Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr F Molloy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

Apologies:
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs J Carson
Mr M Murphy

In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms C Angelone (Clerical Officer)
Mr J Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Ms C Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 6 June 2002 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

1. The Controlled Waste Regulations (NI) 2002

The Committee considered a response from SOLACE regarding the above SL1.

Agreed: The Committee to issue a 'no comment' to the SL1

2. Shared Horizons

The Committee considered the Department's response to the Mourne Heritage Trust.

Agreed: Write to Mourne Heritage Trust and to Department about this matter.

Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.34am

2. Replies Awaited

Members' attention was drawn to a number of replies awaited.

The Chair, Deputy Chair, Mr McClarty and Mr Molloy declared interests as District Councillors before the next item was discussed

3. Local Government (Misc Provisions) Bill

Ms Marie Finnegan, Dr Tracy Power, Mr John McConnell and Mr David Barr, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 10.41am. They gave a presentation and answered Members' questions on the working draft of a revise of the Bill.

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.47am and declared an interest as a District Councillor before joining in the discussions.

Key issues discussed included the issue of consultation on some of the proposed Regulations, the role of the Local Government Auditor, the Assembly's role in relation to reducing the general grant to District Councils, vesting powers in relation to Economic Development, powers of District Councils in relation to Community Safety and Emergency Planning powers of Councils. The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.21am.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.21am

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 11.25am

The Committee considered a written response from SOLACE on the Bill, particularly in relation to Community Safety.

Agreed: The Committee to write to SOLACE on the matter.

The Committee also considered an extension to the Committee Stage of the Bill and the following motion was put to Members and agreed:

'That in accordance with Standing Order 31 (5), the period referred to in Standing Order 31 (3) be extended to 17 October 2002 in relation to the Committee Stage of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA 19/00)'

Agreed: The Committee to table the motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill.

Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.30am

4. Local Air Quality Management Bill

The Committee considered the way forward on the Bill, which was introduced to the Assembly on 10 May 2002.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to a number of key interested parties about the Bill. Members also agreed to consider appointing a Specialist Advisor to assist the Committee with the technical aspects/implications of the Bill.

5. Planning (Amendment) Bill

The Committee considered the way forward on the Bill, which was introduced to the Assembly on 10 May 2002.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to a number of key interested parties about the Bill. Members also agreed to consider appointing a Specialist Advisor to assist the Committee with the technical aspects/implications of the Bill.

6. Pollution, Prevention and Control Bill

Ms Judena Goldring and Mr Norman Simmons, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 11.32am. The Chair updated the Members on the Minister's most recent letter re passage of the proposed Bill through the Assembly. The Committee reached a unanimous decision to accept the proposal from the Minister for 'normal procedure' passage for the Bill with the objective of publishing its Committee Stage Report by mid-September 2002. It was further agreed that, on this basis that such a deadline will restrict the Committee Stage scrutiny of this Bill, the Committee may need an additional week on this deadline to complete its consideration of the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee to write to Minister on his proposal.

The Chair thanked the Officials they left the meeting at 11.39am

The Committee then briefly discussed the way forward on the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to a number of key interested parties about the Bill following its introduction to the Assembly. Members also agreed to consider appointing a Specialist Advisor to assist the Committee with the technical aspects/implications of the Bill.

7. Statutory Rules

The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1's:

1. Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
2. Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers and Passengers Etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
3. Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
4. Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
5. Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Agreed: The Committee to issue a 'no comment' on the SL1's

8. AOB

The Committee noted a number of issues and papers including:

1. A Member drew the Committee's attention to a letter from the Belfast Metropolitan Residents' Group about the release of greenfield land for housing at Dundonald.

Agreed: To write to Department about the policy issues involved in this matter

2. The Chair drew Members' attention to a conference invitation 'Towards the Creation of a Compact City' organised by the Belfast Metropolitan Residents' Group.
3. The Chair also drew Members' attention to a letter from a senior DoE Official on leaving the Department on promotion.

Agreed: To write to the Official to congratulate him and thank him for his contribution to the Committee work.

4. A letter from the Minister regarding the pending Review of the Taxi Industry
5. A letter from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding the proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration.
6. Correspondence from the Rural Development Council regarding the launch of their Report: ' A Picture of Rural Change'
7. A letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding the publication of its Report entitled: 'Cultural Tourism and the Arts in Northern Ireland'
8. Correspondence from Bryson House regarding MoD disposal of lands at Divis Mountain - Belfast Hills

Agreed: To copy the correspondence to the Department and seek comments on the policy issues involved in this matter.

9. Correspondence from Mr Mark Robinson MLA regarding the law surrounding Lleyandi trees and Hedges

Agreed: To consider raising this issue with Departmental Officials at a future evidence session on the Committee Stage of the Planning (Amendment) Bill.

10. Correspondence from the Holywood Conservation Group

Agreed: To copy the correspondence to the Department and seek comments on the policy issues involved in this matter.

11. Correspondence from the Committee of the Centre regarding OFM/DFM's earlier involvement in a telecommunication planning development issue.
12. An Invitation to the Annual Conference of the Northern Ireland ME Association

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 20 June 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 11.50am.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)