COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
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 Jonathan Bell
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting began in closed session at 10.04a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Marine Policy Proposals
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee in relation to the number of Departments involved in decision making on marine and that a response to the proposals is drafted for discussion at the meeting on 18 February.
The meeting went into public session at 10.39a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 4 February were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that she had a meeting held with SWaMP2008 on 2 February to discuss their concerns regarding a Single Waste Disposal Authority.
The following members declared an interest:
Mr McCrea declared an interest as a member of Cookstown District Council
Mr Ford declared an interest as a member of Antrim Borough Council
Mrs Kelly declared an interest as a member of Craigavon Borough Council
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr Kinahan declared an interest as a member of Antrim Borough Council and Arc 21 board member
Mr Dallat declared an interest as a member of Coleraine Borough Council
Mr Weir declared an interest as a member of North Down Borough Council
Agreed: That a letter is sent to ARC21 and NWRWMG asking for their views on a Single Waste Disposable Authority.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a copy of their business case for a Single Waste Disposal Authority in advance of the Departmental briefing on the Waste Bill at the meeting on 4 March.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a tabled press release on the Committee motion in relation to the funding of the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committees which had been debated in Plenary on 9 February 2010.
The following members declared an interest:
Roy Beggs – Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Ian McCrea – Member of Cookstown District Council
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council and Lough Neagh Advisory Committee
Peter Weir – Member of North Down Borough Council
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committees expressing the need to consider a reduced budget.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department urging the Department to proactively engage with the 3 remaining non-funding councils to encourage them to fund the Committees to March 2011.
The Chairperson informed members that the further amendment to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill had been tabled.
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs – Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council and SLB and as his father was a member of the previous Assembly abstained from the discussion.
Mr McCrea - Member of Cookstown District Council, Member of Mid Ulster Transition Committee
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council, member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council
Peter Weir – Member of North Down Borough Council, NILGA Vice President, member of Policy Development Panel A
Agreed: That the Committee supports the amendment at Further Consideration Stage of the Bill on 15 February.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental response to Committee queries on the Knock Golf Course planning application.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.55a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department seeking clarification on the role of the Director of Operations, the interaction between the Divisional Planning Manager and casework teams, any benefit that will be derived by the private sector collaborators, the transfer of land referred to in the reply and whether or not the Irish News article is factually correct in how it reports the role of the Director of Operations in this planning application.
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a reply from Rural Community Network to the Committee’s request for their views on road safety in rural areas.
Mr Ross left the meeting at 11.08a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Rural Community Network thanking them for their contribution to the committee’s deliberations on road safety.
Agreed: That the recommendations relevant to DOE are forwarded to the Department for comment and those relevant to DRD forwarded to DRD accordingly.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on SWIF funding.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an update on the reasons for delays in issuing contracts.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on the award of the lease for the Lock Keeper’s Inn.
The following members declared an interest:
Roy Beggs – Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Ian McCrea – Member of Cookstown District Council
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council
Peter Weir – Member of North Down Borough Council
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a briefing on the mandatory code of conduct when it becomes available.
Mr Ross rejoined the meeting at 11.16a.m.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.17a.m.
Members noted a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on the transposition of EU Directives related to road safety.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on sickness absence levels.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for details of the policies that the Department follow in terms of early intervention to encourage people back to work, a breakdown of the sickness absence levels in terms of grade, the length of absence and the reasons for absence, a comparison on figures for 2009 with previous years and an indication of how DOE sickness levels compare with other departments
Agreed: That Assembly Research is asked for a comparison between the Departmental sickness absence levels and sickness absence levels in the private sector.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of the latest annual noise report and a noise map for Belfast City airport.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if noise profile is dependent on the use of a mix of aircraft and further information on any the changes that may be expected in future noise contours if the mix of aircraft changes.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing disappointment with the reply particularly in regards to the ambiguity within the reply and requesting a detailed timeframe for completion of all outstanding PPEs. Also, to question the Department’s management practice in allowing staff to move to other responsibilities before evaluations, some outstanding for several years, have been completed.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Belfast City Council Transition Committee.
Members noted a Departmental update on primary legislation.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Approved Driving Instructors legislation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that, whilst the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy at this stage, members would like information on how child protection legislation is being implemented in relation to driving instructors.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that the Committee may also request a future Departmental briefing on the impact of the legislation after it has been in place for a period of time.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a letter from the Committee for Regional Development inviting submissions to Committee stage of the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Agreed: That a copy of the Bill is forwarded to NILGA asking if they have any comments that could be incorporated into the Committee response.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a letter from OFMDFM Committee with an update on the recommendations of the Child Poverty Inquiry.
Agreed: That the recommendations are forwarded to NILGA and to the Department for their comments on the recommendations.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with an OFMDFM reply on Sustainable Development Implementation Plans 2008-2011.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to OFMdFM expressing Committee disappointment with the lack of progress on a sustainability strategy.
5. Departmental briefing on draft Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Bill - Outline of Policy Proposals
The following members declared an interest:
Roy Beggs – Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Ian McCrea – Member of Cookstown District Council
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the draft Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Bill - Outline of Policy Proposals
The main areas of discussion were enforcement, collection of fines and fixed penalty notices.
Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 11.54a.m.
6. Statutory Rule
SR 2010/23 – The Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) (Downloading and Retention of Data) Regulations (NI) 2010
Question put and agreed:
‘The Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2010/23 – The Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) (Downloading and Retention of Data) Regulations (NI) 2010 and has no objection to this rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.’
7. Proposals for secondary legislation
SL1: The Waste Management Licensing (Fees and Charges for Carriers and Exempt Activities) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking how much of the costs are recovered, how full cost recovery is assessed and how costs in Northern Ireland compare to Scotland and Wales.
8. Correspondence
Memo from Regional Development Committee in relation to a summary of issues raised by the Community Transport Association.
Agreed: That the memo is forwarded to the DOE for comment.
Members noted the following correspondence:
An e-mail from Robert Hernan to notify the on-line publication of a digest of the Committee’s inquiry into Climate Change.
A letter from the Ministers advising of his intention to approve two planning applications.
9. Any other business
The Chairperson informed members that the Environment Committee has been invited to take up a stand at this year’s Balmoral Show, 12 – 14 May 2010.
Agreed: That the Committee avails of this opportunity subject to a business case being brought back to a future Committee meeting.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18 February 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at12.03 p.m.