Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 18 October 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present: -
Rev Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr D McClarty
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

Apologies: -
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson) Mr M McLaughlin

In Attendance: Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Miss J Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Nulty (Executive Support)

Mr M McCourt (Administrative Support)

The meeting commenced at 10.31 a.m.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

2. The minutes of the meeting of 11 October 2001 were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

1. The Committee considered a draft letter to the Secretary of State for the

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing the Committee's concerns about the decision to allow the manufacture of mixed oxide (MOX) at BNFL, Sellafield.

Agreed: To issue the letter as agreed.

3. Replies Outstanding

1. Proposed Ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne District

Council.

4. Game Preservation (Amendment) Bill

Members considered the draft Report on the Game Preservation (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: That the Report be ordered to be printed.

5. Local Government (Best Value) Bill

Dr Wm. McCrea, Mr D McClarty, Mr M Murphy, and Mr E Poots declared an interest as Local Government Councillors before the next item was discussed.

The Committee considered the way forward on this Bill and noted that a response from the Minister to the Committee's letter was awaited. Members also noted a letter from the Chairperson of SOLACE.

Mr Des Murray and Mr Jim Kennedy, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) joined the meeting at 10.39 a.m. They gave a presentation on their views and concerns about this Bill and answered Members' questions.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.08 a.m.

Agreed: To invite the Minister of the Environment to attend next week's meeting to discuss the way forward on this Bill. That the Secretariat will obtain a copy of the Scottish Local Council Tendering Bill to assist in the consideration of the Bill at next week's meeting.

6. Replies Outstanding (continued)

2. Ballyrickard Landfill Site -reply received from the Department.

Agreed: To consider the Department's response on Ballyrickard at next week's Meeting

7. Statutory Rules

The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1:

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations

(Northern Ireland) 2001.

Agreed: That the Committee had no comment to make on the proposed Rule.

8. Mullaghboy Residents' Group

The Committee discussed correspondence from Mullaghboy Area Residents' Group regarding their concerns about proposed arrangements for dealing with emergencies at a sewage pumping station in the area and a response from the Department.

Agreed : To invite representatives of the Mullaghboy Residents Group to attend next week's meeting to discuss their concerns about the proposals and a copy of the response from the Department to the Group.

To send a copy of the correspondence and the Department's response to the Committee for Regional Development.

9. Any other Business

1. The Committee considered a letter to it from a concerned local resident and a response from the Department on proposed developments at the Giant's Causeway.

Agreed: To continue to actively monitor the situation.

To send a copy of the Department's response to the correspondent and to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.

10. Draft Budget 2002-2003

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 11.14 a.m.

Mr David Thomson, Mr John Small and Mr Billy Hamilton, Officials from the Department joined the meeting at 11.25 a.m. They gave a presentation on options to address the Department's 2002-03 funding deficit and answered Members' questions.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.26 a.m.
Mr Leslie joined the meeting at 11.30 a.m.
Mrs Carson left the meeting at 12.03 p.m.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.

Agreed: To write to the 16 Local Councils affected by the proposed £2m cut in Resource Grant seeking copies of their response to the Department on the Draft Budget proposal.

11. DCAN 8: Small Housing Developments

Mr John Clelland and Ms Barbara Elliott, Officials from the Department joined the meeting at 12.10 p.m. They gave a presentation on the above consultation paper and answered Members' questions.

Mr Leslie left the meeting at 12.20 p.m. and returned at 12.24 p.m.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.

Agreed: That the Secretariat would prepare a draft response based on Members' questions and comments.

12. Any Other Business (continued)

1. The Committee considered a number of consultation documents which had

been sent to the Committee for comment by other Assembly Committees.

Agreed: To consider the consultation paper on Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland at a future meeting.

13. Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 25 October at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.57 p.m.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA

11 October 2001 / Menu / 25 October 2001