Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 9.18am

1. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Mr Cree and Mrs Cochrane.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The Speaker sought any declarations of interest from the Commission in relation to items of business being discussed.  None were declared.

3. GIRO D’ITALIA – STORMONT ESTATE

The Speaker thanked Members for attending the meeting at short notice to discuss the arrangements for the Giro d’Italia on 9 May 2014.

The Director of Facilities/Keeper of the House provided Members with an update relating to the detail and costs for dressing the building, lighting and the pyrotechnic display to be hosted from the roof of Parliament Buildings on the closure of the festival on race day.

Mr Welch further highlighted the issues surrounding access to Parliament Buildings on the 9 May 2014.  Members discussed the difficulties in relation to access and egress to the building coupled with the potential problems with travel and car parking arrangements on the 9 May 2014 and agreed that the best solution would be to close the building on the day of the event.  The Speaker further confirmed that Mr Cree and Mrs Cochrane had indicated that they were in support of closure on the 9 May 2014 due to the difficulties highlighted. 

All Members agreed that it was an iconic event for Northern Ireland, attracting thousands of people to the estate.  Members further indicated that due to the close proximity of the event it was imperative that appropriate communication notices be issued to Members, Party Support staff, Commission staff and other building users and that Commission Members be advised of the notices. 

4. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 13 May 2014 at 12.45pm in Room 106.

The meeting ended 9.32am

Mr Tony Logue
Head of the Commission and Chief Executive’s Office