COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 28 May 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke 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:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
William Irwin MLA
The Committee decided to begin the meeting in open session.
The meeting opened at 11.15 a.m. in open session.
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Apologies.
Apologies were received from Fred Cobain and William Irwin.
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Chairperson’s Business.
Members were reminded that a workshop being held by the Utility Regulator to discuss the 2010 pricing structure is to take place on 17 June 2008 in Parliament Buildings. The following Members agreed to attend, subject to business in the Assembly on that day:
Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, George Robinson and Jim Wells.
Members noted a letter from the Department regarding consultation on water reform. Members agreed to issue a response to this correspondence, and due to the time constraints involved, agreed to form a subgroup comprising one Member from each party to consider the consultation document once it has been received.
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Draft Minutes of the meetings of 19 and 21 May 2008.
The minutes of the meetings held on 19 and 21 May 2008 were agreed.
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Matters Arising.
Members noted the quarterly progress report on equality, and associated annexes, compiled by the Department for Regional Development’s Equality Unit, for the period ended 31 March 2008. Members agreed to seek briefing from the Department on the work of the British-Irish Council subgroup on Accessible Transport.
Members noted the information provided by Northern Ireland Water on leakage figures broken down by zones.
Members noted supplementary information provided by Whizzgo following their briefing on 7 May 2008.
Members noted a letter from the Department in response to correspondence from Iris Robinson MP, MLA regarding the closure of a lane linking Katrine Park and the Vines at Erinvale. Members agreed that this response be forwarded to Mrs Iris Robinson MP, MLA of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Members noted a letter dated 19 May 2008 confirming the Department’s intention to give the Committee Chair prior warning on any Ministerial announcement on the Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water.
The Committee noted receipt of further information on the business case for the Enterprise service, which is being prepared for the North South Ministerial Committee meeting. Members agreed to write to the Department noting receipt of the letter, and requesting to be kept informed on the future progress of the business case.
The Committee noted receipt of follow-up information from the Department relating to the mis-apportionment of costs in Northern Ireland Water, and agreed to return to this issue when Northern Ireland Water and the NIAUR have completed their investigations.
The Committee noted receipt of further information from the Department on the Efficiency Delivery Plan, and agreed to request that a copy of the quarterly efficiency performance update is forwarded to the Committee after it has been seen by the Minister.
The Committee noted a verbal update by the Clerk on the sponsorship of the Northern Ireland Utility Regulators annual report.
The Committee noted that the Committee sub-group to evaluate tenders for the specialist advisor on water and sewerage services met on Tuesday 27 May 2008 to evaluate the tenders submitted, and were given a verbal update by the Clerk and sub-group members on the progress on tender evaluation.
The Committee considered paragraphs for inclusion in a Committee response to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Varney Review, and agreed that a response be formulated reflecting this information, and forwarded to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
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Departmental Briefing on the Regional Development Strategy.
Departmental official Ian Raphael joined the meeting at 11.49 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from the Departmental official on the work that has taken place on the review of the Regional Development Strategy since discussions with the Committee in February 2008.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 11.46 a.m.
Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
The Committee thanked the official for his briefing, and agreed to receive an update briefing in September 2008.
Ian Raphael left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.
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Rapid Transit for Belfast.
Departmental officials Alan Preston and Gavin Hamilton joined the meeting at 12.11 p.m.
The Committee received clarification from Departmental officials on the Strategic Outline Case for Rapid Transit in Belfast.
Victor Hewitt of ERINI joined the meeting at 12.21p.m.
The Committee received briefing from Victor Hewitt of the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland on the financial, and other information included in the Strategic Outline Case.
The Committee requested further written information from Mr Hewitt.
Members were reminded that a take note debate in the Assembly on the Strategic Outline Case for Rapid Transit had been scheduled for 3 June 2008.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Victor Hewitt left the meeting at 12.44 p.m.
The Committee agreed a response to the Department on the Strategic Outline Case for signature by the Deputy Chairperson, and agreed that it be published on the Committee web pages.
Members agreed to issue a press release on 3 June 2008 reflecting the Committee’s response to the Minister. Members also agreed to write to all those who had contacted the Committee on the issue of Rapid Transit directing them to the Committee’s response on its website.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 1.02 p.m.
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NCP Briefing.
Departmental official Simon Richardson joined the meeting at 1.03 p.m.
The Committee received briefing from a Departmental official on the NCP parking enforcement contract, followed by a question and answer session on the issues.
Departmental official Simon Richardson left the meeting at 1.20 p.m.
The Committee decided to write to the Department seeking clarification on enforcement of the blue badge scheme in private car parks and cross-border information sharing.
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Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted the following new SL1s received:
- The Dunhugh Road, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Road Races ( Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members indicated that they were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 19 May 2008:
- The Parking Places on Roads (Dungannon) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Waiting Restrictions (Templepatrick) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution:
- 221/2008 - The Meadowview, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:
- 2008/215 The Bus Lanes ( Antrim Road, Belfast) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Roads (Speed Limits) (No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Loading Bays (Amendment No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the sixteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, which was published on 23 May 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the 2008/204 – The College Park Avenue, Belfast (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule .”
All those in favour: Willie Clarke, Cathal Boylan, Brian Wilson, George Robinson, John Dallat, Jim Wells
All those against: none“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the 2008/ 206 – The Old Carrick, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule .”
All those in favour: Willie Clarke, Cathal Boylan, Brian Wilson, George Robinson, John Dallat, Jim Wells
All those against : None
Members instructed the Clerk to notify the Business Office on the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules .
Members considered a Departmental response to the Committee’s concerns with the adequacy of the consultation process with Local Councils regarding subordinate legislation.
Members decided to write to the Department requesting that a line is inserted in the SL1 memo indicating the level of response received from Councils regarding SL1 proposals.
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Correspondence.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated May 2008, from Duane Farrell, Head of policy research and communications for Help the Aged, enclosing a copy of their Spotlight Report.
- Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend a round table event on Managing Flood Risk in Changing Climates hosted by WWF on Tuesday 10 June 2008, at 10am in Belfast. Members agreed to contact the Committee office if they wished to attend.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 8 May 2008, from the Department for Regional Development noting receipt of a letter from the Committee regarding the removal of the exemption for the operators of transport services. Members noted that a full response was received from the Department on this issue and was included in Members packs for the meeting of 19 May 2008.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 11 May 2008 from Niall McGee, making a number of points in relation to the strategic outline case on Rapid Transit in Belfast. Members agreed to forward the letter to the Department for comment, and agreed to issue a response to Niall McGee noting receipt of the letter.
- Members noted receipt of an E- newsletter dated 12 May 2008, from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 13 May 2008, from Marie Austin, Clerk to the Committee for Social Development, enclosing a copy of the Committee for Social Development’s report on the Charities Bill.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 14 May 2008, from Martin Carey, Chief Executive, Mourne Heritage Trust, outlining the Mourne Homesteads scheme. Members agreed to forward the letter to the Environment Committee for comment, and write to Mr Carey informing him the letter has been forwarded to the Environment Committee for comment.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 15 May 2008, addressed to Mr Jim Wells, MLA, from Jackie and Billy Mitchell regarding the Belfast to Comber Greenway. Members agreed to issue a response noting receipt of the letter, and indicating Members will consider their comments as part of its consideration of the issue of Rapid Transit in Belfast.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 17 May 2008, from Mr and Mrs Cosgrove, forwarding a copy of their letter sent to the Minister for Regional Development. Members agreed to issue a response noting receipt of the letter, and informing them the Committee will consider their comments as part of its consideration of the issue of Rapid Transit in Belfast.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 19 May 2008, from Sue Ramsey MLA, Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning, requesting the Committee forward a research paper to the Minister for Regional Development, entitled ‘Diversity Works – A research study exploring the relationship between multiple identity and employability’. Members agreed to forward the paper to the Minister for Regional Development.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 20 May 2008, from Paul Priestly, Permanent Secretary to the Department for Regional Development informing the Committee that Katharine Bryan will be leaving her position as Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 22 May 2008, from Steven Patterson, Sustrans Northern Ireland, offering to meet with Members during their visit to the Comber Greenway. Members agreed to issue a response informing that the Committee has already visited the Greenway, and indicating that the Committee is aware of the strength of feeling towards the Greenway and that the Committee will return to consider the issue in depth during consideration of their response to Rapid Transit in Belfast.
- Members noted receipt of a letter dated 23 May 2008, from Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy, MP, MLA, informing Members of his intention to report to the Assembly on Tuesday 3 June regarding the fifth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in the Transport Sector.
- Members noted receipt of an email dated 23 May 2008, from the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management inviting Members to a conference entitled Moving to an Ecological Economy: True Valuing of Biodiversity.
- Members noted a press release from Northern Ireland Water entitled ‘Wet Summer Impacts on Northern Ireland’s Beaches’.
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Any Other Business.
Members noted that the Minister for Regional Development will make a statement to the Assembly on the Regional Development Strategy on 9 June 2008.
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Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.
The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 4 June 2008 in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.36 p.m.
Signed:FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development .
Dated: ………………………………………….