COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Danny Kinahan
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)
The meeting began in public session at 10.10a.m.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 17 June 2010 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Mr Wilson joined the meeting at 10.14a.m.
Mr Ross left the meeting at 10.14a.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on SL1 - regulations to initially allow and eventually require the fitting and use of new illuminated signs and flashing warning lights on school buses.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that whilst members were content for the Department to proceed with the policy they would like to know the implications of the proposed legislation on private operators running school buses.
Mr Dallat joined the meeting at 10.15a.m.
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 10.16a.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on infractions proceedings.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking when the work on developing a framework to ensure that the necessary work is undertaken at the identified sites will be completed. Members would also like to know if a landfill site had received 46 complaints would it be in breach of the landfill directive.
Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 10.25a.m.
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 10.25a.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on illegal dumping.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that members were of the view that the Minister has to take the lead to encourage councils to have uniform policies on illegal dumping, particularly in light of the recent announcement that there will continue to be 26 councils. Members also expressed concern that illegal dumpers are crossing between council boundaries and would like to see more collaboration between councils and NIEA to stop this practice.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive’s consultation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department seeking clarification on how and at what level the Inter-Departmental Marine Co-ordination Group (IDMCG) will operate.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on EU Drivers’ Hours legislation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to NIFDA along with the Departmental response asking for an indication of what is happening in other countries, particularly Germany, in relation to enforcement of this legislation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Northern Ireland’s 3 MEPs appraising them of this issue and asking for any suggestions as to how the process can be sped up and made easier.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental update on the implementation of ePIC.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the Department’s bid in the June Monitoring Round for additional funding for ePIC was successful.
Members noted a Department of Justice reply to Committee queries on waste fines.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with correspondence from the CAL Committee on a draft Tourism Strategy and a Departmental response to Committee queries on this issue.
Agreed: That the Committee Clerk drafts a response for discussion at the meeting on 1 July and that an extension on the deadline for responses to be received is sought.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Committee for Regional Development memo on the Review of Operator Licences and correspondence from Community Transport Association.
Agreed: That a copy of the correspondence from the Community Transport Association is forwarded to the Department for comment and that the Department is asked for clarification on exemptions.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on PPS 7.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking them to expand on advice received from DARD, Roads Service, NIEA and Rivers Agency and asking when the SuDS strategy will be finalised and in operation.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Approved Driving Instructor theory test statistics.
4. Briefing by Banbridge District Council and SWaMP 2008 on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs – Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr McCrea – Cookstown District Council
Mr Weir – North Down Borough Council
Mr Wilson – North Down Borough Council
Representatives from Banbridge District Council and SWaMP 2008 briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill.
The main areas of discussion were enforcement, fixed penalty notices, prosecution, cost of cleaning up waste, demarcation of responsibility between the Department and councils and a flytipping protocol.
Agreed: That Bnabridge Council provides the Committee with wording of a proposed amendment to Article 4 of the Bill
5. Briefing by NILGA on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs – Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr McCrea – Cookstown District Council
Mr Weir – North Down Borough Council, Vice president of NILGA
Mr Wilson – North Down Borough Council
Representatives from NILGA briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill.
Mr Ross rejoined the meeting at 11.34a.m.
The main areas of discussion were waste management, enforcement, roles and responsibilities and cost.
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11.59a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the NIEA asking what mechanisms are in place for liaison with local authorities on waste issues, what happens to landfill tax and asking if they started to develop a flytipping protocol, what stage it is at and when it might be completed.
6. Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill amendments
Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 12.06p.m.
Mr Wilson rejoined the meeting at 12.12p.m.
Mr Weir briefed the members on his proposed amendments to the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for its comments on the 2 amendments.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department seeking clarification on clause 28 and who is responsible for registering land.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to those who made submissions during the committee stage of the Bill asking for their views on the amendments.
7. Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill – Agreement of Committee Report
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 12.31p.m.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of the draft Committee report on the Bill and that he would go through each section asking members for their agreement.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Executive summary.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with the Recommendations.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with the Introduction.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with the Consideration of the Bill by the Committee.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.34p.m.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with the Key Issues subject to amendments proposed by Mr Beggs.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with the clause by clause consideration of the Bill.
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 12.25p.m.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 1 - Minutes of Proceedings relating to the report.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 2 - Minutes of Evidence relating to the report.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 3 - Written Submissions
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 4 - List of Witnesses
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 5 - Other papers submitted to the Committee.
Agreed : That the Committee is content with Appendix 6 – Assembly Research papers.
Agreed : That the report is printed.
Agreed : That the minutes, and minutes of evidence, from the meeting on 24 June are incorporated into the final report.
The Chairperson informed members the report will now be ordered to be printed and submitted to the Business Office as the Committee’s official report on the Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill – the end of the Committee Stage.
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 12.26p.m.
8. Local Government (Finance) Bill
The Chairperson informed members that nine responses have been received to the Committee consultation on the Bill.
Agreed : That Committee staff contact the organisations to arrange oral evidence sessions post summer recess.
9. Knock Golf Club Planning Application
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s call for an independent review of the processes involved in the Knock Golf Course planning application.
Mr Dallat proposed the following motion which was seconded by Mr McGlone:
“This Committee believes there are special circumstances relevant to the Knock Planning Application which merit an independent review and call on the Minister to reconsider his decision to reject their request for such a review”
The Committee divided:
| AYES | NOES |
|---|---|
Mr Dallat |
Mr Weir |
Mr McGlone |
Mr McCrea |
Mr Boylan |
Mr Ross |
Mr Beggs |
|
Mr Kinahan |
|
Mr Wilson |
The motion was therefore carried.
Agreed : That a letter is sent to the minister asking for him to reconsider his decision in relation to a review.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.47p.m.
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 12.47p.m.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 12.47p.m.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 12.48.m.
10. Redeployment of Planning Service Staff
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the redeployment of Planning Service staff, a DOE letter regarding the NICS Code of Ethics and an answer to an Assembly Question regarding the redeployment of Planning Service staff
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for clarification on the numbers of vacancies within the NICS provided by DFP and asking how the Department plans to redeploy the Planning Service staff when the numbers provided by DFP indicate that there are not enough vacancies to accommodate them.
Agreed: That a copy of the original letter to the DFP Minister in relation to the redeployment of Planning Service staff is requested.
Agreed: That a copy of the NICS Code of Ethics is requested.
11. Committee response to Road Safety Strategy Consultation
Mr Wilson rejoined the meeting at 12.54p.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a copy of the key issues from the Committee’s evidence sessions on the road safety strategy consultation and at a draft interim Committee response to the consultation.
Agreed: That the response is amended in relation to mobile phone use and brought back for agreement at the meeting on 1 July 2010.
12. Consultations
Consultation on the introduction of restrictions on the landfilling of certain wastes
Agreed: That a synopsis of responses is requested.
The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act (NI) 2010 – consultation on scope and proposals for exemptions
Agreed: That a synopsis of responses is requested.
13. Correspondence
Letter from Recycle Down Ltd re Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Plant in Downpatrick. To raise the profile of Arrow Bio/AD technology and its suitability for both the Arc21 and Rose Energy Project.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking them to comment.
Departmental response to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the Sunbeds Bill
Agreed: That the correspondence is sent to the HSSPS Committee
Letter from Public Hire Coalition requesting to brief the Committee regarding concerns with the Taxi Bill.
Agreed: That the Public Hire Coalition is invited to ear the briefing in October.
Members noted the following correspondence:
Copy of the final report of the Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland – Independent Commission on the Future of Housing in Northern Ireland.
NILGA weekly update, issue 7.
Copy of Fold Insight, summer 2010 edition.
Letter re WWF Scotland report on electric vehicles.
Mr Wilsonleft the meeting at 13.03p.m.
14. Matters Arising Cont.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a reply from Lough Neagh Partnership response regarding the possibility of the group becoming a ‘champion’ for Lough Neagh.
Agreed: That a meeting is arranged between the local MLAs and the Lough Neagh Partership and Lough Neagh Advisory Committee to try to encourage collaborative working between the groups.
15. Any other business
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Tabled paper summarising the key issues and requests for Committee action raised by Stakeholders at last Tuesday’s event.
Agreed: That a summary of the recommendations arising from the event is forwarded to the Department for comment.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been emailed copies of PFG Delivery reports.
Agreed: That the Chairperson speaks on behalf of the Committee at the Take Note debate on Monday 28 June 2010.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 1 July 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at1.08 p.m.
Cathal Boylan
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
1 July 2010