COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 22 JANUARY 2009,
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 David McClarty
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance: Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Clerk)
Mr John Devlin (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
The meeting commenced in closed session at 10.38a.m. when the Committee discussed PPS4 and PPS21.
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 10.46a.m.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.47a.m.
Agreed: That Policy and Development Control officials are invited to brief members at a future Committee meeting.
Agreed: That written guidance on active farming is requested from the Department.
The meeting went into public session at 10.55a.m.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 15 January were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Letter from Minister regarding bioenergy study:
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of a letter from the Minister detailing the outcome of a study into the potential for the sustainable development of bioenergy in Northern Ireland and his opinion on the approach being adopted.
Agreed: That the authors of the study are invited to brief members at a future Committee meeting.
Draft Committee response on UK Climate Change act 2008:
The Chairperson informed members that a copy of the Committee’s draft response on the UK Climate Change Act 2008 had been included in members’ meeting papers for their consideration and approval.
Agreed: That the Committee response is issued.
Letter from Minister regarding UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill – Legislative Consent Motion:
The Chairperson informed members that they needed to consider the terms of the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) for the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
Agreed: That the Committee Clerk prepares a draft Committee response for consideration at next week’s meeting.
Profiles of Specialist Advisers for Climate Change Inquiry:
The Chairperson advised members that Research and Library Services had identified 8 possible special advisers to assist with the Committee’s Inquiry into climate change.
Agreed: That more information on fees and availability is sought and brought back for members’ consideration at the meeting on 29 January.
Working Lunch:
The Chairperson informed members that a working lunch would be held immediately after the meeting when members would have the opportunity to discuss the Committee’s forward work programme.
Letter from Eddie McGrady MP:
The Chairperson informed members that a draft response to Mr McGrady’s letter in relation to lower carbon emissions had been included in members’ meeting papers.
Agreed: That the Committee response is issued.
Budget Strategic Stocktake 2008:
The Chairperson notified members of the Take Note debate on Tuesday 27 January 2009 to discuss the Strategic Stocktake.
Agreed: That the Chairperson re-iterates the Committee’s position on the increased requirements identified by the Department and the securing of the funding of waste management infrastructure at the debate.
Photos from Fife Fact Finding Visit:
The Chairperson informed members that photographs of the Committee’s fact finding visit to Fife were ready and asked if members were content for them to be published on the Assembly internet site.
Agreed: That the photos are published on the Assembly website.
4. Departmental briefing on consultation - A scheme of fees and charges to recover the costs incurred under the water abstraction and impoundment (Licensing) Regulations (NI) 2006
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the consultation - A scheme of fees and charges to recover the costs incurred under the water abstraction and impoundment (Licensing) Regulations (NI) 2006.
The main areas of discussion were charges, how water abstraction is monitored and regulated, the number of applications for a license, charges for minor amendments to a license, the calculation of the annual charge and the possibility of installing meters.
Agreed: That NIEA forward more information to the Committee on fees and exemptions.
Agreed: That the Committee Clerk prepares a draft Committee response for consideration at next week’s meeting.
5. Briefing by Construction Industry Group NI (CIGNI)
Representatives from the Construction Industry Group NI (CIGNI) briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the downturn in the construction industry.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.30p.m.
The main areas of discussion were planning reform, the numbers of construction workers losing their jobs and the moving of top soil between neighbouring lands.
Agreed: That the CIGNI provides the Committee with a paper on planning reform.
Agreed: That Planning officials are invited to a future meeting to brief the Committee on issues raised by the CIGNI.
Agreed: That Assembly Research provides the Committee with a paper on how other parts of the UK and Europe deal with the movement of top soil.
6. Proposals for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – Proposed amendments to the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004
Agreed: That the Committee for the Environment considered the SL1 – Proposed amendments to the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 and had no objections to the proposal.
7. Departmental Consultations
The Committee considered the following consultations: -
Consultation on the Utility Regulator’s Social Action Plan 2009-2014.
Agreed: That the Committee Clerk liaises with other relevant Clerks to ascertain the Committee’s level of involvement in this consultation.
Consultation on the Financial Provision for Waste Management Activities in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the Committee response to this consultation is issued.
Consultation Paper on proposed amendments to the Waste Management Charging (NI) Scheme 2009:
Agreed: That the Committee requests a synopsis of responses to this consulation.
7. Correspondence
1. Letter from the Department informing the Committee that the three draft river basin management plans covering Northern Ireland have now been issued for a six month consultation.
Agreed: That the Committee enlist the help of an undergraduate intern to assist in this matter.
2. Letter from the Speaker, forwarding correspondence from Mr C. Thompson in relation to legislation to control high hedges and trees.
Agreed: That the Committee acknowledge letter and forwards it to the Department for comment.
3. The Committee noted a Departmental letter informing the Committee that the Planning Service “Department Management Statistics Report – 08/09 Second Quarterly Statistical Bulletin" has been posted on the Planning Service website.
4. Correspondence from the Carbon Trust highlighting a series of 10 best practice case studies.
Agreed: That this correspondence is further considered at the working lunch.
5. The Committee noted Departmental notification of forthcoming Draft Planning Policy Statement 21 public information days.
6. Letter from the Clerk of the Committee for Education, enclosing the Education Department’s response to a briefing paper from the Committee for the Environment concerning Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Agreed: That a copy of the response is forwarded to Tobermore Concrete Products Ltd.
7. The Committee noted a letter from NIEA regarding a declaration of an ASSI at Knocknashangan.
8. The Committee noted a letter from the Clerk to the Committee for Education inviting submissions from stakeholders on the proposed Education Bill.
Agreed: That the Committee notify Committee for Education that it will not be responding on this Bill.
9. The Committee noted a letter from RIPPLE announcing that Phase 1 of the RIPPLE Ballinderry River Action Plan has been agreed and finalised.
10. Copy of presentation entitled, Towards a Low Carbon Fife Economy, by Barbara Whiting, Economic Advisor, Fife Council.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Fife Council thanking them for their assistance and hospitality during the Committee’s recent fact finding visit.
11. Letter from Ulster Architectural Heritage Society requesting the opportunity to give a presentation to the Committee on the re-use of traditional buildings, especially in the context of draft PPS21.
Agreed: That representatives from the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting.
12. Members noted an invitation to Striking the Balance between Affordable and Sustainable Housing forum in London on Tuesday 28th April 2009.
13. Members noted an invitation to the launch of PAS 2020 Direct Marketing - Environmental Performance – Specification, in London on 21 January 2009.
Members noted the following DOE Press Releases / Publications:
“Minister Urges Public to Keep Recycling Despite Market Downturn”
“Templepatrick Business Man Fined £3,000 for Waste Offences”
“Public Invited to PPS21 Information Days”
“Co. Armagh Farmer Fined for Polluting Discharge to a Waterway”
“Pharmaceutical Company fined £1000 for Unauthorised Operation of Three Incinerators”
“Co. Armagh Farmer Fined £400 for Planning Offences”
“Air Pollution in Northern Ireland, 2007”
“Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2007”
“Revision to the Pollution Prevention & Control and the Radioactive Substances Charging Schemes”
8. Any other business
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 January 2009 at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.02 p.m.