COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
SIXTY THIRD MEETING
TUESDAY, 3 JULY 2001
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Nigel Dodds MP
Mr Derek Hussey
Ms P Lewsley
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance: Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mrs Margaret Miskelly (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Executive Support
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.10 p.m. The meeting was held in open session
1. Apologies
1.1 None
Mr Hussey attended at 2.11 p.m.
2. Minutes of Proceedings
2.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 2 July 2001.
3. Matters arising
3.1 The Committee noted its response to the Committee of the Centre on the Single Equality Bill and correspondence from the Department of Finance and Personnel in relation to members' requests for further information on the Department's Strategic and Business Plans and a written update on the progress of the European Union Peace funding programme .
4. PPP Inquiry
4.1 The Committee considered a letter from its Specialist Adviser.
4.2 The Committee agreed that payment should be made to the Specialist Adviser for a total of 25 days worked on the Inquiry.
4.3 The Committee expressed its thanks to Mr John Plumb for his work on the Inquiry.
5. Review of Civil Service Accommodation
5.1 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee on the paper provided by the Department on the Review.
Mr James Leslie attended at 2.19 p.m.
5.2 The Committee determined that the briefing should be made by Departmental officials rather than the Department's consultants.
5.3 Departmental officials Mr Richie Warburton and Ms Wendy Johnson briefed the Committee and answered questions on progress made on the Review. Mr Paul Clarke and Ms Jenny Small from consultants Deloitte and Touche accompanied the officials.
Mr Dodds left the meeting at 2.51 p.m.
5.4 The following issues were discussed:
5.4.1 Members asked why refurbishment of Dundonald House was being progressed when the Review had not been completed. The Committee also noted that there was a highly disproportionate number of civil service jobs in Greater Belfast and that this project did nothing to change that imbalance.
5.4.2 Members suggested that the feasibility of dispersal of the Civil Service needs to be assessed and a full appraisal carried out covering all aspects: cost, equal opportunities impact, New TSN and the economic contribution to a receiving area and the regional planning strategy.
5.4.3 Members asked whether the preferred addresses of civil service staff would be taken into consideration together with the pattern of travel into the greater Belfast area covered by public employees.
5.4.4 Officials were asked which areas of work had been identified as suitable for relocation. The Committee was advised that although the methodology had still to be defined it was considered that "back office" work would be suitable and some departments had identified particular areas of their work that could be relocated.
5.4.5 The Committee proposed that there should be a review of the locations of all departmental offices and it was suggested that Departments' HQs could be in any location. The Committee was advised that Departments had argued that the location of their HQ should be close to the Stormont Estate.
5.4.6 The Committee raised the question of the commercial value of some office accommodation and asked whether it was necessary to retain all current buildings.
5.4.7 The Chairman suggested that there should be opportunity for senior staff and others to take up posts near where they live and this may also help to address imbalances in the composition of the services.
5.4.8 The Committee asked that any consideration of the issues surrounding relocation should take into consideration other factors e.g infrastructure, available accommodation, IT, etc.
6. 2002/03 Financial Year - Executive's Position Report
6.1 The Committee was briefed by the Principal Clerk on the questions to be addressed in each Part of the Executive's Position Report.
6.2 The Committee deliberated on its response to questions in Part 1 "Programme for Government".
Ms Lewsley attended the meeting at 3.15 p.m. Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.24p.m.
6.3 The Committee agreed its responses to Part 1 of the Executive Position Report.
6.4 The Committee deliberated on its response to questions in Part 2 "2002/03 Budget".
6.5 The Committee agreed its responses to Part 2 of the Executive Position Report.
6.6 The Committee deliberated on its response to questions in Part 3 "Departmental Position".
6.7 The Committee agreed its responses to Part 3 of the Executive Position Report.
7. Any other Business
7.1 The Committee expressed its gratitude for the work and assistance of the Principal Clerk, Mr Martin Wilson who was moving to a new position in the Assembly during the summer recess.
8. Date of next meeting
8.1 The Committee agreed the next meeting as Tuesday 4 September 2001.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.17 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman