COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
NINETY FOURTH MEETING
WEDNESDAY, 5 JUNE 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance:
Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila Mc Clelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 12.48 p.m. The meeting was held in closed session.
1. Chairman's business.
1.1 The Principal Clerk presented the Committee's briefing papers for the day's business. The Committee discussed the briefings.
2. Apologies.
2.1Mr Maurice Morrow.
3. Minutes of Proceedings
3.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 28 May 2002.
Resolved:The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 28 May 2002.
4. Inquiry - European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives.
4.1The Committee was briefed by the Principal Clerk on the proposed process for the selection of a specialist adviser for its Inquiry. Assembly Research and Library Service had approved all four applicants as having met the criteria for the post set by the Committee. The Committee had agreed to select its specialist adviser based on its assessment of the candidates' suitability against a set of essential and desirable criteria and cost considerations contained in the applications.
4.2 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee on the use and completion of the matrix for the selection process and sought the Committee's approval for the methodology developed to assess and mark the qualitative and cost aspects.
Resolved:The Committee agreed the methodology employed and that the assessment for costs had been carried out on an a proper and equitable basis.
4.3 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee on the weightings drawn up for the essential and desirable criteria.
Resolved:The Committee agreed the suggested weightings and to make its assessment of each candidate by allocating one agreed score against each criteria.
Mr Hutchinson attended the meeting at 13.05 p.m.
4.4 The Committee considered the candidates for its specialist adviser on the European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives Inquiry.
Resolved:The Committee discussed and agreed scores for each of the candidates and agreed that the Principal Clerk would approach the highest scoring candidate to confirm availability and to continue down the scoring list if necessary to secure the services of a specialist adviser.
4.5 The Committee noted a request by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to reschedule his evidence session from 11 June 2002 to a later date.
5. Matters arising.
5.1The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding asset transfers under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative.
5.2 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding thelack of consultation on the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative bids.
5.3 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel dated 30 May 2002 regarding economic appraisals for bids under the Executive Programme Funds - Infrastructure Fund.
5.4 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel informing him of the Committee's non - endorsement of the North South Gas Pipeline project.
5.5 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel dated 30 May 2002 regarding the potential application of the Scottish Water Service model to address Resource Budgeting implication on water and sewerage.
5.6 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding an autumn progress report on the implementation of the action points in the Public Procurement Review.
5.7 The Committee noted its letter to the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding an amendment of the Statutory Rule on Building Regulations to deal with Radon Gas.
5.8 The Committee noted its letter to the Department of Finance and Personnel requesting further information in relation to proposed increases in fees for Births, Deaths and Marriage registration.
6. Any other business
6.1 The Committee noted public notices posted by the Department regarding public consultation sessions on the Review of Rating Policy and agreed that members would make their own arrangements to attend these sessions at a local venue.
6.2 The Committee considered a suggestion by the Clerk that its specialist advisers should be asked to attend one of these sessions.
Resolved:The Committee agreed that its specialist advisers should attend a public consultation session on the Review of Rating Policy.
6.3 The Committee noted its programme of forthcoming business.
7. Date of next meeting.
7.1 The next meeting was agreed as Tuesday 11 June 2002 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 13.54 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman