COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 6th February 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister 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)
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)
Apologies:
Willie Clarke MLA
Brian Wilson MLA
The meeting opened at 10.40 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Raymond McCartney.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.46 a.m.
2. Chairpersons Business.
The Committee agreed that the following Members have indicated their agreement to participate in the Committee study visit to the Netherlands on 20-22 February 2008:
- Fred Cobain
- Cathal Boylan
- Willie Clarke
- John McCallister
- Raymond McCartney
- Stephen Moutray and
- Jim Wells.
Members decided that, due to the Committee visit to the Netherlands on 20-22 February 2008, the Committee meeting scheduled for 20 February 2008 will now not take place.
3. Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting on 28 & 30 January 2008.
The minutes of meetings held on 28 & 30 January 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
The Committee noted the information which was forwarded by Northern Ireland Water regarding the issue of water metering. The Committee agreed to return to this during the public consultation on Strand Two.
The Committee noted the table received from Northern Ireland Water giving current and projected bills for water and sewerage dependent on bad debt levels. The Committee agreed to return to this during the public consultation on Strand Two.
The Committee noted the letter from the Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy MP, MLA regarding the lack of female representation on the Belfast Harbour Commission. Members agreed to issue a response to the Minister.
The Committee noted the invitation to attend a conference on Northern Ireland Governance.
The Committee decided to write to the ETI Committee noting the DRD actions in the Regional Innovation Strategy Draft Action Plan, and to request briefing from the Department on its actions in the Regional Innovation Strategy Draft Action Plan.
The Committee noted the correspondence from Marie Austin, Clerk to the Committee for Social Development asking for evidence in relation to the Charities Bill, and decided not to comment.
The Committee noted the response from the Department of Finance and Personnel to previous correspondence from Gary Wilson regarding Home Information Packs, which was forwarded to DFP by the Committee.
The Committee noted the letter from the Department regarding the Rural Transport Fund. The Committee decided to further consider this issue at a future Committee meeting.
The Committee agreed a response to the Minister on the February Monitoring Round for issue to the Department.
5. Briefing from Department of Regional Development officials on the 5 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy.
Department of Regional Development officials Ian Raphael and Mike Thompson joined the meeting at 11.07 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials on the 5 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy.
Ian Raphael and Mike Thompson left the meeting at 11.46 a.m.
The Committee agreed to take time to consider the issues raised, and to return to the Review of the Regional Development Strategy at the next Committee meeting on 13 February 2008.
6. Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted the following new SL1s received:
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:
- 2008/28 The Waiting Restrictions (Keady) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
- 2008/30 The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
- 2008/31 The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted the following Statutory Rule subject to negative resolution. The Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the statutory period.
- 2008/27 The Eastermeade Gardens, Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the ninth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, published on 1 February 2008. 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 2008/12 The Roshure Road, Desertmartin (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, John Dallat, William Irwin, John McCallister, Stephen Moutray, 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 2008/13 The Airports (Designation) (Power to Detain and Sell Aircraft) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, John Dallat, William Irwin, John McCallister, 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 of the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules.
7. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of the following items of correspondence:
- Letter dated 30 January 2008 from Patricia McDonagh, PA to John Doran Managing Director of Belfast International Airport enclosing a copy of the presentation given to Members during their visit to the airport on 16 January 2008.
- Letter dated 30 January 2008 from CIPFA informing members of the forthcoming lunchtime events to be held in 2008.
- Letter dated 31 January 2008 informing members of a conference to be held on Wednesday 5 March entitled ‘Meeting Northern Ireland’s Housing Needs’. Members agreed to purchase a delegate pack for this event, and if possible, to make this available to Members electronically.
- Letter dated 1 February 2008 from the Committee for the Environment requesting the views of the Department for Regional Development (DRD) on a new road safety strategy proposed by the Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster. Members agreed to forward this letter to the Department for Regional Development.
8. Any Other Business.
Mr Dallat asked that correspondence from Mr. Bob Pue be brought to the attention of the Committee.
Mr Robinson apologised that he would be unable to attend the Wrightbus factory visit on 13 February 2008.
Mr Clarke informed the Committee that, having received further information from the Department, both he and Mr Jim Wells were content with Statutory Rule 08/2008 The Parking Places on Roads (Newcastle) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008. Clarification on this issue was originally sought at the meeting on 16 January 2008.
Members noted the revised Forward Work Programme and agreed to make it available on the Committee web pages.
9. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.
The next meeting will take place on 13 February 2008 at Ballymena Business Centre, Ballymena.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.00 p.m.