COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2010,
Lough Neagh Discovery Centre
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr John Dallat
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
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 David Ford
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Adrian McQuillan
The meeting began in closed session at 10.04a.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with details of a legal case against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Agreed: That the case is sent to the Public Accounts Committee for information and the Committee is kept informed of progress.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided, in confidence, with a copy of the draft Waste and Contaminated Land Bill.
Agreed: That a Departmental briefing on the Bill is arranged for a Committee meeting in March.
The Chairperson informed members that the Department had asked for the briefing on Planning Reform scheduled for the meeting on 28 January takes place in closed session as this issue was still awaiting Executive clearance.
Agreed: That the briefing session takes place in closed session.
The meeting began in public session at 10.10a.m.
Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 10.11a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 14 January were agreed subject to a minor amendment.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that the Ulster Farmers’ Union would like to focus its briefing on 4 February on road safety in rural areas and that it will cover any of its other issues at the stakeholder event.
Agreed: That the Ulster Farmers’ Union is invited to the Committee meeting on 4 February to brief on road safety in rural areas.
Agreed: That a letter of thanks is sent to the PSNI for their briefing on Road Safety at the meeting on 14 January.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Rural Community Network asking for their comments on Road Safety in rural areas.
Agreed: That the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association is invited to the Committee’s Stakeholder Event on Thursday 11 February to discuss any issues of concern including their views on road safety in rural areas.
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 10.13a.m.
4. Matters arising
Members noted a memo from the Public Accounts Committee Clerk in relation to the PAC report on Performance Service Agreements.
Members noted a response from the Department of Regional Development to Committee queries on utilities and PPS18.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a letter from Belfast City Council on Statutory Transition Committee representation.
The following members declared an interest:
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council, member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
Roy Beggs – Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council, Member of Strategic Leadership Board
Ian McCrea – Member of Cookstown Distrcit Council, Member of Mid Ulster Transition Committee
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council, Arc 21 board member
Peter Weir – Member of North Down Borough Council, Member of Policy Development Panel A, Vice President of NILGA
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for its position on this issue and to explain its rationale for reaching this position.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Belfast City Council informing them that the Committee is seeking more information from the Department in relation to this issue and to ask the Council what level of engagement there has been between Belfast City, Castlereagh and Lisburn councils on this issue.
Members noted a response from OFMDFM to a Committee query on the End Year Delivery Report for the PFG.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a quarterly update on the number of Post Project Evaluations outstanding, categorised and broken down by department.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an explanation on why there are still so many outstanding post project evaluations, what actions will be taken to rectify them and the new timescale for completion.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with PSNI statistics on the number of reported injuries from road traffic collisions 1986 -2008 and an invitation to PSNI Road Safe Road shows.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the PSNI requesting further information on future road shows and asking if it is possible for a roadshow to be arranged that would accommodate full attendance by the Committee.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental response to Committee queries on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that the Committee is happy for the Department to proceed with this policy.
5. Briefing by Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committees on the withdrawal of funding by NIEA
The following members declared an interest:
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council, member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
Ian McCrea – Member of Cookstown Distrcit Council, Member of Mid Ulster Transition Committee
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council, Arc 21 board member, Lough Neagh Advisory Committee board member
Representatives from the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee and Lower Bann Advisory Committee briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the withdrawal of funding by NIEA.
The main areas of discussion were the achievements of the Advisory Committees, the Lough Neagh Management Strategy, council support for the Advisory Committees, Biodiversity Action Plans, funding and budgets.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a list of the councils involved in the funding of the Advisory Committees, details of the communication that the Department has had with the individual councils involved including an update on the Councils’ current position in relation to funding the Advisory Committees and details on whether communication on this issue was with the full council or council officials.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Advisory Committees asking for them to forward details of possible revision of their budgets.
6.Briefing by NIEA on the withdrawal of funding to Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committees
An NIEA official briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the withdrawal of funding to Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committees.
The main areas of discussion were the level of discussions with the councils involved in funding, the lack of opportunity for the Advisory Committees to provide revised budgets, concerns at the lack of expertise if the groups cease to exist, the possibility of a reversal of NIEA’s decision if the councils changed their position on continued funding.
Agreed: That a Motion for Plenary debate on this issue is drafted by the Clerk and e-mailed to all Committee members for agreement.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister stating Committee support for the work of the Advisory Committees, expressing Committee disappointment with the lack of opportunity for the Advisory Committees to provide revised budgets or proposed efficiency savings and expressing Committee concern that no independent evaluation of the Advisory Committees’ work had been carried out.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the nine councils involved in funding to the Advisory Committees to ascertain their current position on continued funding to the groups.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 11.54a.m.
7. Briefing by Tony McCusker on his Marine Management Organisation Report
Mr McCusker briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on his Marine Management Organisation Report
The main areas of discussion were the purpose of the report, main targets within the report and the implementation of the report.
Mr Boylan left the meeting at 12.17p.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Permanent Secretary asking why there have been slippages in the Northern Ireland Marine Bill timetable and what measures are being taken to correct this.
Agreed: That the Committee response to the Marine Straegy Framework Dircetive Consultation is issued.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an update on the Department’s views on the marine options included in the Marine Management Organisation Report.
8. Proposals for Secondary Legislation
SL1 Graduated Fixed Penalty, Financial Penalty Deposit and Immobilisation Schemes
Members considered the SL1 - Graduated Fixed Penalty, Financial Penalty Deposit and Immobilisation Schemes.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for further information on what circumstance the powers to immobilise commercial vehicles will be used.
SL1 The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members considered the SL1 - The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objections to the proposal
9. Statutory Rule
SR 2010/05 - The Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Modification) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2010/05 - The Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Modification) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules Report.
10. Consultations
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure Inquiry into participation in sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland
Agreed: That a response to the consultation is drafted by the Clerk and brought back to a future Committee meeting for discussion.
11. Correspondence
1. A request from Terry McErlane to brief the Committee.
Agreed: That Mr McErlane is invited to the Stakeholder Event on Thursday 11 February.
2. A memo from the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee in relation to the Promotion of townland names.
Agreed: That the memo is forwarded to the Department for comment.
3. A request from Duncan Morrow to brief the committee on the Annual Report of the Community Relations Council.
Agreed: That Mr Morrow is invited to the Stakeholder Event on Thursday 11 February to discuss the environmental and local government issues in the report.
Members noted the following correspondence:
1. Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group Report on Disability.
Media Monitoring:
Agreed: That any future media monitoring articles are forwarded daily by e-mail.
Mr Weir suggested that the Chair may wish to attend the forthcoming NILGA Local Government Awards on behalf of the Committee.
Agreed: That Committee staff contact NILGA to ascertain the date of the event and to arrange an invitation for the Chairperson.
12. Any other business
Members noted that a Stakeholder Event will take place on Thursday 11 January, 12.30-2.00pm in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 28 January 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.41 p.m.