COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 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
Ms Anna Lo 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 (Assembly Research & Library Services) (Item 10)
Apologies:
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10.04am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 19 November 2009 were agreed.
3.Matters Arising
3.1Volunteer Development Agency
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note a briefing paper from the Volunteer Development Agency.
3.2 “Concordat” between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note a briefing paper from the Department on the new “Concordat” between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector.
4.Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Bill – Ministerial Briefing.
The Minister for Social Development and the following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10.06am:
Anne McCleary Director of Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Gerry McCann Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
The Minister provided a briefing on her plans to seek Accelerated Passage for the Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Bill.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 10:13am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to support the Minister’s proposal to seek Accelerated Passage procedure for the Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Bill.
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
5.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Fund (Applications and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Mr Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 10:19am
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:23am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the anticipated review of the Social Fund.
5.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
5.3 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Child Support (Management of Payment and Arrears) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6 NIHE Housing Maintenance Programmes – Briefing by Egan Contractors
The following representatives from Egan contractors joined the meeting at 10:32am:
Sean McCaughan – PK Murphy Construction Ltd, Egan Framework Contractor;
Gerry McAvoy – Mascott Construction Ltd, Egan Framework Contractor; and
Anne Fox – Bann Ltd, Egan Framework Contractor.
The representatives briefed the Committee on funding issues related to Egan contracts. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 11:06am
The representatives left the meeting at 11:24am
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:25am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek details of NIHE communications with the contractors regarding the apparent allocation of £6m of additional funding for the Egan contracts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting that the following be addressed during the Departmental briefing on 3 December 2009:
- the anticipated timing of the transfer of outstanding funding for the Egan contracts;
- the mitigating action undertaken by NIHE to limit the impact of the shortfall of its budget for maintenance contractors; and
- the planning challenges facing NIHE maintenance programmes.
Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting at 11:26am
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a press release relating to the funding of Egan contracts.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:27am.
7. Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland – Key Issues Paper: Clerk’s briefing.
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Key Issues Paper from the Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking immediate Committee access to the Savills’ Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive evidence sessions in relation to the key points covered in the Commission’s paper.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would submit a response to the Key Issues Paper consultation in early 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that arrangements should be made for a Take Note debate on the key issues reviewed by the Committee in connection with the evidence sessions.
8. NIHE Private Sector Grant Programmes- Briefing by Contractors
The following representatives from NIHE Private Sector Grant contractors joined the meeting at 11:40am:
Peter Wallace, Contractors Insurance Guarantee Services Ltd;
Trevor Taylor, Contractors Insurance Guarantee Services Ltd;
Aaron Kearney, Construction Register; and
Maire Nawaz, Federation of Master Builders.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the impact of reduced funding for Housing Executive Private Sector Grant Programmes. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:49am.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:13pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting that the following be addressed during the Departmental briefing on 3 December 2009:
- the amount and timing of funding for NIHE Private Sector Grant Programmes in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and
- NIHE policy and practice in relation to reportedly late and outstanding payments to contractors under various Private Sector Grant Programmes.
9. Correspondence .
9.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the value of the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED) housing stock.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department concerning an alleged fraud associated with a Departmental programme.
9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department confirming that the Housing Executive will brief the Committee on the 10 December 2009 on its annual report.
9.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Charity Commissioner for Northern Ireland confirming that representatives will brief the Committee on 14 January 2010.
9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Committee’s report on the Implementation of Neighbourhood Renewal.
9.6 The Committee noted correspondence from Partnership Solutions in relation to the third Nationwide BID Survey report.
9.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister relating to Child Benefit issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Clerk of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on this matter.
9.8 The Committee considered an invitation from the National Lottery Distributors in Northern Ireland to an event to mark the 15 th anniversary of the National Lottery in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson to attend, diaries permitting.
9.9 The Committee were content to note two items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Frank Buttle Trust and the University of Ulster.
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12:21pm
10. Fuel Poverty- Briefing by Assembly Research and Library Services
Ms Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on fuel poverty issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Murphy for her briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request an update on the recommendations from the Fuel Poverty Taskforce report including the development of a fuel poverty measurement tool and the measures being taken to address the issue of fuel poverty among seriously ill cancer patients.
11. Review of the Support Provision for Carers Report: Clerk’s briefing
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the joint DSD/DHSSPS report on the Review of the Support Provision for Carers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the report to the Education Committee for information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward related Departmental correspondence to the Health Committee for information.
12. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended
13. A.O.B.
13.1 Women’s Centres Childcare Fund
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarity on funding and the eligibility criteria for the Women’s Centres Childcare Fund.
13.2 Briefing on the Caravans Bill
The Chairperson briefed Committee Members on the circumstances of the delayed briefing of 19 November 2009 on the Caravans Bill.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3 December 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.40pm.