COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2007
ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
John Dallat 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 (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Willie Clarke MLA
William Irwin MLA
The meeting opened at 10.34am in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Willie Clarke and William Irwin.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
- Members welcomed Pauline Devlin, a new member of staff to the Committee office; Pauline previously worked on the Environment Committee.
- Members agreed that the Clerk would undertake a study trip to the Netherlands to view tram, bus based and light rail rapid transit systems and visit a production line for a hybrid bus based rapid transit vehicle. This visit will inform the Committee on the suitability of the location for a future Committee visit. Members agreed to confirm to the Clerk if any Members wish to join her on the trip.
- Members agreed to deal with the agenda item Matters Arising after the Minister’s appearance at Committee.
- Members noted the timeframe for the completion of the Independent Panel’s Strand Two report has changed and looks likely to be completed early in 2008. Members await clarification from the Department.
3. Draft minutes of the Committee meeting on 28 November 2007.
The minutes of the meeting on 28 November 2007 were agreed.
4. Briefing from the Minister for Regional Development on Ports Policy Review.
The Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy and Departmental officials; Doreen Brown and Brian White, joined the meeting at 10.40am.
Cathal Boylan and Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.45am.
The Minister for Regional Development briefed the Committee on the key issues arising from the proposed Ports Policy for Northern Ireland.
Members decided that a draft response based, on the discussion today, would be prepared for next week’s Committee meeting.
The Minister and the Departmental officials left the meeting at 11.07am.
5. Briefing from Northern Ireland Water.
Executives from Northern Ireland Water (NIW), Katherine Bryan, Ronan Larkin, George Butler and Mark Ellesmere joined the meeting at 11.16am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from the representatives of Northern Ireland Water in preparation for the Committee’s consideration of the Strand Two Report from the Independent Review Panel on Water. Key issues discussed were the existing and alternative models of corporate governance and structure, stakeholder interface and involvement and capital works programme and the process of engagement.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.38am.
The executives from Northern Ireland Water left the meeting at 12.10pm.
George Robinson left the meeting at 12.10pm.
6. Matters arising.
- Members noted the Clerk’s memo and papers on the Department’s December monitoring return. Members voiced their concern over the inadequacy of the timeframe for response to the Department. Members agreed to issue the Committee’s response to the Department.
- Members decided to seek detailed briefing from the Department on the VAT implications arising from the Executive’s decisions on Strand One of the Independent Review Panel’s report, and in particular on when and in what circumstances different VAT treatments might arise from the options considered in the Strand Two report.
7. Subordinate Legislation.
Members were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 28 November 2007:
- The Waiting Restrictions (Maghera) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007, and
- The Traffic Weight Restriction Orders (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted the following new SL1s received:
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The B3 Plantation Road and Clare Road, Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Eglantine Avenue, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Prohibition of Traffic (The Mount and Willowfield, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of The sixth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, published on 26 November 2007. In the absence of any objections, the following question were put and agreed:
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2007/463 The B7 Chapel Hill Road, Mayobridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Cathal Boylan, Fred Cobain, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, Stephen Moutray, 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 this Statutory Rule.
8. Correspondence
Members noted receipt of the following items of correspondence:
- Letter dated 26 November 2007 from Norman Irwin, Department of Finance and Personnel to Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel enclosing a briefing from Land and Property Services on the Strand One Report on Water and Sewerage Services. Members noted receipt of this material as an interim response to a request from the Committee, arising from its consideration of Strand One and agreed to return to consider this information during consideration of the Strand Two Report.
- Letter dated 28 November 2007 from Fred Cobain, Chairperson of the Committee for Regional Development to Mitchel McLaughlin, Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel outlining the response on the draft budget from the Committee for Regional Development. Members noted that the content of this letter was finalised at the Regional Development Committee meeting on 28 November 2007.
- Letter dated 28 November 2007 from Fred Cobain, Chairperson of the Committee for Regional Development to Danny Kennedy, Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister outlining the response of the Committee for Regional Development to the draft Programme for Government and draft Investment Strategy. Members noted that the content of this letter was finalised at the Regional Development Committee meeting on 28 November 2007.
- Letter dated 29 November 2007 from the Department for Regional Development acknowledging receipt of the letter sent to Conor Murphy MP, MLA regarding publication of the Strand Two Report on Water and Sewerage Services.
- Letter dated 29 November 2007 from Fred Cobain, Chairperson of the Committee for Regional Development to Danny Kennedy, Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) regarding its Inquiry into Child Poverty. Members noted that the content of this letter was agreed at the Regional Development Committee meeting on 28 November 2007.
- Correspondence dated 25 October and 30 November 2007 between the Speaker of the House William Hay and Iris Robinson, Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, regarding the time allocated for debates on Private Members’ Motions. Members noted the advice from the Speaker to advise party whips of their intention to speak during items of plenary business.
- Memo dated 3 December 2007 from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister attaching a written update on the progress on the Review of Public Administration. Members noted paragraph 5 of annex A which outlines progress to date and current issues for the Department for Regional Development.
- Daily News digest dated 4 December 2007. Members agreed to issue a press release expressing their sympathy to the families and friends of those involved in the recent road fatalities, and commenting on the role of road conditions in road safety. The Committee decided that the Chairperson would clear this on behalf of the Committee.
- Press release dated 4 December 2007 from the Department of the Environment (DOE) regarding future proposals for strategically important planning applications.
9. Any Other Business.
There was no other business.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.47pm.
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 12 December 2007.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.49 pm.