COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2009
ULSTER MUSEUM, BELFAST
Present :
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Apologies:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
In attendance: Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mrs Ashleigh Mitford (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Lamont (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher Baird (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 10.35 a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft Minutes of 19 November 2009
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the countries participating in the World Police and Fire Games.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek assurance in writing from the Department that stadia will satisfy health and safety requirements on time for the games.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding plans for an annual reception to recognize the achievements of local sports people.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek further details of the event.
The Committee noted a response from the Department regarding Ulster Scots funding streams.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Ulster-Scots Agency.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the NIO Community Fund.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to confirm with the Department that there is no anticipated under spend of the funds and that relevant groups are fully aware of funding availability.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the departmental budget.
The Committee noted correspondence from DCAL regarding training for the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Management Committee.
10.50 a.m. Mr. Clarke joined the meeting.
The Committee noted a response from the Arts Council regarding its list of art work.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee Office should contact the Keeper of the House in order to ascertain what opportunities exist to display further works of art in Parliament Buildings and to ask whether any progress had been made since initial discussions in November 2007.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek clarification on the process that is involved should a member of the public wish to view items in storage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to undertake a visit to view items of stored art as part of its forward work programme.
The Committee noted a Research Services paper on TV3 availability on Sky and a letter from Mr McKay MLA.
Agreed: The Committee agreedthat it would forward a copy of the research paper to Mr McKay.
4. Evidence session with DCAL officials on progress against PfG and PSAs
The Committee noted a briefing paper from DCAL.
The following witnesses joined the meeting:
Deborah Brown, Director of Finance
Arthur Scott, Director of Culture
Mick Cory, Director of Sport, Museums & Recreation Division
The witnesses briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session. The officials agreed to forward further information to the Committee.
5. Ministerial statement on British-Irish Council Summit Meeting
The Committee noted a Hansard from the plenary session of 17 November 2009.
6. Chairperson’s business
The Committee noted a report of the meeting which the Chair and Deputy Chair had with BBCNI on 25 November 2009.
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee that he, the Chairperson and Mr. Robinson attended a meeting with Professor McCutcheon regarding bringing some archived material into public ownership.
Mr. Robinson briefed the Committee on the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to discuss the issue at a future meeting.
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee that a round robin meeting with various groups would take place on Tuesday 1 December 2009.
7. Correspondence
The Committee notedcorrespondence from Disability Sports NI regarding changes to the criteria for the Paralympic Games.
8. Forward work programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
The Deputy Chairperson advised members that the briefing session from Sport NI on capital grants for grass roots clubs has been brought forward from 10 December 2009 to 03 December 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the session with Sport NI and the session on December monitoring next week should be covered by Hansard.
9. Any other business
The Committee considered press articles on the closure of the Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek the views of the Minister on this matter.
The Committee conveyed thanks to secretariat staff for the organisation of the launch of the Committee’s report of its inquiry into the funding of the arts in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 24 November 2009.
10. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 03 December 2009 at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.25 p.m.