COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 19 JUNE 2008,
WORKSHOP 2, MARKET PLACE THEATRE, ARMAGH
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance: Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies: Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Daithi McKay
The meeting commenced in public session at 10.33a.m.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 5 June were agreed.
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Matters Arising
Research Paper on Poultry Waste:
The Chairperson advised members that Rose Energy and Assembly research had indicated that the waste energy plant in Fife would be the best plant for the Committee to visit as it uses the same technology as the proposed plant at Glenavy.Agreed: That a visit to Fife waste energy plant is arranged after the summer recess.
Letter from Minister dated 9 June 2008 re Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill and Draft Consultation Document:
The following members declared an interest:
Mr McGlone – Councillor, Cookstown District Council
Mr Gardiner – Councillor, Craigavon Borough Council
Mr Ford – Councillor, Antrim Borough Council
Mr McCrea – Councillor, Cookstown District CouncilThe Chairperson advised members that the Minister had written to the Committee asking for their views on the Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill.
Agreed: That the Committee write to the Minister asking for a timeline for a final copy of the Bill, a synopsis of responses to the consultation, Clarification on how/when the Department intends to provide Committee with a final copy of the Bill and Clarification on any further details the Department can provide on the 4-month consultation period.
Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 10.38a.m.
Seventeenth ESR Report:
The Chairperson informed members that the Seventeenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules was included in the meeting papers for members’ information. The Examiner of Statutory Rules did not draw attention to Statutory Rule SR 2008/231 – The Quality of Bathing Water Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 which was passed subject to the ESR Report on 12 June.
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Briefing by Rural Community Network
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.50a.m.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.53a.m.Representatives from the Rural Community Network (RCN) briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the work of RCN, PPS14 and Planning Reform.
The main areas of discussion were the need for a degree of balance in rural planning, development control being passed to the local councils, the changing nature of agriculture, the need to meet genuine rural needs, rural character, funding for local action groups and the rural tourist economy.
Mr McCrea left the meeting at 11.12a.m.
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Briefing by Rural Development Council
Representatives from the Rural Development Council (RDC) briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the work of RDC, PPS14 and Planning Reform.
Mr McCrea rejoined the meeting at 11.28a.m.
The main areas of discussion were the rural economy, farm diversification, biofuels, rural roads, delays in planning applications, farm substitution and overall views on the Emerging Findings on PPS14.
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Briefing by Safer Electricity in Armagh and Tyrone (S.E.A.T.) Action Group on proposed North-South Interconnector
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.50a.m.
Representatives from S.E.A.T. Action Group briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposed North-South Interconnector.
The main areas of discussion were sub stations and visual impact, underground and overhead cabling, potential health detriment and costs.
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Briefing by Monaghan County Council on proposed North-South Interconnector
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.16a.m.
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 12.16a.m.Representatives from Monaghan County Council briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposed North-South Interconnector.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12.44a.m.
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 12.16a.m.The main areas of discussion were sub stations and visual impact, underground and overhead cabling, potential health detriment and costs.
Agreed: That Monaghan County Council provides the Committee with any research and briefing papers on this issue.
Agreed: That Northern Ireland Electricity and Eir Grid are invited to a future Committee meeting to brief members.
Agreed: That Assembly Research are asked to do a scoping exercise on any research already carried out on the proposed interconnector and on safety user groups.
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Proposal for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: That the Committee considered The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objections to the proposal.
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Correspondence
1. Departmental response to Councillor Pat McCarthy’s letter (17 April) re complaints to the Planning Service on work carried out at 30 St Jude’s Parade.
Agreed: That a copy of the departmental response is forwarded to Councillor McCarthy.
2. Members noted a departmental response to Committee request in relation to the new corporate image of the Environment and Heritage Service.
3. Members noted a departmental response to Committee request for further information regarding the completion date for the Epic Project.
4. Members noted a letter from Clerk, Regional Development Committee, advising members that the Regional Development Committee has written to its Department asking for an update on the progress of any funding application by Sustrans.
5. Ministerial response to Committee request for further information regarding the range and level of fines for illegal waste disposal and ministerial contact with the judiciary.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister stating that the Committee is fully supportive of Ministerial representation to the Judiciary on the range and level of fines for illegal waste disposal.
6. Letter from Chairperson DSD Committee requesting information on Committee for the Environment’s level of scrutiny (and future plans to scrutinise) undertaken in relation to the Department of the Environment’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Chairperson of the DSD Committee advising that the Committee has not undertaken any work on this issue.
7. Members noted a departmental response to Committee request for a progress update in respect of the Department’s Action Plan following the CJI Report into DOE enforcement activity.
8. Letter from Northern Ireland Marine Task Force confirming arrangements for Committee boat trip on 4 September 2008 on Strangford Lough.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force confirming that the Committee will attend the boat trip on 4 September 2008.
9. Members noted a letter from Edward Cooke re Camberwell Terrace (Domestic Fire Deaths within Northern Ireland) Inquest.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Cooke acknowledging his letter.
10. Members noted a letter from Department re proposals for amendments to Waste Management Licensing Exemptions relating to Hazardous waste.
11. Members noted a letter from Department re recent announcement to Parliament of the Government’s Response to the Review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP).
12. Letter from Department re additional information on the display of MOT discs.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking how DOE intend to improve the exchange of information between DOE and GB.
13. Members noted a letter from Department re consultation letter and the three draft Statutory Rules that will introduce a new Local Government Pension Scheme.
14. Members noted a departmental response to Committee’s request for comments on any delays by EHS in responding to consultations.
15. Letter from Department re response from Minister to Iris Robinson, Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on climate change policies.
Agreed: That a copy of this letter is forwarded to the Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Service and Public Safety.
16. Members noted a departmental response to Committee’s request for a written briefing on how Planning Service views and approaches projects of the size, nature and sensitivity of the Rose Energy project.
17. Members noted a departmental response to Committee’s request for a written update on the issues regarding the plans to develop a regional landfill site at Cam Road in Ringsend.
Publications and Press Releases:
1. NIIRTA News (Issue 26 – June 2008).
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Any Other Business
The Chairperson advised members that a press release would issue after the meeting.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 June 2008 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.58p.m.