Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Willie Clarke, MLA.
John McCallister, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor).
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer).

Apologies:
John Dallat, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA
George Robinson, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA.

Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.33 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from John Dallat, MLA, Raymond McCartney, MLA, George Robinson, MLA, and Brian Wilson, MLA.

2. Chairperson’s Business

None.

3. The minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted correspondence from NIPSA and Members decided to hear an oral briefing at the meeting of 24 June 2009 from NIPSA in relation to the dismissal of twenty five NSL Service Group employees who are currently NIPSA members.

Members noted receipt of a copy of the Roads Service’s submission on the planning application for the proposed expansion of the runway at George Belfast City Airport.

Members noted receipt of a statement issued on Monday 8 June 2009 at 1pm, by the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, on the launch of the draft Executive policy for Rathlin Island. Members also noted copies of the public consultation document on the draft policy.

Members noted receipt of the written update of the recommendations contained in the investigation report into the procurement of the Rathlin Island Ferry Service. Members decided to contact the Committee for Finance and Personnel to obtain an update on the progress of the recommendations that fall under the responsibility of the Department of Finance and Personnel. Members were informed that the Public Accounts Committee may have an interest in this matter, and Members agreed that the Committee Clerk would liaise with the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee, to ascertain what interest, if any, the Public Accounts Committee may have in this matter.

Members noted receipt of the Department’s responses to queries raised by the Fresh Water Taskforce regarding the draft River Basin Management Plans. Members decided to forward the Department’s responses to the Freshwater Taskforce and to hear briefing from the Taskforce after the summer recess, but before the completion of the River Basin Management Plans in December 2009.

Members decided to receive briefings from the Department and Coleraine Harbour Commissioners in relation to the proposal for a harbour order to modernise the byelaw confirmation and making procedures for Coleraine Harbour .

Members noted receipt ofa response to the Committee’s additional questions onTranslink’s Corporate and Business Plan raised at the Committee meeting held on 20 May 2009. Members decided that no further action was required on this issue.

Members noted receipt of correspondence detailing a breakdown of the numbers and grades of operational and non-operational employees of Translink in response to a Member’s query following the Department’s briefing on Translink’s Corporate and Business Plan.

Members noted the Committee’s response to the Department on its June monitoring round return, and decided to submit additional questions to the Department seeking clarificatrion on the implications for the Department’s and Translink’s budgets if bids are unmet in this monitoring round.

Members noted receipt of the Minister’s response to the Committee’s recent letter on the future of the Magilligan to Greencastle ferry service.

Members noted receipt of the Department’s response to the Committee’s letter on the amount of litter on the verges of the Ballyrobin Road. Members decided to write to Antrim Borough Council to ascertain the progress and timescale of the working group formed to address this problem and and to request that, in the interim, increased effort is made to ensure the verges of the road are kept clear of rubbish.

Members noted receipt of a memo from the Committee Clerk, detailing the next steps in relation to the flooding event of 16 August 2008. Members decided to write to the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Environment, Agriculture and OFMdFM committees to suggest that a meeting to discuss a way forward scrutiny of flood management and response.

Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department confirming that officials will attend and present to Committee on the plans for and progress on the piloting of audio visual information systems on buses in Northern Ireland.

Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.58a.m.

5. Water Supply (Water Fitting) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.

Departmental officials, John Mills, Paul McKenna and Stuart Wightman, and Michael McGreevy of Northern Ireland Water, joined the meeting at 10.59 a.m.

Alistair Ross left the meeting at 11.09 a.m.
Alistair Ross rejoined the meeting at 11.10 a.m.

Members received briefing from Departmental officials on the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 . Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.

Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.

Departmental official Paul McKenna and Northern Ireland Water’s Michael McGreevy left the meeting at 11.20 a.m.

Members decided to note receipt of the SL1 for these proposed regulations and to return to consider its policy merits at the meeting of 24 June 2009.

6. Draft River Basin Management Plans.

Departmental officials, John Mills, Gabrielle Nelson, John Smyth and Paul McKenna, and Stuart Wightman, joined the meeting at 11.20a.m.

Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the proposed Draft River Basin Management Plans. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.25a.m.

Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.

Departmental officials John Mills, Gabrielle Nelson, John Smyth and Paul McKenna, and Stuart Wightman, left the meeting at 11.40a.m.

The meeting was suspended at 11.40a.m.

The meeting reconvened at 11.45a.m with Fred Cobain, (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan,

Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John McCallister, Alastair Ross and Jim Wells present.

7. Committee Inquiry: Managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water.
7.1 Briefing from John B Mills

Mr John B Mills joined the meeting at 11.45a.m.

Members heard oral evidence from Mr Mills on the Committee’s inquiry into ‘Managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water’. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the witness for his evidence.

Members noted the briefing provided by the witness.

John B Mills left the meeting at 12.19p.m.

7.2 Briefing from Steria / Crystal Alliance

Ewen Bradley, Chris James and James White, representatives from Steria / Crystal Alliance joined the meeting at 12.20p.m.

Members heard oral evidence on the Committee’s inquiry into ‘Managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water’. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the witnesses for their evidence.

Members noted the briefing provided by the representatives from Steria/Crystal Alliance. Members decided to submit additional questions to the witnesses for written answer.

Ewen Bradley, Chris James and James White, representatives from Steria / Crystal Alliance left the meeting at 12.59p.m.

Jim Wells left the meeting at 1.00p.m.

7.3 Briefing from KPMG

John D’Arcy, Arthur O’Brien and Dominic Mudge, representatives from KPMG joined the meeting at 1.00p.m.

Members heard oral evidence on the Committee’s Inquiry into ‘Managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water’.

John McCallister left the meeting at 1.12p.m.

Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the witnesses for their evidence.

Members noted the briefing provided by the representatives from KPMG.

John D’Arcy, Arthur O’Brien and Dominic Mudge, representatives from KPMG left, the meeting at 1.29p.m.

8. Subordinate legislation

Members noted the following new SL1s:

Members decided they were content with the policy merits of the SL1s listed below, which were noted at the meeting of 27 May 2009:

Members decided to defer consideration of the policy merits of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Amendment Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 until the meeting of 24 June 2009. This item will be included in papers for the meeting of 24 June 2009.

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are subject to negative resolution by the Assembly:

Members noted that t he Seventeenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, 2008/09 session, was published on 12 June 2009. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2009/198 the Ballycloughan Road (U214), Saintfield (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009, and has no objection to the rule?’

Those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, and Alastair Ross.

Those against: None.

‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2009/197 the Ardnavalley Park, Comber (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009, and has no objection to this rule?’

Those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, and Alastair Ross.

Those against: None.

9. Correspondence.

Members noted receipt a response from the Department to the request from the Environment Committee for information from each Department on how and to what extent each of the public service agreements contributes to Northern Ireland’s emissions reduction target. Members decided to send the response from the Department to the Committee for the Environment.  

Members noted receipt of a letter from the Committee for the Environment, drawing the Committee’s attention to a letter from Mr John Wright on the subject of the proposed runway extension to the George Best Belfats City Airport. Members decided to forward respond to the Environment Committee, providing a copy of the recently received briefing on the relationship between the Regional Development Strategy and aviation strategy in Northern Ireland.  

Members noted receipt of a letter from the Minister for Regional Development providing additional information to the Committee on the review of the use of bus lanes by taxis, and indicating that a copy of the Roads Service report would be provided to the Committee. Member decided to return to consider this matter in more detail on receipt of the Roads Service report.  

Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 28 May 2009, from Mr Ciaran Rogan, Marketing Executive Translink, providing a copy of Translink’s response to a passenger complaint regarding changes made to the Goldline services.  

Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 5 June 2009, from the Department for Regional Development regarding the provision of officials attend an Envirnonment Committee meeting to discuss proposals for the extension of designated shellfish waters. Members noted that the Department for Regional Development has indicated that, as the Minister proposes to proceed with the designations, briefing is not needed at this time.  

Members noted receipt of the memo from the Clerk of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, seeking input from the Committee, in the form of a brief synopsis of any evidence received or discussions held on the economic downturn.. Members decided to provide a synopsis of its consideration of this issue, including its concurrent meeting with the Committee for Finance and Personnel, and its action on correspondence with that Committee on the issues raised by the Quarry Products Association.  

Members noted receipt of a letter and attached press release from the Department on the award of contract for the A26 Ballee Road East to M2 Ballymena Bypass for Members information.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 28 May 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Transport Minister visits Site of £12.5 million Derry railway line works’.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 28 May 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads service to invest £6.8 million in Belfast area’.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 9 June 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Minister officially opens M2 improvements scheme’.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 9 June 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Regional Development Minister announces executive policy for Rathlin at opening of community resource centre’.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 9 June 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads service to invest £2.3 Million in Cookstown area‘.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 11 June 2009, from Northern Ireland Water entitled ‘Rathfriland Wastewater Treatment Works Pollution Incident’.  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 15 June 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads Service to invest £6.8 Million in Craigavon.’  

Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 15 June 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads Service to invest £2.5 Million in Larne’.  

Members noted receipt of an inviataion from, Mr Tom Wilson, Head of policy for the Freight Transport Association, inviting Mr Fred Cobain to an in camera dinner, in the Members Dining Room, Parliament Buildings, on Wednesday 1 July 2009, from 7.15pm.  

Members noted receipt of an invitation from, Professor Sue Christie, director of the Northern Ireland Environmental Link, inviting Members to its annual conference and AGM, ‘Sustainable Transport: it’s time to get moving!’. This event will be taking place on Wednesday 24 June 2009 from 9:00am to 2:00pm, at the Ormeau Baths, Belfast.  

Members noted receipt of an invitation to a conference entitled ‘Third Sector Commissioning’, on Wednesday 22 June 2009 at the Hallam Conference Centre, London.  

Members noted receipt of an invitation to a conference entitled ‘Steering Young People Away From Crime’, on Wednesday 24 June 2009 at the Copthorne Tara hotel, Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London.  

Members noted receipt of an invitation to a conference entitled ‘14 th Annual Northern Ireland Economic Conference – bringing the economy back to growth’, on Wednesday 30 September 2009 at the Culloden Hotel, Belfast.  

Members noted receipt of notification from Michael Lorimer from the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is consulting on its draft Statutory Code of Practice, on the Forthcoming Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) regulations (NI) 2009.  

Members noted receipt of the Northern Ireland Environment Link, Fact Sheet (April 2009) – ‘The Science of Climate Change: What you need to know’.  

Members noted receipt of the Equality Focus Newsletter, June 2009.  

Members noted receipt of the Northern Ireland Water’s in-house magazine, Waterline, May 2009.  

Members noted receipt of the journal of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, Perspective, May / June 2009.  

Members noted receipt of the newsletter of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, June 2009.

10. Any Other Business

Members decided that the Committee Clerk and a researcher should attend on behalf of the Committee at the Transport Technology and Climate Change: Building a better Scotland, conference at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 29 June 2009.

Members decided to write to the Department in relation to policy / practice in cases where people have forgotten their bus fare, especially school children and the elderly.

11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

Members decided that the next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2009, at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.35 p.m.

Signed: ……………………………………………

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

27 May 09 / Menu