COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 22 MAY 2008,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Iain Elliott (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Cathal Boylan
The meeting commenced in public session at 10.08 a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 15 May were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill Public Notice:
The Chairperson informed members that the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill was now in Committee stage and that a draft public notice inviting submissions was in meeting packs for consideration.
Agreed: That the public noticed is issued in the 4 main daily newspapers.
Rose Energy letters of support:
The Chairperson informed members that more letters of support for the Rose Energy project had been received in the Committee Office and that it had been agreed at the meeting on 15 May that these would be passed to the Department of the Environment.
4. Briefing on the Rose Energy project
Representatives from Rose Energy briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on a proposal to construct an incinerator plant on the banks of Lough Neagh.
The main areas of discussion were the reasons for choosing Glenavy as the site for a possible plant, the percentage of waste generated by the plant, the amount of energy the plant would use, the timescale for the proposal, the numbers of possible employees, district heating and feedback from other government departments on the proposal.
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 10.47a.m.
5. Briefing by Sustrans on way forward on active school travel
Mr Ross joined the meeting at 11.04a.m.
Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 11.10a.m.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 11.11a.m.
Representatives from Sustrans briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on their Safe Routes to School project.
The main areas of discussion were road safety, training of pupils and parents, feedback from the DOE on the project, the percentage of schools that Sustrans worked with, their involvement with secondary and urban schools and the level of engagement with schools.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department for comments on the recommendations made by Sustrans in their briefing paper.
Agreed: That a letter is sent, via the DRD Committee, enquiring on their involvement with the project and possibility of future funding.
6. Departmental briefing on compliance with European Waste Directives and Regulations
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on DOE compliance with European Waste Directives and Regulations.
7. Departmental briefing on the work of the Environmental Crime Section
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 11.51a.m. Mr Clarke proposed that Mr Weir assume the Chair, the other members agreed to this.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.53a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the work of the Environmental Crime Section.
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 11.58a.m. and resumed the Chair.
The main areas of discussion were the powers of, and responsibility for the use of, Article 28, sentencing by the Judiciary, the levels of fines, enforcement and clean up costs, the principle of ‘polluter pays’, illegal waste from the Republic of Ireland, the average length of time to take cases to court and the Departmental response to the Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) report on Enforcement in the DOE.
Mr Gallgher left the meeting at 12.18pm.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a copy of their response to the CJI report when it is finalised.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking about the Department’s engagement with the Judiciary.
8. Correspondence
- Members noted a petition letter in support of the Rose Energy Biomass Power Plant, so far 242 letters have been received.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 12.36p.m. - Members noted a consultation document on Draft Regulations Implementing The Single (Internal) Market Provisions of the Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive (2006/66/EC) (“The Batteries Directive”)
- Members noted a copy of The Participation Network membership list as requested at the Committee meeting held on the 18 th of May 2008
- Members noted an Equality Commission Newsletter ‘Equality Focus’ Issue 7
- Letter from Committee for Social Development in response to the request made by the Committee for the Environment for information on ‘Neighbourhood Renewal’.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is forwarded to the DSD Committee Clerk. - Letter from Mourne Heritage Trust concerning the ‘Future of Rural Housing: Mourne Homesteads Scheme’.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is sent to the DOE to inform discussions on PPS14. - Members noted an invitation from Tom Wilson Manager of the Freight Transport Association to a working lunch to discuss the new Freight Transport Legislation at the Committee’s convenience.
- Members noted a memo to Committee Clerks re Report on the Health Committee’s inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm.
- Copy of e-mail sent to chairperson, from Dr Declean O’Mahony, Dr Paul McCann regarding major concerns over recent DARD badger tender.
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is sent to the Public Accounts Committee to pass to the Audit Office for an update on this issue. - Copy of e-mail sent to Committee Chairperson from Dr Declean O’Mahony, Dr Paul McCann and Dr James O’Neill regarding major concerns over the impact of a recently tendered contract to form natural heritage research partnership with the Environment & Heritage service (DoE).
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is sent to the Public Accounts Committee to pass to the Audit Office for an update on this issue. - Synopsis of consultee responses to the Department’s draft Quality of Bathing Water (NI) Regulations 2008 and SL1 on the Quality of Bathing Water (NI) Regulations 2008.
Agreed: That the Committee considered the Quality of Bathing Water (NI) Regulations 2008 and had no objections to the proposal. - CQ/46/08 Response to Environment Committee re: Removal of exemption of operators of transport services – DDA.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is sent to the OFMDFM Committee. - CQ51/08 Response to Environment Committee re: further comment on PPS14 Emerging Findings Paper.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking when the sub-committee’s proposals on PPS14 will be finalised and also asking for a precise definition of the term ‘clachan’. - Members noted a letter from Help the Aged (NI) presenting the Committee with its publication ‘Spotlight on older people in Northern Ireland, Spotlight Report 2008’.
- Response to Environment Committee regarding CQ/52/08, investigation by the Planning Service into alleged unauthorised use of a property as a house of multiple occupancy.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is sent to the person who originally sent in correspondence on this issue. - Members noted a memo regarding request by Environment Committee on the Department’s compliance with the Northern Ireland Better Regulation Strategy in respect of the requirement to undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).
- Members noted and invitation to the launch of Northern Visions project report and findings for ‘Footpath to Sustainability’.
- Members noted a memo regarding DOE Corporate and Business Plan.
- Memo regarding Local Government Contracts Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department indicating that the Committee is unable to commit itself to the timetable outlined in the memo but will work with the Department to try to progress the Bill as quickly as possible.
Members noted the following DOE Press Releases and publications:
- Newtownards Skip Firm Fined £500 For Waste.
- Public Records Move Gets Green Light From Planners.
- Ballygwley Company Fined £1,000 Pollution Offence.
- Dungannon Abattoir Fined £1,300 For Pollution Offences.
- Dungannon Company Fined For Pollution Offence.
- Information Notice, MOT And Practical Driving Tests At Belfast Test Centre.
- Lisnaskea Landowner Fined £4,500 For Waste Offences.
- Potato Farmer Fined £400 for Waste Offences.
- Arlene Foster Visits Skooter On The W.W.Web.
- Foster Visits Interactive Environment Stands At Balmoral Show.
Publications:
Homes & Heritage, The Mourne Homesteads Experience.
9. Any Other Business
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 May 2008 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.50p.m.