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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 10th September 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Clarita Fraser (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)

Apologies:
Cathal Boylan, MLA

The Committee decided to begin the meeting in open session, and to move to closed session to receive briefing from the Committee Specialist Advisor.

The meeting opened at 10.35 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from Cathal Boylan.

2. Draft Minutes of the Meetings of 2 nd July 2008 and 19 th August 2008.

The minutes of the meetings held on 2 nd July 2008 and 19 th August 2008 were agreed.

Jim Wells joined the meeting at 10.38am.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.38am.

3. Matters Arising.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.40am.
Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 10.47am.
Stephen Moutray re-joined the meeting at 11.01am.

Members noted receipt of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Report into the release of information by Northern Ireland Water, published on 22 July 2008.

Members noted receiptof a letter dated 2 nd July 2008 from the Department regarding the review of the Regional Transportation Strategy. Members agreed to respond to the Department, requesting that they are kept informed of the progress of the Issues Paper and a that prospective briefing date be provided.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 2 nd July 2008 from the Department, regarding the Committee’s comments on the draft Harbours Bill briefing. Members agreed to respond to the Department, requesting that they are kept informed of the progress of this at the Executive, and the progress concerning the determination of the Office of National Statistics on this matter.

Members noted receipt of a Report from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 21 July 2008 from the Department, concerning Directive 2009/38/EC on the charging of Heavy Goods Vehicles for Use of Certain Infrastructures. Members agreed to write to the Department noting receipt of this correspondence.

Members noted receipt of a letter of 7 July 2008 from the Department, regarding non-executive appointments to the Board of Northern Ireland Water.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 7 July 2008 from the Department, regarding the Department for Regional Development’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 9 July 2008 from the Department, regarding the recognition of EU and European Conference of Ministers of Transport disabled badges.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 10 July 2008 from the Department, regarding the new contract for the Rathlin Ferry. Members also noted receipt of a letter dated 25 July 2008, from the Departmental Permanent Secretary, providing supplementary information on the Rathlin Ferry. Members agreed to write the Department requesting to be kept informed of the investigations outlined in the letter (dated 25 July 2008), and also to request written and oral briefing on the investigations findings once they are completed.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 11 July 2008 from the Department, regarding road safety for blind and partially sighted people. Members agreed to forward the Department’s response to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and to invite the organisation to provide their views on this matter to the Committee at a future date.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 11 July 2008 from the Department, regarding the Review of the Regional Development Strategy. Members agreed to write to the Committee for the Environment to request further information on this issue from Planning Service.

Members noted receipt of the following publications:

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 25 July 2008, from Conor Murphy MP, MLA, regarding the Committee’s response to the Draft Speed Management Policy.

Members noted receipt of a letter 22 July 2008, from Conor Murphy MP, MLA, regarding the issue of churches and charities paying for water charges. Members agreed to write to the Department to request to be kept informed of any on-going developments in this matter.

Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 23 July 2008, from Caroline McDowell of the Greenway to Stay Campaign, attaching a briefing paper from the group. Members agreed to write to the group, thanking them for their information.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 22 July 2008, from the Department regarding the Cross-Border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations (NI) 2008.Members agreed to write to the Department stating that the Committee noted the public consultation outcomes.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 17 July 2008, from the Department regarding the work which the Strategic Investment Board is doing in relation to the review of the Regional Development Strategy. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting detailed oral and written briefing on the outcome of the work in Autumn 2008.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 10 July 2008, from the Department clarifying a number of issues in relation to the EWAY and the rapid transit proposal. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting to be kept updated on the outcomes of the ongoing community consultation process.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 29 July 2008, from the Department attaching a copy of the Equality Quarterly Progress Report and associated annexes, compiled by the Department’s Equality Unit, for the period ended 30 June 2008. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting written and oral briefing on the subject of bi-lingual road signage.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 30 July 2008, from the Independent Complaints Reviewer attaching the Annual Report of the Independent Complaints Reviewer for Land Register Northern Ireland.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 11 August 2008 from the Department, on the decision on the preferred route for the A26 Frocess Road Dualling Scheme and attached Departmental news on the scheme. Members agreed to write to the Frocess Road Association to ascertain their views on the preferred route as announced.

Members noted receipt of a letter from Sandra Dane of BMI Services informing of a forthcoming conference entitled ‘Towards Modern and Efficient Government’ on Wednesday 17 September 2008.

Members noted receipt of papers provided to the Committee Clerk by Mr. George Robinson MLA following the briefing on 02 July 2008 by the Dungiven Bypass Committee.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 18 August 2008, with accompanying information, from the Department confirming the Minister will brief the Committee in open session on the delivery of the Dungiven Bypass at the meeting of 17 September 2008.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 15 August 2008 from the Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, setting out his views on a rapid transit system in Belfast.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 26 August 2008 from the Department concerning the Water Framework Directive. Members agreed to confirm that an oral briefing will be provided to the Committee on 26 November 2008 on the issue and requested to be kept informed of the progress of the River Basin Management Plans public consultation exercise.

4. September 2008 Monitoring Return.

Members noted receipt of the papers provided by the Department on the September 2008 Monitoring Return. Members agreed a final response to the September 2008 Monitoring Return for issue to the Department on 10 September 2008.

Members agreed to request a more detailed briefing from the Department on the Northern Ireland Water easements and the Net Lend reductions.

Members also agreed to request briefing from the Department on the reality of the current situation of Northern Ireland roads.

Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 11.21am.

Members noted the provisional timetable provided by the Department for the remaining monitoring rounds..

5. Draft Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill: Briefing.

Roads Service officials Andrew Murray, Director of Network Services, Harvey Hamilton, Transport Policy Unit, Aileen Gaul, Primary Legislation Unitt and Gerry Anketel, Primary Legislation Unit joined the meeting at 11.32a.m.

Members received briefing from the Roads Service officials on the Draft Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Raymond McCartney re-joined the meeting at 11.40a.m.
Road Service officials left the meeting at 11.45a.m.
Brian Wilson left the meeting at 11.46a.m.

Members noted receipt of the briefing from Roads Service officials, the Department’s intention to present the paper to the Executive for agreement to begin consultation on the policy proposals for the Bill, and the Department’s plans for undertaking public consultation. Members decided to write to the Department requesting that the Department returns to brief the Committee at the conclusion of the public consultation process, on the responses received to the public consultation and the Department’s proposed actions to address any issues which may arise.

6. Work Programme

Members noted the scheduled items included in weeks 1 to 4 of the 2008-2009 session and decided to publish this on the internet.

Members agreed that the Clerk will prepare a more detailed programme of work for each work-stream.

Jim Wells left the meeting at 11.55a.m.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 11.56a.m.

Members agreed to write to the Department requesting briefing on the quarterly shareholder report meetings between the Department and Northern Ireland Water

Members agreed write to the Department to request an update on Shackleton Barracks and the possible routes for a Ballykelly bypass.

7. Subordinate Legislation.

Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:

Members indicated that they were content with the SL1s noted at the meeting of 02 July 2008:

Members decided to write to the Department regarding Cycle Lanes (Glengall Street and Great Victoria Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 asking that officials liaise fully with the police at all stages of the implementation of the cycle lane.

Members decided to write to the Department regarding Antrim road at Belfast International Airport (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, indicating that as this is a local issue, the Department should resolve this objection. The Committee also requested that Members are informed if a public inquiry is required.

Members noted the following Statutory Rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:

Members noted the following Statutory Rules subject to negative resolution and agreed to return to these Rules once the Examiner of Statutory Rules has reported:

Members noted the update from the Department regarding consultations on The Cross Border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, and were content with the Regulations.

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are subject to affirmative resolution and agreed to return to these Rules once the Examiner of Statutory Rules has reported:

8. Correspondence.

Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 12.00p.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.01p.m.
Willie Clarke re-joined the meeting at 12.06p.m

Members noted receipt of the following invitations:

Members noted receipt of the following press releases and news articles:

Members noted receipt of the following items:

Members noted receipt of the following items:

The meeting was suspended at 12.10p.m.

9. Committee Specialist Advisor Briefing

The meeting reconvened at 12.15p.m with Fred Cobain, John Dallat, John McCallister, William Clarke and Brian Wilson in attendance.

The Committee decided to receive briefing from the Specialist Adviser in closed session.

Tony Lawson, Committee Specialist Advisor, joined the meeting at 12.15p.m.

Raymond McCartney re-joined the meeting at 12.17p.m.

Members received briefing from the Specialist Advisor.

Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 12.32p.m.

Members noted receipt of the issues paper compiled by the Committee Specialist Advisor.

The Committee Specialist Advisor left the meeting at 12.41p.m.

10. Any Other Business.

Members agreed to forward a set of questions submitted by the Dungiven Bypass Committee to the Department for comment.

Members agreed to write to Translink requesting briefing on the disposals policy for surplus vehicles.

11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 17 September 2008 in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.45p.m.

Signed:

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

19 August 08 / Menu