COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2009,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 19 November were agreed.
3. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a reply from NIEA to Committee queries on their draft revised enforcement policy.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Paul Goggins asking about the implications of organised crime in relation to illegal dumping and waste disposal and how it is being dealt with.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the PSNI asking for more information on the collection of fines on waste offences, the level of fines outstanding and requesting details of any difficulties they face in collecting the fines.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.09
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister of the Environment asking about the increase of waste crimes, the lack of resources and the implication of this on managing waste.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on planning applications lodged under draft PPS 14 and draft PPS 21.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister of the Environment asking when PPS21 will be published.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the buildings referred to in the response were related to the farm or the families involved and if the guideline is now that the land has been maintained for agricultural purposes for more than 6 years.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on blood alcohol limits.
Agreed: That Assembly Research are asked for a paper on drug/drive testing mechanisms used in other countries, information on enforcement of speeding on rural roads and on road deaths in other countries, if there are any differences in attitude, enforcement, and learning and also the age group of deaths.
Agreed: That a response is made to the consultation noting the Committee’s support for the introduction of random breath testing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department noting the Committee’s concern in the decline in Road Safety Committees and requesting information on the numbers of remaining committees. Further information is also required on road deaths and any causation that has been attributed to them and what measures are in place for the problem on rural roads and the role of education officers.
Agreed: That the road safety education officers are asked to brief the Committee on their role at a future meeting.
Agreed: That the PSNI are asked to make a road safety presentation to the Committee.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.36
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 10.38
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on sickness absence levels.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking who made the decision that swine flu would be excluded from annual sick leave and that the Committee’s views that sick leave in the public sector is generous enough.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a draft Committee response to the Minister on Planning Reform based on comments from stakeholders during the recent engagement event.
Agreed: That the response is forwarded to the Minister subject to a few changes.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a reply from DARD to a Committee query on farm and non-farm dwellers in rural areas.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking what discussions they have had from DARD in relation to the PPS 21 working group report on non farming rural dwellers.
Agreed: That NISRA is asked for information on the numbers living in the open countryside as opposed to small settlements.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a letter from the DOE advising of a change to their Work Programme.
Agreed: That a meeting is requested with the Permanent Secretary and senior management team for an update on their future work programme.
4. Departmental Briefing on December Monitoring Round
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the December Monitoring Round.
The main areas of discussion were the efficiency savings, external consultancy, ePIC funding and costs and planning application fees.
Agreed: That the Department is asked for details of their vacancy analysis and control policy, the number of ex civil servant they have employed as consultants, the percentage decrease in the volume of planning applications in the past 5 years, the overall increase in Planning Service staff in the last 5 years, a copy of the ePIC business case and, for future meetings, a more detailed breakdown of information on monitoring rounds, particularly in relation to salary costs.
Agreed: That the Committee supports the Department’s monitoring round bid.
5. Departmental Briefing on Carbon Reduction Commitment Order 2010
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Order 2010.
The main areas of discussion were energy consumption reductions, regulation of the scheme and schools emissions
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 12.06
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for more information on the proposed level of fines and criminal offences, the impact of the scheme in Northern Ireland and the audit of the scheme by NIEA officials.
6. Briefing by Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC) on their role
Representatives from the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countrysidebriefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on their role.
The main areas of discussion were ASSIs, independent scrutiny, payment of grants, the effect of the Review of Public Administration, funding, marine protected areas and climate change.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.36
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 12.45
Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 12.50
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking what expertise the councils have access to post RPA, currently provided by NIEA for environmental protection.
7. Permitted Development Rights
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with summaries of the recent consultation documents on Permitted Development Rights for consideration.
Agreed: That a synopsis of the responses to the consultation is requested and that the Committee discuss this issue at a future meeting to formulate a Committee response.
8. Consultations
The Pollution Prevention and Control (District Councils) Draft Charging Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme Northern Ireland
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.
Local Government Pension Scheme – Classroom Assistants
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.
9. Correspondence
Memo from Committee for Regional Development regarding letter from River Faughan Anglers Ltd.
Agreed: That the memo is forwarded to the Department asking them for a response to the queries outlined.
Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 12.55
Letter from Dungannon, South Tyrone and Armagh Councils regarding the proposed North South Electricity Interconnector.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an update on Pre Application Discussions on this issue.
Agreed: That a is sent to Dungannon council advising them of the Committee’s approach on this issue.
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
Letter from Minister on the seventh meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.
Email from NILGA on the Northern Ireland Local Government Awards.
Letter from the DARD Minister thanking the Chairperson for her contribution to the Second Stage of the Forestry Bill.
Report from DOE, Noise Complaint Statistics for Northern Ireland 2008-2009.
Letter from Minister making the Committee aware of SAGE and of the UK Government response to the SAGE First Interim Assessment Report.
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General – The Performance of the Planning Service.
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to discuss this report at a future meeting.
10. Any other business
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3 December 2009 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.58p.m.
Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
3 December 2009