Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 17 January 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

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

Apologies: -
Mrs J Carson
Ms C Hanna
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)
Ms C Angelone (Administrative Support)

The minutes of the meeting of 10 January 2002 were agreed with one amendment.

1. The Committee considered a draft response to the Department of the Environment's consultation document on a proposed Bill for Local Air Quality Assessment and Management in Northern Ireland. The response was based on Members' comments following a presentation by Departmental Officials at the meeting on 10 January 2002 and additional information provided by the Assembly's Research and Library Services.

Agreed: To issue the response to the Department of the Environment.

2. The Committee considered a draft response to the Department of the Environment's consultation document on the Review of the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant. The response was based on Members' comments following a presentation by Departmental Officials at the meeting on 10 January 2002 and additional information provided by the Department of the Environment.

Agreed: To issue the response to the Department of the Environment.

1. Proposed ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council.
2. Ballyrickard Landfill Site - reply awaited from Larne Borough Council.
3. Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Fuel Oils) Regulations - reply awaited from the Department of the Environment
4. Hare Coursing - reply awaited from the Department of the Environment

Mr Brian Watson, Mr Colin Berry and Mr Alistair Peoples, Officials from the Department of the Environment's Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m. After giving a presentation to the Committee on the proposed fee increases, they answered questions from the Members.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.09 a.m.

Agreed: To write to the DVTA seeking further information regarding the proposed increase in test fees for the International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Catrnets.

To consider the response and the proposed increases at next week's meeting.

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

Dr Roy Ramsey and Mr Seven Aston, Officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 11.10 a.m. After giving a presentation to the Committee on the Department's recently announced Scheme to distribute to District Councils £2.0m of the Waste Management budget for 2001/02, they answered questions from the Members.

Mr William Franchey and Mr Ricky Burnett of the Eastern Regional Waste Management Group, Mr Graham Byrne, Mr Bryan Gregory and Mr Michael McGuckin from the Southern Regional Waste Management Groups and Mr Tom McBride and Mr Victor Wallace from the North Western Regional Waste Management Group joined the meeting at 11.24 a.m. After short presentations from each of the three Groups on the progress made by the Groups in finalising their Waste Management Plans and their potential to utilise the remaining £2.0m Waste Management budget in 2001/02, they answered questions from the Members.

The Chairperson thanked the Regional Waste Management Groups representatives for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.05 p.m. Departmental Officials rejoined the meeting. and replied to some of the issues raised by the Regional Waste Management Groups.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.30 p.m.

Agreed: To write to the Department of the Environment highlighting the need to consider all possible options for a roll over mechanism for unspent funding from the District Councils Waste Management budget for 2001 - 02 to be carried over into the next financial year

To write to the Department of the Environment seeking comments on concerns raised in a letter from BIFFA Water Services Ltd. about waste management policy and the planning process for landfill facilities.

The Committee considered a draft response to the Committee of the Centre's Inquiry into the effectiveness of Northern Ireland institutions in engaging with European Union Institutions. The draft response was based on a detailed paper provided by the Assembly's Research and Library Services.

Agreed: To issue the draft response as agreed.

To write to the Department of the Environment highlighting that the Committee intend to invite the Minister and his Officials to a future meeting to discuss options for developing the Department's role in EU policy-making decisions and enclosing a copy of the Committee's response to the Inquiry for information.

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

- An invitation for Members to attend a specially convened conference on the Belfast Metropolitan Plan 2015 in the King's Hall on Friday 1 February 2002;

- A letter from the Department regarding the Committee's comments following its consideration of the consultation document on the arrangements for the transposition of the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control;

- A letter from the Department responding the Committee's concerns about the delay in the Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Disease) (No.2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (NI) 2002 being laid before the Assembly;

- A letter from West Belfast Taxis Association regarding the need for a review of the taxi industry;

Agreed: to write to the Department seeking comments on the Association's concerns.

- Additional information provided by the Department of the Environment regarding the Review of Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant;

- A letter from a member of the public regarding concerns about the nature of housing development on the Causeway Coast area;

Agreed: To write to the Department of the Environment requesting a position report on housing development in the Causeway Coast area.

- A copy of a Press Release issued by the Department of the Environment regarding the launch of the new Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) cameras known as 'Stingray' for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency;

- A letter from Calor Gas NI regarding the merits of the use of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a fuel for road vehicles

Agreed: To forward a copy of the letter from Calor Gas to the Department of the Environment for consideration.

- A letter from the Minister of the Environment regarding the membership of the Working Group on the development of a Code of Ethics for District Council Members and the terms of reference for the Group.

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 24 January 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.44 p.m.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)