COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 09 DECEMBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Tommy Gallagher MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
George Robinson MLA
Brian Wilson MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Cathal Boylan MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.38am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.
2. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 2 December 2009
Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from NIO Criminal Law Branch, dated 1 December 2009, on NIO penalties under Section 55 of the Data Protection Act and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for information.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 2 December 2009, detailing the timetable for the development of the A5 Western Transport Corridor.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 1 December 2009, in relation to an issue raised by River Faughan Anglers Ltd on environmental damage caused by contractors appointed by government departments and agreed to forward the correspondence to River Faughan Anglers Ltd for information.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 30 November 2009, on the issue of public taxis in Belfast.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 27 November 2009, on the Accessible Transport Strategy Action Plan 2009-12 and agreed to consider the issue in more detail following the Christmas recess.
- Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, together with the draft Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and indicative timetable. Members also noted that a pre-introductory briefing from Departmental officials on the proposed Bill has been scheduled for 6 January 2010.
- Agreed: The Committee noted a paper from Assembly Research and Library Services in relation to the Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland and agreed to consider the issue in more detail following the Christmas recess.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Residents Association of Cherryvalley, Kensington and Shandon (RACKS) and agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking clarification of the issues raised in the correspondence and also agreed that, following the Christmas recess, Members of the Committee would meet with representatives of RACKS to discuss.
4. Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage
The Committee commenced formal clause-by-clause consideration of the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill.
Clause 1
Question: That the Committee is content with clause 1 put and agreed to.
Clause 2
Question: That the Committee is content with clause 2 put and agreed to.
- Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development on the estimated cost of water and sewerage services for the 2010/13 period and an update on the current VAT position of Northern Ireland Water.
- Members also noted information from the Assembly Research and Library Service on the water component of the Regional Rate.
5. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Armagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Airfield Road Lower, Donnybrewer (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members noted that the SL1 memos from the Department on the above proposals made no reference to their having been the subject of a public inquiry. Members noted that the Department had confirmed that the police service and relevant local councils affected by the above proposals have been informed, and the Committee office has not received any comments from the relevant councils regarding these policy proposals.
Members consideredthe following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation, which was noted at the Committee meeting on 2 December 2009:
- The Parking Places and Loading Bay on Roads (Limavady) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it is content with the policy merits of this SL1.
6. Correspondence
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the draft Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development requesting that the Committee be kept informed of developments in relation to issues around Section 10(B) of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from Demetrion AG in relation to proposals to develop anaerobic digestion facilities in Northern Ireland and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for consideration.
Members noted the following press releases from the Department:
- “Progress on £12 Million investment in Ballymena”; and
- “Progress on £4.5 Million investment in Newtownabbey”
Members noted the following press article, published in the Belfast Telegraph:
- “New flyover opens early to shoppers”
Members noted the following newsletters:
- “IMTAC – Transport matters, October 2009” and
- “Rose Energy News, Issue 03”.
7. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members considered a revised forward work programme for the Committee and agreed that the revised work programme should be published on the Assembly website.
Agreed: Members noted and agreed the Committee’s report on its study visit to Rathlin Island on 23 September 2009.8. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 6 January 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
10.48am The Chairperson adjourned the meeting
11.01am The meeting resumed in open session
9. Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill 2009 : Committee Stage (Continued)
The Committee further considered the Committee Report on the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: Members agreed the Background section, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Committee’s Approach section, paragraphs 3 to 11, of the report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Consideration of the Provisions of the Bill section, paragraphs 12 to 16, of the report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Other Issues section, paragraphs 17 to 31, of the report.
Agreed: Members agreed to considered the final draft of the report, including the appendices, at the Committee meeting of 6 January 2010 with a view to ordering that the report be printed and laid in the Assembly Business Office.
10. Departmental update briefing on Ports Policy
Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, on proposals to deal with Ports Policy legislation. Members also noted a paper from the Assembly Research Service, and a paper from the Department for Regional Development, on the Draft Harbours Bill.
The Committee received an update briefing on the proposals from Departmental officials Brian White and Peter Barbour .
11. Sustainable Transport Inquiry: Consideration of Written Evidence
Agreed: The Committee considered the written submissions received to date on its Sustainable Transport Inquiry and agreed to revisit this topic at the meeting of 13 January 2010 to agree the methodology to be adopted to progress the inquiry and also to consider a draft paper on emerging issues.
12. Briefings from Northern Ireland Water and the Department for Regional Development on the Utility Regulator’s PC10 Draft Determination (Price Control Process 2010/13)
11.43am The meeting moved into closed session
The Committee received a briefing on the proposals in the Utility Regulator’s draft PC10 determination from Ronan Larkin, Paddy Brow and Pat McParland of Northern Ireland Water .
12.07pm Mr McCrea left the meeting
12.16pm Mr McCrea returned to the meeting
The Committee also received a briefing on the proposals in the Utility Regulator’s draft PC10 determination from Departmental officials Lian Patterson, John Mills and Orla Gray .
The Committee noted an invitation from the Utility Regulator to attend a briefing on the final determination on Friday 18 December 2009. Members decided to invite the Utility Regulator to brief the Committee on the final PC10 determination on 6 January 2010.
13. Any Other Business (Continued)
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development in relation to Translink’s proposals to withdraw funding for the Easibus service in the Bangor area.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development in relation to Roads Service’s revised Drumderg Junction proposals, requesting a synopsis of consultation responses, and copies of the consultation responses themselves.
Agreed: Members agreed to contact Community Transport Association (CTA) in relation to issues raised by the Deputy Chairperson.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.51pm.