MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - 6th FEBRUARY 2001

MINUTES OF THE TWENTY SECOND MEETING OF
THE ASSEMBLY COMMISSION
HELD ON TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2001 AT 2.00PM
IN ROOM 106

PRESENT: The Speaker
Rev Robert Coulter
Mr John Fee
Dr Dara O'Hagan
Mr Jim Wells

IN ATTENDANCE: Mr G Cosgrave, Mr T Evans, Mr P Carlisle, Ms C Cleland
Ms G Campbell.

APOLOGIES: Mrs E Bell

1. The purpose of the meeting was to:

. draw together members' views after the visit to Ormiston House and consideration of the proposed site at the back of Parliament Buildings; and

. to discuss an appropriate way forward in relation to the options being considered under the economic appraisal.

2. Members agreed that the Ormiston House site offered to the Assembly significant development potential to meet additional requirements which may emerge over the projected lifetime of the economic appraisal (25 years). In addition the potential to open up access to the site from Pirrie Road would significantly address the accessibility objective.

3. The Commission also considered the other appraisal options which, in the case of option 2 - build to the back of Parliament Buildings, raised a number of concerns; ie uncertainty about the scale of site excavation, site accessibility during construction phase, excavation and construction costs, timescales and levels of disruption. In relation to option 3 - separate build in the Stormont Estate, there is still uncertainty about the availability of a suitable site, dedicated car parking facilities and level of disruption within the estate.

4. There was general agreement that the Ormiston House option provided the best potential to meet the overall aim of the economic appraisal:

'to identify the most appropriate option for the provision of additional permanent accommodation outside of Parliament Buildings which will enable the Assembly to carry out its responsibilities as a fully functioning legislature.'

5. The Commission agreed that there should be a formal vote to decide on the preferred option. The Speaker put the following proposition to the members:

'That the preferred option is option 4 (Ormiston House) and that the Assembly Commission should proceed with the necessary steps to acquire the property from the Police Authority with the proviso that, if other significant factors come to light, the Commission reserves the right to reconsider the other appraisal options.'

6. The proposal was carried by four votes (Mrs Bell, Rev Coulter, Mr Fee, Mr Wells) with one abstention. Mrs Bell was not present at the meeting but on the basis of consultation with the Clerk to the Assembly Commission agreed that Mr Fee should carry her vote.

7. The Commission agreed to meet next on Monday 12 February, half an hour after the rise of House.

TOM EVANS