COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
EIGHTY SIXTH MEETING
WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Maurice Morrow
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance:
Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila Mc Clelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 12.07 p.m. The meeting began in closed session.
1. Chairman's business
1.1 The Principal Clerk presented the Committee's briefing papers for the day's business. The Committee discussed the briefing.
2. Review of Rating Policy
2.1 The Committee was briefed on the report provided by the specialist advisers on the Review's First Stage Report and agreed that it could be forwarded to the Department fully endorsed by the Committee.
2.2 The Committee noted that the draft public consultation document had been considered by the Executive Committee on 28 March 2002 and would be further considered at the Executive Committee meeting of 18 April 2002. The Department were currently not proposing to allow further formal input to the draft consultation document by the Committee.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 12.11 p.m. Mr Bell attended the meeting at 12.12 p.m
2.3 Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the report by the specialist advisers and to request sight of the draft consultation document prior to its issue.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at.12.14 p.m.
3. Apologies.
3.1 Ms Lewsley.
4. Minutes of Proceedings
4.1 The Committee considered and agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 19 March 2002.
4.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 19 March 2002.
5. Matters arising
5.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Department on the February 2002 Monitoring Round result.
5.2 The Committee noted its letter to the Department covering a letter from the Clerk to the Education Committee in relation to Monitoring Round bids for shortfalls in income due to reduced bank interest rates.
5.3 The Committee noted its letter to the Department following its consideration of the Statutory Rule on Pensions Increase.
5.4 The Committee considered the response by the Department in relation to the Valcom computer system in the Valuation and Lands Agency and the increases in charges for Land Registers services.
5.5 Resolved: The Committee noted the response in relation to the Valcom system. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister expressing its concerns regarding the timing of the increases in LRNI fees given the current performance by the Agency due to backlogs. The Committee also agreed to ask for monthly updates on backlogs of work in the Agency commencing from May 2002.
Mr Hutchinson attended the meeting at 12.19 p.m.
5.6 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister regarding the prospect of an Executive led debate on the Noble Indicators and agreed to await a response before considering whether to table a motion for debate.
5.7 The Committee noted its letter to the Department regarding pay on entry to the Northern Ireland Civil Service for graduates.
5.8 The Committee noted the Minister's response to the submission to the Committee for Finance and Personnel by the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA).
5.9 The Committee noted the correspondence between the Principal Clerk and Mr Des McConaghy on the Budget processes and information flows.
5.10 The Committee considered and noted the draft Northern Ireland Civil Service Human Resources Action Plan 2002/03.
5.11 Resolved: The Committee agreed that it would not ask officials to attend to discuss this plan.
5.12 The Committee noted the updates by the Office of Law Reform and the Department on issues relating to Divorce Law, a Statutory Rule in relation to the Family Law Act and the public consultation exercise on physical punishment of children in the home.
6. Strategic and Business Plans 2002 / 03.
6.1 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee on the Department of Finance and Personnel's Strategic and Business Plans for 2002/03. This item was postponed to the Committee's next meeting on 16 April 2002.
7. Government Office Accommodation Review
7.1 The Committee received briefing on the Government Office Accommodation Review Interim Report. The Committee is expected to respond to the Department by 26 April 2002.
7.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed to seek clarification and additional information in relation to the Department of Finance and Personnel's asset management responsibilities, the extent of additional space requirement over the next five years, dispersal costs of a limited relocation exercise and comparative cost analysis for various methods of buying, renting and PPP contracts for Government office accommodation provision.
8. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.
8.1 The Committee was briefed by the Principal Clerk on its forward work plan for its Inquiry and also received a summary of responses to its request for evidence. The Committee noted the first 24 responses received.
8.2 The Committee considered the need for a specialist adviser to assist the Committee to produce an informed and effective interim report on the European Funding negotiation process before the 2007 Structural Funds bidding process begins this summer. The Committee also considered proposals for a period of concentrated oral evidence sessions in May / June 2002 including a visit to Brussels in June 2002.
8.3 Resolved: The Committee agreed the terms of reference and role of the proposed specialist adviser and to begin the appointment process.
8.4 Resolved: The Committee agreed an objective to produce an interim report on the European Funding negotiation process by the summer recess and before the 2007 Structural Funds bidding process begins.
8.5 Resolved: The Committee agreed to a period of concentrated oral evidence sessions in May / June 2002 including a visit to Brussels in June 2002.
9. Service Delivery Agreement.
9.1 The Committee noted the correspondence in relation to the Department of Finance and Personnel's Service Delivery Agreement.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted the Budget submission by the Federation of Small Business to the Chancellor.
10.2 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister on the timing of the Main Estimates and Budget No.2 Bill and analysis of departmental underspends.
10.3 The Committee considered the Minister's response to Mr Close regarding publication of economic appraisals on the North / South Gas Pipelines project.
10.4 Resolved: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to request a copy of the economic appraisal to be provided to the Committee on an "in confidence" basis with commercially sensitive material removed, if necessary.
10.5 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister on new organisational arrangements following the Public Procurement Review.
10.6 The Committee considered a letter from the Chairman of the Committee for Employment and Learning on the status of the exercise by NISRA 1996 Survey of Adult Literacy in Northern Ireland.
10.7 Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for Finance and Personnel and to ask him to respond directly to the Committee for Employment and Learning.
10.8 The Committee noted receipt of the document "Appointment and procedures for the Senior Civil Service of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The Committee noted that this item would be considered at its meeting on 8 May 2002.
10.9 The Committee noted the correspondence on the publication of the Physical Activity Bulletin.
10.10 The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Education on the 2002 Schools Capital Building Programme to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
10.11 Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for Finance and Personnel and to ask him to respond directly to the Committee for Education.
11. Any other business.
11.1 The Committee noted its updated business programme.
12. Next Meeting
12.1 The next meeting of the Committee was agreed as Tuesday 16 April 2002.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 1.32 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman