Upgrading of council chamber’s sound system deferred to full Council meeting
Problems with sound in Guildhall Chamber and online over the last year
Discussion on how to fix the current sound issues in the council chamber in Derry’s Guildhall ended with a moment of levity when Ald Derek Hussey (UUP) suggested having a class for members on “how to project their voices and how to use a microphone properly” would be “a cheaper option”.
The members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture committee were presented with a report outlining two possible options on how to address the sound problem at Tuesday afternoon’s April meeting.
The full replacement of the Bosh system, cameras and speakers in the chamber would cost £203,000 - not including any building work to members desks that may be needed. Fixing the sound only would cost £24,750. Councillors were cautioned that both costs could rise when council went to market and tender.
Delivering the report, Council’s director of business and culture said there had been problems with the sound in the Guildhall, particularly online, over the last year or so.
He added: “Working with the head of digital services, we have been looking at various options for members to consider.
“Clearly the hybrid option is here to stay so we need to make sure that when members come in remotely, they are clearly heard within the chamber.
“We have already addressed things like the old projectors, which were 13 years old. We’ve replaced those and hopefully there is a definite visual improvement where they are a lot sharper and a lot brighter. We are also out for tender for a loop system for both here and in Strabane which will improve the quality for those who wear hearing aids.
“But, in terms of the actual chamber, we have looked at what we do with a sound system and how far we push this. If we were to replace everything and that is the absolute gold standard of what we want to do, we believe the cost would be in the region of excess of £200,000. There is an awful lot of work that would need to be done to replace all of the mics, all of the kit that is in front of us,” said the director.
Ald Hussey said he had voiced his concerns about the sound issue for “some considerable time”.
“The system that is here has not worked the way it is supposed to work from day one, it’s as simple as that,” he added.
“I think to only do the sound now would be a patchwork job and I don’t see the logic in it. The system needs replacement, end of story. The amount quoted (£203,000), if you leave it for another two or three years, that cost is going to go up and up again.
“My advice to the committee would be to bite the bullet now and get the job done. I believe that recent developments with regard to roles and responsibilities of councillors will mean there is slippage in the system that would allow this to be done,” said Ald Hussey.
Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said although he would be reluctant to spend several thousand pounds fixing the sound system, he was concerned about “access and inclusion”.
“I want to make sure that everybody that participates at these meetings is fully comfortable, whether they are in person or online, to be able to do that. So I am not sure only spending £20,000 to do the sound will get us where we need to go,” said Cllr Harkin.
“I agree with Ald Hussey. I think that it will become more expensive down the line if we don’t try to address this right now. I would [also] be looking for input from an organisation like RNIB and others to [tell us] the best way to proceed,” said Cllr Harkin, who suggested the matter should be decided at a full council meeting instead of in committee.
Cllr Antaine Ó Fearghail (Sinn Féin) who was chairing the meeting agreed with Cllr Harkin’s proposal.
Cllr Sean Mooney (SDLP) also backed the idea of the issue being discussed at full council but added: “We would be accepting the recommendation for the £24,000 aspect on the correction.”
Cllr Grace Uí Niallais said she believed the best approach to the sound issue was to “approve the recommendation we go ahead and get the sound system first and then look into the consultation around the pricing and the whole system after.”
Cllr Niallais was also happy for the matter to be deferred to full council for decision. The committee unanimously agreed.