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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 2nd July 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin 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

The Committee decided to begin the meeting in open session.

The meeting opened at 10.40 a.m. in open session.

  1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from Willie Clarke.

  1. Draft Minutes of the Meeting of 25 June 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2008 were agreed.

The Committee decided to move to closed session.

The meeting moved to closed session at 10.43 a.m.

  1. Departmental Briefing on the decision of the former Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water to step down.

Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.48 a.m.

The Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, Department for Regional Development officials Paul Priestly and Barbara Faloona, and Northern Ireland Water Chairman and acting Chief Executive, Chris Mellor, joined the meeting at 10.56 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Minister for Regional Development, officials of the Department for Regional Development and the Chairman and acting Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water on the Department’s role in the decision of the former Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water to step down.

Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 11.30 a.m.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.40 a.m.

The Minister, Departmental officials, and the Northern Ireland Water Executive, left the meeting at 11.59 a.m.

John Dallat left the meeting at 12.05 p.m.

The Committee decided to move to open session at 12.07 p.m.

  1. Departmental Briefing on Water Framework Directive Draft River Basin Management Plans and Programme of Measures.

Department for Regional Development officials John Mills, Peter Barbour, Stuart Wightman and Department for the Environment official Gabriel Nelson joined the meeting at 12.07 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from officials from DRD and DOE on the Water Framework Directive Draft River Basin Management Plans.

The Committee agreed to request a list of those organisations that will be consulted on this issue.

Department for Regional Development and Department of the Environment officials left the meeting at 12.22 p.m.

John Dallat rejoined the meeting at 12.22 p.m.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department noting receipt of briefing on this matter, and requesting an update on the outcome of the public consultation prior to finalisation of the plans and programme of measures.

  1. Matters Arising.

Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 10.43 a.m.

Members noted receipt of a letter from the Department enclosing the internal audit report on the DRD sponsor controls of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) and Translink, and requested briefing on progress implementing recommendations from this report later in the year

Members noted receipt of a letter from the Department for Regional Development, setting out the timetable for the remaining in-year monitoring rounds for 2008/09, and responding to the points raised in the Committee’s response to the Department’s June monitoring return. Members agreed to consider the Departments September Monitoring return at its meeting of 10 September 2008.

The Committee noted receipt of a memo dated 20 June 2008, from Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding concerns received from several statutory Committees’ in relation to recent departmental monitoring round submissions. Members agreed to respond noting receipt of the correspondence, and requesting to be kept informed on the outcome of the meeting between DFP officials and Finance Directors.

The Committee was reminded that they had agreed to seek an update from Land and Property Services regarding billing for water and sewerage services and noted that the most recent update is expected from Land and Property Services early next week. Members noted that this would be circulated as soon as it is available.

The Committee noted receipt of an email dated 24 June 2008, from a Member of Unite the Union working for Northern Ireland Water (NIW) requesting a meeting to discuss internal employment issues. Members agreed to respond to the correspondent referring the union to the Northern Ireland Audit Office Whistle Blowing Disclosures unit.

The Committee noted that Morrow Communications, a PR company working with Translink, requested a copy of the presentation given to the Committee by the Department regarding public transport reform at the meeting held on 25 June 2008. The Department was content that this briefing was released. The information was released in the normal course of Committee business.

The Committee noted receipt of additional briefing on Northern Ireland Water’s commitment to double its green energy usage, and compliance figures for settlements of less than 250 people, requested by Members at the meeting held on 4 June 2008.

The Committee noted receipt ofbriefing from the Department on the A6 Derry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme, which had been requested by Members following receipt of correspondence from a concerned member of the public. The Committee agreed to write to the member of the public enclosing the Department’s response and suggesting that he engages with local MLAs and in the public consultation regarding his concerns.

The meeting was suspended at 12.34 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 1.06 p.m. with the following Members present; Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, Cathal Boylan, Jim Wells, John McCallister and Brian Wilson.

  1. Subordinate Legislation.

Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:

The Committee decided to write to the Department in relation to the Cycle Lanes ( Glengall Street and Great Victoria Street), asking it to liaise fully with the police at all stages of implementation of the cycle lane.

In relation to the Antrim Road at Belfast International Airport (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, Members noted the issues and agreed that as the issues are of a local nature, the Department should resolve any objections.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.14 p.m.
George Robinson joined the meeting at 1.15 p.m.

Members indicated that they were content with the SL1s noted at the meeting of 25 June 2008:

Members noted the following SRs which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:

Members noted the following SR subject to negative resolution and agreed to return to this Rule once the Examiner of Statutory Rules has reported:

Members indicated that they were content that the Department makes the Cross Border Working Time Regulations in order to avoid infraction procedures. The Committee agreed to receive briefing on the outcome of the public consultation and to consider the Rule during the Statutory period.

In relation to the Old Belfast Road (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008, Members agreed to write to the Department stating that the Committee was content that the Department proceed with the secondary legislation process; however some Members had reservations in relation to the Traffic assessment carried out for the nearby retail development and the provision of a lay-by at the bus stop referred to. The Committee decided to urge the Department to attempt to resolve these issues before the making of the Statutory Rule. The Committee decided to revisit these issues during its consideration of the Statutory Rule.

Arising from their consideration of the issues in this SL1, Members decided to request quarterly written updates on land identified for abandonment and disposal.

  1. Correspondence.
  1. Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group Briefing.

Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group representatives Peter Carr, Desmond Boucher and Robin Cameron joined the meeting at 1.23 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group on the use of brownfield and greenfield sites in the context of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan. Members noted that this issue falls within the remit of the Department for the Environment, but that any new area plan must be issued with a certificate of conformity with the Regional Development Strategy, by the Department for Regional Development, before it can be adopted.

Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 1.40 p.m.
BMRG representatives left the meeting at 1.48 p.m.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department advising that it had received briefing on this issue, indicating that they wish to pursue some of the issues raised and requesting figures on how much brownfield development between 2000 and 2006 was attributable to the development of gardens.

  1. Dungiven Bypass Association Briefing.

Representatives of the Dungiven Bypass Association Denis Hegarty and Jacqueline Mackell joined the meeting at 1.52 p.m.

The Committee received briefing by the Dungiven Bypass Association on the problems faced by residents of the Dungiven area and the construction of a bypass in that area.

Cathal Boylan rejoined the meeting at 1.56 p.m.

Mr Dallat proposed the following motion: that the Minister and the Department for Regional Development proceeds without delay to provide a bypass at Dungiven to alleviate serious health and safety issues caused by congestion and to address concerns raised by the emergency services.

The motion was seconded by George Robinson.

Dungiven Bypass Association representatives left the meeting at 2.20 p.m.

The Committee divided on the motion: Ayes 2; Noes 6; Abstentions 0.

Ayes

John Dallat
George Robinson

Noes

Fred Cobain
Jim Wells
William Irwin
Cathal Boylan
Raymond McCartney
John McCallister

The motion therefore fell.

Members agreed to seek briefing from the Minister for Regional Development on this issue after summer recess and to hear from the Dungiven Bypass Association again.

The meeting was suspended at 2.31 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 2.39 p.m.

  1. A26 Frocess Road Association Briefing.

A26 Frocess Road Association representatives Wallace Gregg, Lyle McQuitty, Liam McGuickin and Jim Sayers joined the meeting at 2.39 p.m.

The Committee received briefing by the A26 Frocess Road Association on their concerns with some of the routes proposed for the dualling scheme on this road.

Frocess Road Association representatives left the meeting at 2.53 p.m.

Department for Regional Development officials Colm Hutchinson and Malcolm Glover joined the meeting at 2.54 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials on the routes proposed for the dualling scheme on the A26 at Frocess Road.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.06 p.m.

  1. Any Other Business.

There was no other business

  1. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 10 September 2008 in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.07 p.m.

Signed: ……………………………………………
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
Dated: ………………………………………….

25 June 08 / Menu