Proceedings of the Environment Committee

Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 13 January 2000
at 10.30am in room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr T Benson
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr J Leslie
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

In Attendance: Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr A Peoples (Committee Clerk (Observing) )
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mrs S Young ( Administrative Support)
Mr D McVeigh (Administrative Support)

Apologies: Mr D Ford

1. Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of 16 December 1999 were agreed.

2 Matters arising.

(a)Declaration of Interests.

Copies of declarations relating to Mrs Carson, Ms Hanna, Mr Ford and Mr Watson were circulated to Members.

(b) Scheduling of meetings.

The Clerk of Committees is consulting the Speaker about clashes of Committee meetings. The Committee will be advised of the response.

(c) Examiner of Statutory Rules.

The Chairman advised that the Speaker has confirmed that support will be available to the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

(d) The Department's budget.

Details of the Department's budget will be distributed to Members in time for the next meeting.

(e) Road Safety.

The Department has been asked to submit information on its policy and budget in relation to Road Safety before its presentation on the subject scheduled for 27 January 2000.

(f) McQuillan Skip Hire - Planning Application

The Committee discussed the case and several concerns were raised.

Agreed: That officials from Planning Service will attend a further meeting of the Committee to discuss the matter in more detail.

(g) Meeting with Minister.

The Chairman reported on the meeting that he and the Deputy Chairperson had with the Minister on 6 January 2000.

Agreed: That the Committee will look at planning issues brought to its attention and decide which cases it should consider.

3 The Chairman welcomed the representatives of the Department and the Planning Service Agency to the meeting at 11.00am.

They were:

Mr Dick Mackenzie Deputy Secretary, Department of Environment
Mr Hugh McKay Chief Executive, Planning Service,
Ms Cynthia Smith Director of Corporate Services, Planning Service
Mr John Clellaand Director of Professional Services, Planning Service
Mr Damian Campbell Policy Division, Planning Service.

The Chief Executive gave a presentation to the Committee describing:

• The Agency's aims and objectives;
• Its management structure;
• Its resources;
• The key issues it must address.

The Committee discussed the matters raised and questioned the Agency representatives.

• The Agency will provide figures for the Committee explaining how its income is generated.
• Policies on development must take account of the environment as well as changes in society.
• The Agency makes all efforts to ensure consistency of decisions.
• It will provide for the Committee an assessment of the feasibility and advantages/disadvantages of increasing fees for planning applications.
• The Agency confirmed that planning policies would be scrutinised by the Committee before being finalised.
• The Agency invited the Committee to visit the Divisional Planning Offices.

The Chairman thanked the Agency's representatives and they left the meeting at 12.00 noon.

Mr Robert Hanna and Mr Professor Wood of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside joined the meeting at 12.05 and described the work of the Council including:

• Its role and functions;
• Key conservation priorities;
• Designated areas in Northern Ireland.

The Committee discussed the matters raised.

• The Council believes that more resources are needed for the Environment and Heritage Service to manage and monitor designated areas effectively.
• It believes the expertise in the Department should be retained and strengthened rather than contracting work out.
• The Council has a major input to consultation documents produced by the Department.
• The Council will provide a report for the Committee on how increased funding would be used in the Countryside Management Scheme.

The Chairman thanked Mr Hanna and Professor Wood and they left the meeting at 12.45pm.

Mr Chris Murray and Mr Richard Rodgers of Phoenix Gas joined the meeting at 12.45pm and described what they believe will be the impact on Northern Ireland of the introduction of the Climate Change Levy. They are:

• Northern Ireland's economic competitiveness would be reduced;
• Inward investment would be deterred;
• The levy will act counter to the its primary objective and emission levels would increase.
• Natural gas network extensions beyond Greater Belfast would not be created.

They believe there should be a derogation of the levy for Northern Ireland because:

1. The Natural Gas Industry has still to be developed in Northern Ireland; and
2. Electricity prices in Northern Ireland are the highest in Western Europe and 40% higher than in GB.

The Chairman agreed that this was a serious matter and thanked Mr Murray and Mr Rodgers for their presentation. They left at 1.05pm.

Agreed: That the Chairman will write to the Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer explaining the Committee's concerns about the introduction of the levy.

That a representative of the Treasury be asked to attend a Committee meeting to brief the Committee on HMT's views on the case for derogation.

4 AOB

(a) Letter from NIC-ICTU about disability impact studies.

The Committee Clerk is awaiting advice from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

(b) Right of way at Blackwater Road - Sentry Lane, Mallusk.

Agreed: The Clerk of Newtownabbey Borough Council will be asked to provide details of this case.

(c) Changes to the Motor Insurance Bureau agreement.

Agreed: Clarification will be sought from the Department about the possible transfer of responsibility and if further consultation on the matter is likely.

5 Revised programme for Committee meetings.

Agreed: To hold meetings in line with the revised programme.

To have a presentation on local government by the Department at the meeting of 10 February 2000.

6. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 20 January 2000 in room 144, Parliament Buildings.

16 December 1999 / Menu / 20 January 2000