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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 4 July 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. Present: Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson) Apologies: Mrs J Carson In Attendance: Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk) The meeting commenced at 10.30 a.m. 1. Minutes of previous meeting The minutes of the meeting of 27 June 2002 were agreed. Ms Lewsley and Mrs Nelis joined the meeting at 10.32am 2. Matters Arising (a) Recovery and Recycling Targets for Packaging Waste - Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (NI) 1999 This item was brought forward from last week's agenda. The Committee considered the consultation document on the above, a paper prepared by the Assembly Research and Library Service and a draft response to the document. Agreed: To issue a response to the consultation document. (b) The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2002 The Committee considered an SL1 on the above Regulations. Agreed: To issue 'no comment' at this stage. (c) Review of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) Scheme The Committee considered responses from relevant driver organisations to the consultation document on the Review of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) Scheme and a draft response to the document. Agreed: To issue a response to the consultation document. Replies Awaited Members' attention was drawn to one reply awaited. 3. Pollution, Prevention and Control Bill Mr David Bell, Ms Ethne Harkness, Ms Janis Purdy, and Mr Norman Simmons, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 10.36am. They commented on proposed amendments to the wording of certain clauses, which had been raised at last week's meeting and answered Members' questions. Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.50am Key issues discussed included Disposal Licences which expire before commencement of Waste Management Licensing, Human Rights issues, consultation with farming organisations and the Regulations which will flow from the Bill. The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.23am. Agreed: The Committee to await information from the Department on further suggested amendments to the Bill and to forward additional questions for answer. 4. Planning (Amendment) Bill Ms Marlene Hempton, Mr Jackie Lambe and Mr Hugh McKay, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 11.25am. They gave a structured clause-by-clause presentation on the Bill and answered Members' questions. Mr Molloy left the meeting at 11.32am Key issues discussed included Stop Notices, Enforcement of the legislation,
Unauthorised Development, Tree Preservation Orders and Third Party Appeals. Agreed: The Committee to await papers on draft cases being prepared by the Department for the creation of a new offence re Unauthorised Development and for further increases to the level of fines. A paper on Third Party Appeals is also awaited. Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.15pm The Chair, Deputy Chair, Mr Poots, Mr Molloy declared interests as District Councillors before the next item. 5. Local Government (Misc Provisions) Bill Mr David Barr, Ms Marie Finnegan, Dr Tracy Power and Mr John McConnell, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 12.23pm. They gave a short presentation on amendments to the Bill now agreed by the Minister and answered Members' questions. Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12.24pm Key issues discussed included powers of District Councils in relation to community safety and the draft Regulations which will flow from the Bill. The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 12.39pm. Agreed: The Committee to give a formal clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill in early September 2002. 6. Statutory Rules The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1s: (a) Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002 (b) Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002 (c) Motor Vehicles (Exchangeable Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002 (d) Controlled Waste (Duty of Care) Regulations (NI) 2002 (e) Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (NI) Regulations 2002 (f) Radioactive Substances (Natural Gas) Exemption Order (NI) 2002 Agreed: The Committee to issue 'no comment' to the SL1s. 7. AOB The Committee noted a number of issues and papers including: (a) A letter from the Department of the Environment to the Ulster Farmers' Union re: Proposed Control of Pollution Regulations. (b) A letter from the Department of the Environment regarding Millmount, Dundonald. Agreed: To forward the Department's response to the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group. (c) Correspondence from the Head of the Civil Service regarding a Review of the NI Civil Service response to devolution. (d) Correspondence from a resident of Old Mill Heights, Dundonald. Agreed: To write to the Department to request a copy of the Minister's response on this matter. (e) Letter from the Speaker regarding a petition on a telecommunications mast at 138 Somerton Road, Belfast. (f) Correspondence from the Committee of the Environment, Planning and Transport in the Welsh Assembly regarding its Review of Local Biodiversity Action. (g) Letter from a member of the public regarding a planning application for a landfill site at Craigmore Quarry, Randalstown. Agreed: To write to the Department for comment on the application and the policy issues raised in the letter. (h) Correspondence from an organisation re a moratorium on development on land zoned for Housing in Londonderry. Agreed: To write to the Department seeking the current position on the concerns and policy issues in the letter. (i) Response from Belfast City Council on the NIO consultative document entitled: 'Creating a safer Northern Ireland through Partnership'. (j) Correspondence from a member of the public regarding a radio base station at Church Street, Downpatrick and a draft letter from the Committee to a mobile phone company. Agreed: To issue the letter to the mobile phone company. (k) Letter from a Professor in Queen's University Belfast regarding Sustainable Policies in Northern Ireland and a draft response to the Professor. Agreed: To issue the letter to the Professor. (l) A letter from the Department of the Environment responding to the Committee concerns with aspects of a consultation document on Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. Agreed: To prepare a draft response letter for circulation to Members for approval. (m) A letter from the Department of the Environment advising the Committee of the full and final result of the June Monitoring round from a DoE perspective. Agreed: To write to the Department to clarify an aspect re one bid which was unsuccessful and to register the Committee concern re the continuing exceptionally poor allocation of Executive Programme Funds to DoE. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 5 September 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. The meeting adjourned at 12.45pm. Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson) |
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