COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 1 OCTOBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
George Robinson MLA
Alastair Ross MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Stephanie Galbraith (Research Officer)
Apologies:
John McCallister MLA.
The meeting opened at 10.45 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from John McCallister.
2. The Minutes of the meeting of 24 September 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2008 were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s Business.
Members agreed to attend a lunch in Parliament Buildings to meet senior Departmental officials at a date to be agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of a memo from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning a Committee Inquiry into budget processes in the Assembly. Members agreed a form of words to respond to the memo, answering each of the questions posed.
Members noted receipt of a memo from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Budget Strategic Stocktake. Members decided to write to the Department requesting officials to brief the Committee at the meeting of 22 October 2008 on the Strategic Stocktake and providing information on progress on the Department’s efficiency delivery plans and asset disposal plans.
Members noted receipt of a memo from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning the availability of in-year monthly expenditure information to Committees. Members chose not to receive this information.
Members noted receipt of additional information on easements and reductions identified in the borrowing requirements and Net Lend provision for Northern Ireland Water, in the September monitoring round.
5. Rapid Transit for Belfast.
Members noted receipt of the consultants’ report on the potential use of the Upper Newtownards Roads as an alternative to the former Belfast – Comber railway line as an EWAY rapid transit route. Members agreed to seek further research on this issue from Assembly Research and Library Services and to seek specialist advice on this topic.
Members decided that the Chairperson would speak on behalf of the Committee during the motion scheduled for debate in the Assembly on Monday 06 October 2008. Members requested that speaking points prepared by the Clerk and focusing on a factual account of the Committee’s work on this issue to date, be circulated to Members in advance of the debate.
Members agreed the outline terms of reference for the procurement of specialist advice on rapid transit for Belfast. Members resolved that the Clerk will, in consultation with the Assembly’s procurement office, draft more detailed terms of reference, a detailed specification, and the related procurement documents for consideration of the Committee at a meeting in November 2008.
6. Public Transport Reform.
Members agreed to publish the research papers on this topic on the internet and to make the briefing papers provided to the Committee available to all the stakeholders.
Members received additional briefing from the researcher on the subject of Public Transport Reform. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the researcher for her briefing.
Departmental officials Brian White, Doreen Brown and Sean Johnson joined the meeting at 11.38 a.m.
Members received briefing from Departmental officials on the subject of Public Transport Reform. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 11.59 a.m.
Members noted receipt of additional information on the subject of Public Transport Reform provided by Translink / NITHC. Members considered a draft interim response to the Minister on the subject of Public Transport Reform. Following discussion, Members decided to agree a revised response at the next meeting.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office this week.
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Donaghmore) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Lisnaskea) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference had been made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry, and that the Department confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposals had been informed. Members also noted that the committee office had not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposals.
Members decided they were content with the SL1s listed below which were noted at the meeting of 24 September 2008:
- The Waiting Restrictions (Portstewart) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Newry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.9) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Enniskillen) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule which is not subject to any Assembly procedure but is for Members’ information only:
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules, which are subject to negative resolution. Members also noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the relevant statutory period, which is 4 November 2008:
- The Kernan Grove and Centre Walk, Craigavon (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Dunhugh Park, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Trunk Road T21 ( Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted that additional information on the SR - Trunk Road T21 ( Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 will be provided in the papers for the meeting of 08 October 2008.
8. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter from the Speaker confirming the change in date for the Minister for Regional Development’s oral questions from 06 October 2008 to 13 October 2008.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail from ASDA acknowledging the Committee’s praise for its policy on disabled parking bays.
Members noted receipt of an IMTAC newsletter regarding rights which people with disability or mobility impairments have when taking flights within the European Union.
9. Any other business.
Following discussion, Members decided to request written briefing from the Department on the issue of traffic congestion at the Broadway underpass and Sandyknowes areas of Belfast.
Members noted the revised forward work programme up to the meeting of 12 November 2008 and decided that the revised forward work programme be published on the Committee’s web pages. Following discussion, Members decided to schedule a scrutiny and briefing session with Translink / NITHC for the meeting of 19 November 2008.
Members decided to register their disappointment that the Committee had not received advance notice of the recommendation in the Independent Review of Policy on the Location onf Public Sector Jobs (the Bain Report).
Members resolved to write to the Department seeking briefing on the policy and legislation covering the requirements on utilities to complete works to a high standard in public realm schemes.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting will begin at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21 on Wednesday 08 October 2008.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.16 p.m.