COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
Minutes of Proceedings
WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2008
Room 152, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Simon Hamilton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Jennifer McCann MLA
David McNarry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paula Sandford (Clerical Supervisor)
Chris McCreery (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Fra McCann MLA
Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.01 am in open session, with Mr Hamilton in the Chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed Mr McNarry to his first meeting.
Mr McNarry referred to his entry in the Register of Members’ Interests and indicated that he had no relevant interests to declare.
Agreed: that the session on the proposed amendments to the domestic rating system will be covered by Hansard and the finalised transcript published on the website.
3. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 1 October 2008
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
4. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the outstanding requests for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP).
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 10.04 am.
Members noted clarification from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), on the protocol for statutory committee scrutiny of areas which are already being investigated by PAC.
Agreed: that the scheduled briefing from Land and Property Services officials on 22 October will proceed as planned, but that Committee scrutiny will not include the areas of rates collection and arrears, as these were being considered by PAC.
5. DFP Briefing on the Realisation of Benefits from the Northern Ireland Civil Service Reform Programme
Members noted the potential for the scrutiny of this area to overlap with PAC, which is currently considering a Northern Ireland Audit Office report on Shared Services for Efficiency.
Agreed: that the Committee will focus on the achievement of benefits and efficiencies in the future.
The Committee was briefed by Bill McCluggage, Director, Delivery and Innovation Division and Sharon Henderson, Head of Reform Delivery Unit, Delivery and Innovation Division, DFP.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information in response to issues raised by Committee members.
The meeting was suspended at 10.54 am.
The meeting resumed at 10.56 am.
6. Evidence from DFP on the Outcome of Public Consultations on Proposed Amendments to the Domestic Rating System
Members noted DFP’s response to issues raised at the previous briefing on proposed amendments to the domestic rating system.
The Committee took evidence from Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division; Keith Barker, Rating Policy Division and Patrick Neeson, Rating Policy Division, DFP on the responses to DFP’s public consultations on the following policy proposals:
- data sharing;
- green rebates; and
- review of the rate relief scheme for those in full-time education and training, young people leaving care and ratepayers under 18.
The session was covered by Hansard.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information in response to issues raised by Committee members.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will c onsider the possibility of a stand alone rates relief for carers and reconsider whether Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Association stock should be included in the proposed Green Rebates scheme, as they were excluded under the current proposal.
The meeting was suspended at 11.58 am.
The meeting resumed at 12.00 pm.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
-
DFP: progress report on the NI Direct Programme.
Agreed: that the Committee will request an oral briefing from DFP officials on progress on the implementation of NI Direct.
8. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme to December 2008.
Members noted that motions to extend the Committee Stage of both the Presumption of Death and Civil Registration Bills will be considered at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: that a briefing from DFP officials on progress on the Department’s Efficiency Delivery and Investment Delivery plans will be scheduled into the programme.
Agreed: that a written submission will be requested from DFP on progress on the implementation of the recommendations emanating from the work of the Capital Realisation Taskforce.
Agreed: that a written submission will be requested from DFP on progress on the allocation of PEACE III funds, including the work of the cluster groups.
Agreed: that the work programme will be published on the Assembly website.
9. Any Other Business
Members discussed the update received from DFP on the Budget Stocktake and the recent press coverage on Assembly involvement in the Budget process.
Agreed: that a detailed explanation will be sought from DFP as to how the requirements of section 64 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 will be met, if DFP does not intend to lay a Draft Budget for 2009/10.
Mr McNarry raised concerns around the public procurement process used by DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate.
Agreed: that assurances will be sought from DFP as to how the current process complies with legislation, especially emanating from the European Union.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 15 October 2008 at 10.00 am Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.11 pm.