COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 15 OCTOBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Jim Wells (Acting Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
John McCallister MLA
George Robinson MLA
Alastair Ross MLA
In Attendance: Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Willie Clarke MLA
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Raymond McCartney MLA
The meeting opened at 10.34 a.m. in open session with Jim Wells as acting Chairperson.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Fred Cobain, Raymond McCartney and Brian Wilson.
2. The Minutes of the meeting of 8 October 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2008 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of a response by the Department concerning Free Travel for People aged 60 to 64. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting briefing on how the Department is working to resolve the issues for older people and with disabilities. Members also agreed to seek briefing from the Department on a number of issues.
Members decided on a form of words to respond to the ETI committee concerning the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation consultation on sustainability. Members agreed that the Clerk will forward the Committee’s response to the ETI Committee.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 30 September 2008 from the A26 Frocesses Road Association.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.59 a.m.
Members noted receipt of a letter from Rose Energy Ltd enclosing a DVD regarding expert views on the proposed biomass power station near Glenavy, Co. Antrim.
4. PSA and Departmental Business Plan Targets: Update Briefing.
Departmental officials Pat Delaney and Nigel McCormick joined the meeting at 11.01 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from the Departmental officials. Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Members noted correspondence dated 23 September 2008 from the Department concerning its 1st Quarter Monitoring Report in respect of its Programme for Government goals / commitments and its Public Service Agreements targets.
Members requested further briefing from the Department concerning the PSA and Departmental Business Plan Targets.
Departmental officials Pat Delaney and Nigel McCormick left the meeting at 11.21 a.m.
5. Budget Strategic Stocktake 2008.
Members noted a memo from the Department of Finance and Personnel to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on 2 October 2008 and additional information concerning the Budget Strategic Stocktake 2008. Members noted that Departmental officials will brief the Committee at the meeting on 22 October 2008 on the Budget Strategic Stocktake 2008.
6. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office this week.
- The Loading Bays (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Ardnavalley Park, Comber (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The One-Way Traffic (Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Iveagh Street (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The Road Races (Rally Ireland) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference is made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry, and that the Department has confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposals have been informed. Members noted that the Committee office has not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposals.
Members also noted the following new SL1 received in the Committee office this week:
- The Henry Street, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;Members noted that an objection to this proposal has been submitted by Northern Ireland Electricity, and should this objection not be withdrawn, a public inquiry will be necessary.
Members decided they were content with the policy merits of the SL1s listed below which were noted at the meeting of 8 October 2008:
- The Waiting Restrictions (Magherafelt) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure but are for Members’ information only:
- The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules, which are subject to negative resolution. Members also noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules report published on 13 October 2008, and that no comment was made on the following Statutory Rules:
- SR 2008/393 The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- SR 2008/400 The Tullygrawley Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
- SR 2008/390 The Trunk Road T21 (Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
The Committee decided to consider the following Statutory Rules, subject to the content of the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following questions were put and agreed:
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/393 The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Jim Wells, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, John McCallister, George Robinson, Alastair Ross.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/400 The Tullygrawley Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Jim Wells, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, John McCallister, George Robinson, Alastair Ross.
All those against: none.
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/390 The Trunk Road T21 (Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Jim Wells, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, John McCallister, George Robinson, Alastair Ross.
All those against: none.
Members noted that the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, dated 13 October 2008, makes no comment on either of the following rules, which Members considered at the meeting of 8 October 2008:
- The Kernan Grove and Centre Walk, Craigavon (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Dunhugh Park, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008
Members agreed that the Clerk will notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee.
Members noted that the Minister for Regional Development has tabled a motion in relation to The Road Traffic (Traffic Wardens) (Revocation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008, and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 on 21 October 2008.
7. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of the September 2008 newsletter from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Association.
Members noted receipt of an e-bulletin dated October 2008 from the Sustainable Development Commission Northern Ireland.
Members noted receipt of an invitation from Advice NI to attend their Annual Meeting 2008, to be held on 14 November 2008.
8. Any other business.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail concerning a press release from the Northern Ireland Audit Office about the publication of a report entitled ‘Road Openings by Utilities: Follow up to Recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee.’ Members noted that Northern Ireland Water is scheduled to brief the Committee at the meeting of 22 October 2008 on another matter, and following discussion agreed to write to Northern Ireland Water to advise that executives appearing at the meeting of 22 October 2008 should be prepared to answer questions on the NIAO report, should they arise.
Members decided to move to closed session at 11.58 a.m.
Members agreed to write to Northern Ireland Water noting receipt of a response to a Committee query.
9. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting will begin at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21 on Wednesday 22 October 2008.
The Acting Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.05 p.m.
Signed: ……………………………………………
JIM WELLS, MLA
Acting Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.
Dated: ………………………………………….