COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 20 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland 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:
None.
The meeting commenced at 10.36am in open session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.
2. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 13 January 2010
Agreed : The minutes were agreed, subject to amendment, for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
10.43am Mr Kinahan and Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
10.45am Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Environment Committee, dated 8 January 2010, in response to concerns raised by the Public Hire Coalition in relation to public hire taxis and agree to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development with a view to the Department addressing the issues raised directly with the Department of the Environment.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 19 May 2009, in relation the use of bus lanes and agreed to note the Minister’s decision, without comment, and further agreed to request an update on any feedback received, if the private hire companies request meetings with Departmental officials.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Environment Committee, dated 8 January 2010, in response to environmental concerns raised in a letter from River Faughan Anglers Ltd and agree to forward the correspondence to River Faughan Anglers Ltd.
- Members noted a report from IMTAC, published in October 2009, on the Third Baywatch Parking Survey in Northern Ireland.
- Members noted correspondence from the Social Development Committee, dated 11 January 2010, on Disability Action’s response to the Department for Social Development’s Access and Mobility Study for Belfast City Centre.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Social Development Committee, the Education Committee and the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee in response to issues raised by a member of the public in relation to services to disabled people and agree to forward the correspondence to the member of the public for information.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee, dated 14 January 2010, in relation to the Review of Spending Plans 2010-2011 and agreed to take account of the correspondence as part of its response to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
- Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 12 January 2010, on the investigation into the procurement of the Rathlin Island Ferry service.
- Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, dated 14 January 2010, thanking the Committee for its report on the Committee Stage of the Water & Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill.
- Agreed: Members noted a submission from NIIRTA to the Department for Regional Development’s consultation on Public Transport Reform and agreed to consider the submission as part of the Committee’s work on this issue, scheduled for April 2010.
- Members noted an invitation from the Utility Regulator to meet with the Board of the Utility Regulator and noted that the Deputy Chairperson will attend.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence and papers to date on an issue raised by a member of the public in relation to the emptying of septic tanks and agreed to schedule an oral briefing from Northern Ireland Water on this issue.
4. Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
Agreed: Members considered the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the associated Explanatory and Financial Memorandum and agreed to accept the principles of the Bill.
Agreed: Members noted a Delegated Powers Memorandum from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and agreed to forward the memorandum to the Examiner of Statutory Rules for technical scrutiny and comment.
5. Briefing on noise measurement of air traffic in Northern Ireland
The Committee received a briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services on the measurement of air traffic noise in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Following Members’ questions on the briefing, additional information was requested from Research and Library Services on the issues raised.
Agreed: Following receipt of the additional information requested, Members agreed that the research paper should be forwarded to the Environment Committee for information and consideration.
11.03am Mr Robinson left the meeting.
6. Subordinate Legislation
Members consideredthe following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation,which were noted at the Committee meeting on 13 January 2010:
- The Donaghadee Harbour Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (Harbour Byelaw making and Confirmation Powers);
- The Airports ( Sale of Aircraft) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) 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.
Members noted the following statutory rules which had been laid in the Assembly’s Business Office by the Department for Regional Development and are subject to the negative resolution procedure:
- SR 2009/406 The T8 Moira-Antrim-Magherafelt-Moneymore Trunk Road Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- SR 2009/421 The Charlestown Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that t he Report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the above legislation was published on 15 January 2010 and raised no issues of concern with the Statutory Rules.
- 11.10am Mr Robinson rejoined the meeting.
7. Correspondence
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Environment Committee on the Committee Stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for comment.
Agreed: Members noted a copy of the Draft Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group Report on Disability from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and agreed to forward to the Department for Regional Development for comment.
Agreed: Members noted the analysis and report from the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force into the economic implications of marine management options in Northern Ireland. Members’ agreed to write to the Environment Committee requesting a written briefing on that Department’s role in the issues raised and how it proposes to take forward work on this matter.
Members noted an invitation from Northern Ireland Water to attend the Belfast Sewers Project Photographic Exhibition on 21 January 2010 in W5 @ The Odyssey, Belfast.
Members noted the British Medical Association’s Patient Liaison Group newsletter, December 2009.
Members noted a press release from Northern Ireland Water, previously emailed to Members, “ NI Water battling the coldest winter in 30 years”.
8. 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. Members also noted arrangements for a scheduled visit, on 17 February 2010, to the salt mine at Kilroot.
Members noted that Consideration Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill has been scheduled for Tuesday 26 January 2010.
Agreed: Members agreed to request a briefing from Northern Ireland Water on how it has dealt with the current winter freeze, particularly in relation to the hardest hit areas and rural areas.
9. Briefing from the Community Transport Association
Mr McCartney declared an interest in the subject matter as his brother is a manager of Derry Taxis Association
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Community Transport Association, Kellie Armstrong, Ian Wilson, Anita Flahagan and Mary O’Neill , on the work of the Community Transport Association and issues of concern.
11.44am Mr Clarke left the meeting.
11.50am Mr Cobain left the meeting, Miss McIlveen took the Chair.
12.00pm Mr Wilson left the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that a paper on the issues raised be considered at the meeting on 27 January 2010 for consideration and forwarding to other Statutory Committees and their respective departments for their consideration.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.25pm.