COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 20 JUNE 2007
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Mervyn Storey MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Roy Beggs MLA
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Simon Hamilton MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Jennifer McCann MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance: Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Vivien Ireland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paul Woods (Clerical Supervisor)
Mary Thompson (Clerical Officer)
Dr Jodie Carson (Assembly Research)
Apologies: None
The meeting commenced at 10.10am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings 20 June 2007
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Members noted correspondence issued on behalf of the Committee, including requests for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), and invites to National Audit Office, Office of Government Commerce and Northern Ireland Court Service to provide written evidence on Public Finance Initiatives for the Committee’s next meeting on 27 June. Members also noted responses received from DFP regarding a number of issues which the Committee had raised regarding Workplace 2010 and on the implementation of the new rating system.
Agreed: that further information will be requested from DFP in relation to Workplace 2010 for next week’s meeting.
4. DFP Briefing on CSR 08-11 Outlook - Preparations for Budget 08/09
The Committee was briefed by the following DFP officials on Preparations for Budget 08/09 including the Comprehensive Spending Review: Chris Thompson, Head of Corporate Services Group and Jim O’Hagan, Finance Director.
Agreed: that additional information will be requested from DFP in relation to final bids, a breakdown of the grades of staff affected by reductions contained in ‘Fit for Purpose’, Value for Money studies and the timetable for the Budget and Programme for Government process 2008/09.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at11.00am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.00am.
5. DFP Briefing on Strategic Underspend 2006/07, and EYF for 2007/08
The Committee was briefed by the following DFP officials on Strategic Underspend 2006/07, and End of Year Flexibility for 2007/08: Leo O’Reilly, Budget Director, Central Finance Group and Richard Pengelly, Head of Central Expenditure Division.
6. Evidence from Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on Clare House ‘Health Check Review’
The Committee was briefed on the Clare House ‘health check review’ report by NISRA officials including Dr John Mallon and Amanda McEwan, Statistician. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Members noted the initial findings of the report and agreed the need to follow up on the next review carried out by NISRA in September, which would provide a fuller evaluation of the pilot project.
Agreed: that a copy of NISRA’s next report, due in October, will be requested to facilitate the Committee in undertaking further scrutiny of this issue.
Mr Quillan returned to the meeting 12.30pm.
Ms McCann left the meeting at 12.35pm.
7. Assembly Research Briefing on Domestic Rating Policy Review Terms of Reference
The Committee was briefed by Assembly Research on the longer-term options to be considered under the Terms of Reference for the Review of Domestic Rating.
Agreed: that Assembly Research will provide further information on a number of issues for consideration by the Committee at its meeting on 4 July 2007.
Agreed: that a draft letter to the Minister regarding the Committee’s input to the Rating Review will be prepared for consideration at next week’s meeting.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 1.00pm.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 1.03pm.
Meeting recommenced at 2.03pm in open session.
8. Evidence from Northern Ireland Audit Office on PFI Projects
Members were briefed on best practice approach to PFI projects, including lessons to be learned from projects to date, by NIAO officials including: Kieran Donnelly, Assistant Auditor General, Financial Audit and Brandon McMaster, Director of Value for Money. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Storey left the meeting at 2.31pm.
Ms McCann returned to the meeting 2.35pm.
Agreed: that the Committee will obtain follow up information from NIAO.
Agreed: that the Committee’s initial consideration of Workplace 2010 and the Location of Public Sector Jobs will be presented and published as a Committee report. A first draft report will be prepared for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting on 27 June 2007.
Agreed: that the Committee will also write to the Minister to request that he consider the Committee’s report before putting papers on Workplace 2010 and Location of Public Sector Jobs to the Executive. A draft letter to the Minister will be considered by the Committee at its next meeting on 27 June 2007.
9. Varney Review – Taxation Policy and Economic Growth
Members noted submissions from the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland and Sir George Quigley, Chairperson of the Industrial Task Force, which addressed the questions that the Committee has raised on fiscal issues. Members noted that DFP’s draft submission to the Varney Review and its response to the Committee’s questions would be made available at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: that a draft Committee submission to the Varney Review will be prepared for consideration by the Committee at next week’s meeting.
9. Draft Press Release
Agreed: a press release was agreed for issuing, as amended.
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: that the Committee Secretariat will confirm Minister’s attendance at the Committee meeting for the 4 July 2007.
Members considered a revised draft of the Committee work programme.
Agreed: that the revised programme will be published on the Assembly website.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 10.00am in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.30pm.