COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 17 JUNE 2010,
DVA HEADQUARTERS, COLERAINE
Present:
Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Ian McCrea
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 Patsy McGlone
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
Mr Brian Wilson
Mr Daithi McKay
The meeting began in public session at 10.06a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 10 June 2010 were agreed.
The minutes of the meeting on 15 June 2010 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Mr Beggs declared an interest as treasurer of Carrickfergus Road Safety Committee.
Members noted a note of the discussions at a recent NILGA event on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a reply from NICCY to Committee queries on young people’s activity and road safety at night.
Agreed: That the issues raised are incorporated into the Committee’s response to the Road Safety Strategy consultation.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on 3 rd EC Directive on Driving Licences.
The Chairperson informed members that as the representative from Coleraine Road Safety Committee needed to leave early he would suspend matters arising to the end of the meeting to allow the briefing sessions to take place.
4. Briefing by Coleraine Road Safety Committee on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation
Mr Beggs declared an interest as treasurer of Carrickfergus Road Safety Committee.
Representatives from Coleraine Road Safety Committee briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation.
The main areas of discussion were the role of the Road Safety Committee, speed limits, temporary 20 mph zones outside schools, training and education of drivers and a graduated driving license scheme.
5. Briefing by Road Haulage Association on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation
Representatives from Road Haulage Association briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation.
The main areas of discussion were compliance figures, the need for overnight lorry stops, drink driving guidance and the need for education for road users on HGVs
6. Briefing by Freight Transport Association on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation
Representatives from Freight Transport Association briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Road Safety Strategy Consultation.
The main areas of discussion were road structure and signage, the need for subordinate legislation From the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act, the need for better communication between DVA NI and authorities in GB, enforcement, and a graduated driving license scheme..
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking why information held by DVA on road hauliers cannot be readily shared with GB counterparts to ensure that drivers do not face undue delays.
7. Briefing by DVA on its role
DVA officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on its role .
The main areas of discussion were driving instructors, the accessibility of information on the DVA database, enforcement and driver licensing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking that information in relation to the process involved in becoming a driving instructor is posted on the DVA website along with ADI Theory Test Statistics 2005 - 2009.
8. Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill – Draft Committee Report
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs – Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr Bell – Ards Borough Council
Mr McCrea – Cookstown District Council
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of the draft Committee report on the Bill.
Agreed: That members were content with the draft report subject to amendments proposed by Mr Beggs and Mr Bell and that the report is brought back for agreement at the Committee meeting on 24 June 2010.
9. Examiner of Statutory Rules Seventeenth Report
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of theExaminer of Statutory Rules Seventeenth Report in which he highlighted deficient drafting of SR 2010/165 – The Solvent Emissions (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that the Committee is concerned that the Department has admitted that the regulations were drafted in a rush and the Committee agrees with the Examiner’s recommendation that the Department takes a further look at this to consider how the amendments of the regulations in question could be set out more clearly. The Committee would like to know how the Department will now address the points made by the Examiner and, as the Examiner has stated that this will undoubtedly have serious consequences when it comes to application and enforcement, what risk of infraction proceedings may follow as a result of the poor drafting .
10. Matters Arising Cont.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries regarding the consistency of Planning Policy within each District Council Area and the original letter from Strabane District Council on this matter.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Strabane Council asking them what their specific concerns are and indicating that the Committee is willing to visit Strabane when specific concerns have been highlighted.
Agreed: That a copy of the Departmental response is forwarded to Strabane District Council.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on payments of invoices within 10 days.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department noting that Account NI was primarily designed and resourced to meet the statutory 30 day payment target and decided to ask what level of investment would be needed to ensure that systems were adapted to ensure that Ministerial direction on 10 day payments can be achieved.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on trainee driving instructors.
Members noted a Reply to Committee queries on the Highway Code in relation to passing school buses.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries following the June Monitoring Round Briefing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DFP asking to ascertain if the accounting process outlined in the reply is only an arrangement or if it is legally binding.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing disappointment with the Department’s reply that a workforce planning model for Planning Service cannot be completed until after the Assembly’s summer recess and would like to have sight of the model before any decision is made on the redeployment of staff.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on waste fines.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department seeking clarification on the spreadsheet of offence and if this is a sign that preventative measures for reoccurrence are not working.
Members noted an Assembly Research paper on safe play areas in residential developments.
11. Correspondence
Letter re Funding for non-Governmental Environmental Organisations.
Agreed: That NIEL representatives are invited to a future stakeholder event.
Thank you letter re WRDA’s recent briefing on the Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: To contact the WDRA explaining the Committee position on this issue.
Memo requesting the Committee’s views regarding concerns raised in relation to the Draft Tourism Strategy.
Agreed: That a response is sent to the CAL Committee.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
NILGA weekly update, issue 6.
Copy of September 2010 Monitoring Round & Budget 2010.
Letter to advise the Ministers intention to approve planning application Z/2008/0692/F, new superstore – Castlereagh Road, Belfast.
12. Any other business
Mr Dallat raised the issue of the recent announcement on the Review of Public Administration.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking what the role of the Statutory Transitions Committees is now.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 24 June 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43p.m.