MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00 P.M. ON THURSDAY 8 JUNE 2000
1.Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation
4. Cuts in NI Housing Executive Expenditure
5. Future Work Programme
6. Any Other Business
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Sir J Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr D McClarty
Mr E ONeill
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
Apologies: Mr G Kelly
In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin
Ms V Surplus Mr L Hart
Mr F Cobain took the Chair at 2.04 p.m.
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
There were no matters arising.
Agreed:
The Committee was content with the Department's proposals for Statutory Rules in respect of Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and the Social Security and Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
4. Cuts in N.I. Housing Executive Expenditure
A. Presentation by the N.I. Housing Executive
Panel Members: Mr Paddy McIntyre, Chief Executive
Mr Colm McCaughley, Director of Client Services
Mr John Wilson, Assistant Director of Finance
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.22 p.m. Mr McIntyre first spoke to a briefing paper that had been copied to the Committee, and this was followed by a question-and-answer session. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel and they left the meeting at 3.25 p.m.
[Mr Robinson and Mr ONeill left the meeting at 3.02 p.m. and 3.07 p.m. respectively.]
B. Presentation by Department of Social Development Officials
Panel Members: Mr Cliff Radcliffe, Deputy Secretary
Mr David Crothers, Housing Branch
Mr Michael Sands, Housing Finance Branch
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.30 p.m. Mr Radcliffe gave a brief presentation, which was followed by a question-and-answer session. The discussions are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 4.40 p.m.
[Mr McClarty and Mr Wilson left the meeting at 3.50 p.m. and 4.22 p.m. respectively.]
The following provisional work programme was agreed:
Thursday 15 June Departmental briefing on Belfast City Centre Retail Schemes (Private Meeting)
Thursday 22 June Visit to the Child Support Agency
Thursday 29 June Urban (EU) Programme II (Public Meeting)
Thursday 6 July Departmental Briefing on Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill (Public Meeting)
- Agreed: Following an offer by the N.I. Federation of Housing Associations to make a presentation to the Committee, a slot will be arranged to coincide with the Committee's deliberations on the Housing Bill later in the year.
- Agreed: The Committee will sponsor a presentation by the Breakthru Project (which deals with cocaine awareness) in Parliament Buildings.
- Agreed: Following a request from Cherton Enterprise Ltd to make a presentation on its proposed retail development for Belfast city centre, the Clerk will invite all four developers who have made bids to submit details of their proposals to the Committee in writing.
- Agreed: The Chairman will write a letter of concern to the Office of the First and deputy First Minister with regard to the cuts in the Housing Executive's budget for this year.
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 15 June in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting ended at 4.45 p.m.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN