COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Research and Library Services) (Item 9)
Mr Denis Arnold (Bill Clerk) (Item 7)
Apologies: None
The meeting began in public session at 10:32am.
1. Apologies
No apologies were recorded.
Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10:35am
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 Small Pockets of Deprivation
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on concerns in relation to the funding of the Small Pockets of Deprivation (SPoD) Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarity on the funding of the SPoD Scheme and the impact on support for residents’ associations.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:37am.
2.2 Community Places event
The Chairperson reminded the Committee about a reception hosted by the Community Places organisation which was taking place immediately after the meeting in the Visitors’ Restaurant, Parliament Buildings.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 15 October 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Town Centre Regeneration
The Committee agreed an embargoed press release and press plan for the launch of the Town Centre Regeneration Report on Monday 2 November 2009.
4.2 Informal Reception – Long Gallery
The Chairperson reminded Members to confirm their attendance at the Long Gallery reception on Thursday 5 November 2009 with the Committee Office.
5. Empty Homes Strategy Action Plan – Departmental Briefing
The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10:40am:
Brian Doherty Deputy Director of Housing Governance and Accountability, DSD; and
Colm McQuillan Assistant Director, Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The officials provided a briefing on the Empty Homes Action Plan. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11:11am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek: clarification on the number and profile of empty homes belonging to Housing Associations; information on the measures the Department are taking to reduce private sector vacancy levels and a copy of the report on vacancy reduction in the Rinmore area.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Empty Homes briefing material to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
6. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Authorised Payments) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should arrange a general briefing on pension matters.
6.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
7. Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill – Clause-by-clause scrutiny
The Committee commenced its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 11:17am to respond to Members’ queries during the scrutiny process:
Michael Sands Deputy Director of Housing, DSD;
Stephen Martin Housing Bill Team, DSD; and
Stephen Baird Housing Bill Team, DSD.
Mr Jonathan Craig joined the meeting at 11:19am
Clause 1 – Homelessness Strategy
Agreed : The Committee agreed, subject to a review of the final wording, that it would accept an amendment to Clause 1 Article 6A(1) to highlight the duty to produce a Homelessness Strategy though the replacement of the word “may” by “shall”.
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 11:25am
Ms Anna Lo joined the meeting at 11:28am
Agreed : The Committee agreed, subject to a review of the final wording, that Clause 1 Article 6A(5) be amended to include the Prison Service in the list of organisations that are required to take the Homelessness Strategy into account in the exercise of their functions.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that although it was generally content with Clause 1 as amended, it would defer further consideration of the clause in respect of the inclusion of the local councils in the list of organisations required to take the Homelessness Strategy into account.
Clause 2 – Duty of Executive to provide advice
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín re-joined the meeting at 11:35am
Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 11:38am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that although it was generally content with Clause 2, further consideration would be deferred pending additional evidence from the Housing Rights Service in relation to the provision of homelessness prevention advice.
Clause 3
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clause 3 put and agreed to”.
Clause 4 – Power of the Department to prescribe form of advice and assistance
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:43am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that although it was generally content with Clause 4, further consideration would be deferred pending additional evidence from the Housing Rights Service in relation to the provision of homelessness prevention advice.
Clause 5 – Review of decisions in relation to homelessness
Agreed: The Committee agreed that although it was generally content with Clause 5, it would accept (subject to a review of the final wording) an amendment relating to an increase from 21 to 28 days for the period during which a request may be made for a review of a Housing Executive decision.
Clauses 6 to 9
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clauses 6 to 9 put and agreed to”.
Clause 10 – Anti-social behaviour: Executive’s policies and procedures
Mr David Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 11:47am
Mr Billy Armstrong left the meeting at 11:58am
Mr Thomas Burns re-joined the meeting at 12:04pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarity on the Housing Executive’s policy and practice in respect of anti-social behaviour.
Agreed: The Committee further agreed that the Bill Report and the Chairperson’s remarks at Consideration Stage would reflect the Committee’s expectation that issues relating to anti-social behaviour would be adequately dealt with, in-line with the Committee’s suggestions, in the next housing bill.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Bill Report and the Chairperson’s remarks at Consideration Stage would reflect the Committee’s expectation that issues relating to inconsistency in respect of the Housing Executive’s and Housing Associations’ procedures and policies would be addressed in the current revision of the Housing Association Guide.
Agreed: “that the Committee is content with Clause 10 put and agreed to.”
Clause 11
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clause 11 put and agreed to”.
Clause 12 – Increase in Housing Council representation on Executive
Agreed: The Committee agreed that further consideration of Clause 12 would be deferred pending additional evidence from the Department in relation to the enhanced democratisation of the Housing Executive.
Clause 13
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clause 13 put and agreed to”.
Clause 14 – Definition of “house in multiple occupation”
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, subject to a review of the final wording, it would accept an amendment which would limit the change in the definition of a house in multiple occupation to a widening of the definition of a family to include uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.
Clauses 15 to 19
“Question: that the Committee is content with Clauses 15 to 19 put and agreed to”.
Additional Amendments
Mrs Mary Bradley left the meeting at 12:22pm
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 12:22pm
Mr Billy Armstrong re-joined the meeting at 12:22pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of an amendment to introduce a code of practice relating to conflicts on interest for Housing Association staff, pending further information from the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting information on the timing, trigger and nature of reviews of the Common Housing Selection Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of amendments relating to the reform of the Common Housing Selection Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider an amendment which would add Assembly Procedure to the review of Registered Rents.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of amendments relating to the registration of private landlords.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The officials left the meeting at 12:28pm
The meeting was adjourned at 12:29pm
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 12:47pm
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 12:47pm
The meeting resumed at 12:47pm
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to the monitoring of Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans.
8.2 The Committee considered correspondence from Mr John McCallister MLA relating to the Caravans Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to Mr McCallister to invite him to brief the Committee on the Caravans Bill prior to its introduction.
8.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment relating to the publication of the Independent Review of Economic Policy.
8.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Executive’s European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10.
8.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Employment and Learning relating to Neighbourhood Renewal targets.
8.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Pensions Regulator relating to the Pensions Regulator Tribunal Bill.
8.7 The Committee noted an invitation from the Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust to a seminar entitled “Building Sustainability- A Greener, Future-proof Approach to Architecture” on Friday 6 November 2009.
8.8 The Committee noted items of miscellaneous correspondence from Public Service Events and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
9. Landlord and Tenancy Registration - Assembly Research and Library Services Briefing.
Ms Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on Landlord and Tenancy Registration schemes in the private rented sector.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Murphy for her briefing.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
11. Any other business
11.1 Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Egan contractors to invite them to brief the Committee on the implications of a shortfall in their funding.
11.2Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request an update on the Social Housing Development Programme.
11.3 Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the economic appraisal of upgrading and replacement housing work for the Upper Long Streets, Parkside and Glen areas and to seek information on the consequent impact on the urban renewal status of these areas.
11.4 Town Centre Regeneration Debate
The Chairperson reminded Members that the debate on the Town Centre Regeneration Report would take place on Monday 2 November 2009.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 10:30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:06pm.