Busts of Queen and Duke of Edinburgh could cost more than Council-approved budget

At the Coronation Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 28, Director of Corporate Services, Moira Quinn, reminded members that the draft programme was approved in February to “honour and enshrine the memory of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in tangible commemoration across the Borough”.

Ms Quinn said research was ongoing to obtain information and costings for suggestions contained within the programme, including the commissioning of the busts.

“Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is currently working on a similar project to install a bust or statue and have agreed to share information such as costs, artist and material used,” Ms Quinn said.

“In terms of indicative cost, a bust of [Andrew] Bonar Law was recently commissioned and is in Coleraine Town Hall at a total cost of £22,000. That gives an indication of what could be obtained for that budget.

“As part of the estimates process for 2024/25, council had agreed a £20,000 budget for delivery of the programme and during future meetings we can look at if that budget is sufficient for plans going forward.”

DUP Councillor Dawn Huggins noted that £1,500 of the budget was being used for D-Day commemorations in June. She said the remaining would not be sufficient and asked if funds would have to be agreed in the 2025/2026 financial year.

“Can we carry [the budget] to next term?” Cllr Huggins asked. “Because obviously that bust is going to take up more than what the budget is at the moment.”

“My view is that there’s no point in trying to make it fit. It’s a lasting legacy, so we shouldn’t just be rushing into something.”

Ms Quinn said the council had “envisaged a two-year programme”, with the busts being a longer-term plan, and suggested a procurement exercise to commission a sculptor before the next committee meeting in October.

She concluded: “There’s no doubt we’ll use quite a bit of the budget this year, but if the bust isn’t completed this year money can go to commissioning and ongoing work. Then additional budget can be set in the estimate for 2025/2026 for year two.”