COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2009,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kinahan
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 Adrian McQuillan
The meeting began in closed session at 10.03a.m. when the Committee discussed the draft copy of the inquiry into climate change.
Agreed: That a further meeting is arranged for Monday 23 November, 1-2p.m., to agree the final report.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 10.27a.m.
The Chairperson declared the meeting open to the public at 10.30a.m.
Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 10.30a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 12 November were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that Christmas cards were now ready to send out to individuals and organisations that had been in contact with the Committee over the past year.
Agreed: That an electronic Christmas card is sent to individuals and organisations.
The Chairperson informed members that the Department had advised that a paper on the December monitoring round may be late for inclusion in members’ meeting papers.
Agreed: That the Department is advised that members would like an electronic copy of the paper in advance of the meeting on Thursday 26 November.
Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 10.33a.m.
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson informedmembers that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s query on the timescale for the production of an environmental white paper.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing dissatisfaction with the reply and asking for the terms of reference of the white paper and a specific timeframe for completion.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Permanent Secretary expressing disappointment with Departmental replies to Committee queries as they are poor, generalised and unspecific.
The Chairperson informedmembers that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s query on the targets and actual performance of processing major planning applications as part of its consideration of the recent Independent Review of Economic Policy.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing dissatisfaction with the reply and asking for further information on planning applications in progress, reasons for delays and specific timeframes for completion.
The Chairperson informedmembers that they had been provided with a reply from DRD in relation to a Committee query on taxi ranks.
Agreed: That the DRD Committee’s request for more information on capping of licences and enforcement is forwarded to the Department for comment.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing Committee concerns about the inconsistency of enforcement at taxi ranks and asking for a future meeting with DVA officials to discuss this issue.
The Chairperson informedmembers that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to a Committee query on the Barroso Report.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing dissatisfaction with the reply and expressing the Committee’s desire to see more proactive action by the Department in gathering EU money rather than just seminars. Also, requesting how many EU directives have been implemented within the two year timeframe outlined in the response and more specific information on what the Department considers to be ‘a reasonable success rate’ regarding placements in relevant EU Institutions.
The Chairperson informedmembers that as a result of the recent “speed-dating” consultation exercise on Planning Reform nine participating groups gave their views to Committee Members expressing their support and concerns into the forthcoming planning process and an analysis of the information had been provided in members’ meeting papers.
Agreed: That the Clerk draws up a response to the Minister on planning reform based on the responses by stakeholders for discussion by the Committee at the meeting on 26 November 2009.
5. Departmental Briefing on PPS18 and the Supplementary Planning Guidance
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on PPS18 and the Supplementary Planning Guidance.
The main areas of discussion were the height restrictions on turbines, the noise from turbines, the positioning of turbines, the costs of producing the SPG, the targets for energy from wind, Departmental discussions with DETI and the timeframe for the publication of the SPG.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department requesting a list of stakeholders that were involved in the procurement process for the consultation for the SPG, a breakdown of the background of the author of the SPG, an indication of the proportion of NI land available that falls outside 500 metres of a settlement, the cost of the SPG and an indication of the level of enforcement, and how it will be carried out, post establishment of a wind farm.
Mr Dallat rejoined the meeting at 11.10a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment requesting information on discussions they have had with DOE on power from wind in relation to infrastructure and planning.
6. Briefing by Airtricity on PPS18 and the Supplementary Planning Guidance
Airtricity representativesbriefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on PPS18 and the Supplementary Planning Guidance.
The main areas of the discussion were the height of turbines, planning, grid infrastructure, transitional relief, the SPG and off shore wind developments.
Agreed: That Airtricity provides the Committee with a copy of their oral briefing notes.
Agreed: That Assembly Research are asked to provide a paper on the principles of planning sequencing in other areas (ROI GB and EU), planning approval time and incentives in ROI, GB and close EU neighbours and the use of transitional relief in ROI, GB and close EU neighbours.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister expressing Committee support for the removal of the height restriction on turbines and emphasising the need for balance between efficiency and noise.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DRD noting the opportunities when building new roads to put in other infrastructure at the same time e.g. gas, electricity.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for information on the rationale behind Planning Service’s decision not to grant permission for an offshore wind farm in Portstewart.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 11.51a.m.
7. Departmental briefing on Draft River Basin Management Plans
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Draft River Basin Management Plans.
The main areas of the discussion were local management area plans, management structures, European funding, river basins and recreation and the budget for work on the plans.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 12.08p.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a map of Local Management Area plans and information on the prioritisation process, more detail on changes proposed post consultation, a summary of money that has been brought in from Europe in last 5 years and how it has been spent and spending plans for the next 3 years and a detailed budget for river basin management plans, the source of funding and will the funding be ring fenced in DOE and other depts.
8. Briefing by World Wildlife Fund NI on Draft River Basin Management Plans
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 12.14p.m
A representative from World Wildlife Fund NIbriefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Draft River Basin Management Plans.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.25p.m.
The main areas of the discussion were costs, discussions with DOE and funding for WWF.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 12.28p.m and Mr Boylan assumed the Chair.
9. Proposal for secondary legislation
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 12.34p.m.
Members considered SL1 - The Planning (Control of Major- Accident Hazards) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objections to the proposal.
10. Statutory Rules
SR 2009/358 – The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) (Amendment No 2) Regs (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/358 – The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) (Amendment No 2) Regs (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2009/359 – Groundwater (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/359 – Groundwater (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2009/360 – The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/360 – The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2009/361 – The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/361 – The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) (Amendment) Regs (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
Members noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules Fifth Report.
11. Statutory Instrument
Members noted The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment)
Regulations 2009.
12. Consultations
Draft addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7:
Agreed: That this issue is brought back to a future Committee meeting for more detailed discussion and that a Departmental briefing is requested.
Agreed: That the Chair and Mr Kinahan meet with Community Places to discuss this issue.
13. Committee forward work programme
Members noted a revised copy of the Committee forward work programme
14. Correspondence
A. Memo re Pensioner Poverty – Public Service Centres. The Committee is asked to consider the role of local government in delivering “one stop shop” advice centres.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department and NILGA drawing attention to OFMdFM suggestion for one stop shop advice centres and the ommittee’s suggestions on Post Offices and use of Government Space, Joint up Government and One Stop Shop.
Mr Dallat rejoined the meeting at 11. 45p.m.
B. E-mail from AJT on behalf of Linwood & Irwin’s Bakeries NI - response to the Consultation document “Review of the UK Domestic Driver’s Hours Rules”.
Agreed: That a small group of members from the Committee meet with Linwoods and Irwins to discuss this issue.
C. Email re Review of water order application fees for domestic and trade discharge consents.
D. Memo on Committee for Regional Development’s “Sustainable Transport Inquiry”.
Agreed: That information gathered on transport as part of the Committee’s climate change inquiry is forwarded to the Regional Development Committee.
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
Letter from Minister on the seventh meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.
Email regarding Northern Ireland Local Government Awards
Letter of thanks to the Chairperson for her contribution in the Assembly at the Second Stage of the Forestry Bill
Report from DOE, Noise Complaint Statistics for Northern Ireland 2008-2009
Letter from Minister making the Committee aware of SAGE and of the UK Government response to the SAGE First Interim Assessment Report.
15. Any other business
Mr Kinahan raised the issues of funding for Tidy NI and illegal racing at Nutts Corner.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for clarification on the current status of clean neighbourhood legislation and whether Planning Service has a role to play in illegal racing at Nutts Corner in terms of enforcement.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the PSNI asking for information on their role in the issue of illegal racing.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 26 November 2009 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00a.m.
Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
26 November 2009