COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER 2008,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Iain Elliott (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
The meeting commenced in public session at 10.36a.m.
The Chairperson informed members that Patricia Casey, former Committee Clerk, had now moved to her new position in the Bill Office.
Agreed: That a letter of thanks is sent to Ms Casey.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 9 October were agreed.
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 10.43a.m.
3. Matters Arising
Members Declaration of Interests:
The Chairperson advised members that a copy of the interests (financial or otherwise) as declared by David McClarty was included in meeting papers for members’ information.
Sustainability – the Regulator’s Role – synopsis of responses to consultation published on 31 March 2008:
The Chairperson informed members that they should consider how they wish to respond to the consultation on “Sustainability: the Regulators Role”.
Agreed: That this issue is discussed again at the meeting on 16 October.
Memo from Central Finance Group regarding Budget Stocktake:
The Chairperson advised members that they should note that the Department of Finance and Personnel had written to all Statutory Committees advising of the Executive’s intention to conduct a strategic stocktake of the Budget position for forward years (2009 -10 and 2010 – 11) this autumn.
E-mail from Myles Wallace, Station Manager, Westfield Biomass Plant:
The Chairperson advised members that Myles Wallace, Station Manager, Westfield Biomass Plant had notified Committee staff that he is unable to facilitate the proposed Committee visit to the Westfield Plant. He further advised members that the Committee Clerk has written to Mr Wallace expressing disappointment at his position on the Committee’s proposed visit and enquiring about the possibility of a visit in the near future. A research update on the plant had also been included in members’ meeting papers.
Agreed: That Committee staff establish if the Dutch chicken waste site has been operational for longer than one year.
Agreed: That Committee staff contact Energy Power Resources regarding a possible visit to their plant in Thetford.
The Chairperson informed members that they needed to decide if they still wished to visit Scotland to talk to planning officials.
Agreed: That NILGA are contacted in relation to their recent visit to Scotland to discuss planning issues.
4. Briefing by Beverley Bell, Traffic Commissioner, North West Traffic Area on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill
Beverley Bell, North West Area Traffic Commissioner briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
The main areas of discussion were illegal operations, poor safety standards of vehicles, co-operation with VOSA, appeals mechanism, public inquiries, planning and operating centres.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department for clarification on existing restrictions on parking goods vehicles in residential areas.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 11.45a.m.
5. Briefing by environmental community group on Article 31 planning issue
Mr Ford and Mr Clarke declared an interest
Representatives from the Craigmore and Randalstown Environmental Group briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Article 31 planning application T/2001/0517/F.
Mr Gallagher rejoined the meeting at 11.45a.m.
The main areas of discussion were the technical aspects of the planning application, potential environmental hazards, site lines, the number of objections to the revised scheme and demonstration of need.
6. Departmental briefing on Article 31 planning issue
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Article 31 planning application T/2001/0517/F.
Agreed: That a copy of the notes from the planning application file relating to Environment and Heritage Service is forwarded to the Committee.
Agreed: That clarification from DOE is sought on the process with Roads Service regarding land ownership
7. Departmental briefing on issues raised by Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on issues raised by the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 1.05p.m.
Agreed: That Assembly Research is contacted to produce a paper on the present situation in relation to this issue in Europe, England and Scotland.
8. Proposal for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – Proposed Special Protection Order for the Irish Hare 2008/9.
Agreed: That the Committee considered The Proposed Special Protection Order for the Irish Hare 2008/9 and had no objections to the proposal.
9. Correspondence
- Members noted a letter from Mr James O’Flaherty of Rosetta Design Services Ltd and response from Minster Sammy Wilson on the Issue of ‘Subject Plan for Belfast City Council 2015 – HMOs.
- Members noted a letter from the Minister to the Chairperson regarding Article 31 planning application J/2005/0125/O.
- Departmental response to a Committee request for comments on the briefing paper from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on road safety issues for blind and partially sighted people.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is sent to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. - Departmental response to a Committee request as to when the Department was first made aware of the need to submit the Noise Directive Action plan by 18 th January 2009.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking about the current risk of infraction proceedings and if they have received guidance from the EU. - Departmental response to a Committee request for further clarification in relation to repute checks for taxi drivers.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking how regularly details of convictions are provided. - Members noted an invitation to attend a presentation on the ‘Challenges of Community Planning at a Local Level’ on Friday 10 th of October, 10:00am to 1:00pm in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
- Departmental response to a Committee request for an update on the Ards and Down Area Plan.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an explanation of the issues involved. - Members noted a Departmental response regarding Samuel Egerton’s correspondence on the possibility of a fuel surcharge.
- Members noted a letter from the NIAPN seeking support for the ‘Save the NI Anti-Poverty Network Campaign’.
- Members note a Departmental response regarding queries on the ‘September Monitoring Round’.
- Members noted a Departmental response regarding a Committee request for more information on the issue of Capital Finance.
- Departmental response regarding a Committee request for comments on correspondence from Muldoon Transport Services Ltd.
Agreed: That the DOE forward a note of their meeting with Mr Muldoon to the Committee. - Members noted a letter from Mr Osvaldo Mauro-Hunn, Chief Executive of Rose Energy Ltd with a DVD featuring independent experts expressing views on the proposed Glenavy plant along with the views of residents and local councillors living in close proximity to existing Biomass Power stations in Great Britain.
- Members noted copies of letters opposing the planning application for the Rose Energy Power plant.
Members noted the following DOE Press Releases:
- “Poultry Litter Solution Needed”
“ Wilson Clarifies Slurry Spreading Position”
“The Participation Network Encouraging/Empowering” publication.
Environmental Protection UK Newsletter
11. Any other business
The Chairperson informed members that he will soon be briefing DOE officials on the protocol of appearing before Committees and advised members that if they wished to attend they should inform Committee staff.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 16 October 2008 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.23p.m.