COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Alastair Ross
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Peter Weir
The meeting began in public session at 10.05a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 28 January were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that Mr Jonathan Bell had replaced Mr Adrian McQuillan as a Committee member.
Agreed: That a letter of thanks is sent to Mr McQuillan for his work on the Committee.
The Chairperson informed members that a further amendment to Clause 17 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill had been raised during the Consideration Stage of the Bill on 2 February.
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council and as his father was a previous assembly member he abstained from the discussion.
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council and member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
David Ford – Member of Antrim Borough Council
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Jonathan Bell – Member of Ards Borough Council and NILGA
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Amendment subject to a definition of the use of ‘Assembly’ in the amendment.
The Chairperson informed members that the debate on the Committee motion on funding to the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committee would take place on Tuesday 9 February.
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 10.11a.m.
Agreed: That a memo is sent to all MLAs encouraging participation in the debate.
Agreed: That NIEA is asked to provide details of the funding positions of each of the nine councils involved.
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a reply from Paul Goggins, Minister of State, to Committee queries on illegal waste.
Agreed: That the response was generally welcome but Mr Dallat wished it to be noted that he was not content with the reply as he felt there had been neglect on the issue of illegal waste in his constituency.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial reply to Committee comments on the RPA process.
The following members declared an interest:
Roy Beggs - Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council and party representative on the Strategic Leadership Board.
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council and member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
David Ford – Member of Antrim Borough Council
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Jonathan Bell – Member of Ards Borough Council and NILGA
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister requesting an indication of the split in costs between central and local government funding and to ask what possibility there is of one of the other options in the PriceWaterhouseCooper economic appraisal being considered.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to NILGA requesting more information on their alternatives to a Business Service Organisation and to comment on the split in costs between local and central government.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Minister Goggins asking for his comments on the timing of the RPA process.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Public Service Centres. Mr Bell declared an interest as a member of NILGA.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Draft Committee response to DOE Revised Expenditure Plans 2010 – 2011 based on the discussion the Committee had with the department last week.
Agreed: That the response is forwarded to the Committee for Finance and Personnel with the suggested amendments made.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Research Paper entitled Police Seizure of Vehicles in Scotland.
Agreed: That an Assembly Research official is invited to brief the Committee on their Road Safety papers at a future meeting.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on PPS18.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a draft Committee response to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure’s Inquiry into participation in sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the response is forwarded to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure with the suggested amendment made.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the department of Culture, Arts and Leisure endorsing the GAA Road Safety Campaign ‘Live to Play’ and asking the Department to encourage other sporting organisations to join the campaign or launch their own Road Safety campaign.
Agreed: That the GAA is invited to brief the committee on their Road Safety campaign at a future meeting.
5. Ulster Farmers’ Union briefing on Road Safety in rural areas
Mr Beggs declared an interest as his father is a member of the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
Representatives from the UFU briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Road Safety in rural areas
The main areas of discussion were traffic on rural roads, high kerbs, road signs, verge erosions, mud from tractors on roads, surface water, and road safety education.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.07a.m.
Agreed: That the UFU paper is forwarded to DRD and DOE for comment.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Planning Service asking how they highlight the issue of verges in relation to road safety and to comment on the issue of liability should there be an accident caused by kerbs or boulders on verges.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for clarification on discharge licenses to wash the road after the use of farming machinery and for information on sheugh maintenance in relation to cross compliance and road flooding.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DRD asking for clarification on who is responsible for cutting hedges along roadsides on privately owned property and for clarification on the height of road signs.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DRD asking if the width of a vehicle is taken into consideration on rural roads with the increased size of farming machinery and the implication of traffic calming measures during road planning.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Customs and Excise for clarification on UFU queries on rebated fuel legislation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the UFU asking them to submit their views on how to improve training and testing of drivers to drive in rural areas and to make a formal comment on the proposal for a night time curfew for young drivers.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Young Farmers Club of Ulster inviting them to comment on the proposal for a night time curfew for young drivers and other road safety issues in rural issues, particularly involving young people.
6. Community Places briefing on PPS 7
Representatives from Community Places briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on PPS 7.
The main areas of discussion were apartment development, zoning, and permeable paving.
Agreed: That an interim response to the consultation on PPS 7 is drafted by Committee staff for discussion at a future Committee meeting.
Mr Dallat raised the issue of a planning application for development on land owned by Knock Golf Course and made a proposal to refer the case to the Audit Office.
Agreed: That further information is sought from the Department in relation to the accuracy of the article in the Irish News and that the proposal is further discussed at the meeting on 11 February when a reply is received.
7. Proposals for secondary legislation
SL1 -The Planning (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
Members considered the SL1 - The Planning (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) Regulations (Northern Ireland) and had no objections to the proposal.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on SL1 – Graduated Fixed Penalty and Immobilisation Scheme and a copy of the SL1.
Agreed: That members are content for the policy to proceed but with caution and with a review of how it is implemented after the first six months.
8. Statutory Instrument - The Carbon Reduction Commitment Order Energy Efficiency Scheme
The Committee for the Environment considered The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2010 and recommended that it be affirmed by the Assembly .
9. Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a draft Committee motion to extend Committee stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Agreed: That the motion is lodged with the Business Office.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided at with a copy of a request to brief the Committee and a briefing paper on the Bill from the Countryside Alliance, a submission from Ulster Wildlife Trust and a submission from the RSPB.
Agreed: That an invitation to brief the committee is sent to Countryside Alliance, Ulster Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.
Agreed: That all submissions received are uploaded to the Assembly website.
10. Analysis of delays in Strategic Planning Applications
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with an analysis of the reasons for delay in strategic planning applications.
Agreed: That the analysis is forwarded to DRD, DARD and the relevant councils for comment.
11. Consultations
Stage One Consultation on the Transposition of the revised Waste Framework Directive synopsis of responses
Agreed: That the committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
12. Correspondence
Memo from Clerk, Regional Development Committee, in relation to Marine Management Options in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the correspondence is forwarded to DOE for response
E-mail from Lizzy Pinkerton in relation to the threat to the work of the Belfast Hills Partnership.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for the rationale in relation to the decisions to cut funding to non governmental organisations.
An invitation from Caolan Woods to take part in a tour of NWP recycling facility.
Agreed: That a visit and meeting is arranged post Easter recess.
Invitation to visit the DVA headquarters in Coleraine.
Agreed: That a visit and meeting is arranged post Easter recess.
Members noted the following correspondence:
A memo from the Regional Development Committee in relation to Public Taxis in Belfast.
A note of the key issues discussed at the Chairpersons Liaison Group meeting.
An e-mail from Albert Johnston in relation to spending cuts.
A letter from the Minister approving planning application L/2008/0435
NILGA News January 2010
13. Any other business
The Chairperson reminded members of the Committee’s Stakeholder Event, Thursday 11 February, 12.30p.m., Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 11 February 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.25 p.m.