COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 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: Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Vivien Ireland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paula Sandford (Clerical Supervisor)
Mary Thompson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: None
The meeting commenced at 10.09 am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings 10 October 2007
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Members noted the following:
outstanding requests for information from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP);
the Land Value Taxation Campaign response to Review of Domestic Rating Reform; and
follow up Assembly research on international comparators for local taxation and on the Scottish National Party proposal for a local income tax.
Agreed: that DFP’s evidence on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform will be held in closed session, as this had been requested by the Department on the basis that the information under discussion was not yet ready for publication and should be restricted.
4. Evidence Session on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a resident of a working farmhouse and someone who provides assistance on a family farm.
The representatives from Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) declared an interest in respect of ongoing work for the Belfast City Council on an aspect of rating and explained that they previously carried out consultancy work for DFP on rate reliefs and, prior to that, had acted as specialist advisers to the previous Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Members received oral evidence from David Magor and Pat Doherty, IRRV in relation to the different policy options identified in the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
As previously agreed by the Committee, an Official Report (Hansard) was made of the evidence taken, which will be published on the Assembly website.
Ms Purvis joined the meeting at 11.02am.
Mr McCann joined the meeting at 11.10am.
Agreed: that the representatives from IRRV will provide the Committee with a paper on Green Taxes in due course.
5. Evidence Session on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform
The Committee received oral and written evidence from Victor Hewitt, Director of the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland, on the different policy options identified in the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
When discussing the option of discount for owner occupiers, Mr Hewitt declared an interest in owning a second home.
Agreed: that any follow up questions will be sent to Victor Hewitt for written response.
The meeting continued in closed session at 12.39pm.
6. Evidence Session on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform
The Committee received evidence from Brian McClure, Patrick Neeson and Alison McCaffrey, DFP Rating Policy Division, in relation to the Department’s summary analysis of the policy options in the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 12.45pm.
Meeting adjourned at 1.06pm.
The meeting continued in closed session at 1.20pm.
7. Review of Domestic Rating Reform – 2nd Draft of Committee Response
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 1.50pm
The Committee considered a paper from the Rural Community Network on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
Agreed: that the Rural Community Network’s key recommendations will be noted in the Committee’s response to DFP.
Members noted the correspondence from the Consumer Council on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
Agreed: that the Committee will advise the Consumer Council that transcripts of evidence and the Committee’s response to the Review will be placed on the website as soon as possible and that the Committee will continue to be involved in aspects of domestic rating, both in scrutinising any legislation arising from the Review and in giving further consideration to the longer-term options.
Members noted the correspondence from the Communication Workers Union (NI Regional Advisory Committee Retired Members) and were advised that the Union had been informed of the Committee’s approach to taking evidence on the Review of Domestic Rating Reform.
Agreed: that the IRRV paper on Green Taxes will be copied to DFP when available.
Agreed that any follow up questions will be sent to DFP for written response.
Members considered the second draft of the Committee’s response to DFP on the Review.
Agreed; that an updated version of the draft response will be issued to members on Monday 22 October both electronically and in hard copy. Members will forward any proposed amendments to the Clerk before the meeting on Wednesday 24 October.
The meeting continued in open session at 2.14pm.
8. An Overview of the Regulatory Framework for Building Regulations
Mr Beggs declared an interest as a member of the Building Control Group of Carrickfergus Borough Council.
The Committee was briefed by the following DFP officials on the Regulatory Framework for Building Regulations and the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings: Seamus McCrystal, Head of Building Standards Branch; Philip Irwin, Head of Properties Division and Gerry McKibbin, Building Regulations Branch.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 2.17pm.
Mr Farry left the meeting at 2.22pm.
Agreed: that further information will be requested from DFP on the estimated impact and costs of implementing Articles 7 to 10 of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 2.43pm.
9. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until Christmas recess.
Agreed: that the current draft work programme will be published on the Assembly website.
10. Correspondence
Members noted the following correspondence:
DFP – Capital Underspend by Departments in 2006-07.
Agreed: that clarification will be sought from DFP on the figures provided in the paper.
Agreed: that the paper will be forwarded to other statutory committees for information.
DFP – CSR Priorities and Budget 2007.
Committee for Regional Development – Request for written brief from Land and Property Services Agency.
Agreed: that the request for information will be forwarded to DFP.
11. Any Other Business
Members discussed the Committee’s approach to the forthcoming Draft Budget 2007.
Agreed: that the Committee will commission the views of the other Assembly statutory committees on the draft budgets of their respective departments, for inclusion in a co-ordinated report on the Draft Budget 2007. The report will be issued to the Minister of Finance and Personnel before Christmas recess. A draft letter from the Chairperson to the chairpersons of the other statutory committees will be considered by the Committee at the meeting on 24 October.
Members were reminded of the short informal briefing on subordinate legislation at the end of the meeting.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 24 October 2007 at 10.00am in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.47pm.