COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 15 JUNE 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
Mr Brian Wilson
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
The meeting began in public session at 12.45p.m.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of a memo outlining the discussions on the Bill at the meeting on 10 June and informed members that they needed to indicate if they were content that their positions had been recorded correctly.
Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 12.46p.m.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 12.47p.m.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 12.48p.m.
Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 12.49p.m.
Clause 1 - Disqualification
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Sponsor’s amendment.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Committee’s amendment.
Mr Beggs and Mr Kinahan abstained from offering views on the Committee amendment.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Clause 1 subject to the amendment proposed by the Sponsor and the amendment proposed by the Committee?
The following members abstained from offering views:
Mr Beggs, Mr Kinahan, Mr Dallat, Mr McCrea, Mr Ross, Mr Wilson, Mr Weir
Clause 2 – Commencement
The following members abstained from offering views:
Mr Dallat, Mr McCrea, Mr Ross, Mr Wilson, Mr Weir
The Committee agreed the clause as drafted.
Clause 3 – Short Title
The following members abstained from offering views:
Mr McCrea, Mr Ross, Mr Weir
The Committee agreed the clause subject to the amendment proposed by the Sponsor.
Long Title
The following members abstained from offering views:
Mr McCrea, Mr Ross, Mr Weir
The Committee agreed to the Long Title of the Bill subject to the amendment proposed by the Sponsor.
4. Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Mr Ross joined the meeting at 1.07p.m.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with amendments to the Bill ahead of Consideration Stage on 22 June 2010.
Agreed: That the Committee retains its position on the Bill as outlined in the Committee report.
3. Matters Arising
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a draft Committee response to the Regional Development Committee on an aviation strategy.
Agreed: That the response is issued.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 1.23p.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if it will be reassessing the demand for landfill sites and also asking for information on what happens to the material received by local recycling plants, information on recycling standards in Scotland and information on what is considered to be the best way to recycle.
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is sent to Bryson Recycling and NWP Recycling and that the organisations are asked for information on recycling standards and what happens to the materials they receive.
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to a future meeting to brief specifically on the work that is being done to deliver improvements in recycling levels and in the quality of recyclates.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a DRD reply to Committee queries on road signs and speed limits.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department for Regional Development asking if Roads Service is the sole road authority, what role Planning Service has and if so, where is the demarcation of responsibility.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department for Regional Development questioning the continued use of some road signs that could be perceived to be inappropriate.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 1.31p.m.
4. Departmental briefing on PPS 7 - synopsis of responses to consultation
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the synopsis of response to the consultation on PPS 7.
Mr Ross left the meeting at 1.43p.m.
The main areas of discussion were the Regional Development Strategy, development plans, town cramming, permeable paving, consultation with Roads Service and NIEA, cumulative impact and garden grabbing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that the Committee feels that there needs to be more consultation with the Department for Regional Development and the Rivers Agency to provide more enforceable guidance on permeable paving.
Agreed: That Assembly Research is asked to provide a paper on the use of legislation to enforce the use of sustainable drainage systems in other jurisdictions.
5. Belfast City Airport
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with correspondence from Belfast City Airport Watch in relation to seats for sale and safety issues.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for clarification on the number of planning applications that have been sought to date in relation to the airport.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for information on ‘seats for sale’ data for the 12 months preceding the last day of each calendar month from October 2008 to April 2010 and indicating that the Committee would be disappointed if the Minister made a decision on this issue before the Committee has an opportunity to see these data.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if there has been any independent verification of the recent incidents of roof tiles being dislodged in the vicinity of Belfast City airport being directly linked to aircraft.
6. Consultations
Proposed amendment to the Landfill Regulations (NI) 2003
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 2.22p.m.
Consultation on a code of practice for using plant protection products
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses to the consultation is requested.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 15 June 2010 at 12.30a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at2.24p.m.