COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
24 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Peter Weir MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
In Attendance: Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.07am in open session.
1. Apologies
Ms Purvis joined the meeting at 10.08am.
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions from Carers Northern Ireland and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials at agenda items 4 and 5 will be recorded by Hansard, and the Official Report published on the website.
Agreed: to provide the DFP officials with a copy of the briefing paper from Carers NI in advance of their evidence session.
Agreed: to hold agenda item 6 in closed session in line with normal convention for consideration of draft Committee reports.
Members thanked Committee staff for their contribution to the publication of the Committee Report on its Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in NI, and the debate on the report held in plenary on Tuesday 23 February. Members also noted that the Minister must formally respond to the recommendations within 12 weeks.
The Chairperson indicated that she will be attending an NI Assembly & Business Trust breakfast briefing on Thursday 4 March to speak about the Report.
Agreed: that press coverage of both the report and the debate be reviewed, and consideration be given to highlighting the Inquiry recommendations in trade journals.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 17 February 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.
Agreed: that correspondence from Land and Property Services, received as a follow-up to last week’s evidence session, be included in the forthcoming report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
7. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered SR 2010 The Rates (Deferment) Regulations (NI) 2010 and the accompanying explanatory memorandum which had been laid in the Business Office by DFP, along with correspondence from the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
Mr Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, DFP responded to members’ queries on the proposed legislation.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2010 The Rates (Deferment) Regulations (NI) 2010 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ final report, recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.
Agreed: that DFP officials will include an explanation in the press release accompanying the legislation, which clarifies its impact on local councils.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 10.23am.
8. Correspondence
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 10.27am.
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Response on NI Electrical Standards Lobbying Group;
Agreed: to copy the departmental response to the NI Electrical Standards Lobbying Group and request an oral briefing. - DFP: Invite to working lunch with Permanent Secretary;
Agreed: that Committee staff will liaise with departmental officials on arrangements. - DFP: Follow up to session on Shared Service Organisation on 27 January 2010;
Agreed: to include the correspondence in the forthcoming report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for Northern Ireland Departments. - DFP: Sustainable Development Action Plan - Update and Request for Postponement;
Agreed: that the evidence session arranged for Wednesday 10 March be postponed. - Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the Minister of Finance and Personnel. - Consumer Council: Draft Forward Work Programme;
- Consumer Council: Briefing for the Committee on the decision to allow rates bills to be paid by credit card;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to the Department for a response to the issues raised. - Economic Reform Group: The Case for a Reduced Rate of Corporation Tax in NI;
Agreed: to invite the Economic Reform Group to make a presentation to the Committee on its report. - NI Court Service: reply letter regarding Housing Rights Service;
- DFP: Progress of identifying and targeting potential rate relief recipients;
- DFP: Response to DFP Committee - Costs of legal cases on procurement;
- Northern Ireland Office: Correspondence on Department of Justice.
4. Options for Rates Relief for Carers (Evidence from Carers NI)
The Committee took evidence from Helen Ferguson, Director, Carers NI.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.11am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.13am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 11.17am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.22am.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 11.27am.
5. Options for Rates Relief for Carers (Evidence from DFP)
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Brian McClure, Head of Rating Policy Division, DFP and Patrick Neeson, Rating Policy Division, DFP.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: that the Clerk will liaise with DFP officials in preparing an options paper on the way forward for the Committee to consider at next week’s meeting.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.42am.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.45am.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 11.53am.
9. Committee Work Programme
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.07pm.
Agreed: that the evidence session with the DFP Performance, Efficiency and Delivery Unit scheduled for 3 March 2010 be postponed.
Agreed: that the current draft of the programme will be published on the Assembly website.
6. Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments: Consideration of Draft Report
The Committee moved into closed session at 12.08pm.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.12pm.
Members considered a working draft of the Committee’s Report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments, which includes a section on Strategic Finance Issues.
Agreed: to split the report in two, the first focusing on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments, which will be published to inform the Minister’s decisions; and the second on Public Sector Efficiencies and Effectiveness, to be published later this year.
The Committee discussed the procedure that exists for drawing attention to opposing views when formally considering a Committee report; that is to include a reference in the main body of the report to the Minutes of Proceedings, which record amendments moved to the report but not agreed.
Agreed: that this approach could be applied when the Report of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments is under formal consideration.
Agreed: that the draft Report will be developed, taking account of points raised, and will be brought to the Committee for formal consideration at next week’s meeting.
The Committee moved into open session at 12.22pm.
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: to contact all those stakeholders who have received a copy of the Report on the Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in NI and ask for feedback.
Agreed: that those members who are available will take part in a press launch of the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme which is being organised by the Federation of Small Businesses in NI.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 03 March 2010 at 10.00 am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.25pm.