Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 12 October 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. The Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association
4. Statutory Rules
5. Departments Bids under 2000 Coprehensive Spending Review
6. Assembly Debate on 2 October regarding Retail Outlets/ Planning
7. School Bus Accident
8. Telecommunication Masts
9. Date of Next Meeting
Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
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
Ms J Carson
Mr M McLaughlin
The meeting commenced at 10.31am.
1. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2000 were agreed.
top2 Matters arising.
- Ladyhill Quarry
- Open/Closed Meetings
- That the Clerk should arrange to have a Press statement issued on this subject.
- Campaign against landfill at Mallusk - CALM
- Visit by Local Government Committee - Scottish Parliament
- Outstanding Issues
The reply to Dr McCrea's letter of 19 September to the Minister was discussed.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department to ensure that the Committee is notified of the outcome of the ongoing assessments.
The Committee discussed their policy for future meetings.
Agreed: (a) That it will be normal practice for all meetings to be held in Open Session subject to the item under discussion;
The Committee discussed the Department's reply to their recent letter.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department at the end of the month to ask for details of the District Councils' Essential Capacity Needs and how the Department intends to proceed.
Agreed: That the Committee will meet the visitors on the morning of 21 November 2000.
(i) Historic Buildings Grant.
A reply is awaited.
(ii) McQuillan Skip Hire.
Agreed: That the Committee will await a response to a further letter sent by the Clerk.
(iii) Resourcing of Agri-Environment Schemes.
The Committee discussed the response from the Department.
Agreed: That the Chairman should write to the Minister to register the Committee's concerns and to emphasise the need for Ministerial involvement.
(iv) Proposed Demolition of property at Gracehill
A reply is awaited.
(v) Greencastle Area Residents Group - Ferry Proposal
The Committee discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Chief Executive, Newry and Mourne District Council to ask for a copy of the Economic Appraisal when it becomes available.
At this stage the Committee met in Public Session.
3. The Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association
Mr Jackie Hammond, Secretary, Mr Harry Marmion, Chairman, and Mr Gary McAllister, Voluntary Adviser, joined the meeting at 10.48am.
They gave a presentation on the role of their organisation and answered members' questions on a number of relevant issues
The Chairman thanked them for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.58am.
The meeting returned to Closed Session.
top4. Statutory Rules
(a) Bus Permits (Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
(b) Courses for Drink Driver Offenders (Experimental Period) Extension Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
These are to be laid before the Assembly and will be referred to the Committee for scrutiny. The Committee noted their contents at this stage.
top5. Department's Bids under 2000 Comprehensive Spending Review.
The Committee discussed the issue including the proposed timetable.
Agreed: (a) That the Clerk should write to the Department for clarification on the bid for additional funding to assist Councils' Waste Management programmes.
(b) That, when the figures become available, the detailed Budget proposals should be referred to a specialist adviser for analysis.
top6. Assembly Debate on 2 October regarding Retail Outlets/Planning Service.
The Committee discussed the issue.
Agreed: (a) That the Chairman should write to the Minister regarding his announcement on 7 October of reviews into Local Government and the Planning Service without prior consultation with the Committee;
(b) That the Committee would decide the way forward in relation to the Planning Service when the Minister's response is received.
top7. School Bus Accident
The Committee noted the report.
8. Telecommunication Masts
The Committee discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department expressing the Committee's concern about the issue and to encourage the Department to address the issue actively.
top9. Date of next meeting
In light of future issues, the Committee discussed their timetable.
Agreed: (a) That the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 19 October 2000 at 10.30pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
(b) That the meeting of 26 October should start at 9.45am.
topThe meeting closed at 12.25pm
5 October 2000 / Menu / 19 October 2000