Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 25 October 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present: -
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D McClarty
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

Apologies: -
Rev Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Mr David Ford
Mr J Leslie
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. with Ms Hanna in the chair.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 18 October 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.34 a.m.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.

1. The Committee considered a response from the Minister of the

Environment to the Chairperson's letter regarding the Committee's concerns about the Ballyrickard Landfill site.

Agreed: To copy the Department's response to Larne Borough Council for comment.

3. Replies Outstanding

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

4. Local Government (Best Value) Bill

The Committee noted the response from the Minister of the Environment to the Chairperson's letter dated 12 October 2001.

Members considered information provided on the Scottish approach to the repeal of CCT and the introduction of Best Value, and on the GB three-month review of Best Value.

Agreed: To invite the Minister of the Environment to the meeting on 8 November 2001 to discuss the way forward on this Bill.

5. Mullaghboy Residents' Group

Mr Brian Gowdy and Mr Kenny McDowell, members of the Mullaghboy Residents' Group joined the meeting at 10.43 a.m. They gave a presentation regarding their concerns about the proposed arrangements for dealing with emergencies at a sewage pumping station. They then answered Members' questions.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.20 a.m.

Agreed: To arrange for Committee Members to visit and view the situation at Mullaghboy at first hand and to copy the information provided by the Residents' Group to the Committee for Regional Development.

To write to the Department expressing the Committee's concerns about the application of planning decisions in the Mullaghboy/Islandmagee area.

6. Draft Budget 2002-2003

The Committee noted responses from 10 Local Councils regarding their views on how the proposed cut in Local Government Resources Grant would impact on their Council.

Members considered a draft response letter to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Draft Budget 2002-3.

Agreed: To issue the letter to the Finance and Personnel Committee enclosing the responses from the 10 Local Councils.

7. Speed Limiters for Commercial Vehicles - Amendment to European Directive (26/6/EEC)

The Committee considered a draft response to the above consultation paper issued by the Department on behalf of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).

Agreed: To seeking further information and consider a revised draft response at the meeting on 8 November 2001

8. Statutory Rules

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule now laid before the Assembly:

The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Diseases) (Temporary Exemption) (Amendment No. 5) (Test Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

The Committee noted the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following Motion was put and agreed by the Committee: -

"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Community

Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Diseases) (Temporary Exemption) (Amendment No. 5) (Test Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."

9. Any other Business

1. The Committee considered a late 'New Directions' bid by the Department in relation to Sustainable Development on the current round of the Executive Programme Funds allocations.

Agreed: To write to the Finance and Personnel Committee expressing the Committee's support for this bid.

2. The Committee noted that a response from the Department updating the position on waste management had been received.

Agreed: To consider the response at the meeting on 8 November 2001.

3. The Committee discussed recent media reports regarding the dumping of toxic waste.

Agreed: To write to the Department expressing the Committee's concerns about certain aspects of this issue.

10. Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 8 November at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 11.53 a.m.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA