COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2011,
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr John Dallat
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)
Apologies:
The meeting began in public session at 10.10 a.m.
1. Apologies
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr George Savage
The Chairperson informed members that Mr Clarke’s mother and Mr Savage’s mother had recently passed away.
Agreed: That letters of condolence are issued to Mr Clarke and Mr Savage.
2. Planning Bill submissions
Mr Ross joined the meeting at 10.13a.m.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with copies of submissions received to date.
Agreed: That the following organisations are invited to present oral evidence:
- NILGA
- RTPI
- RICS
- Planning Appeals Commission
- Belfast Harbour
- Utility Regulator
- Professor Greg Lloyd
- NI Housing Executive
- Consumer Council
- Community Places
- Ministerial Advisory Group
- Planning Task Force
- QPANI
3. Assembly Research briefing on Planning Bill – Development Management, Planning Control and Enforcement
Mr Dallat joined the meeting at 10.20a.m.
Assembly Research officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Planning Bill - Development Management, Planning Control and Enforcement.
Mr Willie Clarke left the meeting at 10.37a.m.
The main areas of discussion were appeals, performance agreements, the role of the Planning Appeals Commission, the hierarchy of planning, award of costs, the Department’s role and pre determination hearings.
Agreed: That copies of the Assembly Research papers are forwarded to the Department for comment and that the papers are published on the Assembly website.
3. Departmental briefing on Planning Bill – Development Management, Planning Control and Enforcement
Mr Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 11.25a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered member’s questions on the Planning Bill – Development Management, Planning Control and Enforcement.
Agreed: That Departmental officials provide the Committee with the equality assessment carried out on the Bill.
The main areas of discussions were independent examination, statements of community involvement, the rights of objectors, responsibility for enforcement, tree protections orders and guidance.
Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 11.47a.m.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting for lunch at 12.35p.m.
The meeting resumed at 1.38p.m. with the following members present:
Mr Boylan, Mr Willie Clarke, Mr Wilson, Mr Wilson, Mr Ross.
4. Assembly Research briefing on Planning Bill – Community Involvement
Assembly Research officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Planning Bill – community involvement.
Mr Ross left the meeting at 1.57p.m.
The main areas of discussions were pre application consultation, pre determination hearings, public inquiries, award of costs, third party appeals, community benefits, statements of community involvement and neighbourhood development plans.
Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 2.14p.m.
5. Departmental briefing on Planning Bill – Community Involvement
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered member’s questions on the Planning Bill – community involvement.
The Departmental officials informed the Committee that an amendment to the Bill in relation to costs awards would be brought forward at a later meeting.
Mr Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.45p.m.
The main areas of discussions were third party appeals, the cost neutrality of the Bill, resources, neighbor notification, subordinate legislation to follow from implementation of the Bill, statements of community involvement, developer contributions, pre determination hearings, monitoring of local development plans and community benefit.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20 January 2011 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.34p.m.
Cathal Boylan
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
20 January 2011
13 January 11 / Menu
