COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2009,
FIELD STUDIES CENTRE, DERRYGONNELLY
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Adrian McQuillan
The meeting began in public session at 10. a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 15 October were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson informed members that, due to the volume of requests to brief the Committee on planning reform, it may be best to hold a ‘speed dating’ event and invite all interested organisations to give their views at a separate meeting.
Agreed: That the event is to be held on Tuesday 10 November in the Visitors’ restaurant, Parliament Buildings, from 12.45 – 2.00p.m.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of the press plan from the Assembly’s Communications Office f
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with correspondence from DFP in relation to departmental performance against 2008/09 PSA targets and a DOE reply as to the discrepancies between the OFMdFM Programme for Government (PfG) Delivery Report and the Department’s assessments of its progress against PSA targets.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s query on the recruitment of enforcement officers. At the meeting on 1 October members expressed concern that the moratorium on filling vacancies may have an adverse impact on road safety and requested an explanation for this moratorium.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking why nine officers have been recruited through a recruitment agency.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s query on the Gender Equality Action Plan and Disability Action plan
Agreed: That the DOE response is forwarded to the Women’s Ad Hoc Policy Group for information.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with information on the Independent Review of Economic Policy carried out on behalf of DETI and Invest NI.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment outlining the Committee’s comments and concerns on this issue.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) responses to DOE actions in the Barroso Report and the Draft Sustainability Strategy as requested at the meeting on 8 October.
Agreed: That draft responses from the Committee to both issues are prepared on the basis of the Committee’s comments and NIEL’s input and circulated to members for approval.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a draft Committee response to the DETI bioenergy action plan consultation as requested by members at the meeting on 15 October.
Agreed: That the response is sent to DETI.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a letter from the Department in relation to additional items in their forward work plan.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the DOE asking if High Hedges legislation is being included in the Clean Neighbourhood Bill and, if not, a timescale for when the High Hedges legislation will be introduced.
5.Briefing by Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on their Draft Revised Enforcement Policy – synopsis of responses
NIEA officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the synopsis of responses to the consultation on their draft revised enforcement policy.
The main areas of discussion were cross border waste, enforcement and prosecution of illegal dumping, the powers of NIEA and options available for penalising waste offences.
Agreed: That a response to the Department is prepared on the basis of the Committee’s discussion.
6. Briefing by NIEA on their Corporate and Business Plan 2009-2012
NIEA officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on their Corporate and Business Plan 2009-2012.
The main areas of discussion were publication of an environmental white papers, ASSI designation, resources and targets, finances and policy and geo-mapping.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for further information on the timing and scope of the White Paper on the Environment.
Agreed: That information from Mr Beggs regarding the number of agencies that have to be dealt when applying for development is forwarded to NIEA for comment.
7. Departmental briefing on SL1 - downloading of data from digital tachographs
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the SL1 - downloading of data from digital tachographs.
The main areas of discussion were the possibility of infractions proceedings, the policy of following the GB lead in developing EU legislation, resources and costs.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for further information on the implication of limited resources on the prioritisation of issues, particularly where there is a risk of infraction proceedings.
Agreed: That the Committee considered SL1 - downloading of data from digital tachographs and had no objections to the proposal.
8. Statutory Rules
SR 2009/343 – The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/343 – The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules Report.
SR 2009/344 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/344 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules Report.
9. SL1 - Draft Local Government (General Grant) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Members considered the SL1 - Draft Local Government (General Grant) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if grants will be skewed towards dealing with major illegal tipping problems leaving less for smaller cases of illegal tipping.
Agreed: That the SL1 is discussed at a future meeting when the Departmental response has been received.
10. Consultations
Consultation on the 2005 Detergent Regulations:
Agreed: That the Committee awaits the synopsis of responses before considering a response.
11. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the updated version of the Committee Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: That a meeting in November is used to deliberate solely on the Committee’s draft inquiry report into climate change.
12. Correspondence
1. E-mail from Robert Duff regarding the Taxis Act.
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is forwarded to the Department for comment.
2. Letter from Peter Mulgrew, Kedco Energy NI Ltd, requesting a meeting to brief the Committee on his company’s plans to build an Anaerobic Digestion plant in Upper Bann.
Agreed : That Mr Mulgrew is invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting in 2010.
3. Letter from Karen Smyth regarding Local Government Policy Relationships.
Agreed: That Committee staff reply directly to Ms Smyth’s request for information.
4. Request from Community Places to give evidence to the Committee on the review of the addendum to PPS 7 Quality Residential Environments and on the Planning Reform Proposals.
Agreed: That Community Places are invited to the Committee’s ‘speed dating’ event in Planning Reform on Tuesday 10 November.
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
DRD response regarding environmental damage caused by contractors appointed by
government departments.
Email from Mr David Gibson expressing concern at the failure of the Planning Service Audit Team to commence internal investigation regarding his clay pigeon shoot.
Letter from Mr Pat Ramsey MLA regarding his intention to develop a Private Members Bill to make it compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets.
Final Demand, a booklet of debt “First Aid” advice.
THETIS Energy Ltd Environmental Scoping Report on Proposed Torr Head Tidal Scheme.
OFMDFM request for applications for the post of the Vice Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission.
E-mail from Clerk to Committee for Regional Development, regarding the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Draft Transposing Regulations.
E-mail from Committee for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Clerk regarding OFMdFM’s response on the Executive’s European Action Plan 2009/10.
DVA MOT Pass/Fail rates for 6 months ending 30 September 2009.
E-mail from QPANI regarding Environment Conference & Awards.
Response from NIEL to the Committee’s request for more information on air-pollution monitoring in Northern Ireland
Members noted the following invitations:
Utility Regulator, ”The Green New Deal”
Utility Regulator, “Utility Investment as Part of Wider Economic Development In Northern Ireland”
Utility Regulator, “Sustainable Energy as Part of Northern Ireland’s Economic Future”
Utility Regulator, “Sustainable Energy as a Driver of Jobs and Investment: A Business View”
Utility Regulator, “How Our Society Makes Decisions About its Investment Priorities”
Aquatek Ireland Ltd, “Environmental seminar (Floods and Water)”
RSPB, “NI Futurescapes Seminar”
The NI Assembly and Business Trust, “Building Sustainability – A Greener, Future-proof Approach to Architecture”
14. Any other business
15. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 5 November 2009 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.28p.m.