Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 6 December 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present: -
Rev Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

Apologies: -
Mr A Doherty
Mr J Leslie

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

The minutes of the meeting of 29 November 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

1. The Committee considered letters from the Department of the

Environment and from Professor W Montgomery, Queens University Belfast regarding the Committee's concerns about the Department's policy of continuing to issue permits to capture hares for hare coursing. Mr ford informed the Committee of an amendment he is tabling for the further Consideration Stage debate on the Game Preservation (Amendment) Bill scheduled for 10 December 2001.

Mrs Carson joined the meeting at 10.33 a.m.

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.

Agreed: To send a copy of Professor Montgomery's letter to the Department of the Environment for information.

2. The Committee noted a response from the Department of the

Environment to questions raised by Mr Ford regarding the Ballyrickard landfill site following the Committee meetings on 25 October 2001 and 8 November 2001.

Agreed: To consider this issue at next week's Committee meeting.

3. The Committee considered a letter from the Minister of the Environment expressing his appreciation to the Committee for its role in influencing the Executive's decision to restore the proposed £2m cut in the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant

Agreed: To write thanking the Minister for his response and the Department's co-operation on this matter.

4. The Committee considered Moyle District Council's recent decision to withdraw the sale of land at the Giant's Causeway Visitors Centre.

Agreed: To write to Moyle District Council expressing the Committee's support for a speedy resolution to this issue.

Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting at 10.51 a.m.

2. Replies Outstanding

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

2. Dumping of Toxic Waste - reply awaited from the Department of the Environment.

3. Ballyrickard Landfill Site - reply awaited from Larne Borough Council.

Agreed: To pursue this response.

4. School Transport Inquiry - reply awaited from the Minister of the Environment.
5. Giant's Causeway - replies awaited from the Department of the Environment

4. Local Government (Best Value) Bill

Members considered a draft Report on the Local Government (Best Value) Bill

Agreed: Members approved amendments and new text elaborating paragraph 47 (Conclusions) of the Report and agreed to give final consideration to the draft Report on 13 December 2001.

5. Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP)

The Committee considered the Belfast Metropolitan Area 2015 Issues Paper, which the Department of the Environment intends to make public on Friday 7 December 2001.

Agreed: To arrange a presentation by Departmental Officials on the document and to seek further information on the proposed conference to discuss issues which will need to be addressed in the preparation of the Plan.

6. Statutory Rules

The Committee gave consideration to the following Order laid before the Assembly:

The Local Government (General Grant) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001

The Committee noted the second report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules dated 29 November 2001 and the following Motion was put and agreed by the Committee: -

"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Local Government (General Grant) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly."

The Committee also noted comments (including an explanation by the

Department of the Environment) in the Report by the Examiner of Statutory Rules

on the Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Disease) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (SR 2001 No. 398) that the Regulations had been laid before the Assembly after they came into operation

Agreed: To seek clarification on the method used to select the Local Councils taken into account in the calculation of the standard penny rate product.

To write to the Department of the Environment regarding the Committee's concern at the delay in laying before the Assembly the Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Disease) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

7. Any other Business

1. The Committee noted a number of letters and papers including:

• A draft Work Programme
• A letter from the Department of the Environment regarding the reconstitution of the Local Government Staff Commission
• A letter from the Department regarding the Committee's concerns about a Tree Preservation Order at Old Manse Road, Jordanstown

• An introductory letter from the newly formed Northern Ireland Coach Operators' Association on the Committee's School Transport Inquiry Report
• A copy of the final Committee response to the Department of the Environment on the Motor Vehicles (Construction & Use) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001

• A letter from the Minister of the Environment expressing his appreciation to the Committee for its role in influencing the Executive's decision to restore the proposed £2m cut in the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant to Councils

• A newspaper article on Moyle District Council's decision to withdraw the sale of land at the Giant's Causeway Visitors Centre.

• A paper regarding the Department of the Environment's request for a copy of the transcript of the presentation to the Committee by Officials and follow-up discussion on proposals for a Dangerous Wild Animals Bill
• A response from the Department to the Committee on Mr Ford's questions on Ballyrickard landfill site.
• A research paper on changes introduced in response to the Committee's comments on the draft Programme for Government
• A letter from the Department of the Environment regarding the outcome of the recent round of bids for the Executive Programme Funds

Agreed: To write and thank to the Northern Ireland Independent Coach Operators' Association for its interest in the Committee's School Transport Inquiry Report.

2. The Committee briefly discussed the presentation by Departmental Officials at its 20 September 2001 meeting on the Planning (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: To clarify any outstanding questions the Committee might have on this issue.