A decision by Belfast City Council to outsource the management of Malone House has been described by elected representatives as “dressed up privatisation”.
At this week’s full council meeting, the council voted to change the working arrangement of the South Belfast Georgian mansion so that “a suitably experienced and dynamic individual or business is identified to operate it”.
But Sinn Féin Councillor Ronan McLaughlin said: “This whole notion of giving Malone House to a charity or a social enterprise is a red herring – it’s a way of trying to sell it. We shouldn’t be giving out our assets, whether it is to the private sector or the third sector in order for them to make profits. It is fundamentally wrong for us to go down that route. I would see this as dressed up privatisation.”
A proposal by Sinn Féin to look at alternative use while retaining management under the council, with advice from a panel, with a People Before Profit amendment, was rejected.
Green Councillor Mal O’Hara said: “I fear that the same will happen to the zoo or castle or other estates that we hold as a council.”
Since 1983, Malone House has been a venue for weddings, conferences, social functions, private dining and other events, with catering operations currently being provided by an external catering company, which operated under an agreed contract with the council.
A council report states: “It was recognised that there was now a need to examine future uses and management arrangements/operating models, with a view to addressing both the current and potential future needs of local residents and visitors.”
Council officers offered options including remaining with the status quo, selling off Malone House completely, insourcing catering, the Sinn Féin option, or outsourcing management.
32 votes from DUP, Alliance, SDLP, UUP carried the officer recommended option to outsource, while 25 votes from Sinn Fein, the Green Party, and People Before Profit voted against it.
SDLP Councillor Donal Lyons said: “If we were selling the building, that would be a form of privatisation, but the building is an asset of ours. Belfast City Council, or indeed any council in the land, has a mandate to provide access to an 18th century building as a service.
“If we were talking about waste collection, or bereavement services or parks and playgrounds I would absolutely 100 percent be against it.”
He added: “This is looking at how we utilise an asset to derive rental income with a different use. There is no obligation to take on any or all of the ideas. There are plenty of precedents where we rent out assets.”
DUP Alderman Brian Kingston said the objections to the recommended plan for Malone House were “ideological”.
He said: “We are told this asset is costing the council and ratepayers £200,000 a year, which is not an insignificant amount of money. It is a prime asset, and what we have agreed to do is to go out and see if other operators with expertise in this type of facility could save us that money and produce better outcomes and have more people through the doors.”
