Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 3 October 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs J Carson
Mr M Coyle
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr Molloy
Mrs M Nelis
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms H Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Ms C Flynn (Executive Officer)

The meeting commenced at 10.30am.

The minutes of the meeting of 26 September 2002 were agreed.

Ms Nelis and Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.31am.

2. Matters Arising

Members' attention was drawn to three replies awaited.

Mrs Carson joined the meeting at 10.33am.
Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.35am.

3. Planning (Amendment) Bill

Mr Ian Maye, Mr David Small and Mr Jackie Lambe, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 10.35am. They spoke to and answered Members' questions on a letter from the Minister of the Environment and on concerns with specific Clauses of the Bill, that Members had raised during the Committee meeting of 19 September 2002.

Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.37am.

Key issues discussed included levels of fines for breaches of planning law, custodial sentences, Stop Notices and protection of trees. Officials also addressed Members' concerns over the power to dismiss appeals in the case of undue delay, the statutory definition of 'curtilage', Building Preservation Notices and compensation.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.23am.

The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.24am

Agreed: To invite Officials back to next week's meeting to address Members' outstanding concerns.

The Chair left the meeting and the Deputy Chair, Ms Lewsley took the Chair at 11.25am.

4. Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) Bill

Following the Second Stage Reading of the above Bill, it has now been referred to the Committee for formal scrutiny. Mr Brian Murphy, Mr Graham Seymour and Mr Dermot Leonard, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 11.25am gave a structured Clause-by-Clause presentation and answered Members' questions on the Bill. This included details of their consultation with key stakeholders and how their concerns are being met in the Bill.

Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.37am
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.39am

Key issues discussed included the Declaration of an ASSI, Variation of Declaration, Declaration of additional land, Denotification, duties of owners and occupiers of land included in an ASSI, appeals in connection with consents, Management Notices and Management Agreements.

Mrs Carson and Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.50am and rejoined the meeting at 11.54am.

The Deputy Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 12.02pm.

Agreed: To invite Officials back to next week's meeting to continue the presentation on the Bill and address Members' outstanding concerns.

Mr Poots left the meeting at 12.04pm

Before the next items were discussed the Deputy Chair, Mr Coyle, Mr Molloy and Mr McClarty declared interests as Local Councillors.

5. Local Air Quality Management Bill

Ms Helen Anderson, Mrs Ann Hall and Mr Dan Kennedy, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 12.05pm. They gave a structured Clause-by-Clause presentation on issues raised from recent consultation exercises on the proposals in the Bill.

Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.22pm.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.30pm.

Mrs Carson left the meeting at 12.35pm.

Key issues discussed included Designation of an Air Quality Management Zone, Action Plans, funding and powers of Authorised Officers to enter residential premises.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 12.40pm and rejoined the meeting at 12.44pm.

The Deputy Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 12.42pm.

Agreed: To invite Officials to the Committee meeting of 17th October 2002 to address concerns of Members.

6. Pollution, Prevention & Control Bill

The Committee gave consideration to additions to its draft Report on the Pollution, Prevention and Control Bill; these additions reflected the outcome of last week's Clause-by-Clause Reading of the Bill.

Agreed: That the Report be ordered to be printed.

7. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

The Committee gave consideration to its draft Report on the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Agreed: That the Report be ordered to be printed.

8. AOB

The Committee noted a number of papers and issues including:

(a) A Press Release entitled: 'Nesbitt introduces new legislation to toughen up on Waste Disposal by Business'.

(b) A response from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on the Consultation Document on Annual Charges for Discharges to Waterways.

(c) A Letter to the Minster for Culture, Arts and Leisure from the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding Potential Spread of Zebra Mussels.

(d) A letter from Professor Malcolm Grant, AEBC Chair regarding the Commercialisation of GM crops in the United Kingdom.

Agreed: To invite Prof Grant & colleague to the Committee's meeting on 24 October 2002.

(e) A response from the Department of the Environment regarding Seaport Lodge, Portballintrae.

(f) A letter from the Road Haulage Association Ltd regarding the Introduction of Operating Licensing for Own Account Operators.

Agreed: To write to the Association requesting a written briefing on the subject.

(g) A letter to the Minister of the Environment from a member of the public regarding the forthcoming Review of Taxis.

(h) A letter to the Minister of the Environment from the Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the Visitors' Centre at the Giants Causeway.

(i) A Media Invite to an event on 4 October 2002 issued by the Department of the Environment regarding a Retail Charter to reduce the levels of waste, particularly plastic bags.

(j) A letter from Friends of the Earth regarding a Third Party Right of Appeal in the Planning (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: To forward this to the Department for comment.

(k) A letter from the former Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Environment.

(l) A letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding a proposed seminar on Public Finance Issues.

Agreed: To write to the Committee proposing that a repeat seminar be arranged.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 10 October 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.46pm.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)

26 September 2002 / Menu