Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 30 November 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 30 November 2000 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Planning (Compensation, etc) Bill
2. Minutes of last meeting
3. Matters arising
4. Statutory Rule- Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
5. Access to draft Consultation Documents.
6. Consultation
7. Resourcing of Agr-Environment Schemes
8. Taxis using Bus Lanes
9. Programme for Government and Budget
10. Any Other Business
11. Inquiry into transport used by children travelling to and from school
12. Date of next meeting
Present:
Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr E Poots
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:
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr T Benson
Mrs J Carson
Mr M Murphy
The meeting commenced at 10.08am.
1.Planning (Compensation, etc) Bill.
The Committee discussed the Draft Report of the Bill.
Agreed:
(a) That the Report should be referred for printing;
2. Minutes of last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2000 were agreed.
Top3. Matters arising.
(a) Cottonmount Planning Application
The Committee noted the reply from the Department.
(b) Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association
The Committee noted the position.
(c) Replies are awaited in the following:
(i) McQuillan Skip Hire - the Committee noted the number of letters received about this application and discussed the advice given regarding the siting of the plant;
Mr D Ford joined the meeting at 10.17am.
Agreed:
(i) That an approach should be made to the Regional Development Committee to ask for an official from the Department for Regional Development to attend a future meeting to answer questions on this issue.
(ii) That Antrim Borough Council should be asked for an update on the issue.
(ii) Proposed ferry - an economic appraisal is awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council;
(iii) Historic Buildings Grant - the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) is to reply about the effects of the moratorium;
(iv) Relationship of the HBC with the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) - replies are awaited from both the EHS and the HBC;
(v) RSPB approach regarding ASSIs - a reply is awaited from the Department;
(vi) Local Government Elections - a reply is awaited from the Secretary of State;
(vii) Provision and maintenance of open spaces - a reply is awaited
from the Department.
Top4.Statutory Rule - Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000.
The Committee discussed the Rule.
Agreed:
That an official from the Department should be asked to attend next week's meeting to answer the member's questions.
5.Access to draft Consultation Documents.
The Committee considered the consultation documents set out in the Department's Programme of Work.
Agreed:
That the Department should be asked to provide the Committee with its present draft Consultation Document on the proposed Road Safety Strategy.
6.Consultation Documents
The Committee considered the following documents:-
(a) Discharges of radioactive waste to the environment;
(b) Proposals to introduce a cost recovery scheme covering application fees and annual charges for discharges to waterways and underground strata;
(c) Proposals for the Department to implement its powers and functions within the Water (NI) Order 1999.
Agreed:
(i) That the documents should be referred to the researchers for investigation and comment;
(ii) That officials from the Department should be asked to future Committee meetings to give presentations on the documents and to answer questions.
Top7. Resourcing of Agri-Environment Schemes.
The Committee noted the recommendations from the recent Biodiversity Strategy Report for Northern Ireland and the Minister's undertaking to consult on any resultant policies.
Top8. Taxis using Bus Lanes
The Committee noted the minute from the Regional Development Committee.
Top9.Programme for Government and Budget.
The Committee noted the Minister's reply.
Top10.AOB
The Committee discussed the conference at which the report, Recycling - Developing the Market - was launched.
Agreed:
That the Clerk should write to the Department about the establishment of a NI equivalent to WRAP and an Advisory Board for the Waste Management Strategy. A reply should be asked for next week's meeting.
11. Inquiry into transport used by children travelling to and from school.
(a) At 10.52am the Committee began to take evidence from representatives of Child Care NI -
Mary Cunningham - Director
Tara Caul - Solicitor, Children's Law Centre
After a short presentation, the representatives answered questions from the members.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.34am.
Mr A Doherty left the meeting at 11.34am.
(b) At 11.36am the Committee began to take evidence from representatives of the Federation of Women's Institutes:-
Betty Lyttle
Jean McCartney
Ruth Graham
Blossom Beattie
Maureen Meharg
JeanWilson
After a short presentation, the representatives answered questions from the members.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.27pm.
(c) The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from the NI Private Coach Operators in relation to the Inquiry on 14 December 2000.
Top12. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 December 2000 at 10.15am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
TopThe meeting closed at 12.30pm.
23 November 2000 / Menu / 7 December 2000