COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2009,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Adrian McQuillan
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Steven Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David Ford
The meeting began in public session at 10.32a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 10 September were not agreed.
Agreed: That the Committee Secretariat check a recording of the meeting on 10 September and make the necessary amendments for further discussion at the meeting on 24 September.
3. Matters Arising
DALO letter on PFG 1st quarter monitoring 2009:
The Chairperson informed members that at the meeting on 2 July they asked that the Department provide the Committee with regular updates in respect of PSA Targets and a reply was included in members’ meeting papers.
Agreed: That the Department is asked to clarify the criteria used to denote the ‘amber’ category and confirm that this is universally agreed across all Departments.
Record of members’ attendance
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of Committee meeting attendance for the period September 2008 – August 2009.
Agreed: That the information is published on the Assembly website.
Departmental update on the Taxis Act:
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental update on the Taxis Act which followed questions raised by the Chair and Deputy Chair at the meeting with the Permanent Secretary and Departmental Management Board.
Agreed: That the update is forwarded to Value Cabs, Fonacabs and the Belfast Public Hire Taxis Association.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Belfast Public Hire Taxis Association asking for their views on the implementation and enforcement of the Taxis Act.
Agreed: That two members meet the Department to discuss key issues.
Committee end of session report:
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Committee End of Session Report. The report details the main areas of work of the Committee from September 2008 – August 2009 including subordinate legislation, visits and Bills.
Agreed: That the information is published on the Assembly website.
4. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill – Oral Evidence Session – Belfast City Council
The following members declared an interest:
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council
Roy Beggs – Carrickfergus Borough Council
John Dallat – Coleraine Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Antrim Borough Council
Peter Weir – North Down Borough Council, Vice President NILGA, member of Policy Development Panel A
Before taking evidence members considered a submission to the consultation on the bill from Mr James Whitten.
Agreed: That Mr Whitten is invited to give oral evidence to the Committee.
Belfast City Council officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Mr McCrea left the meeting at 11:15
The main areas of discussion were the timescale to implement the Bill, working relationships between Belfast City Council and NILGA / ARC21, the need to introduce key elements of the Waste Bill quickly and the creation of Statutory Transition Committees.
Mr McCrea rejoined the meeting at 11:25
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.38a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for information on the mechanisms used to inform local councils of local government reform.
5. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill – Oral Evidence Session – NILGA/arc21
The following members declared an interest:
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council
Roy Beggs – Carrickfergus Borough Council
John Dallat – Coleraine Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Antrim Borough Council
Peter Weir – North Down Borough Council, Vice President NILGA, member of Policy Development Panel A
NILGA and arc21 officialsbriefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
The main areas of discussion were Statutory Transition Committees, the timescale of the Waste Bill, dissemination of information on local government reform and severance.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to NILGA asking how they are managing the balance of membership of Statutory Transition Committees.
Mr McKay joined the meeting at 12:08p.m.
6. Departmental briefing on the ePIC planning system
A departmental official briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the ePIC planning system.
The main areas of discussion were the timescales of the ePIC system and the budget and expenditure for the project and the proposed launch date of the system.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General asking for the Epic project to be investigated immediately.
7. Inquiry into Climate Change update
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with presentations from the visit to AFBI Hillsborough on 2 September and a DSD reply on social housing standards.
Agreed: That the information is incorporated into the Committee’s climate change inquiry report.
The Chairperson further informed members that they had been provided with a copy of a draft inquiry report.
Agreed: That further discussion of the report takes place at the end of the meeting in closed session.
8. Statutory Rules
The Chairperson informed members that the Examiner of Statutory Rules has passed comment on 2 of the Rules passed by the Committee at the meeting on 10 September:
- SR 2009/252 - The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations (NI) 2009
- SR 2009/254 – European Communities Environmental Protection – Groundwater Regulations (NI) 2009
The Examiner states that both sets of regulations are defectively drafted in one or more respects which has been acknowledged by the Department.
Agreed : That the Committee endorses the view of the Examiner and requests an update from the DOE as to the timescale for making the necessary amendments and to write to the Minister expressing disappointment at the defective drafting of these Statutory Rules in light of the amount of secondary legislation to be drawn up by DOE this session.
SR 2009/302 – The Motor Vehicles (Exchangeable Licenses) Order (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/302 – The Motor Vehicles (Exchangeable Licenses) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to this rule , subject to the ESR Report.
9. Departmental consultations
The Committee considered the following Departmental consultations:
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence – Improvements to Administrative Arrangements – synopsis of responses
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12:47
The Committee noted the consultation on Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2009.
Agreed: That no Committee response should be made
MERCURY – UK-wide consultation on UK-wide Statutory Instrument to implement an export ban of mercury and requirement for safe storage of mercury waste:
Agreed: That a synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.
10. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the revised Committee Forward Work Programme.
11. Correspondence
1. Letter from DOE regarding funding of Bryson House’s “Sort it Out” educational programme.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is forwarded to the Bryson Charitable Group.
2. Letter from member of the public regarding an individual planning application
Agreed: That this letter is forwarded to the department for comment and to reply directly to the individual. A letter should also be sent to the individual informing him of this action.
3. E-mail from Dr Joseph Obi requesting a full governmental investigation into a car registration company.
Agreed: That a copy of this email is forwarded to the department for a direct reply to Dr Obi .
4. Memo from CAL Committee regarding Departmental revenue from proceeds of crime.
Agreed: That a copy of the memo is forwarded to the DOE for comment.
Members noted the following correspondence:
E-mail from the Environmental Audit Committee re their recent inquiry on climate change adaptation.
E-mail regarding Europe’s World Newsletter #30 – Stuart Eizenstat on Obama’s climate change options.
Letter from former Minister regarding a proposed distribution warehouse with associated car parking planning application T/2007/0656.
Letter from former Minister regarding Magheramorne Works and Quarry planning application F/2006/0131.
Letter from the Minister regarding current consideration of Draft PPS 7 Addendum “Safeguarding the Character of Established Residential Areas”
Letter from DOE regarding a delay on the consultation on The (draft) Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone Depleting Substances) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and The draft Ozone – Depleting Substances (Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Letter from the department regarding a Committee request to be kept informed in relation to the progress of the work of the Department’s topsoil working group.
Letter from RSPB regarding their new document “Think Nature – How To Give Life To Sustainable Development”.
Planning reform booklet “Make the most of the opportunity” and NI planning reform: Third party rights of appeal (TPRA).
Committee on Climate Change Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09.
E-mail from The Participation Network, Children in Northern Ireland informing the Committee that their new website is now available.
Public perceptions on climate change in Northern Ireland 2009 report.
Members noted the following invitations:
Invitation to the Private View and launch party of CIWEM's Environmental Photographer of the Year 2009.
Rural Community Network “Enabling the Future by Considering the Past”.
Public Service Events, “Project and Programme Management 2009 – Delivering Best Practice.
Sustainable Development Commission NI “ Northern Ireland and the Transition to a Sustainable Economy”
12. Any other business
Mr Dallat raised the issue of a planning application for a super dump at Craigmore.
Agreed: That this issue is put on the agenda for further discussion at the meeting on 24 September.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2009 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting a 12.54.p.m.