COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2011,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Willie Clarke
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:
Mr John Dallat
The meeting began in public session at 10.07a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Briefing by Daithi McKay MLA on the Single Use Plastic Bags Levy
Daithi McKay MLA briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Single Use Plastic Bags Levy
The main areas of discussion were the consultation process, the environmental impact of a levy on plastic bags, the collection of the levy, the cost of administration and accelerated passage for the Bill.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.21a.m.
Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 10.34a.m.
Agreed: That Assembly Research provides a paper on the true environmental impact of switching from using plastic bags to alternative bags including paper bags.
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee at the meeting on 24 February 2011.
3. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee and FTA queries on the draft Budget 2011 – 2015.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating the Committee’s disappointment with the update on the Roe Valley Hydro Electric Scheme and asking why the money for the project is being lost and how this miscalculation was made. Members also want sight of details of specific bids for allocations for funding in future. Members also expressed disappointment with the response on NGO funding as the lack of knowledge on NGO funding was preventing any assessment of the potential impact of budgetary cuts and meant the priorities for funding could not be established.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is sent to FTA for information.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a letter of thanks from the Dundonald Green Belt Association in relation to the Committee’s scrutiny of the Knock Golf Club Planning application.
Agreed: That the letter is sent to the Planning Service asking how the Planning Bill will address the concerns raised in the letter.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Letter from Jean Forbes regarding the Planning Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Jean Forbes outlining the remaining processes in the Bill and advising of her opportunities to influence changes to the Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if there is an issue within Downpatrick planning office in relation to the slowness in process planning applications.
Members noted a Departmental update on strategic planning applications.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Ministerial letter on planning fees regulations for mineral extractions.
Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11.12a.m.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department stating that the Committee was disappointed to note the Minister’s decision on this issue, particularly in respect of historic applications and asking how many applications have been asked to refund the difference in fees, the amount of money that the refunds will generate and how far back the Department is trying to recoup these losses.
The Chairperson informed members they had been provided with a Departmental letter advising of further amendments to Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill.
Agreed: That the Committee is content to accept the Departmental amendment, that the Chairperson does not move the Committee amendment at Consideration Stage and that members are content with the Department’s proposed amendment to Clause 55.
Members noted a Departmental letter on revised guidance on green claims in marketing.
4. Departmental briefing on the implementation of the Taxis Act 2008
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.30a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the implementation of the Taxis Act 2008.
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 11.15a.m.
The main areas of discussion were the fee structures for operator licensing, enforcement and resources.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a paper on a workforce model for the enforcement team, details of overtime working in the past quarter, an explanation as to why there are currently only 12 members of staff in the team when a commitment of 18 was made during scrutiny of the Taxis Bill and the reason why vacancies within the enforcement team cannot be filled through the redeployment of administration staff within Planning Service.
Agreed: That the e-mail from Belfast Public Hire Coalition is sent to the Department for comment.
5. Departmental briefing on the synopsis of responses to the Bus Operator’s Licensing consultation
Mr Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 12.44p.m.
Mr Wilson rejoined the meeting at 12.47p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the synopsis of responses to the Bus Operator’s Licensing consultation.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing the Committee’s concern at the level of opposition to the Department’s preferred option and welcoming the Department’s statement that a second consultation may be needed as this is also the view of members. The letter is also to ask for sight of a synopsis of responses to the new consultation and any associated legislation to be available for consideration at the Committee meeting on 22 March 2011.
6. Cyclists (Protective Headgear) Bill
The Committee deliberated over several options on how to handle the Cyclists (Protective Headgear) Bill.
Agreed: That at the meeting on 10 March 2011 the Committee takes oral evidence from the sponsor of the Bill and several stakeholders.
Agreed: That members are content for the motion to extend the Bill to be lodged with the Business Office.
Agreed : That the public notice calling for written evidence on the Bill is issued in the 3 main newspapers.
7. Proposals for secondary legislation
SL1 – Landfill (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011
Agreed: That the SL1 is forwarded to NILGA for comment before the Committee makes a decision.
SL1 - The Local Government (Constituting Joint Committees as Bodies Corporate) Order (NI) 2011
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed with the policy.
8. Statutory Rules
SR 2011/23 - The Motor Vehicles (Electronic Communication of Certificates of Insurance) Order (NI) 2011
Agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2011/23 - The Motor Vehicles (Electronic Communication of Certificates of Insurance) Order (NI) 2011 and has no objection to this rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2011/24 - The Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011
Agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2011/24 - The Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011 and has no objection to this rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
9. Consultations
Consultation on Revised DOE Equality Scheme
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses is requested.
Consultation on draft PPS23 – Enabling Development
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses is requested.
Consultation on draft PPS24 – Economic Considerations
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses is requested.
Combined Consultations on Amendments To Groundwater Regulations (NI) 2009, Environmental Liability (Prevention And Remediation) Regulations (NI) 2009 And Pollution Prevention And Control Regulations (NI) 2003
Agreed: That a copy of the synopsis of responses is requested.
10. Correspondence
Email re – Local Government Reform and Community Planning Workshop on Consultation Proposals
Agreed: That a member from the Assembly Research team attends this event and provides a written briefing for members.
Correspondence re the Abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission and the OFMdFM succession plan.
Agreed: That the Committee Clerk drafts a response for consideration at a future Committee meeting.
Members noted an email re Belfast Healthy Cities – WHO Healthy City Policy Maker Health Equity Study.
Members noted the following correspondence:
Email reminder of the upcoming Climate Week & the Climate Week Challenge.
DOE Noise Complaint Statistics Report for NI – 2009/2010.
11. Any Other Business
The Chairperson informed members that there are no briefings scheduled for the meeting on 3 March 201 and that it was his intention therefore not to meet but to hold a normal Committee meeting on 10 March to discuss the Cyclists Bill and to handle any items of business that the Department had forwarded. The Chairperson also proposed that the Committee meets on Tuesday 22 March rather than Thursday 24 March.
Agreed: That the Committee meets on 10 and 22 March 2011.
The Chairperson reminded members that Further Consideration Stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill was not moved byt the Minister on Tuesday 15 February 2011.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the minister asking why the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill was not moved.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 22 February 2011 at 12.45p.m in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.10 p.m.
Cathal Boylan
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
24 February 2011
15 February 11 / Menu
