COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2010,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr John Dallat
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Patsy McGlone
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:
Mr Alastair Ross
The meeting began in public session at 10.10 a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 16 September 2010 were agreed.
Mr McGlone joined the meeting at 10.12a.m.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.12a.m.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with notes of meetings held recently with the DOE Permanent Secretary and NILGA.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department, along with the note of the meeting with NILGA asking the Department to respond to the issues raised by NILGA.
4. Matters Arising
The Chairperson informed members that the Committee had received a request from Mike McKimm, BBC Environment Correspondent, for a copy of the document submitted from Bryson Recycling considered at the meeting on 9 September.
Agreed: That a copy of the paper is forwarded to Mr McKimm.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on tyre depots.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that members considered the reply to be unacceptable as it did not offer any solutions to the problems of the safe disposal of tyres.
Agreed: That relevant officials and a member of management are invited to brief the Committee on this issue at a future Committee meeting.
Agreed: That Assembly Research is asked to provide information on how other European countries deal with the disposal of used tyres.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on PPS 7.
Agreed: That a meeting between several Committee members, Departmental officials, Rivers Agency officials and industry representatives is arranged to discuss this issue.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on funding to road safety committees and a copy of the UnLtd reply discussed at the meeting on 16 September.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department noting the Committee’s concern that they were not informed of the decision to appoint UnLtd as the intermediate funding body and also its concerns that existing road safety committees are experiencing problems in accessing funding.
Agreed: That a meeting between several members of the Committee, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus road safety committees and road safety officials is arranged to discuss this issue further.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 10.34p.m.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the precautionary principle.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department noting the Committee’s expectation that planning guidance would deal with the physical risk of overhead wires and not just electromagnetic fields.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the Planning Service seeks the opinion of DHSSPS during the planning process and whether guidance exists on the location of houses in proximity to high voltage cables.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a draft questionnaire for Local Authorities to inform the Committee’s research into the cost of addressing climate change.
Agreed: That the questionnaire is sent out to Local Authorities for completion.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on redeployment of Planning Service staff.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an update on the numbers of Planning Service staff that have been redeployed to DARD and what communication methods the Department are using with redeployed staff as members are concerned that once staff are redeployed they are not being communicated with.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.42a.m.
5. Derry City Council and the Transition Committee for Strabane and Derry District Councils briefing on Local Government Finance Bill
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Representatives from Derry City Council and the Transition Committee for Strabane and Derry District Councils briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Local Government (Finance) Bill.
The main areas of discussion were the role of the Chief Finance Officer, Controlled Reserves and the ring fencing of the Rate Support Grant.
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 11.10a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Local Government Auditor asking for his view on controlled reserves.
6. CIPFA briefing on Local Government Finance Bill
Mr Willie Clarke declared an interest as a member of Down District Council.
A representative from CIPFA briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Local Government (Finance) Bill.
The main areas of discussion were the role of the Chief Finance Officer and Controlled Reserves.
Mr Buchanan left the meeting at 11.30a.m.
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11.49a.m.
Agreed: That Assembly Research is asked to provide a paper on the capacity within councils to redesignate existing staff as the Chief Financial Officer.
7. Departmental briefing on Waste and Contaminated Land Bill
The following members declared an interest:
Mr Beggs declared an interest as his father owns land on which waste practices are carried out and as a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr Trevor Clarke declared an interest as a member of Antrim Borough Council.
Mr Weir declared an interest as a member of North Down Borough Council.
Mr Wilson rejoined the meeting at 12.15p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Waste and Contaminated Land Bill.
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 12.31p.m.
The Departmental officials gave their response to issues raised to date on each clause.
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 12.30p.m.
Mr Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 12.34p.m.
Agreed: That Departmental officials provide the Committee with details on the amount of Landfill Tax generated in Northern Ireland.
8. Waste and Contaminated Land Bill - informal Clause by Clause scrutiny
Due to time constraints the Committee was unable to discuss this item at this meeting.
9. Proposal for Secondary Legislation
SL1 -Real weight requirements for vehicles used for practical driving tests
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
10. Statutory Rule
SR 2010/294 – The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010
Agreed: That t he Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2010/294 – The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010 and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report
11. Consultations
Consultation on the review of the criteria for listing – synopsis of responses
Mr Kinahan declared an interest as an owner of a listed building.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the Historic Houses Association was asked for its views as part of this consultation.
Mr Willie Clarke left the meeting at 1.00p.m.
Members noted a consultation on an Equality Impact Assessment for a proposed Justice Bill (NI) 2010
Consultation on Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
Agreed: That a response is drafted by the Committee secretariat for discussion at a future Committee meeting.
Consultation – Everyone’s Involved – Sustainable Development Strategy Implementation Plan
Agreed: That a response is drafted by the secretariat for discussion at a future Committee meeting.
Environmental Noise Directive – submission of summary noise action plans to the European Commission
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department noting members’ concern at the number of people exposed to high noise levels from roads mapped inside the first round agglomeration, major roads outside the first round agglomeration and from railways mapped inside the first round agglomeration and asking for further information as to why the figures are so high and an explanation of the acronyms used within the plans.
Members noted a consultation on bribery prevention procedures for commercial organisations to be published under Section 9 of the Bribery Act 2010
Consultation on Bus Operator Licensing – Community Transport Association’s briefing to Committee for Regional Development
Agreed: That the Committee submits an interim response on the consultation.
Agreed: That a briefing on the synopsis of responses to the consultation is arranged for a future Committee meeting.
Consultation on proposed changes to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (packaging waste) Regulations 2007
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
12. Correspondence
Memo requesting the Committee to forward a letter regarding ordnance survey archives to Ordnance Survey NI (OSNI).
Agreed: That the letter is forwarded to OSNI.
Memo requesting the Committee to forward a letter regarding NIEA discussions with Dr W.A McCutcheon to the NIEA.
Mr Weir declared an interest as having been in contact with Dr McCutcheon in relation to this issue.
Agreed: That the letter is sent to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
Copy of QPANI’s briefing paper regarding the Aggregates Levy in Northern Ireland and the judgement of the EU General Court on 9 September 2010.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to QPANI reiterating the Committee’s support for the Aggregates Levy scheme in Northern Ireland.
Memo re the European Commission’s Communication on the Rights of the Child.
Agreed: That the memo is forwarded to the Department asking for a copy of the response sent to OFMdFM.
Members noted the following correspondence:
Email thanking the Committee for forwarding the Department for Trade, Enterprise & Investment response to queries regarding the proposed Kintyre Offshore Wind Farm.
Email from Trynan & Armagh Harriers providing information on their organisation.
Copy of NICCIP News – The Climate Change Newsletter for Northern Ireland.
13. Any other business
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 30 September 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.10p.m.
Cathal Boylan
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
30 September 2010
16 September 10 / Menu
