COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER 2010,
RADISSON BLU ROE HOTEL, LIMAVADY

Present:
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr John Dallat
Mr Peter Weir

In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr George Savage
Mr Brian Wilson

The meeting began in public session at 10.52a.m.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting on 02 December 2010 were agreed.

3. Chairperson’s business

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a note of a meeting held with the North West Region Waste Management Group.

Agreed: That a copy of the note of the meeting is forwarded to the Department for comment.

4. Matters Arising

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on concerns raised by the European Commission in relation to implementation of the Wild Birds Directive.

Agreed: That a Departmental briefing is arranged for a Committee meeting in January 2011 and that, in the interim, the Department provides the Committee with a timetable of the actions it is proposing to address this issue.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on SuDS.

Agreed: That a copy of the original letter from the Department containing the phrase ‘operational difficulties’ is forwarded to the Department for comment.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to an Assembly Research paper on NO2 levels in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

Agreed: That a copy of the paper is forwarded to Belfast City Council for comment.

Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on amendments to PPS4.

Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the impact of the review of PPS11 on PSA 22.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on legislative timetables.

Agreed: That the timetable for the Goods Vehicles Act is forwarded to the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association for information.

Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Hunting Bill.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial letter on operational planning procedures.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the changes will be put into statute or if they are discretionary.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with copies of e mails to Mr McGlone MLA in relation to taxi plates.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing the Committee’s disappointment at the lack of progress in addressing the issuing of taxi plates and asking what actions are currently ongoing to resolve the situation.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Tabled letter from the Minister informing the Chairperson that the Minister has decided to lift the ‘seats for sale’ restriction on George Best Belfast City Airport.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister indicating the Committee’s disappointment at the decision and the procedure adopted for informing the Committee of the decision.

Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.08a.m.

The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a tabledindication of policy proposals from the Department in relation to Solvent Emissions Regulations.

Due to a lack of quorum a decision could not be made on the proposal and it was deferred for consideration at the meeting on 16 December 2010.

5. High Hedges Bill – continuation of formal clause by clause scrutiny – Clauses 5-20

The Chairperson informed members that, due to a lack of quorum, the Committee could not make final decisions on the Clauses of the Bill but that a discussion with the Departmental officials could take place and that the Bill would be discussed at the end of the meeting when a quorum was in place.

Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Clause 5 – 20.

6. Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – informal clause by clause consideration – Parts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and schedules

The Committee continued informal consideration of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill.

Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 12.31p.m.

The Departmental officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the following:

Clause 28 –Departmental officials agreed to provide the Committee with an example of the guidance on how the Bill will deal with the issuing of notices to juveniles.

Clause 36 – Department officials agreed to provide the Committee with the age limit on sale of aerosols in Scotland and also agreed to consider amending the Bill to raise the age limit to 18.

Clause 53 - Department officials agreed to clarify the situation in regards to damage to alarms caused by Council officials.

Clause 60 - Department officials agreed to consider an amendment in relation to noise from illegal motor sports tracks.

In relation to Clause 60(1) (l), Departmental officials agreed to reconsider this Clause and provide the Committee with NIEA’s views on it.

Clause 61 - Department officials agreed to consider an amendment in relation to pigeons.

7. Planning Bill

The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a draft public notice on the Planning Bill.

Agreed: That the Public Notice is issued following Second Stage of the Bill.

8. High Hedges Bill – continuation of formal clause by clause scrutiny – Clauses 5-20

The Chairperson informed a member that, as quorum was in place, he would now ask members to make a formal decision on each Clause.

Clause 6 - Appeals against remedial notices and other decisions of councils