Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 2 May 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Watson
Mr B Armstrong
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr F Molloy
Mr E Poots

Apologies:
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr M Murphy
Mrs J Carson

In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Miss J Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Clairita Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Colette Angelone (Clerical Officer)

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 25 April 2002 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

1. Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry & Fuel Oil) Regulations NI 2002. The Committee considered the Department of the Environment's response to the Committee's outstanding queries on the proposed Regulations.

Agreed: To copy the Department's response to the Ulster Farmers Union and consider the way forward in light of its comments from them.

3. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill 2002.

The Committee considered the Draft Bill and Explanatory & Financial Memorandum provided by the Department of the Environment. The Committee welcomed the Bill and noted that the Bill is due to be introduced in the Assembly on 7 May 2002.

Agreed: To invite Departmental Officials to give a presentation on the Bill at the Committee meeting next week.

Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.38am

4. Review of Approved Driving Instructor Scheme in Northern Ireland.

The Committee considered a consultation paper issued by the Department of the Environment's Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency, regarding proposals for a review of the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Scheme in NI.

Agreed: To write to the NI Association, the North/West ADI and to various GB Driving Instructors seeking organisations their comments and views on the proposed changes.

5. Statutory Rules

The Committee considered the following Rules that have been laid before the Assembly:

1. The Air Quality Limit Values Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
2. Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
3. Road Service Licencing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

The Committee noted the Twelfth Report dated 26 April 2002 to the Assembly of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Examiner reported that there was nothing on the above Statutory Rules that required to be brought to the attention of the Assembly and the Committee for the Environment.

The following Motions was put and agreed:

'That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Air Quality Limit Values Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule'

'That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule'

'That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Road Service Licencing (Community Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule'

Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 10.42am
Mr McCarty joined the meeting at 10.54am

6. Planning (Amendment) Bill

Ms Cynthia Smith, Mr Ian Maye, Mr David Small and Mr Jackie Lamb, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 10.44am to discuss the Bill.

Key issues discussed included the Department's response to the Committee concerns regarding unauthorised development before planning permission, Third Party Appeals, enforcement measures and level of fines.

Departmental Officials agreed to copy the draft Bill to the Committee as soon as possible, together with the Department's proposals to the NIO for new offences and higher fines.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for the presentation and Mr Lamb left the meeting at 11.46am. The remaining the Officials were then joined by Mr John Linden for the next item.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.46am
Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.46am

7. Planning and Telecommunications Development

Ms Cynthia Smyth, Mr Ian Maye, Mr David Small and Mr John Linden, Departmental Officials, gave the Committee a presentation on some outstanding issues on the proposed Statutory Rule to introduce full planning permission for all telecommunication development.

The Committee considered the terms of the revised Rule and the content of the proposed DCAN on this subject for Telecommunication Operators.

Agreed: That the Committee has no further comment on the revised Rule.

The Committee and Officials further discussed the Planning Policy Statement 10 on Telecommunications.

Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.04pm

Key concerns of the Committee included the need for exclusions zones, public concerns on health effects, human rights and non - thermal effects.

Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.16pm

The Chairman thanked the Officials for a frank and open discussion, the Officials left the meeting at 12.36pm.

Action: Committee to discuss this issue further at its meeting next week

Mr Poots left the meeting at 12.37pm

8. DEFRA Consultation Document on Managing Radioactive Waste.

The Committee received a short presentation by Dr Peter Doran, from the Assembly Research & Information Service.

The Committee considered a number of options on how to respond to this consultation document.

Mr Poots rejoined the meeting at 12.45pm

Action: To write to the Department of the Environment and ascertain their views on the Committee's initial draft and discuss this at a future meeting.

9. AOB

The Committee noted a number of issues and papers including:

• The proposed ASSI Bill and Draft Policy Memorandum.

Action: To invite Departmental Officials to give a presentation on the proposed Bill at next week's meeting.

• Committee Members expressed their serious concern about the Committee losing a Member of the Committee's Secretariat.

Action: Chairman to write to the Clerk of the Assembly expressing this concern.

• Copy of a letter from the Department of the Environment giving details of the increased and re-constituted membership of the Best Value Steering Committee

• Further Correspondence from a member of the public regarding the future of the Causeway Coast Management Plan.

• Change of Date for the Supply Estimates Seminar in Parliament Buildings, now on 22 May 2002

• Press Releases from the Department of the Environment

• Letter from the Speaker regarding the petition against a telecommunications mast at Ballymena Bowling Club

• Department's response regarding concerns over the BMAP Consultation Process.

Action: To forward Department's response to Community Technical Aid.

• Department's response regarding the Government Accommodation Review Interim Report.

Action: To draft response for the Committee of Finance and Personnel.

• Minister of the Environment's response to a petition on Badger Baiting

10. Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 9 May 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.55 pm.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)