COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10.34 am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
Mr Fra McCann joined the meeting at 10:35am.
2. Chairperson’s Business
There were no items of Chairperson’s business.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 October 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report on the Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration would be the First Report of the Social Development Committee to the Assembly in the 2009/2010 session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that embargoed copies of the Report could be made available by the Clerk to key witnesses and the Department, in advance of the usual publication date.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the following motion should be tabled in the Business Office
“That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee for Social Development on its Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration and calls on the Minister for Social Development to implement the recommendations.”
4.2 Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill
The Chairperson advised the Committee that the Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill is expected to be introduced to the Assembly on the 19 October 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should re-circulate a copy of the Assembly Research and Library Services’ recent paper on the Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill.
5. Housing (Amendment) Bill evidence session – Departmental Briefing on the Including the Homeless Strategy
The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10:40am:
Brian Doherty Deputy Director of Housing, DSD;
Eilish O’Neill Senior Manager, Social Inclusion & Support for People, DSD; and
Stephen Martin Housing Bill Team, DSD.
The officials gave oral evidence on the Including the Homeless Strategy. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 11:07am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11:12am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request information on homelessness levels in areas which were formally ring-fenced under the Housing Executive’s Strategic Guidelines and an update on Discretionary Housing Payment expenditure.
6. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Consideration of Amendments
The Committee considered possible amendments to the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek further clarification from the Department in respect of the issues raised by Members in relation to the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
7. Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which has been laid in the Business Office:
7.1 SR 2009/328: The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/328: The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8. Correspondence
Departmental Correspondence:
8.1 Letter dated 29 September 2009. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department concerning the Shared Spaces Research Project.8.2 Letter dated 29 September 2009. The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding the Co-Ownership Scheme and comments from Mr Sean Bruen.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request an update on the results of the ongoing negotiations with private lenders in relation to the Co-ownership Scheme finance arrangements.
8.3Letter dated 30 September 2009. The Committee considered a response from the Department in relation to the implementation of Customer First (previously known as the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency) in the Banbridge District Council area.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward the Department’s response to Banbridge District Council.
Other Correspondence:
8.4 Memo dated 30 September 2009. The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to the Voluntary Advice Services Consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should submit this correspondence with the Committee’s views on the Voluntary Advice Services Consultation later in the autumn.
8.5Letter dated 23 September 2009. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister relating to the draft Sustainable Development Strategy.
8.6Letter dated 23 September 2009. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel relating to departmental post project evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward a copy of this correspondence to the Department and request an update on outstanding post project evaluations.
9. Northern Ireland Housing Executive -38 th Annual Report.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that time pressures would not allow for a substantive review of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s 38 th Annual Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request a briefing from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on its 38 th Annual Report.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 10:30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:51pm.