COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 04 MARCH 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kinahan
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 Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Peter Weir
The meeting began in public session at 10.28a.m.
1. NILGA briefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Representatives from NILGA briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.31a.m.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 10.31a.m.
Mr Ross joined the meeting at 10.32a.m.
Mr Bell joined the meeting at 10.33a.m.
The main areas of discussion were the Biodiversity Duty, funding, invasive species, the current level of engagement with NIEA, the Biodiversity Strategy, landfill tax, Biodiversity Officers and enforcement.
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs - member of Carrickfergus Borough Council.
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
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for more information on how landfill tax is administered.
2. Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG)briefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.55a.m.
Representatives from NIBG briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
The main areas of discussion were the management of snares, resources, enforcement and restorative justice.
3. Talnotry Avian Care Trust (T.A.C.T.) briefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Representatives from T.A.C.T briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
The main area of discussion was T.A.C.T.’s call for a provision within the Bill to licence wild birds and animals to be cared for if they cannot be returned to the wild and group licences.
Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 11.37a.m.
4. Departmental briefing on Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities asking for information on the cost and effectiveness of the biodiversity duty in Scotland.
5. Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a response from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the delegated powers of the Bill.
Agreed: That the response is included in the Committee report on the Bill.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with submissions from the British Deer Society and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). Also that the PSNI had indicated they would be a written response.
Agreed: That the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and PSNI are invited to brief the Committee at the meeting on 11 March.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with supplementary information from the Countryside Alliance Ireland.
Agreed: That the information is included in the Committee report on the Bill.
6. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 25 February were agreed.
Mr Dallat gave the Committee notice that he will be proposing a motion at the meeting on 11 March 2010, in line with Erskine May, to rescind the Committee decision taken on 25 February 2010 on the Knock Golf Course planning application.
Agreed: That the Committee is provided with all relevant information in relation to the planning application ahead of the meeting.
7. Chairperson’s Business
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 12.14p.m.
The Chairperson informed members that the Second Stage of the Private Members’ Bill on dual mandates - Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill (NIA 7/09) is due to take place on Monday 8 March 2010.
Agreed: That the Environment Committee will take the Committee Stage of the Bill.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.15p.m.
Agreed: That when the Bill is assigned to the Environment Committee the Assembly and Executive Review Committee is asked for a copy of their work to date on the issue of dual mandates.
The Chairperson informed members that she recently met the new Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and he had offered to host a Committee visit and meeting at an NIEA site later in the year. The Chief Executive also invited the Chair and members to visit the Enforcement Unit in Lisburn.
Agreed: That a Committee meeting and visit is arranged for post Easter recess and that a visit to the Enforcement Unit in Lisburn is arranged for a non Committee meeting day.
8. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on funding to non – government organisations.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing disappointment with the reply and asking for an indication as to when the Department will be in a position to provide the Committee with a table of organisations it funds and the changes in funding for 2010 – 2011.
Agreed: That a press release is issued highlighting the success of the Committee in securing funding to non governmental organisations.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a HMRC response to Committee queries on the use of red diesel following the UFU briefing on road safety in rural areas. Members had also been provided with Departmental replies to UFU queries on road safety in rural areas and the paper from Rural Community Network on road safety in rural areas.
Agreed: That a copy of the reply is forwarded to the UFU along with a letter suggesting that the UFU return to the Committee if pragmatism is not being demonstrated in this area.
Agreed: That a copy of the reply is sent to Rural Community Network.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DARD asking for their comments in relation to the UFU queries on discharge consents and sheughs.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Approved Driving Instructor legislation.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on a business case for a single waste disposal authority (SWDA).
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council and the Strategic Leadership Board.
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council and member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Jonathan Bell – Member of Ards Borough Council and NILGA
Danny Kinahan – Member of Antrim Borough Council and substitute member of ARC21
Agreed: That the reply is forwarded to SWaMP, NWWMG and ARC21 asking for any further comments in addition to their recent reply on a single waste disposal authority.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on SL1: The Waste Management Licensing (Fees and Charges for Carriers and Exempt Activities) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010. Members also noted a Departmental reply dated 6 March 2009 to Committee queries on proposed changes to the Waste Management Charging Scheme ( Northern Ireland) and a copy of the SL1.
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
Members noted a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on the costs of Local Government Reform.
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council.
Dolores Kelly – Member of Craigavon Borough Council and member of Craigavon Voluntary Transition Committee
John Dallat – Member of Coleraine Borough Council
Jonathan Bell – Member of Ards Borough Council and NILGA
Danny Kinahan – Member Antrim Borough Council.
Agreed: That the Chair will raise this issue with the Minister at a forthcoming meeting on the issue.
Members welcomed a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on SWIF but noted the need for a business case.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Post Project Evaluations (PPEs).
9. Consultations
Members considered 3 consultations:
Local Government Pension Scheme – 85 year rule – synopsis of responses
Agreed: That further information is requested on the costs of the proposal from the Department before a Committee decision is made.
Synopsis of responses to the public consultation on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme
Mr Bell declared an interest as a member of the Committee of the Regions and the NILGA EU Working Group.
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
Consultation on draft Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Bill
Agreed: That Committee staff draft an interim response to this consultation.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday11 March 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson informed members that correspondence and several items from Matters Arising would be deferred to the meeting on 11 March 2010 as the meeting had become inquorate.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.33p.m.