COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jim Wells MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
George Robinson MLA
Brian Wilson MLAIn Attendance:
Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Gillian Lyness (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Clairita Frazer (Clerical Supervisor)
Tom Skelton (Clerical Officer)Apologies:
Willie Clarke MLA
Fred Cobain MLAThe meeting opened at 10.01 in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members decided to receive committee papers over the summer recess.
3. Draft Minutes.
The minutes of the meeting of 27 June 2007 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
The Committee noted:
- Replies received from Northern Ireland Water in response to questions raised at the meeting of 6 June 2007. Members noted the request from Northern Ireland Water not to copy to third parties the enclosures relating to Crystal Alliance without the consent of Northern Ireland Water.
- The papers received from the Department in partial response to the Committee’s request for information on 1 June 2007.
The Committee decided to review the papers received to date at its meetings during summer recess.
The Minister, Conor Murphy MP MLA and the Permanent Secretary joined the meeting at 10 .12am.
5. Briefing on the Review of Water and Sewerage from the Minister, Conor Murphy MP MLA.
Minister Conor Murphy MP MLA and the Permanent Secretary briefed the Committee on the review of water and sewerage.
The Minister agreed to meet with the Committee over the summer months to update the Committee on the work of the review to date.
The Minister, Conor Murphy MP MLA and the Permanent Secretary left the meeting at 10.41am.
Paddy Hillyard and Joan Whiteside joined the meeting at 10.42 am.
6. Briefing from Paddy Hillyard, Chairperson, and Joan Whiteside, Member, of the Independent Review of Water and Sewerage.
Paddy Hillyard and Joan Whiteside briefed the Committee on the progress to date on the review of water and sewerage.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.55 am
The panel informed the Committee that it would submit a final report on Strand 1 of the review to the Minister by the end of September 2007. The panel stated they had some concerns with the tight deadline set for Strand 1.
The Committee offered its assistance to the review panel for the duration of the review. The Committee and the panel decided to put arrangements in place to provide updates on the progress of the review.
The Committee invited the panel to meet with Scottish Water and Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) executives at its meeting on the 9 August 2007.
Paddy Hillyard and Joan Whiteside left the meeting at 11.15 am.
7. Draft Forward Work Programme.
Members noted the draft forward work programme to September 2007.
Members agreed to include the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company in the work programme for the 2007/08 session.
Members noted a Committee meeting proposed for Thursday 23 August 2007 to receive an update from the Minister on the review. The date, time and venue are to be confirmed.
8. Subordinate Legislation.
Members agreed to note the following new SL1s
- The C560 Aughrim Road, Magherafelt (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The On-Street Parking (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Old Mill Dale, Dundonald (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The C554 Greencastle Road, Greencastle, Co Tyrone (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Penalty Charges (Additional Contraventions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Millvale Road, Hillsborough (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Extinguishment of Right to Use Vehicles on Roads (Lisburn) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Members agreed to note the additional information forwarded by the Department on the formation of a SL1 and the briefing paper from the Clerk.
The Commitee decided to write to the Department to stress the need for improved communications with councils and councillors as part of the SL1 formation process.
The Committee was content with the policy merits of the following SL1s noted at its meetings of 20 June and 27 June 2007.
- The Finvoy Road, Ballymoney, (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The B127 Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Steelstown Road, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Grainan Court, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Galgorm Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007.
- The Street Works (2007 Amendment Order) (Commencement No.1) ( Northern Ireland) 2007.
- The College Park, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Motor Hackney Carriages ( Belfast) (Amendment) By-Laws ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Roads (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and
- The Prohibition of Traffic ( Chichester Street, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Committee noted receipt of the following SRs received which are not subject to Assembly proceedings.
- SR No. 305/2007 - The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
- SR No. 310/2007 - The Road Races ( Ulster Rally) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007.
9. Correspondence.
Members noted the following correspondence:
- Letter from Minister regarding the fourth appointment to the independent review panel for the review of water and sewerage.
- Letter to the Department setting out the Committee’s views on the Department’s resource budget bids for 2008-2011 and the Measure Investment Proposals.
- Letter to Joan Whiteside, congratulating her on her appointment to the independent review panel.
- Letter to the Department acknowledging receipt of the Report on the Review of Concessionary Fares Scheme.
- Letter to the Department acknowledging the delay in responding to the Committee’s information request of 1 June 2007.
- Letter to the Department on capital and resource pressures for NI Water, structural maintenance, and A1 Beechhill to Cloghogue.
- Letter to the Clerk for the Environment Committee on the planning issues on the A1 Beechhill to Cloghogue.
- The Roads Service Annual Report and Accounts – 2006 /07.
- Letter from Water UK.
- Members agreed to write to Water UK thanking them for their offer of assistance and inviting them to the meeting of Thursday 9 August 2007.
- Letter from the Minister acknowledging letter from the Committee on recent flooding and DRD Business Plan and Roads Service Business Plan.
10. Any Other Business.
Members agreed to issue a press release reflecting the issues discussed at today’s meeting, to be cleared by the deputy Chairperson and John Dallat MLA.
11. Date, venue and time of next meeting.
The Committee agreed that the next meeting be held on Thursday 9 August 2007 at 10.00am in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.45 pm.
Signed: Jim Wells MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.