Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 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 Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross

In Attendance: Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Chris Corr (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Peter Weir

The meeting commenced in public session at 10.08a.m.

  1. Apologies

    2. Apologies are detailed above

  2. Minutes

    3. Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.

  3. Matters Arising

    4. The Chairperson informed members that the press release relating to the release of the Giant’s Causeway Section 44 legal advice had been put on the Assembly website, along with a summary of the legal advice.

    The Chairperson informed members that a letter had been sent congratulating the Minister on her recent award.

    The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with an itinerary for the visit to the Giant’s Causeway on 13 March.

    UK Marine Bill White Paper:

    The Chairperson informed members that the Department wrote to the Committee on 21 December 2007 seeking its views on the Marine Legislation Policy Paper. The Chairperson informed members that they now needed to consider a response to the paper.

    Agreed: That the Committee write to the Department to state that members are content with the principles of the Bill but that more specific proposals are needed.

    Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a report on the standards of beaches in Northern Ireland.

  4. Departmental Briefing on February Monitoring Round

Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 10.24a.m.

Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the February monitoring round.

Agreed: That the Department provide an analysis of the underspend in EHS.

Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.41a.m.

  1. Briefing by Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY)

Representatives from NICCY briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on road safety.

Mr McGlone left the meeting at 11.25a.m. and Mr Boylan assumed the Chair.

Mr McGlone returned to the meeting at 11.28a.m. and resumed the Chair.

  1. Departmental Briefing on PPS14 Stakeholder Seminars

Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 11.28a.m.

Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the recent PPS14 stakeholder events.

Agreed: That the Department forward the figures on single rural dwelling planning approvals.

Agreed: That the Department forward the data (CTA Report) from the recent PPS14 stakeholder events to the Committee.

Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.30p.m.

Agreed: That the Committee hold a meeting week commencing 10 March to formulate a response to the PPS14 Emerging Findings document.

  1. Correspondence

  2. The Committee noted a copy of a consultation paper from the Department regarding review of the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.
  3. Letter from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) requesting accelerated passage for the draft Local Government (Contracts) Bill.

    4. Agreed: That the Committee write to the Department for an update on this matter.

  4. The Committee noted a letter from Advice NI informing members of a number of newly-published papers regarding "Draft Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy", "OFMDFM Committee Child Poverty Enquiry", and "Social Development Committee Benefit Uptake evidence".
  5. Letter from Robert McAllister regarding asserted need for speed-limit signage on the A4 Dungannon - Ballygawley road.

    6. Agreed: That a copy of this letter is sent to the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Regional Development.

  6. Members noted an invitation from Capita Conferences to attend Northern Ireland Governance Conference.
  7. The Committee noted a letter and documents from the Department responding to a Committee request for additional information regarding local councils that had provided statistics to the BearingPoint consultancy, and a request for the consultancy’s report and comments.
  8. Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Committee request of February 7 for further information on Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
  9. Members noted a response and documents from the Department regarding a request for a copy of "Wind energy development in NI’s Landscapes" draft supplementary planning document.
  10. E-mail from the Clerk of the DETI Committee regarding the draft Better Regulation Annual Report.

    11. Agreed: That a letter is sent to the DOE asking for clarification on this matter.

  11. Response from the Department regarding February 8 request for more information on additional housing yield and the use of Brownfield and Greenfield sites for housing.

    12. Agreed: That a copy of the response is sent to the DRD Committee and the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group.

  12. E-mail from Neil Wallace regarding the legal rights of the Council for Nature Conservation (CNCC) to challenge the decisions of the Department.

    13. Agreed: That a reply is sent to Mr Wallace referring him to the CNCC for further information on his query.

  13. Members noted a letter from the Clerk of the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding awareness workshop for MLAs on Public Procurement.
  14. Members noted a Response from the Department of the Environment on the review of the local government aspects of the RPA.
  15. Letter from the Directors, Organics Matter, requesting the opportunity to meet with the Committee to provide a description of their business and future plans.

    16. Agreed: That a reply is sent advising the Directors to contact DARD, DETI and Invest NI.

  16. E-mail from Richard Morrow requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss an ongoing planning application.

    17. Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Morrow stating that the Committee cannot deal with individual planning applications.

  17. Letter from the Department requesting that Planning officials and an independent expert be given the opportunity to brief the Committee regarding the proposed reform of the NI planning service.

    18. Agreed: That the officials and independent expert are invited to brief the Committee at the meeting on 10 April.

    Publications/Conferences/Press Releases:

    Members noted the following press releases:

  18. DOE News releases –

    19. "Foster’s shock at school bus crash"

    "Portadown building firm fined £1500 for waste offences"

    "Landowner and construction firm fined for illegal waste disposal"

    "Northern Ireland road safety monitor 2007"

    "Construction Company fined £5000 for illegal waste"

    "Foster updates seminar on PPS14 reform progress"

    "Threatened historic building protected from demolition"

  1. Any Other Business

The Chairperson informed members that the Commonwealth Day Youth Parliament event would take place on Monday 10 March in the Senate Chamber.

Mr Gardiner raised the issue of fly posting and the removal of posters.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department to ask about legislation in relation to fly posting.

The Chairperson informed members that the Minister will be considering the issue of plastic bags levy.

Agreed: That the Committee write to the Minister requesting an update on the position regarding plastic bags.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 March 2008 at 10.30am in the Conference Room, Causeway Hotel, Bushmills.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.16p.m.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
13 March 2008
28 February 08 / Menu