COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 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 Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Iain Elliott (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
The meeting commenced in public session at 10.33a.m.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Roy Beggs as a member of the Committee for the Environment. The Chairperson also thanked Mr Sam Gardiner for the work he had done on the Committee.
Agreed: That a letter of thanks is sent to Mr Samuel Gardiner for his work on the Committee.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 11 September were agreed with one minor amendment.
3. Matters Arising
Potential conflict of interest:
The Principal Clerk updated members on recent advice in relation to potential conflict of interest when the Committee is scrutinising the Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill and the Local Government (Finance) Bill.
Mr Ford raised the possibility of inviting Beverly Bell, North West Traffic Commissioner, to give evidence to the Committee in their scrutiny of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
Agreed: That Mrs Bell is invited to give evidence at a future meeting.
4. Departmental briefing on Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill
The following members declared an interest as Councillors:
Patsy McGlone – Cookstown District Council
Roy Beggs – Carrickfergus District Council
Peter Weir – North Down Borough Council
David Ford – Antrim Borough Council
Trevor Clarke – Antrim Borough Council
Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.45a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the draft Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill.
Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 11.06a.m.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.07a.m.
The main areas of discussion were vesting powers, best value and timetables for the legislation.
5. Departmental briefing on Local Government (Finance) Bill
Mr Weir declared an interest as a member of the Policy Development Panel on Governance.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the draft Local Government (Finance) Bill.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 11.29a.m.
The main areas of discussion were severance arrangements, a transition committee, co-options and capital finance.
6. Departmental briefing on September Monitoring Round
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the September Monitoring Round.
The main areas of discussion were recruitment slippage, HR Connect and delays with the EPIC project.
Agreed: That the Department provides the Committee with expenditure profiles.
Agreed: That the Department provides the Committee with quarterly outturn figures.
7. Committee consideration of the questions for Statutory Committees – DFP review of budget logistics
The Committee considered questions for statutory committees in relation to a Department of Finance and Personnel review of budget logistics.
Agreed: That members provide the Committee secretariat with any views on the budget questions and that the secretariat drafts a response to be discussed at a future meeting.
8. Proposals for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – Proposed legislation to introduce the motorcycle manoeuvres test.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposed legislation to introduce the motorcycle manoeuvres test.
Agreed: That representatives from the Road Safety Council NI are invited to brief the Committee on this SL1 at the meeting on 25 September.
Agreed: That David McGuckin, motorcycle driving instructor, is asked to provide written or oral comments on this SL1.
9. Statutory Rules
SR 2008/282 – The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2008/310 – The Local Government (Constituting a Joint Committee a Body Corporate) Order (NI) 2008.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Local Government (Constituting a Joint Committee a Body Corporate) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
10. Correspondence
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 12.26p.m. and Mr Boylan assumed the Chair.
- E-mail from Mr Stephen Colton regarding the high costs of Oil and the impact on the cost of heating of house holder’s homes.
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is forwarded to DETI for information and reply. - Members noted a departmental response to the Committee request for an update on the proposed talks between the Driver & Vehicle Agency and the motor industry regarding the possibility of allowing private garages in Northern Ireland to carry out MOT tests.
- Letter from Mr Noel Brady adviser to the SITA Group requesting the opportunity for the representatives of the SITA Group to make a presentation to the Committee on the issue of waste management and an invitation for the Committee to visit the waste management facilities in Kirklees and Cleveland in England.
Agreed: That a letter is sent stating that the Committee may meet with the group in the future when next discussing the Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill. - Letter from Mr Jonathan Williamson and Mr Gerald Muldoon of the Muldoon Transport Company requesting a meeting with the committee to discuss the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations ( Northern Ireland).
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is forwarded to the DOE for comment before a decision is taken. - Memo from Department re Review of the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985 – Penalties.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Department asking for a timeline. - E-mail from Mr Samuel Egerton asking the Committee to request the Department to look at the feasibility of making regulations for a fuel surcharge.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is sent to the DOE for comment. - Members noted an e-mail from the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network asking members to sign a petition in support of the ‘Save the Network’ campaign.
- Members noted a memo informing members of the next All Party Assembly Group on Road Safety meeting
- Members noted a research paper on ‘Environmental Support to Business’.
- Members noted a copy of a reminder issued to the Department regarding the Assembly and Executive Review Committee – Multiple Mandates.
- Members noted a letter from Mr Geoff Smyth Manager Northern Ireland The Carbon Trust introducing their ‘Making sense of renewable energy technologies – Opportunities for business in Northern Ireland.
- Letter from Mr James O’Flaherty of the Rosetta Design Services Ltd regarding the issue of ‘Houses of Multiple Occupancy’.
Agreed: That a copy of this letter is forwarded to the DOE for comment. - Members noted a letter from Mr Stephen Graham, Clerk, Assembly and Executive Review Committee regarding a meeting to discuss multiple mandates
Press Releases:
DOE News releases and Newsletters –
“Delta Skips Ltd Fined £17,000 for Waste Offences”
“Prehen House’s Listing Raised to Grade A”
“Dungannon Company Fined £500 For Water Pollution Offences”
“Dungannon Men fined £2,000 for Water Pollution Offences”
“NIEL Newsletter September 2008 Issue”
“ Stormont Ministers Celebrate 30 Years Of Ulster Wildlife Trust
“ Wilson Launches New Bus and Coach Industry Qualification”
“Total Fines of £6,000 Illegal Dumping”
“NIEL News update: EUROPARC seminar on sustainable tourism”
11. Any other business
The Deputy Chairperson reminded members of an event being held by the Child Poverty Alliance NI in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 23 September.
The Deputy Chairperson informed members that a draft letter of thanks to the DOE Permanent Secretary after the lunch on 11 September had been prepared.
Agreed: That the letter is sent to the Permanent Secretary.
The Deputy Chairperson advised members that they had been provided with a draft letter to the Minister in relation to appointments to advisory bodies.
Agreed: That the letter is sent to the Minister.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 25 September 2008 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.p.m.