and the Divisional Solicitor advised that further advice would be brought back to the Committee in respect of an appropriate provision being made within the contract.
Accordingly, the Committee:
i. approved the option to extend the duration of the current operator contract with Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd. for a further five years, commencing on 3rd June, 2026, subject to the insertion of a clause within the contract that continuation beyond three years should be on the basis of meeting agreed targets; and
ii. agreed to amend the following clauses of the Shareholders’ Agreement:
· clause 7.1.13 and clause 7.1.14 be amended to provide that the value of the contract thresholds be increased from £100,000 to £140,000 to align with inflation (over the contract period), and that this would be reviewed and increased with inflation annually thereafter; and
· clause 7.1.21 be amended to provide that the threshold for remuneration for new employees be increased from £50,000 to £75,000 to align with the Council’s salary grading and inflation, and that this would be reviewed and increased in line with the National Joint Council (NJC) Pay Awards annually thereafter.