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COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2008,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir

In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Philip Maguire (Clerical Officer)
Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Assembly Clerk)
Mr Hugh Widdis (Assembly Legal Adviser)

Apologies:
Mr Samuel Gardiner

The meeting opened at 10.34a.m. in closed session for a discussion on the release of Committee papers.

Agreed: That a summary of the legal advice is released along with a press release.

Mr Boylan abstained from agreeing on the release of the legal advice.

Mrs Pritchard and Mr Widdis left the meeting at 10.38a.m.

The meeting went into public session at 10.39a.m.

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above

  1. Minutes

Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.

  1. Matters Arising

The Chairperson advised members that Philip Maguire was leaving to take up a post with the Belfast Telegraph. The Chairperson thanked Mr Maguire for the work he had carried out on behalf of the Committee and wished him well in his new post.

Meetings between members/interest groups:

The committee were provided with an update on meetings which had been held with Nigel Crothers and Patrick Rooney.

Agreed: That the Committee refer Mr Crother’s letter and information to the Department of Education and Learning.

Agreed: That the Committee refer Mr Rooney’s letter to the Department of the Environment.

The Chairperson advised members that a list of the reports left by the Coalition for Environmental Protection at the meeting on 21 February had been included in their meeting papers.

Members were advised that the Committee staff had contacted Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside who provided the Committee with a copy of the CNCC Seventh Report 2003 – 2006 which outlines the role and functions of the Council along with details of the environmental issues appropriate to its statutory remit.

Agreed: That the Committee forward the above report to Mr Neil Wallace who had originally enquired about this matter.

  1. Briefing by Association of Preservation Trusts NI

Representatives from the Association of Preservation Trusts NI briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the achievements and work in progress of the building preservation trusts.

Agreed: That the Association of Preservation Trusts NI forward details on all work in progress projects to the Committee.

Agreed: That the Association of Preservation Trusts provides the Committee with its views on the Historical Buildings grant-aid policy draft.

  1. Briefing by Criminal Justice Inspection

Representatives from the Criminal Justice Inspection briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on their report on enforcement in the Department of the Environment.

Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.32a.m.

Agreed: That the Committee request the Department’s action plan in relation to the above report

Agreed: That the Criminal Justice Inspection is invited to a future meeting to discuss their Roads Policing report and the Department’s response to their enforcement report.

  1. Forward Work Programme

The Committee discussed their Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: That the Committee ask the Department for the same presentation on PPS14 that was given to stakeholders and any findings from the stakeholder events.

Agreed: That officials are asked to brief the Committee on PPS 14 at the meeting on 6 March.

Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.12p.m.

Agreed: That the Committee write to the Minister expressing their concerns around road safety on the A4.

Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.21p.m.

Agreed: That the Committee request a written briefing from the Department on the Review of Public Administration.

Agreed: That the Committee request a written briefing from the Department on Environmental Governance.

Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.25p.m.

  1. Proposal for Secondary Legislation

SL1 – Proposed Commencement of Article 21 of the Road Traffic (NI) Order 2007.

Agreed: That the Committee considered the Proposed Commencement of Article 21 of the Road Traffic (NI) Order 2007 and had no objections to the proposal.

SL1 – Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Agreed: That the Committee considered theProposed Commencement of Article 21 of the Road Traffic (NI) Order 2007 and had no objections to the proposal.

  1. Correspondence
    1. Letter from The Participation Network (Children in NI) requesting a meeting to discuss how the Participation Network could enhance the role of the Committee.
      Agreed : That the Committee invite The Participation Network to a future meeting.
    2. Members noted a letter from the Department in relation to the Environmental and Heritage Service’s intention to issue a consultation paper on proposals to introduce application fees for abstraction and impoundment licensing.
    3. Members noted a response from the Department in relation to Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) survey on levels of compliance of the fleet on NI Roads and on levels of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion.
    4. Members noted an invitation from Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to attend the launch the “Committee on Climate Change” in the Long Gallery Parliament Buildings.
      Agreed: That a response is sent on behalf of the Chairperson stating that he will attend this launch.
    5. Members noted a response from the Department in relation to the Committee seeking clarification on the Departmental contribution to the Regional Innovation Strategy.
    6. Members noted an invitation from BMF Business Services to attend the Northern Ireland Environment Forum 2008 in the Stormont Hotel Belfast.
    7. Members noted a letter and attached annexes from the Department regarding the timetable for Water Framework Directive (WFD) draft river basin management plans.
    8. Members noted a letter and copy of current Grant-aid policy Position from the Department in relation to the Historical Buildings grant-aid policy draft seeking Environment Committee’s endorsement of EHS proposals.
      Agreed: Committee to further consider when it receives response from Association of Preservation Trusts.
    9. Members noted an invitation from the Assembly External Liaison Unit to attend a Youth Parliament event in the Senate Chamber on Monday March 10 th in celebration of Commonwealth Day, the theme of which is “The Environment – Our Future”.
    10. Members noted a letter from the Department notifying the Committee of the new Chief Executive of The Planning Service.
Members noted the following Publications/Conferences/Press Releases:
  1. DOE News releases –
    “Councils complete district rates for 2008/2009”
    “Northern Ireland Water fined £100 for polluting river”
    “DOE takes part in Northern Ireland taxi show”
    “Arlene Foster shares her planning vision with the building profession”
    “Larne man fined £1,000 for illegal waste disposal”
  1. Any Other Business
  2. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 6 March 2008 at 10.00am in room 144 Parliament Buildings subject to the Departmental briefing on PPS14 being confirmed.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.31.p.m.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
6 March 2008

26 February 08 / Menu