Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

CATERING AND FUNCTIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE FIFTEENTH MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 19 JUNE AT 1.00PM IN ROOM 21

Present:
Ms J Morrice
Ms P Lewsley
Mr P Berry

Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew
Sir John Gorman

In the Chair:
Ms P Lewsley

In attendance:
Mr P Carlisle, Ms C Cleland, Mr J Floyd, Mrs C McGowan.

Mr D MacGreevy was in attendance for Agenda Item 6 & 7.

1. The minutes of the fourteenth meeting were accepted.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1. Members Dining Room

Ms C Cleland presented a paper to the Committee outlining a series of proposals for adapting the current catering facilities within the Members Dining Room.

Members endorsed all recommendations and proposed that these be forwarded to the Assembly Commission for approval.

2.2. Press Bar

Ms C Cleland presented a paper outlining proposals to develop the Press Bar.  The Committee requested that the Office of the Keeper forward a breakdown in the costings involved in implementing any changes/developments within the press bar.

3. Initial Cleaning Services

Mr J Floyd presented a paper outlining a recent request for a salary increase from initial cleaning services, a sub contractee from Mount Charles.

The Committee agreed that the matter should be forwarded to the Commission for consideration.  Ms Lewsley agreed to present the Committees recommendation that a minimum wage benchmark be reflected in all the tender documentation for the new catering contract.

Members discussed the need to highlight Committee decisions to the public through media publicity.   Mr Carlisle to explore the issue of Committee press releases with the Office of the Keeper.

4. Catering Contract

Members reviewed the critical path for the Catering contract and agreed that a member of the Assembly Commission should be invited to sit on the evaluation panel.  Mr Carlisle to take forward to the next Commission meeting.

5. Gift Shop

The Committee endorsed the changes to the terms of reference for developing the Gift Shop and agreed that progress should be made over the Summer Recess.

6. Basement Restaurant

D MacGreevy presented a paper outlining the problems and suggested solutions to dealing with overcrowding in the visitor's/basement restaurant by visitors.

Members agreed that Office of the Keeper should monitor the use of both facilities with a view to developing associated policy and procedures.  Mr MacGreevy to forward a paper outlining findings and proposed actions to the next Committee meeting.

7. Tours

The Committee endorsed Mr MacGreevy's recommendation on increasing the size of sponsored tours and agreed that these should be forwarded to the Commission for approval.

J Morrice raised the issue of accommodating unsponsored tours for the general public at set times during the week.  Mr MacGreevy to investigate during the Summer Recess.

8. Date of next meeting
To be arranged

Paul Carlisle
Room 105


30 April 2001 / Menu / 8 November 2001