COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
EIGHTY EIGHTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 23 APRIL 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
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)
Mr Michael Gibson (Administrative Support)
The Deputy Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.34 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.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 2.41 pm.
2. Apologies
2.1 Mr Francie Molloy.
3. Minutes of Proceedings
3.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 16 April 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 16 April 2002.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Committee noted and agreed the draft letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding the Department of Finance and Personnel's Draft Strategic and Business Plan.
4.2 The Committee considered the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel in response to the letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding a debate on Noble Indicators.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to send a copy to of the Minister's response to the Chairperson of the Social Development Committee without comment.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 2.48pm
4.3 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding Rates (Regional Rates) Order (NI) 2002 [SR 2002 No.26] and the letter to the Minister dated 19 March 2002.
4.4 The Committee noted the letter from the Department regarding Graduates Pay.
5. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.
5.1 The Committee considered the revised Terms of Reference in relation to the appointment of a specialist adviser to assist the Committee to produce a full report on the inquiry.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Terms of Reference and agreed the next step in the recruitment process was to tender.
6. Budget 2002 - Departmental Position Report.
6.1 The Committee was briefed by the Clerk on the Departmental Position Report.
6.2 The Committee considered the possibility of producing a response to the report.
Mr Bell attended the meeting at 3.04pm. Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.08pm. Mr Weir
returned to the meeting at 3.08pm.
Resolved: The Committee acknowledged the value of being able to consider the report, but agreed not to respond in detail at this point.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed to the public at 3.13pm
7. Review of Rating Policy.
7.1 Specialist advisers Mr David Magor and Mr Pat Doherty attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on their analysis of the DTZ consultant's report on the Economic Impact of Industrial De-rating forwarded by the Minister.
7.2 The specialist advisers answered questions from the Committee.
Resolved: The Committee agreed not to respond to the report at this point but to commission from the specialist advisers further work in relation to the report on potential 'Hardship Schemes'.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 3.48pm.
Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 3.51 pm
8. Rates Collection Agency.
8.1 Departmental Officials Mr Arthur Scott, Mr Bill Hagan and Mr Stuart Stevenson attended the meeting and briefed the Committee on the Corporate and Business Plan for the Rates Collection Agency.
8.2 The Departmental officials answered questions from the Committee.
Resolved: The Committee agreed that it was content with the briefing by and responses to questions by the Departmental officials in relation to the Rates Collection Agency's Corporate and Business Plan.
9. Review of Government Office Accommodation.
9.1 The Committee was briefed by the Clerk and Assembly Researcher on the Review of Government Office Accommodation.
9.2 The Committee considered the Questionnaire prepared by the Department as part of its public consultation on the Review and discussed the issues surrounding decentralisation of Civil Service jobs.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to request further information and that this matter be further discussed at the next meeting.
Mr Bell left the meeting at 5pm. Mr Close left the meeting at 5.05pm
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Committee of the Centre regarding European Day Reception.
10.2 The Committee noted the letter from the Department relating to Pension Provision under the Principle Civil service Scheme.
10.3 The Committee noted the Press Items regarding the Budget.
10.4 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding Public Procurement: ECJ Judgement and considered the possibility of being briefed by officials on this matter.
Resolved: The Committee agreed not to request further briefing by officials on this matter.
10.5 The Committee considered the letter from the Chairman of the Social Development Committee regarding 'Executive Programme Funds - Infrastructure'.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for advice and comment.
11. Any other business.
11.1 The Committee noted its updated business programme.
11.2 The Committee noted the Assembly Legislation Programme.
11.3 The Committee considered the offer by the specialist advisers on the Review of Rating Policy to visit Bradford and Harrogate Councils to examine implementation of Council Tax.
Resolved: The Committee noted this invitation but agreed they would not take up this offer at this time.
11.4 The Committee discussed bringing forward the time of their weekly meetings.
Resolved: The Committee agreed that their weekly meeting should begin at 2pm.
12. Next Meeting
12.1 The next meeting of the Committee was agreed as Tuesday 30 April 2002 at 2pm.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.11 pm.
Francie Molloy
Chairman