Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 28 September 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Business in the Community
4. Matters Arising cont'd
5. AOB
6. Date of Next Meeting
Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr D Ford
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
In Attendance: Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mr J Nulty ( Administrative Support)
Apologies: Mr T Benson
Mr Doherty
Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr D Watson
The meeting commenced at 10.34am.
1. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2000 were agreed.
top2 Matters arising.
(a) Historic Building Grant.
The Committee discussed the Department's response.
Mr E Poots joined the meeting at 10.37am.
Agreed:That the Clerk should write to the Department:
(i) for detailed information on the original bids made by EHS and the actual monies finally allocated;
(ii) to ask how many of the applications received in 1999/2000 could have expected to receive assistance if not for the moratorium;
(iii) to ask the number of applications so far this year;
(iv) to ask how long they expect the moratorium on funding to last;
(v) to ask what will happen to those applications already received.
(b) Campaign Against Landfill at Mallusk
The Committee discussed the reply from the Department.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department expressing the Committee's support for a public enquiry into the issue and that this enquiry should be announced immediately.
(c) McQuillan Skip Hire.
At the outset, Mr D Ford expressed an interest as a member of Antrim Borough Council.
The Committee discussed the reply from the Environmental Services Department of Antrim Borough Council.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department about earlier proposals from McQuillans and the need for a consent under the Water Act (NI) 1972.
At this stage the Committee met in Public Session.
top3. Business In The Community
Mr Kieran Harding, Director, and Mr Ian Nuttall, Campaign Executive, joined the meeting at 10.51am. They gave a presentation on the role of their organisation and answered Members' questions on a number of relevant issues.
The Chairman thanked them for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.22am.
topThe meeting returned to Closed Session.
4. Matters Arising cont'd
(d) Resourcing of Agri-Environment Schemes.
The Committee noted the Department's reply and discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department to emphasise the environmental benefits arising from these schemes and ask if DoE has supported relevant DARD bids.
(e) Proposed extension of the Partridge Shooting Season.
The Committee discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department to:
(i) advise that the Committee is content with the proposed extension;
(ii) advise that the Committee was concerned about the lack of detail and supporting evidence to justify the Department's statements in the consultation document.
(f) Proposal to remove the 45mph Speed Limit for Learner (L) Drivers.
The Committee noted the results of the research and discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Committee will consider a response after the Department has completed consultations with other interested parties.
(g) Letter from Friends of the Earth.
This has been passed to the Department for comments.
(h) Proposed demolition of property at Gracehill.
The Committee noted the reply from the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) and discussed the issue.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to:
(i) the Department to ask why the advice of the HBC was not accepted when planning permission was granted;
(ii) the HBC and ask how often the Department has not accepted their advice in the past and why they are not consulted on individual planning applications.
top5. AOB
Correspondence from the Greencastle Area Residents Group.
At the outset Mr M Murphy declared an interest as a member of Newry and Mourne District Council and the East Border Region Committee.
The Committee discussed the issue.
Agreed: (a) That the Clerk should write to:
(i) the Department for their views on the proposal;
(ii) the RSPB for the potential impact of the proposal on birdlife within the area.
(b) That the Committee should consider the relevant economic appraisal presently being done for Newry and Mourne District Council when it becomes available.
top6. Date of next meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 5 October 2000 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
topThe meeting closed at 11.50am.
19 September 2000 / Menu / 5 October 2000