COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Thursday, 9 August 2007
Room 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Willie Clarke MLA
Cathal Boylan MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
George Robinson MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Clairita Frazer (Clerical Supervisor)
Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
John Dallat MLA

The meeting opened at 10.05am in public session.

Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted the papers received by post on 19 and 27 July 2007.

2. Matters Arising.

The Committee agreed to note:

• Further information from the Department for Regional Development on the A1 Beechhill to Cloghogue road scheme.
• The second part of the Department for Regional Development’s response to the Committee’s request for information of 1 June 2007.
• A further letter from the Quarry Products Association.
• A letter from NIPSA enclosing a report from Dr David Hall and offering a meeting.

Jim Wells left the meeting at 10.10am.
Cathal Boylan and Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 10.12am.
Members of the Independent review panel to the review of water and sewerage joined the meeting at 10.14am.

3. Briefing from the Independent Panel on the Review of Water and Sewerage.

Paddy Hillyard, Joan Whiteside and Charles Coulthard briefed the Committee on their progress to date on the review of water and sewerage.

The Committee noted the first progress report of the panel forwarded by the Minister, Conor Murphy, and a written briefing provided by the panel and in particular the timetable of activities identified.

The Chair thanked the Panel for their time briefing the Committee

Paddy Hillyard, Joan Whiteside and Charles Coulthard left the meeting at 10.45am.
Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water, Nigel Annett, Managing Director of Welsh Water and Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive of Water UK joined the meeting at 10.46am.
Jim Wells rejoined the meeting at 10.50am.

4. Briefing on Water and Sewerage services in GB: Lessons for Northern Ireland.

Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive of Water UK, Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water and Nigel Annett, Managing Director of Welsh Water briefed the Committee on their experiences of delivering water and sewerage services, highlighting the lessons for Northern Ireland.

The Committee and senior executives had a round table discussion on lessons for Northern Ireland, in particular issues surrounding bad debt, customers on low incomes, business models and funding structures.

The Committee thanked the senior executives for their contribution to the meeting and their time briefing the Committee.

5. Subordinate Legislation.

Members agreed to note the following new SL1s

• The Airports (Designation) (Power to Detain and Sell Aircraft) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The B7 Chapel Hill Road, Mayobridge (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The Devonshire Way and Albert Street, Belfast (Footpaths) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The Eastermeade Gardens, Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The One-Way Traffic (Portrush) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and
• The U1110 Green Road, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007.

The Committee was content with the policy merits of the following SL1s noted at its meetings of 4 July 2007.

• The C560 Aughrim Road, Magherafelt (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The On-Street Parking (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Old Mill Dale, Dundonald (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The C554 Greencastle Road, Greencastle, Co Tyrone (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Penalty Charges (Additional Contraventions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Millvale Road, Hillsborough (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Extinguishment of Right to Use Vehicles on Roads (Lisburn) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007

The Committee noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules.

• SR 2007/311 The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 – end of statutory period 9 October 2007.
• SR 2007/312 The Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 – end of statutory period 2 October 2007.
• SR 2007/313 The Folly Lane, Downpatrick (Stopping – Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 – end of statutory period 2 October 2007.
• SR 2007/315 The Newton Heights, Belfast (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 – end of statutory period 9 October 2007.
• SR 2007/316 The Elgin Street, Belfast (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007- end of statutory period 9 October 2007.
• SR 2007/346 The Roads (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 – end of statutory period 9 October 2007.

6. Correspondence.

Members noted the following correspondence:

• Letter from the Minister regarding the Independent Review Panel.

The Committee decided to examine the possibility of scheduling visits to Scottish and Welsh Water in the autumn, to include meetings with their Regulators and Consumer Representative.

The Committee agreed to write and thank the senior executives from Water UK, Welsh Water and Scottish Water for their time briefing the Committee.

7. Any Other Business.

There was no other business.

8. Date, venue and time of next meeting.

The Committee agreed that the next meeting be held on Thursday 23 August 2007 at 10.00am in Room 135.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20pm.

Signed: FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.

Dated: ………………………………………….

04 July 2007 / Menu