COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
20 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Peter Weir MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Simon Hamilton MLA
Fra McCann MLA
David McNarry MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.05 am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions from Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials at agenda items 4 and 6 will be recorded by Hansard, and the Official Report published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 13 January 2010
Agreed: that the minutes be published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the composite request for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
4. Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans: DFP Position (Evidence from DFP)
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Deborah McNeilly, Finance Director, and Adrian Doherty, Finance Branch.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.08am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.40am.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: that a list of issues on the Department’s proposals in respect of the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans is forwarded to DFP for written response.
Agreed: that the Business Office will be advised that the Committee would now prefer the date of Tuesday 9 February for the Take Note debate on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans.
5. Methods of Budgeting (Research Briefing)
The Committee received a briefing on an Assembly Research paper on Methods of Budgeting.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.44am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 10.44am.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 10.59am.
Agreed: that Assembly Research will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the research paper to DFP for a response on the options available for improving budgeting methods within departments.
Agreed: the research paper will be included in the body of evidence for the Committee’s forthcoming Report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
6. Reviews of Budget and In-Year Monitoring Processes (Evidence from DFP)
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Michael Daly, Head of Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group; Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts; Paul Montgomery, Central Expenditure Division, and Joanne McBurney, Central Expenditure Division.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.04am.
Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 11.24am.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 11.29am.
Agreed: that a list of issues on the reviews of the budget and in-year monitoring processes is forwarded to DFP for written response.
7. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the following proposals from DFP for subordinate legislation:
- The draft Rates (Deferment) Regulations (NI) 2010
- The draft Rates (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010
- The draft Rates (Exemption for ATMs in Rural Areas) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2010
- The draft Land Registry (Fees) Order (NI) 2010
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the policy implications of each of the proposals for subordinate legislation at this stage.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Letter from Minister regarding impact of Executive’s advertising policy on local press.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the correspondence to the Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (COFMDFM) for onward transmission to its Department for a response.
- DFP: Procurement Governance Review.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the response to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for information.
Agreed: the correspondence will be included in the evidence base for the Committee’s Inquiry into Public Procurement.
- InterTradeIreland: All-Island Public Procurement- Executive Summary, October 2009.
- Professor Christopher McCrudden: Comments on the Public Procurement Conference Stakeholder Report.
- Dr Aris Georgopoulous: Comments on the Public Procurement Conference Stakeholder Report.
Agreed: the correspondence from Professor McCrudden and Dr Georgopoulous will be included in the evidence base for the Committee’s Inquiry into Public Procurement.
- Northern Ireland Audit Office: Efficiency Savings in NI Department.
- Committee for the Environment: Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- COFMDFM: Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group Report on Disability.
- NI Marine Task Force: Analysis and report into the economic implications of marine management options in NI.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for comment on the issues raised.
- DFP: Policy evaluation of rating of vacant non-domestic properties.
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Inquiry into participation in sport and physical activity in NI.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Promotion of townland names.
Agreed: that the correspondence is forwarded to DFP for response.
- Community Relations Council: Dialogue with Assembly Committees.
Dr Farry declared an interest as a member of the Board of the Community Relations Council.
Agreed: the Committee will request a written submission detailing how the work of the Community Relations Council relates to the work of the Committee.
- DFP: Response to query on travel to work distances for civil servants.
10. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until March 2010.
Agreed: that the current draft of the programme will be published on the Assembly website.
11. Any Other Business
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50am.