COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
EIGHTY SEVENTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 16 APRIL 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Ms Patricia Lewsley
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)
Miss Shauna McDaid (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.37 p.m. The meeting began in closed session.
Mr Attwood attended the meeting at 2.38pm.
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.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 2.50pm.
2. Apologies
2.2 Mr Billy Bell. Mr Seamus Close.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 2.52pm.
3. Minutes of Proceedings
3.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 10 April 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 10 April 2002 subject to one amendment.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Committee noted the letter and addendum from the Department in relation to pay for graduates on entry to the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to ask the department for any information on successful applicants to the NICS declining to accept an offer of employment because of pay levels on entry.
4.2 The Committee noted its letter to the Department requesting clarification on issues relating to the Accommodation Review Interim Report and questionnaire.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to return to this issue next week.
4.3 The Committee noted both the letter from the Case Funding Centre regarding delays in Land Registers and its letter referring the matter to the Department.
4.4 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister requesting an edited version of the Economic Appraisal for the North/South gas pipeline.
4.5 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister on the proposed increases in fees in Land Registers.
4.6 The Committee considered the letter from the Department of Finance and Personnel in response to its information on the financial assumptions within the Regional Transportation Strategy.
Resolved: The Committee agreed that it would not respond to the consultation request.
5. Budget 2002. Departmental Position Report
5.1 Departmental Officials Mr David Ferguson, Mr Michael Daly, Ms Aileen Edmond and Mr Colin McGaffin attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the Draft Departmental Position Report.
5.2 The Departmental officials answered questions from the Committee.
5.3 The officials invited the Committee's response on content and presentation of the document.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.40pm.
5.4 The officials agreed to provide the Committee with additional information relating to the Accommodation Review and New TSN measures.
6. DFP Strategic and Business Plan.
6.1 Departmental officials Mr David Ferguson, Patricia Gibson and Mr Michael Daly attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the Department's Strategic and Business Plans.
6.2 The officials answered questions and concerns expressed by the Committee on the format, purpose and value of the documents.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to consider a draft response at its next meeting.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed to the public at 4.44pm
7. Review of Rating Policy.
7.1 Departmental officials Dr Andrew McCormick and Mr Brian McClure attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the progress of the public consultation document. The officials advised the Committee that they had found the Committee's input through its specialist advisers very helpful and that a draft consultation paper was being presented to the Executive for consideration.
7.2 The officials answered questions from the Committee.
7.3 The Chairman expressed the Committee's wish to view the completed consultation document before it was released to the public. Dr McCormick agreed to relay this view to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 5.07pm.
8. Building Regulations - Radon Gas.
8.1 The Committee considered the questionnaire issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel as part of the public consultation on Radon Gas.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to respond to the questionnaire saying that measures to prevent or limit the ingress of radon should apply to all buildings and all areas.
9. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.
9.1 The Committee was briefed by the Principal Clerk on submissions received to the inquiry and the appointment process for a specialist adviser.
Mr Roy Beggs registered an interest as a member of a district partnership.
9.2 The Committee considered the number of days required for a specialist adviser to assist the Committee to produce an informed and effective interim report on the European Funding negotiation process. The Committee considered whether it would be better to recruit an adviser to assist the Committee to produce a full report on the inquiry.
9.3 The Committee also noted proposals for a period of concentrated oral evidence sessions in May / June 2002 including a visit to Brussels in June 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to give further consideration to the role of the specialist adviser and the number of days required.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted the Corporate Business Plan from the Rates Collection Agency.
10.2 The Committee noted the Corporate Business Plan from the Land Registers of Northern Ireland.
10.3 The Committee noted the Corporate Business Plan from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
10.4 The Committee noted the New TSN annual report 2001.
10.5 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding the Rural Rate Relief Scheme.
10.6 The Committee noted the letter from OFMDFM concerning Delivering Practical Help and Services to the Victims of the Conflict in Northern Ireland.
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 23 April 2002.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.23pm.
Roy Beggs
Deputy Chairman