Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 16 November 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Discussion with the Minister and Officials regarding draft consultaion documents
2. Inquiry into transport used by children travelling to and from school
3. Minutes of previous meeting
4. Planning (Compensation, etc,) Bill
5. Matters arising
6. Statutory Rules
7. Any Other Business
8. Date of Next Meeting
Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson
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
The meeting commenced at 10.16am with Ms C Hanna in the Chair.
1. Discussion with the Minister and officials regarding draft consultation documents.
The Minister, Mr Sam Foster, accompanied by Mr David Thomson, Director of Corporate Services and Mr Graham Gudgeon, Adviser, joined the meeting at 10.16am.
Dr McCrea joined the meeting at 10.18am and took the Chair.
Mr J Leslie joined the meeting at 10.19am.
After a short presentation, the Minister and Mr Thomson answered questions from the members.
Mr D Ford joined the meeting at 10.29am.
The Chairman thanked the Minister for his presentation and the Minister and his officials left the meeting at 10.57am.
top2. Inquiry into transport used by children travelling to and from school.
(a) At 11.00am the Committee began to take evidence from the following officials from the Department of Education:-
Dr Mark Browne - Assistant Secretary
Mr Dominic McCullough - Staff Officer
Mr Gray Montgomery - Deputy Principal
After a short presentation, the officials answered questions from the members.
Mr J Leslie left the meeting at 11.17am.
The Chairman thanked the officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.32.
Ms C Hanna left the meeting at 11.32am.
Mr D Ford left the meeting at 11.32am.
(b) At 11.34am the Committee began to take evidence from the following officials of the Education and Library Boards:-
Mr Arthur Rainey - Senior Education Officer
Mr Brian McClean - Chief Transport Officer
Ms Mairead Maguire
Mc C Hanna returned to the meeting at 11.34am.
After a short presentation, the officials answered questions form the members.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.51am.
Mr D Ford returned to the meeting at 12.12pm.
The Chairman thanked the officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.21pm.
Mrs J Carson left the meeting at 12.21pm.
Mrs J Carson returned to the meeting at 12.23pm.
(c) The Committee discussed the need for further consultation.
Agreed: (i) That the Committee will call the following to give evidence:-
(a) the General Consumer's Council
(b) the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(c) The Catholic Council for Maintained Schools
(ii) That the Committee required some further research to be done:-
(a) into the position regarding carrying/standing of pupils in the rest of the UK;
(b) whether the depreciation value has been taken into account when considering costs; and
(c) any plans by the Education and Library Boards to replace taxis with minibuses
(d)into the arrangements for taxi drivers used by the Education and Library Boards
Mr J Leslie returned to the meeting at 12.29pm.
top3. Minutes of previous meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2000 were agreed.
top4. Planning (Compensation, etc) Bill
The Committee discussed how it will deal with the Committee Stage of the Bill.
Agreed: (a) That an official from the Department will be asked to attend the meeting on 23 November 2000 to give a presentation on the Bill and to answer any questions from the members during the Clause by Clause consideration of the Bill;
(b) That the Committee does not consider that it is necessary to carry out any consultation on the Bill;
(c) That the meeting of 23 November 2000 will start at 10.00am in order to facilitate the Committee to meet the legislative timetable.
5. Matters arising
(a) Waste Management Strategy - response from the Department
The Committee discussed the response from the Department
Agreed: That an official from the Department will be asked to attend a future meeting to answer the member's questions.
(b) Visit from Local Government Committee, Scottish Parliament.
The Committee discussed the arrangements for the forthcoming visit.
Agreed: That a further item covering the powers and roles of Local authorities should be added to the agenda.
(c) Replies are awaited in the following:
(i) Friends of the Earth correspondence regarding the provision of playing space - the Department is to reply regarding its Quality Initiative;
(ii) McQuillan Skip Hire - the Department of Regional Development is to reply about advice given regarding the siting of the plant;
(iii) Proposed ferry - an economic appraisal is awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council
(iv) Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association - a list of questions to be answered by the Department is awaited from the Association;
(v) Historic Buildings Grant - the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) is to reply about the effects of the moratorium;
(vi) Relationship of the HBC with the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) - replies are awaited from both the EHS and the HBC;
(vii) CALM - the Department is to reply on the current position.
6. Statutory Rules
(a) Statutory Rule 297 - Motor Vehicles (Driving licences) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
The following motion was put to the Committee and agreed:-
That the Environment Committee has considered the Statutory Rule No 297 - Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland ) 2000 and has no objection to the Rule.
(b) Statuory Rule - Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (NI) 2000
This Rule is to be laid before the Assembly and referred to the Committee for scrutiny. The Committee noted the Rule at this stage.
top7. AOB
(a) Draft Consultation Documents
The Committee discussed the issues arising from the Minister's visit.
Agreed: That the proposed Programme of Work from the Department should be referred to the Committee at the next meeting to help in deciding the way forward.
(b) Heating of Room 144
The Committee discussed the heating arrangements.
Agreed: That the Committee staff should speak to the Keeper of the House about the heating in the room.
(c) Letter from RSPB
The Committee noted the contents of a letter received from the RSPB
Agreed: That the issues within the letter will be discussed at next week's meeting.
Mrs J Carson left the meeting at 12.54pm.
top8. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 23 November 2000 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
topThe meeting closed at 12.55pm.
9 November 2000 / Menu