Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Jonathan Bell
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 Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Mr Edward Cooke

Apologies:
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Daithi McKay

The meeting began in public session at 10.07a.m.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes

Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.08a.m.

The minutes of the meeting on 18 February were agreed subject to amendment.

3. Matters arising

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of an e-mail from Peter Ward, Disappointed Lisnaragh Landowners Group. The Chairperson also informed members that they had been provided with a copy of a letter from the Department (17 December 2009) considered at the meeting on 7 January and a Committee response to Mr Ward agreed at the meeting on 7 January.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Ward reiterating the Committee’s position on this issue.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a reply from the Courts Service to Committee queries on the collection of fines for illegal waste.

The Chairperson also informed members that Assembly Research has been asked to provide details of the collection of fines in other UK administrations.

Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 10.17a.m.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Courts Service encouraging them to start keeping records on reasons for fines in the future and also to ask if late payers of fines are required to pay interest.

Agreed: That Research is also asked to take into account the ROI in relation to the collection of fines in other UK jurisdictions.

Agreed : That this issue is brought to the attention of Assembly and Executive review committee.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial reply to the OFMdFM Committee’s Inquiry report on European Issues.

Mr Ross joined the meeting at 10.23a.m.

Mr Bell declared an interest as a member of NILGA EU Working Group and as a member of the Committee for the Regions

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the EU officer in NILGA with a view to asking them for a future briefing.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister asking him in light of the information provided when he intends to visit the European Executive Office.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental update on infractions proceedings and an analysis with the last update received in September 2009.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for further information in relation to why there has been no further action for most of the directives listed and the timings for 2 have actually slipped back since the last update.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a draft interim Committee response to the PPS 7 Consultation based on the evidence provided to the Committee by Community Places.

Agreed: That the response is issued to the Department.

Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on noise levels at George Best Belfast City Airport.

Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on strategic planning applications.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.28a.m.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Planning Service reply to Committee queries on road safety in rural areas issues raised by UFU.

Agreed: That the response is sent to the UFU and NIAPA for information.

Agreed: That the response is sent to the Regional Development Committee asking it to forward it to its Department for views and comments on public liability in relation to this issue.

Members noted a note of the Clerk’s meeting with the Northern Ireland Audit Office regarding a recommendation in the Committee’s climate change inquiry report.

Mr Weir declared an interest as Chair of the Audit Committee

4. Northern Ireland Environment Linkbriefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill

Representatives from NIEL briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

The main areas of discussion were engaging people with local biodiversity, clarification on mechanisms of the bill and funding and the banning of snares.

5. Ulster Wildlife Trustbriefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill

Representatives from the Ulster Wildlife Trust briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

The main areas of discussion were the biodiversity duty, protection of ASSIs and enforcement.

6. Ulster Farmers’ Union briefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill

Mr Kinahan declared an interest as a member of the UFU

Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 11.27a.m.

Mr McCrea left the meeting at 11.38a.m.

Representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

The main areas of discussion were hedge cutting seasons, powers of wildlife inspectors, education, and notification of newly assigned ASSIs to the relevant landowners.

7.Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill

Members agreed to note the comments provided by e-mail from Trisha Lynn, Barbara Haig, Elizabeth Close, Hare Preservation Trust, Katie Rutledge and Lecale Conservation and incorporate them into the Committee report on the Bill.

The Chairperson informed members that they have been provided with copies of submissions from:

Agreed: That Premier Woodlands is invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting and the other submissions are noted and incorporated into the Committee’s report.

Members noted a copy of a response from DRD.

The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 12.00p.m.

The meeting restarted with the following members present:

Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir

8. Knock Golf Club Planning Application

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with hard copies of two Departmental responses on this issue and also copies of newspapers articles. The most recent response from the Department had been emailed to members prior to the meeting.

Mr Bell declared an interest as a previous member of the ABC Committee

Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 12.08p.m.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.15p.m.

Agreed: That the Committee accepts the invitation of the Planning Service to brief on general planning policy and operation issues.

Mr Weir put forward the following proposal:

“In light of the responses the Committee has received that we regard as a Committee our involvement with the Knock Golf Club issue as now being concluded”

The Committee divided.

AYES

Peter Weir
Alastair Ross
Ian McCrea
Jonathan Bell

NOES

Dolores Kelly
John Dallat
Danny Kinahan

The motion was therefore carried.

Mr Weir put forward the following proposal:

“That the briefing deals with wider issues of general planning policy operational issues and does not deal with individual planning applications in that session.”

The Committee divided.

AYES

Peter Weir
Alastair Ross
Ian McCrea
Jonathan Bell

NOES

Dolores Kelly
John Dallat
Danny Kinahan

The motion was therefore carried.

9. Consultations

Members considered 3 consultations:

Draft public consultation on revisions to the ‘Principles of Selection’ for listed buildings.

Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.

Consumer Council Consultation on its draft Forward Work Programme for Energy, Water and Transport 2010/11.

Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.

Consultation on amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (NI) 1999.

Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.

10. Correspondence

Memo from Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to ‘Automated Communications Systems’.

Agreed: That the memo is forwarded to the Department for comment.

Copies of the Northern Ireland Environment Link “The Way Ahead” policy priorities for Northern Ireland’s environment and the “Funding for Non-Governmental Environmental Organisations” fact sheet.

Agreed: That a future briefing will be accepted depending on Committee business.

Letter from Bryson Charitable Group inviting the Committee to visit Bryson recovery facility at Mallusk.

Agreed: That the invitation to visit is kept under review in relation to the Committee workload. Also that the letter is sent to the Department for comment.

Memo from the Department in relation to a response to the Regional Development Committee’s request for a briefing.

Agreed: That the memo is sent to the Regional Development Committee for information.

Members noted a memo from Committee for Regional Development in relation to “Noise Management of Air Traffic in Northern Ireland”.

Members noted the following correspondence:

Email from Irene McGee in relation to the Belfast Cycling Survey

Email from Energy Savers thanking the Committee and staff for the stakeholder event

Email from Translink in relation to the new Ulsterbus rollout

Letter from the Department in relation to a further consultation document

11. Any other business

The Chairperson informed members that an extra Committee meeting would take place on Tuesday 23 rd March to accommodate the Committee workload.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 4 March 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at12.47 p.m.

Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
4 March 2010

18 February 10 / Menu