Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 5 October 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Open/Closed Meetings
3. Matters Arising
4. The North West Region Cross Border Group
5. Statutory Rules
6. Visit by Local Government Committee, Scottish Parliament
5. Correspondence from the Department regarding Transport Licensing and Enforcement
8. Visit to Landfill Sites
9. School Bus Accident
10. Public Inquiry Submissions
11. Date of Next Meeting
Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mrs J Carson
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr D Watson
In Attendance: Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mr J Nulty ( Administrative Support)
Apologies: Mr T Benson
Mr E Poots
The meeting commenced at 10.32am.
1. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2000 were agreed.
top2. Open/Closed Meetings.
The Committee discussed the issue of Open and Closed Committee meetings.
Agreed: That this matter would be included on the agenda for the next meeting.
top3. Matters Arising.
- Ladyhill Quarry
- The Committee noted that the requested correspondence had been issued in the following matters:-
A reply to Dr McCrea's letter of 19 September to the Minister is awaited.
(i) Historic Buildings Grant
(ii) Campaign against landfill at Mallusk
(iii) McQuillan Skip Hire
(iv) Resourcing of Agri-Environment Schemes
(v) Proposed demolition of property a Gracehill
(vi) Correspondence from Greencastle Area Residents Group
At this stage the Committee met in Public Session.
Mrs J Carson joined the meeting at 10.38.
top4. The North West Region Cross Border Group
Mr Eamon Molloy, Development Officer, Mr Danny McSorley, Chief Executive of Strabane District Council and Mr John Michael, Ballymoney Borough Council joined the meeting at 10.38am.
(Before the presentation started, Dr McCrea, Joan Carson, Mick Murphy, David Ford, Carmel Hanna and Arthur Doherty declared an interest as Councillors - Arthur Doherty also declared an interest as a member of the Group itself.)
They gave a presentation on the role of their organisation.
Mr M McLaughlin joined the meeting at 10.42am.
Mr M McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.47am.
They also answered Members' questions on a number of relevant issues.
The Chairman thanked them for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.07pm.
The meeting returned to Closed Session.
top5. Statutory Rules
(a) Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations (NI) 2000
This was before the Committee for information only and they noted the contents.
Mr A Doherty left the meeting at 12.10pm.
(b) Public Service Vehicles (Amendment No 2) Regulations (NI)2000
(c) Local Government Pension Scheme (Pension Sharing on Divorce) Regulations (NI) 2000
These regulations are to be laid before the Assembly and will be referred to the Committee for scrutiny. The Committee noted their contents at this stage.
Mr A Doherty returned to the meeting at 12.14pm.
top6. Visit by Local Government Committee, Scottish Parliament
The Committee discussed the proposed visit.
Agreed: (a) That, subject to existing appointments, the Committee will meet the visitors on the morning of Tuesday, 21 November, 2000;
(b) That the Clerk should contact the Committee members to confirm their availability for that date;
(c) That the Clerk should obtain a copy of the recent lecture by Sir Neil McIntosh at the Belfast City Hall.
AOB
top7. Correspondence from the Department regarding Transport Licensing and Enforcement.
The Committee noted the changes in the management arrangements for these functions
top8. Visits to Landfill Sites
The Committee briefly discussed the benefits of visiting a landfill site.
top9. School Bus Accident
The Committee were updated on the accident involving two school buses on the Ballymena to Kells Road.
Agreed: (a) That the Chairman would issue a press statement that afternoon on the accident;
(b) That the Clerk should obtain a report for next week's meeting.
top10. Public Inquiry Submissions
The Committee discussed an extension to the closing date for written submissions to the forthcoming inquiry.
Agreed: That the closing date for submissions could be extended, subject to the Clerk determining the last practical date.
top11. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 12 October 2000 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
topThe meeting closed at 12.25pm.
28 September 2000 / Menu