COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Tommy Gallagher MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA
Raymond McCartney 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:
Allan Bresland MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.36am 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 6 January 2010
Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Consumer Council, on the issue of complaints received regarding septic tanks, and agreed to consider the correspondence, and all other papers on this issue, at the Committee meeting on 20 January 2010.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, regarding legal assistance at public inquiries into road development schemes, and agreed to defer consideration of the correspondence. The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development requesting a copy of papers that it received during its consideration on this issue. Members also agreed to schedule a separate meeting with representatives of the Ulster Farmers’ Union to consider its concerns.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 4 January 2010, in relation to the A55 Outer Ring road widening scheme and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Residents’ Association of Cherryvalley, Kensington and Shandon (RACKS) for information. A number of Members also agreed to schedule a meeting with RACKS to discuss its concerns.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 5 January 2010, in relation to the withdrawal of the Easibus service in the Bangor area. The Chairperson and Mr Wilson agreed to schedule a meeting with Departmental officials to discuss further the concerns raised.
10.40am Mr George Robinson joined the meeting
10.45am Mr Raymond McCartney joined the meeting
10.45am Mr Ian McCrea joined the meeting
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, in relation to the structural maintenance of roads and agreed to consider the correspondence further during its work on the Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-11 process.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-11 and agreed to schedule a briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services on this issue for 20 or 27 January 2010.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 16 December 2009, on PPS18 and the supplementary planning guidance and agree to forward the correspondence to the Environment Committee.
4. Departmental briefing on the Donaghadee Harbour Order
Ms McIlveen declared an interest in the subject matter as a member of Ards Borough Council
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials, Brian White and Garry McKenna , on the outcome of the Department for Regional Development’s public consultation on its proposal to make a Statutory Rule entitled “The Donaghadee Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2010” .
The Committee noted an SL1 and the final draft of the proposed Statutory Rule.
5. Departmental briefing on The Airport ( Sale of Aircraft) Regulations
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials, Brian White and Garry McKenna , on the outcome of the Department for Regional Development’s public consultation on its proposal to make Regulations entitled “The Airport (Sale of Aircraft) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010” .
The Committee noted an SL1, a draft of the proposed Statutory Rule and the associated Explanatory and Financial Memorandum.
6. Briefing on Roads Service’s Winter Service
The Committee received a briefing from Dr Andrew Murray and Geoff Allister of Roads Service on its Winter Service .
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department, offering to provide follow-up papers on the briefing, and Members agreed to request the papers. Members also agreed to request a copy of the agreement between Roads Service and two local councils on the gritting of footpaths.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a press release commending the work of Roads Service during the current winter freeze.
11.43am Mr Ian McCrea left the meeting
7. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:
- The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members noted that the SL1 memo from the Department on the above proposal made no reference to its having been the subject of a public inquiry. Members noted that the Department had confirmed that the police service and relevant local council affected by the above proposal have been informed, and the Committee office has not received any comments from the relevant council regarding this policy proposal.
Members consideredthe following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation,which were noted at the Committee meeting on 6 January 2010:
- The Glensharragh Park, Castlereagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions ( Belfast) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Taxi Regulation (Portstewart) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Waiting Restrictions ( Bangor) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking Places, Loading Bays and Waiting Restrictions (Coleraine) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Prohibition of Traffic (Juniper Rise, Twinbrook) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Control of Traffic ( Amelia Street, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Waiting Restrictions ( Newcastle) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it is content with the policy merits of these SL1s.
8. Correspondence
Members noted the following newsletters:
- “BMA Northern Ireland briefing – December 2009”
- “Agenda NI – December 2009 / January 2010”
Members noted the following invitations:
- Invitation from the Utility Regulator for the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to meet with its board on 11 February 2010 at Queens House, 14 Queen Street, Belfast.
- Invitation from the International Child Welfare Organization to the 7 th World Congress on Child Labour and Child Exploitation from 17 February to 20 February 2010 in New York and from 23 February to 26 February 2010 in Dakar.
- Invitation from Citizens Advice to attend the Money Active Launch Event on 19 January 2010 in the Throne Room, Hillsborough Castle.
- Invitation from Northern Ireland Water to the 3 rd Northern Ireland Water Stakeholders Conference – “Climate Change – Challenges for the Water Cycle” on 10 March 2010 at Castle Espie Wetlands Centre.
- Invitation from the Utility Regulator to the “Sustainable energy as a driver of jobs and investment: A business view?” seminar on 12 February 2010 in The Performance Room, Linenhall Library, Belfast.
Members noted the following press releases from Northern Ireland Water, previously emailed to Members:
- “ NI Water Welcomes Further Improvements in Water Utility Discharges”; and
- “ Saintfield River Pollution Incident”.
Members noted the following press releases from the Department for Regional Development, previously emailed to Members:
- “Progress on £21.5 Million investment in Derry area”; and
- “Northern Ireland Water Ltd fined for pollution offence”.
Members noted a statement from Northern Ireland Water, dated 9 January 2010, in relation to interruptions to water supplies as a result of a problem at Fofanny Water Treatment Works.
Members also noted a statement from Northern Ireland Water, dated 11 January 2010, in relation to interruptions to water supplies as a result of the on-going thawing conditions.
9. 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 discussed concerns that UK legislation in relation to dams and reservoirs does not extend to Northern Ireland and the Committee agreed to request a briefing from Departmental officials in relation to this issue.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.10pm.