COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 3 December 2008
Room 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jim Wells (Deputy Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Willie Clarke, MLA.
John Dallat, MLA.
John McCallister, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA.
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
David Battye (Researcher).
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Fred Cobain, MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.33 a.m. in open session .
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from:
Fred Cobain, MLA.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted that Trevor Reaney, Director General of the Northern Ireland Assembly Secretariat, would join the meeting at 11.00 a.m.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to the North West city region conference to be held on 15 January 2009, in the Calgach Centre, Derry/Londonderry. Members agreed that Raymond McCartney, MLA, would attend the conference and report back to the Committee on this event.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a seminar with the Committee on Climate Change entitled ‘Climate Change and Energy Efficiency’, to take place on Monday 19 January 2009 in the Royal Commonwealth Society, London. Members agreed that Jim Wells, MLA, would represent the Committee at this seminar and report back to Members on this event.
Members noted receipt of a letter and e-mail from Gordon Best, Regional Director of Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland, providing supplementary information regarding roads maintenance expenditure. Members decided to respond to Mr. Best noting receipt of the information.
Members noted receipt of a copy of the draft consultation document and draft regulations for the Water Supply (Water Quality)(Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009. Members decided to write to the Department, reiterating their request to receive briefing on the outcome of the public consultation process.
Members noted receipt of the consultation on policy proposals for a Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Members decided to respond to the Department reiterating the Committee’s request that the Department returns to brief Members on the outcome of the public consultation process.
Members noted receipt of correspondence dated 27 November 2008, from the Department concerning the revised December monitoring round timetable.
Members noted receipt of the Department’s confidential December monitoring return. Following discussion, Members formed a view onthe Department for Regional Development’s December monitoring return, and agreed a letter for issue to the Department and publication on the Committee’s web pages. As part of this response, Members requested briefing from the Department on the blight and other land costs identified in the Department’s return as well as briefing on public lighting energy tariffs and alternative energy.
5. Review of the Flooding at Broadway Underpass.
Departmental officials, John White and Geoff Allister, and Amey consultant executive Ken Harland, joined the meeting at 11.12 a.m.
John Dallat left the meeting at 11.34 a.m.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.34 a.m.
Alastair Ross left the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from the Departmental officials and the Amey consultant on the background to flooding at the Broadway underpass as well as the key findings and recommendations of the independent report by Amey. Following a question and answer session, Members decided to request additional information from the Department, including the cost of the independent report, and requested regular updates on progress in implementing the report recommendations.
Members thanked the Departmental officials and the Amey consultant for their briefing.
Departmental officials, John White and Geoff Allister, and Amey consultant Ken Harland, left the meeting at 12. 11 p.m.
6. Environmental Noise Directive: Draft Noise Action Plan (Roads, Railways and Airports).
The Assembly researcher joined the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
The Committee received briefing from the Assembly researcher on how environmental noise is measured, and on the alternative methodologies for noise measurement. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Assembly researcher for his briefing.
The Assembly researcher left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Members noted the publication of the Draft Action Plans and Action Plan Guidance for public consultation. Members decided to write to the Department requesting briefing on this issue when the public consultation process has been completed. Members also decided to request confirmation that this public consultation has been brought to the attention of the MLAs for South Belfast, East Belfast and North Down.
7. Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1:
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (Galgorm to Gracehill, Ballymena).
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:
- The Bus Lane ( Lisburn Road, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Enniskillen) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newtownabbey) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No. 5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Waiting Restrictions (Portglenone) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules, which are subject to negative resolution:
- The Temple Road (U1118), Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Dromore Avenue and Highlands Road, Limavady (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Drumcroon Road and Crevolea Road, Aghadowey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Old Tullygarley Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the relevant statutory period, which is 20 January 2009 for the Temple Road Order and 27 January 2009 for the remaining orders.
Members noted receipt of the statutory rule The Old Belfast Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008. Following discussion of the issues raised in the Committee’s consideration of the policy merits of this proposal at SL1 stage, Members agreed to return to consider the issue at the meeting of 10 December 2008, when more detailed background briefing will be made available.
8. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a memo dated 27 November 2008, from Stella McArdle, Clerk to the Committee on Procedures, enclosing a letter to be forwarded to the Department for Regional Development (DRD) DALO, regarding the inquiry into Assembly Questions being conducted by the Procedures Committee. Members agreed to forward the letter to the DRD DALO.
Members noted receipt of the Advice NI Annual Report 2008.
Members noted receipt of an email dated 19 November 2008, from DODS publications regarding political guides.
Members noted receipt of a Rose Energy newsletter, a copy of which was requested by Brian Wilson, MLA.
9. Any other business.
No other business was presented.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 10 December 2008, in Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.44 p.m.