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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 30th April 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
George Robinson MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Christine Darragh (Assembly Clerk)
Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)

Apologies: None

The Committee decided to hold the meeting in open session.

The meeting opened at 10.37 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

There were no apologies.

Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.

2. Draft Minutes of the meeting of 23 April 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2008 were agreed.

3. Chairpersons Business.

The Committee noted that the Chair had a meeting with the Federation of Passenger Transport, during which the Federation undertook to provide written briefing to the Committee on the issues discussed. Members agreed to return to the issue when this is received.

4. Matters Arising.

Members considered the criteria for the appointment of a special adviser to support the Committee in its consideration of its response to the public consultation on the Independent Review of Water and Sewerage.

Members agreed the final terms of reference and criteria for appointment.

Members agreed the ‘without prejudice’ letters publicising the opportunity to tender.

Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.46 a.m.

Members agreed the advertisements informing of the opportunity to tender, and agreed that these be placed on the Assembly’s website and published in newspapers.

Members agreed the weighting to be attributed to quality and cost in evaluating tenders.

The Committee agreed to form a subgroup to consider the issues, comprising one Member from each party. These are: Fred Cobain, Jim Wells, Raymond McCartney, Brian Wilson and John Dallat.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.58 a.m.

The Committee agreed to consider the issue in more depth at the meeting of 7 May 2008.

The Committee noted a query which had arisen in relation to the SL1 The Old Belfast Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 presented to the Committee when the proposed scheme covered by the SL1 had been the subject of a public inquiry.

The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Brian Wilson would meet with Departmental officials to discuss the issue and report back to the Committee.

Members noted that further information on the publication and availability of the independent inspectors report has been requested from the Department.

The Committee noted receipt of a briefing from the Department of the Environment on the issue of additional housing yield and the use of brownfield and greenfield development sites for housing. Members agreed to invite the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group to brief the Committee on the issue.

The Committee noted receipt of the Quarterly Progress Report from DRD’s Equality Unit.

The Committee noted receipt of the DRD Corporate Plan 2008-11, and Business Plan 2008-2009, and agreed that these be sent to them electronically.

The Committee noted receipt of the Better Regulation Annual Report 2006/7, which was forwarded to the Committee from the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee, and agreed that these be sent to them electronically.

The Committee noted that, due to the Committees attendance at the conference entitled ‘Transport Ireland: Towards a Modern and Sustainable Future’, the Committee meeting scheduled for 14 May 2008 will not now take place.

5. Sustainable Development - Departmental Briefing

Departmental officials Doreen Brown and Bob Cairns, and Northern Ireland Water Executives Paddy Brow and Darren Mawhinney joined the meeting at 11.05 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials and Northern Ireland Water executives on the Department’s responsibilities and actions under the Sustainable Development Strategy and action plan.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.08 a.m.

Following a question and answer session, officials agreed provide more detailed information on a range of issues.

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 12.02 p.m.
William Irwin left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.12 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 12.15 p.m.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.

6. Climate Change Coalition Northern Ireland - Briefing.

Climate Change Coalition representatives Lisa Fagan, Declan Allinson, Steven Patterson and Claire Hanna joined the meeting at 12.17 am.

The Committee received briefing from the Climate Change Coalition on a range of issues around climate change, transport and spatial planning .

Following a question and answer session, Climate Change Coalition representatives agreed to provide a written paper on an 80% CO 2 reduction target.

Climate Change Coalition representatives left the meeting at 12.55 a.m.
John Dallat left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
The Clerk drew the Chairperson's attention to the fact that a quorum was no longer present. The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
John Dallat rejoined the meeting at 1.00 p.m.
The meeting was reconvened at 1.00 p.m.
Raymond McCartney rejoined the meeting at 1.00 p.m.
Cathal Boylan rejoined the meeting at 1.01 p.m.

7. Speed Management Policy – Committee Response.

The Committee noted receipt of three research papers which they had previously requested to aid their consideration of the draft Speed Management policy.

8. Rapid Transit for Belfast.

Members decidedto postpone consideration of Rapid Transit for Belfast until a later date.

9. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following new SL1s received:

Members indicated that they were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 16 April 2008:

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rule which is not subject to any Assembly procedure:

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution:

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rule which is subject to affirmative resolution:

William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 1.08 p.m.

Members noted receipt of the fourteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, which was published on 28 April 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/149 The B2 Silverwood Road, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, Cathal Boylan, George Robinson, William Irwin, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/173 The Antiville Road and Ballymena Road, Larne (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, Cathal Boylan, George Robinson, William Irwin, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

10. Correspondence.

The Committee notedthe following items of correspondence:

11. Any Other Business.

Members agreed that, following publication of the investigations by Northern Ireland Water and the Regulator, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would seek a meeting with the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the referral by the Committee for Regional Development, of issues around Northern Ireland Water’s Strategic Business Plan.

12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 7 May 2008 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.15 p.m.

Signed:
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.
Dated:

23 April 08 / Menu