COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS (DRAFT)
WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
George Robinson MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA
In Attendance: Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Stephen Moutray MLA
The meeting opened at 10.38 am in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Stephen Moutray.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
- Members agreed that the Chairperson would, on behalf, of the Committee send Christmas cards to those organisations and individuals who provided briefing to the Committee since 16 May 2007. Members agreed to forward any suggestions for additional recipients to the Clerk.
- Members agreed to invite representatives from Translink to brief the Committee at its meeting on 16 January 2008.
3. Draft minutes of the Committee meeting on 14 November 2007.
The minutes of the meeting on 14 November 2007 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
- Members noted the letter dated 12 November 2007 from NIPSA enclosing further submissions on the Strand Two governance issues to the Independent Review Panel. Members agreed to return to this matter in their consideration of Strand Two.
- Members noted the research paper analysing the Technical Annexes to the Independent Panel’s Strand One Report. Members agreed to return to this matter in their consideration of Strand Two.
- Members agreed to proceed with the handling of the draft speed management policy as set down in the Clerk brief.
5. Departmental briefing on the Ports Policy.
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.44am.
The Committee received detailed briefing from Doreen Brown, Brian White and John Angus from the Department for Regional Development on the main issues arising from the proposed Ports Policy for Northern Ireland.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 11.11am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The Departmental officials left the meeting at 11.23am.
6. Subordinate Legislation.
Members were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 14 November 2007:
- The Motor Hackney Carriages (Antrim) By-Laws (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places and Loading Bay on Roads (Kilkeel) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Parking Places and Loading Bay on Roads (Limavady) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Limavady) Order (Northern Ireland);
- The One-Way Traffic (Limavady) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007;
- The Prohibition of Traffic (Beechmount, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007; and
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Members were content with the following SL1 noted at the meeting of 3 October 2007:
The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted the following new SL1s received:
- The Donaghadee (Harbour Area) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.
- The Trunk Road T21 (Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Members noted receipt of The fifth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, published on 12 November 2007. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2007/459 The Belvedere Manor, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, John Dallat, William Irwin, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Jim Wells and Brian Wilson.
There were no Members against.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2007/446 The B127 Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, John Dallat, William Irwin, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Jim Wells and Brian Wilson.
There were no Members against.
Members were content that the Clerk should notify the Business Office on the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules.
7. Consideration of the Committee’s response to the draft Budget, draft Investment Strategy and draft Programme for Government.
Members noted the Clerk’s note with a draft response on the draft Budget, Investment Strategy and Programme for Government. Members discussed the note paragraph by paragraph and provided additional views and comments. Members agreed to finalise their response at next week’s meeting.
Jim Wells took the Chair at 12.09pm.
Fred Cobain left the meeting at 12.09pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 12.17pm.
8. Correspondence
Members noted receipt of the following items of correspondence:
- Letter dated 12 November 2007 from Finaghy Youth Group requesting support for their campaign to have a pedestrian crossing installed in the Finaghy Road South Area. Members noted that this had been sent to the Department for comment.
- Letter dated 12 November 2007 from the Minister for Regional Development to the Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development regarding Town Centre regeneration. Members agreed to return to this topic at a future committee meeting.
- Letter dated 15 November 2007 from the Regional Development Minister responding to questions raised by the Chairperson of the Regional Development Committee during the Committee’s motion for Assembly debate on the Independent Water Review Panel’s Strand One Report.
- Invitation to the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation’s annual stakeholder reception on Wednesday 12 December 2007.
9. Any Other Business.
There was no other business.
10. Date, venue and time of next meeting.
Next week’s meeting will be in Parliament Buildings in Room 144 at 10.30am on Wednesday 28 November 2007.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.39 pm.