Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 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
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance: Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: George Robinson MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.46am 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 Meetings held on 10 March and 15 March 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.

3. Matters Arising
4. Proposed Rapid Transit Bill: Briefing on the outcome of the public consultation

10.55am Mr Wilson joined the meeting.

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials, Lindsay Rainey and Garry McKenna, on the outcome of the public consultation on the proposed Rapid Transit Bill .

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the issue further at its meeting on 14 April 2010 and to also consider a detailed response to the Department on the consultation report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating it had no objection to the Department requesting agreement from the Executive to draft a Rapid Transit Bill.

11.04am The meeting moved into closed session.

5. Departmental briefing on The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

11.06am Miss McIlveen left the meeting.
11.07am Representatives from the Consumer Council joined the meeting.
11.15am Miss McIlveen returned to the meeting.

The Committee received a briefing, in closed session, from representatives of the Consumer Council, Antoinette McKeown, Kathy Graham and Keelin Kelly , on the Price Control 2010-2013 Final Determination by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation.

11.38am Representatives from the Consumer Council left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to consider this issue further, in April 2010.

6. Response to the Department for Regional Development on the report on procurement governance at Northern Ireland Water

Members considered the briefing provided to the Committee on 15 February 2010 on the report on procurement governance at Northern Ireland Water and agreed to reconsider this issue further once the ongoing investigations had been completed.

7. Roads (Functions of District Councils) Bill

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 March 2010, and a draft consultation document on the Roads (Functions of District Councils) Bill. The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that it was content for the Department to request the Executive’s approval to consult publicly on the Bill. The Committee also agreed to request a future briefing on the outcome of the public consultation.

11.44am The meeting returned in open session.

8. Lands identified for abandonment and disposal: quarterly update

Agreed: Members noted the Department’s quarterly update on lands identified for abandonment and disposal, and agreed to write to the Department indicating that the Committee has no issues of concern to raise.

9. Committee response to the Department for Regional Development on Public Transport Reform

Agreed: The Committee considered its response to the Department for Regional Development, following the briefing received from Departmental officials on 10 March 2010, on the outcome of the Public Transport Reform public consultation and agreed its response, subject to amendment.

10. Departmental written briefing on Northern Ireland Water’s Water Resource Management Plan

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 March 2010, and associated guidelines for Northern Ireland Water’s Water Resource Management Plan. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting a briefing on the guidance at a later date.

11. Review of financial assistance for properties not served by mains water

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 March 2010, on its review of the policy for financial assistance towards the cost of providing water mains to existing domestic properties not served by the mains water supply. The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating its agreement that the Department consults publicly on the proposals. The Committee also agreed to request a briefing on the proposals prior to the public consultation commencing.

12. Subordinate Legislation

Members considered the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation, which was noted at the Committee meeting on 10 March 2010, following briefing from Departmental officials:

Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of the SL1.

The Committee also noted the necessity for the Department for Regional Development to introduce joint regulations, with the Department of the Environment, in relation to domestic water distribution where water is supplied to the public.

Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:

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 has 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 considered the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 10 March 2010:

Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of these SL1s.

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule:

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on this statutory rule in his Thirteenth Report to the Assembly, to be published on 25 March 2010 .

Members considered the following statutory rule which was laid in the Assembly’s Business Office by the Department for Regional Development and is subject to the negative resolution procedure. Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules, in the Twelfth Report to the Assembly for 2009/10, made no comment on the rule.

In the absence of any objection, the following question was put and agreed:

‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered SR 2010/45 The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’

All those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, Tommy Gallagher, Danny Kinahan, Raymond McCartney, Ian McCrea, Michelle McIlveen, Brian Wilson.

Those against: None.

All Members present voted. No Members present abstained.

Members decided that the Committee Clerk would inform the Business Office of the decision made today.

In relation to the following statutory rule, considered at the meeting on 10 March 2010, Members noted a revised document detailing the Department’s observations in relation to the objection made to the proposed order and the revised explanatory memorandum to the order, as laid in the Assembly Business Office.

13. Correspondence

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the issue of support for carers and agreed its response to that Committee.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the Fort George development in Derry / Londonderry and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for comment.

Members noted the March 2010 publication of the Agenda NI and Advice NI’s quarterly newssheets for winter 2009/10.

Members noted the following press releases:

14. 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 correspondence from t he Committee for the Environment on the issue of road safety in rural areas, and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for consideration.

Members noted correspondence from t he Department for Regional Development, dated 18 March 2010, in response to the Committee’s concerns on the issue of notification of planned road closures.

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 22 March 2010, on the issue of road safety in rural areas, and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for the Environment for information.

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Down District Council in relation to the building of a Western Link Road for Downpatrick and agreed to schedule a meeting with Council representatives.

Agreed: Members discussed a strategic programme to be embarked on by Northern Ireland Water to abandon a number of loughs and reservoirs that are currently part of the public angling estate . The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development requesting further information on the programme.

15. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.06pm.

Signed: ……………………………………………

Fred Cobain , MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

14 April 2010