COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 21 May 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan 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)
Apologies:
Willie Clarke MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
The Committee decided to begin the meeting in closed session.
The meeting opened at 10.40 a.m. in closed session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Raymond McCartney and Willie Clarke.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
Members decided to seek briefing on the resignation of the Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.55 a.m.
The Committee agreedto continue the meeting in open session.
The meeting moved to open session at 10.57 a.m.
The Committee agreed a response to the Department for Regional Development on the Accessible Transport Strategy.
3. Draft Minutes of the meeting of 7 May 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted the Clerk’s memo outlining the guidance on the sponsorship of events at Parliament Buildings.
Members noted the letter from the Department providing information on the indicative timescales for the public consultation on the Independent Review Panel’s Strand Two report.
Members noted a letter from the Department on the resurfacing of the Toome bypass.
Members noted a letter from the Minister for Regional Development on the A1 Beechill to Cloghogue Dual Carriageway Scheme.
Members noted a letter from the Department for Regional Development on traffic and accident management at the M2 Improvement Scheme.
The Committee noted receipt of a response from the Department on the A26 Frocess Road Proposed Dualling routes. Members agreed to schedule both Departmental officials and the Frocess Road Association to brief the Committee on this issue at a future meeting, and agreed that the MLAs from that constituency would be informed once a date has been decided.
The Committee noted receipt of a response from the Department on the impact of commercial property revaluation on Water and Sewerage Charges, and decided to issue a response to the Department requesting a copy of the business case in relation to the proposed new billing system for water.
The Committee noted receipt of the Department for Regional Development’s response to the Aviation Duty Consultation.
The Committee noted receipt of a response from the Department on the recognition and acceptability of disabled badges from other countries, and agreed to issue a response seeking further information.
The Committee noted receipt of guidance on PEDU interaction with other statutory Committees, and agreed to seek further information on this from the Department.
The Committee noted receipt of a further paper from Assembly Research and Library Services on the Affordability tariff. Members agreed to return to this as part of the Committee’s development of a response to the public consultation on the Strand Two report on Water and Sewerage.
The Committee agreed a revised Forward Work Programme, and agreed that it be published on the Committee web pages.
5. Departmental Briefing on Corporate and Business Plan.
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.09 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials on the Department’s Corporate and Business Plan.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.08 a.m.
Following a question and answer session, officials agreed provide more detailed information on a range of issues.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 12.15 p.m.
Members decided to receive quarterly reports on progress against the targets in the Corporate and Business plan, and to write to the Department on a number of areas of concern.
6. Rapid Transit for Belfast
Members noted that a tour of the proposed routes for Rapid Transit in Belfast, accompanied by Departmental officials, would take place immediately after the meeting.
7. Any Other Business.
There was no other business.
8. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.
The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 28 May 2008 in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.36 a.m.