COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Peter Weir
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 Tommy Gallagher
The meeting opened at 10.12 a.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
Members discussed the possible transfer of further PPS’s to the Department of the Environment.
Agreed – Committee to write to the Department for clarification on the implications of the possible transfer of responsibility for further PPS’s to the Department of the Environment and details of the timescale of the New Rural Planning Policy.
Members were asked to confirm their availability to attend the working lunch on 29 November to discuss the Forward Work Programme.
Members discussed the possibility of exercising Committee powers to request papers under Section 44.
Agreed – Committee to write to Department for details of documents retained, commissioned or obtained in relation to the Giant’s Causeway planning application. Committee also to remind the Department of the powers to request papers under Section 44 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Assembly Standing Orders.
Agreed – Committee to seek legal advice on Section 44.
Agreed – Committee to meet at 9.30 am next week due to possible disruption by Rally Ireland.Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 10.40am.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10.40am.
The meeting reconvened at 11.18am with the following Members present:
Mr Patsy McGlone, Mr Cathal Boylan, Mr Trevor Clarke, Mr David Ford, Mr Samuel Gardiner, Mr Ian McCrea and Mr Peter Weir.
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Taxis Bill
Members completed their clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill and agreed as follows:
Clause 1
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clause 1 as drafted”.
Clauses 2 to 3
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clauses 2 to 3 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department, and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendments.
Clause 4
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clause 4 as drafted”.
Clauses 5 to 6
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clauses 5 to 6 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendments. Mr. Clarke asked for it to be noted that he was not content with these clauses.
Clauses 7 to 10
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 7 to 10 as drafted”.
Clause 11
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 11 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendment.
Clause 12
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clause 12 as drafted”.
Clause 13
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 13 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department with the agreed text.
Clauses 14 to 15
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 14 to 15 as drafted”.
Clause 16
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 16 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendments.
Clauses 17 to 19
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 17 to 19 as drafted”.
Clause 20
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 20 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendment.
Clauses 21 to 22
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 21 to 22 as drafted”.
Clause 23
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 23 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendment.
Clauses 24 to 26
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 24 to 26 as drafted”.
Clauses 27 to 29
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clauses 27 to 29 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendments.
Clauses 30 to 35
Agreed: ” that the Committee is content with clauses 30 to 35 as drafted”.
Agreed: “ that the Committee insert new clause 35a as agreed between the Committee and the Department”.
Clause 36
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that clause 36 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendment.
Clauses 37 to 47
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 37 to 47 as drafted”.
Clause 48
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clause 48 as drafted”.
Agreed: “ that the Committee insert new clause 48a as agreed between the Committee and the Department”.
Clauses 49 to 58
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with clauses 49 to 58 as drafted”.
Schedule 1
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with schedule 1 as drafted”.
Schedule 2
Agreed: “ that the Committee recommend to the Assembly that schedule 2 be amended as agreed between the Committee and the Department , and the Committee agreed to the text of the amendment.
Schedule 3
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with schedule 3 as drafted”.
Long Title
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with the long title as drafted”.
Other Departmental amendments
Agreed: “ that the Committee is content with the proposed list of Departmental technical amendments as discussed with the Committee on 11 October 2007.
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Agreed – Committee to write to Equality Commission re any possible disability discrimination by taxi drivers/operators.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 12.45 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 12.55 p.m. with the following Members present:
Mr Patsy McGlone, Mr Cathal Boylan, Mr David Ford, Mr Sammy Gardiner, Mr Ian McCrea, Mr Peter Weir
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Departmental briefing on RPA (Emerging findings)
Mr Weir, Mr McGlone and Mr McCrea declared their interest as local Councillors.
Departmental officials Paul Simpson, Ian Maye and Grace McGuinness briefed the Committee and answered Members’ questions on the emerging findings following the review of Local Government aspects of the Review of local Government.
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Briefing by NILGA/SoLACE
Arnold Hatch (President – NILGA), Heather Moorhead (Chief Executive NILGA), John O’Kane (NILGA Executive) and Trevor Polley (SoLACE) briefed the Committee and answered Members’ questions on the Emerging Findings Paper.
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Statutory Rule
S.R. 2007/435 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licenses) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/435 - The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licenses) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 rule and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report, has no objection to the rule.
S.R. 2007/448 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/448 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 rule and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report, has no objection to the rule.
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Proposals for Secondary Legislation – SL1s
Members considered the Introduction of legislation relating to the carrying of assistance dogs in taxis licensed as private hire vehicles, and had no objections.
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Correspondence
Agreed – The Chairperson and Committee Clerk to deal with this week’s correspondence.
- Consultation Paper - Draft Northern Ireland Species Action Plans.
Agreed: Members are content for the paper to be issued.
- Letter from Mr Mike Turner requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss safety of passengers in goods vehicles.
Agreed: Seek clarification from Department re any plans for legislation regarding the lack of safety arrangements.
- Letter advising of Ministers intention to make a statement to the Assembly re: PPS14.
Agreed: Noted by Members.
- Letter in response to Committee queries re: changes to the motorcycle driving test. A copy of the Department’s original letter re European Directive 56/2000/EC is also attached.
Agreed: Noted by Members.
- Letter in response to Committee query re: Adrian Wilson’s concerns about the negative impact of the planning system on tourism (a copy of the original letter from Lady Sylvia Hermon, dated 24 August 2007, is also attached).
Agreed: Request response from Department on each specific comment.
- Minister’s response on the Inquiry into Suicide and Self-Harm being conducted by the Health Committee, in response to a letter issued to her via the Environment Committee.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Letter from Tom Wilson, Freight Transport Association, requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss the Road Transport Bill.
Agreed: Mr Wilson to be invited when Committee are dealing with Bill. Committee to seek clarification from Department on when the Bill is to be introduced.
- Letter from Primrose Wilson, Association of Preservation Trusts, requesting the opportunity to discuss the proposal to provide voluntary organisations with funding to enable them to assist EHS in the preservation of historic buildings.
Agreed: To be considered by Committee on 15 November 2007.
- Research papers on UNESCO, with reference to the Giants Causeway, provided as part of the agreed exchange of key documents with the ETI Committee.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Departmental response to query from Desi Savage (attached for Members information) regarding legislation dealing with high hedges. A copy of Mr Savage’s original e-mail to Chairperson is attached.
Agreed: Copy of response to be forwarded to Mr Savage.
- Letter from Dr Raymond Seymour in response to his declined invitation to the Committee to visit Larne Promenade.
Agreed: To be considered by Committee on 15 November 2007.
- Letter from Gary Wilson, enquiring about the availability of Home Information Packs.
Agreed : Correspondence to be forwarded to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
- Letter on behalf of the Minister, seeking the Committee’s opinions on the Mourne National Park Working Party report. Further copies of the report have been requested and should be tabled at the meeting.
Agreed: To be considered by Committee on 15 November 2007.
- Copy of response from the Department for Regional Development to the query forwarded to them by the Environment Committee on overdevelopment in Ballyrobert.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Memo from Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister re: their inquiry into Child Poverty, and requesting that the attached letter is forwarded to the minister for the Departments views.
Agreed: Letter to be forwarded to the Minister.
- Letter from the Department acknowledging that the Committee has given its consent for the consultation paper to be issued, as decided on the 23 rd October, and inviting the Committees comments as part of the consultation stage.
Agreed: To be considered by Committee on 15 November 2007.
- Letter from Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group re: their invitation to brief the Committee.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Departmental response to the Committee’s request for further information on MOT statistics.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Letter from the Irish Academy of Engineers and enclosed copy of their report ‘ Ireland at Risk – Water.’
Agreed: Noted by Members
- DOE news release – ‘Ministerial Appointments to NILGOSC’
DOE news release – ‘Arlene Foster Stands firm on Rural Planning’
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Shooting and Conservation Nov/Dec 2007 edition.
Agreed: Members to note that the above publication has been received and is available to view in room 247:
- Letter from the Chairperson, Committee for Finance and Personnel, re statements to the Assembly (on 25 October 2007), on the Draft Budget 2007, Programme for Government and the Investment Strategy.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- E-mail from Christine Darrah, Clerk to the Committee of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, re Committee responses on the Draft Budget 2007, Programme for Government and the Investment Strategy.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Letter from “a concerned driver” detailing incidents involving disengaged taxi meters.
Agreed: Letter to be forwarded to the Department.
- Letter from Department confirming the launch of a public consultation on the draft Criminal Justice (NI) Order on 08 November 2007 and advising Members that Paul Goggins, Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, will be addressing MLAs during a seminar on the draft Order on Monday 12 November 2007.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Departmental response to the Committee’s request for an update on any review of the planning processes.
Agreed: Noted by Members with a copy to be forwarded to CEF.
- E-mail from Lucia Wilson, Clerk to the DETI Committee, informing Clerk, Committee for the Environment, of the DETI Minister’s intention to consult with the Environment Committee on the UK Energy Bill.
Agreed: To be considered by Committee on 15 November 2007.
- E-mail detailing the next event in the 2007 series of the CIPFA Northern Ireland Branch lunchtime events taking place on Tuesday 11 December 2007 in the Linenhall Library, Belfast – “Transport and the Environment”.
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Holding letter from Department re Committee’s request for further information relating to Giant’s Causeway planning application. (This letter was dated 02 November 2007 but was received on 06 November 2007).
Agreed: Noted by Members
- Departmental response to Committee’s request for further information regarding the proposed development at the Giant’s Causeway.
Agreed: Noted by Members
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Any Other Business
Agreed – Committee to write to Department for an update on the North South Interconnector.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 15 November 2007 at 9.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 14.02 p.m.