COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday 18 October 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Daithí McKay
Mr Peter Weir
The meeting opened at 10.40 a.m. in public session.
-
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
-
Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
-
Matters Arising
Members were advised that a reminder was issued to the Department on 12 October on the query on the areas where the Environment (NI) Order 2002 is deficient in relation to ASSIs.
Members were advised that the working lunch to discuss the Forward Work Programme will take place on 29 th November in the Press Conference Suite.
Members were advised that a copy of the Criminal Justice Inspection report has been forwarded to them via their Assembly pigeonholes.
-
Giant’s Causeway
Members considered the Ministerial response to their previous correspondence regarding the Giants Causeway planning application.
Mr Gardiner left the meeting at 10.59 a.m.
Agreed: That a response to the Department is issued requesting clarification on the Minister’s decision to withhold papers.
-
Taxis Bill
Members were given a briefing from Departmental officials on the Taxis Bill, and began their clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill.
Mr Gardiner rejoined the meeting at 11.45 a.m.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.04 p.m.
Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 12.56 p.m.
-
Proposal for Secondary Legislation – SL1’s
Members considered the Draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (NI) 2007, and had no objections.
-
Correspondence
Members noted the Consultation paper on increases to recovery/recycling targets in the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.
Members noted the Consultation paper on proposals to make the Waste Management Licences (Consultation and Compensation) ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.
Planned consultation with district councils on Article 10 of the Waste (Amendment) ( Northern Ireland) Order 2007.
Agreed: That this document is provided again at the next meeting to allow Members time to consider their response.Letter from Gregory Campbell, Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development regarding the proposal from the Minister for Social Development to abolish the existing game licensing system in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is forwarded to the Department of the Environment.Members noted the email from Jim Kitchen of the Sustainable Development Commission and the attached report, Turning the Tide: Tidal Power in the UK.
Letter from the UK Association of Preservation Trusts re the proposed future presentation to the Committee.
Agreed: That clarification is sought on the issue being referred to in this letter.Letter from the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group (BMRG) offering to brief the Committee on the issues raised by them in previous correspondence, or to respond to the DOE briefing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group advising them that due to an ongoing Public Enquiry into the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, a meeting would be inappropriate at this time.Members noted the Departmental response to their queries in relation to the proposed draft Road Freight (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
Members noted the letter from the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force and enclosed briefing paper outlining some key marine issues. They also noted the enclosed booklet entitled ‘Campaigning for A Sea Change: A Joint NGO Response to the Marine Bill White Paper’.
Response to Assembly Question for Written Answer on MOT pass/failure rates in the years 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee on the figures provided.Members noted the letter from West Belfast Taxi Association.
Members noted the letter from Graham Cash, PWC, re the revised process of stakeholder engagement on the emerging findings of the RPA.
Members noted the response from Dr Mechtild Rossler (UNESCO) on the Giant’s Causeway issue.
Response from Department on the sewage pollution in the Closet River (leakage from Ballinacorr Sewage Works).
Agreed: Copy of response to be forwarded to Mr Mullholland, Mr Ruddle and Ulster Farmers Union.Members noted the Departmental response on the timescales for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Mourne National Park Working Party report.
Letter from Sandy McDermott re planning permission to build a housing development on a disused quarry at 101 Upper Springfield Road.
Agreed: Write to Mr McDermott and advise him that Committee is unable to deal with individual planning applications.Members noted an invitation to a Conference on Exploring the Future of Planning in Northern Ireland.
Members noted the Water Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2006 – 07.
Members noted the NILGOS Committee Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007.
Members noted the following DOE news releases:
‘Arlene Foster Welcomes Enforcement Report’
‘Foster Awards Green Eco-Flag to Belfast Primary School’
‘Water Matters – Have your say!’
-
Any Other Business
Members were advised that plenary has been rescheduled for Thursday 25th October and would interfere with the scheduled Committee meeting.
Agreed: That the Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 25th October would be brought forward to Tuesday 23 rd October in Room 135.
-
Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 23 October 2007 at 10.00am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.17 p.m.