COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Willie Clarke, MLA
John Dallat, MLA.
John McCallister, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA
Brian Wilson, MLA.
In Attendance:
Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Research Officer).
Apologies:
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.42 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
No apologies were received.
2. The minutes of the meetings of 20 and 22 October 2008.
The minutes of the meetings held on 20 and 22 October 2008 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising.
Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.44 a.m.
Nuala Dunwoody left the meeting at 10.44 a.m.
Nuala Dunwoody re-joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Members noted the draft input into the Assembly Commission Annual Report relating to the work of the Regional Development Committee during the 2007-08 session. Members reviewed the Committee’s draft input into the Assembly Commission Annual Report and, subject to changes, agreed to forward the response to the Central Committee Office.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.47 a.m.
Members noted receipt of a copy of the Minister for Finance and Personnel’s statement to the House on Monday 3 November 2008 on the outcome of September monitoring. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting that officials brief the Committee on the financial implications of the reclassification of Northern Ireland Water to central government. .
Members noted receipt of an e-mail from Danny Kennedy MLA on Northern Ireland Water’s planned rationalization. Members decided to write to Northern Ireland Water to request Northern Ireland Water executives meet with local MLAs to brief them on the change plans and discuss the impact of depot reorganisation. Members agreed to inform all relevant MLAs via the party Chief Whips of this decision.
Members noted receipt of a letter and supporting documents from the Department outlining the review of, and proposed increase in fares on, the Strangford Ferry Service. Following consideration, Members decided to the write to the Department seeking clarification on the differential between passenger and car fare increases.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department concerning policy and legislation covering the requirements on utilities to complete works to a high standard in public realm schemes.
Members noted receipt of a briefing paper from the Department on the issue of congestion at the Broadway underpass and Sandyknowes areas. Following discussion Members resolved to write to the Department requesting additional information on the Sandyknowes works, and on the growth in vehicle numbers on the M1 / Broadway underpass. Members decided to monitor any growth in traffic figures on the M1 / Broadway underpass.
Members noted receipt of a letter from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, regarding the recent announcement of the abolition of charges for residents’ parking permits and an invitation to meet the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to discuss the issue. Members decided that there no was need for the meeting to occur.
Members noted receipt of a letter from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, acknowledging the Committee’s interim response on the issue of Public Transport Reform.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department regarding the Rathlin Island Ferry. Members decided to return to this issue upon conclusion of the investigation into the Rathlin Island
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 5 November 2008 from the office of the First and Deputy First Minister in response to Committee comments regarding the deferral of domestic water and sewerage charges for the incoming financial year 2009 – 2010.
Members approved the Committee forward work plan until December 2008.
4. Flood Management: follow up to the meeting on 19 August 2008.
The Committee received briefing from the research service. Following a question and answer session with the researcher, Members requested additional research work and thanked the researcher for her briefing.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 11.33 a.m.
Geoff Nuttall of World Wildlife Fund joined the meeting at 11.35 a.m.
Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 11.39 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from Geoff Nuttall of the World Wildlife Fund. Following a question and answer session with Geoff Nuttall, Members thanked him for his briefing.
Brian Wilson left the meeting at 11.56 a.m.
Geoff Nuttall left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
Members decided to write to the Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to request an up to date briefing on the arrangements in place for flooding response. Members also decided that following receipt of briefing from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, they would invite representatives of the Local Government Emergency Management Group to brief the Committee.
In line with the provisions in Standing Order 64, Members agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would meet with the Chairpersons of the relevant Assembly committees to ascertain cross- committee interest in this issue. Members also requested briefing on the procedure for establishing an ad-hoc committee as soon as possible.
5. Construction Industry Group Briefing.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.05 p.m.
Construction Industry Group representatives, George Coulter, Gordon Best and Ciaran Fox joined the meeting at 12.06 p.m.
Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 12.15 p.m.
Nuala Dunwoody left the meeting at 12.25 p.m.
Brian Wilson re-joined the meeting at 12.33 p.m.
The Committee received briefing from Construction Industry Group representatives. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Construction Industry Group representatives for their briefing.
Construction Industry representatives, George Coulter, Gordon Best and Ciaran Fox left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Members noted receipt of a memo from the Committee for Employment and Learning, outlining the briefing received by that committee from the Construction Industry Group, and requesting that a letter from the Chairperson of the Employment and Learning Committee be forwarded to the Minister for Regional Development. Members agreed forward this letter, and to write to the Minister for Regional Development on the important issues raised by the Construction Industry Group, requesting that any response to the Employment and Learning Committee be forwarded via the Committee for Regional Development.
Members decided to move to closed session at 12.36 p.m.
6. Northern Ireland Water: billing and revenue issues.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.42 p.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.43 p.m.
Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 12.47 p.m.
John McCallister re-joined the meeting at 12.50 p.m.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
Members agreed in principle to conduct a short inquiry into the most recent Northern Ireland Water billing and revenue issues. Members considered a number of documents including recent correspondence from Northern Ireland Water. Following this, Members decided to defer consideration of terms of reference for this inquiry until the meeting of 19 November 2008.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office on the 23 October 2008.
- The Parking Places on Roads (Fivemiletown) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and The Waiting Restrictions (Fivemiletown) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Tullynacross Road, Lisburn (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The One-Way Traffic (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 .
Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference was made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry nor does the Department indicate that it anticipates a public inquiry will be required, 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 had not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposals.
Members decided they were content with the policy merits of the SL1s listed below which were noted at the meeting of 22 October 2008:
- The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
- The Gilpinstown Road, (U1401), Lurgan (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Members agreed , with regard to The Gilpinstown Road, (U1401), Lurgan (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, to write to the Department to urge officials to work with Northern Ireland Electricity to resolve this objection prior to making a statutory rule
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules, which are subject to negative resolution and, that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the relevant statutory period on 2 December 2008.
- The Donegall Quay, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Ballybollen Road (C53), Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted that objections from Northern Ireland Electricity to the following SL1s have now been resolved;
- The Drumcroon Road and Crevolea Road, Aghadowey (Abandonment) Order 2008, and
- The Dromore Avenue and Highlands Road, Limavady (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
8. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 10 November 2008 from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, accepting the offer from the Chairperson to meet the Minister concerning the billing and forecasting issues in Northern Ireland Water. Members decided that the Chairperson will meet with the Minister to discuss this matter.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 3 November 2008 announcing publication of the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Annual Report for Northern Ireland 200708.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 22 October 2008 requesting a meeting between the Chairperson of the Regional Development Committee and the Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. Members decided that the Chairperson will meet with the Chairperson of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 22 October 2008 from the Department for Regional Development’s Permanent Secretary regarding lunch between Members and Department senior officials.
Members noted receipt of an e-newsletter dated September/October 2008 from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland regarding racism in the workplace.
Members noted receipt of a news article entitled ‘ Narrow Water Bridge dream moves closer.’ Member decided to write to the Department to request an update on developments in relation to the proposals at Narrow Water.
Members noted receipt of the following press releases:
- Release from DRD dated 7 November 2008, entitled “Preferred corridors for A5 and A8 dualling projects announced”.
- Release from DRD dated 6 November 2008, entitled “Roads service ready for winter”.
- Release from DRD dated 3 November 2008, entitled “Progress on £4.1 million investment in Ards area”.
- Release from DRD dated 23 October 2008, entitled “Progress on £2.2 million investment in Castlereagh”.
Members noted receipt of a letter from the Minister for Regional Development informing the Committee that the position of Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water would be advertised in the coming week.
9. Any other business.
No other business was presented.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
Wednesday 19 November 2008, 10.30 a.m., Room 21 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.09 p.m.