COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 10 December 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:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.38 a.m. in closed session .
1. Apologies.
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
Members noted that lunch would be served following the Committee meeting.
3. Rathlin Island Ferry Contract Investigation: pre-publication briefing.
DRD Permanent Secretary Paul Priestly, the Comptroller and Auditor General John Dowdall, the Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Louise Mason and Departmental official Stewart Matthews joined the meeting at 10.43 a.m.
Members received briefing from the DRD Permanent Secretary Paul Priestly, the Comptroller and Auditor General John Dowdall, the Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Louise Mason and Departmental official Stewart Matthews.
Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the DRD Permanent Secretary Paul Priestly, the Comptroller and Auditor General John Dowdall, the Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Louise Mason and Departmental official Stewart Matthews for their briefing.
DRD Permanent Secretary Paul Priestly, the Comptroller and Auditor General John Dowdall, the Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Louise Mason and Departmental official Stewart Matthews left the meeting at 11.19 a.m.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.25 a.m.
Members formed a view onthe Department for Regional Development’s Rathlin Island Ferry contract investigation, and agreed a Committee press release for issue on this topic.
Members agreed to return to this issue early in 2009 following consideration of the Investigation Report and its findings in greater detail.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 11.30 a.m.
Members decided to move the meeting to open session at 11.31 a.m.
4. The minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2008 were agreed.
5. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department for Regional Development on the subject of the A5 and A8 preferred routes.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department for Regional Development concerning the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence dated 3 December 2008 from the Department concerning the Strangford Lough Ferry Review. Members decided to request briefing from the Department for Regional Development on this issue.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 24 November 2008 concerning the Chancellor’s decision on the Aviation Duty consultation.
Members noted receipt of a memo from the Clerk dated 5 December 2008 concerning arrangements for Plenary on 15 December 2008, revised recess dates and the date of the first Committee meeting of 2009. Members decided to hold the first Committee meeting of 2009 on Wednesday 14 January 2009 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21.
Stella McArdle, Clerk, joined the meeting at 11.49 a.m.
Roisin Kelly, Clerk to the Committee for Regional Development, left the meeting at 11.49 a.m.
Departmental officials Jim Beattie and Roddy Crilly joined the meeting at 11.50 a.m.
Brian Wilson left the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
Roisin Kelly, Clerk to the Committee for Regional Development, re-joined the meeting at 12.02 p.m.
Stella McArdle left the meeting at 12.02 p.m.
Brian Wilson re-joined the meeting at 12.31 p.m.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 12.36 p.m.
Raymond McCartney re-joined the meeting at 12.39 p.m.
Departmental officials Jim Beattie and Roddy Crilly briefed the Committee on the Department for Regional Development’s winter schedule for gritting rural roads. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials Jim Beattie and Roddy Crilly left the meeting at 12.45 p.m.
Members decided to write to the Minister requesting that he consider reviewing the policy, the criteria for road gritting, and the application of the criteria for winter gritting in rural areas.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.47 p.m.
Members agreed to a request from the Department for Regional to provide the Committee with an update on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy public consultation events, and a briefing on any legislation which may be required in the context of the planning system and the Review of Public Administration. This will be scheduled for early in 2009.
6. Internal Audit Report relating to the DRD control of Translink: update
Members noted receipt of written briefing from the Department on this issue and agreed to return to consider this issue in more detail early in 2009.
7. Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:
- The Penalty Charges (Prescribed Devices) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Enniskillen) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Loading Bays (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The One-Way Traffic (Forkhill) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Prohibition of Traffic ( Chichester Street, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2009 ;
- The One-Way Traffic (Armagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Extinguishment of Right To Use Vehicles on Roads (Armagh) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- Traffic Sign (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that they were content with the policy merits of the following SL1 which was noted at the meeting of 3 December 2008:
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (Galgorm to Gracehill, Ballymena).
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:
- The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 8) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Waiting Restrictions (Comber) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee decided to consider the following statutory rules.
Members noted that the Sixth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees,2008/09 session, makes no reference to this statutory rule. In the absence of any objections, the following question was put and agreed:
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Temple Road (U1118), Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
The Committee decided to consider the following statutory rules subject to the content of the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ report, which is due to be published on 12 December 2008. In the absence of any objections, and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ report, the following questions were put and agreed:
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Dromore Avenue and Highlands Roads, Limavady (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Drumcroon Road and Crevolea Road, Aghadowey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Old Tullygarley Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Old Belfast Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, , John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross.
All those against: Jim Wells, Brian Wilson.
Abstention: John Dallat.
Members decided that the Clerk will notify the Business Office of the decision reached by the Committee.
8. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 7 December 2008 from a member of the public regarding ferry services and tourism in Northern Ireland. Members decided to forward this e-mail to the Department for Regional Development and to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for comment.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 5 December 2008 from members of the public regarding the use of the Comber Greenway for a section of the proposed rapid transit system EWAY route. Members decided to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for comment.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 4 December 2008 from Mr. Denis Hegarty, Chairman of the Dungiven Bypass Committee, regarding the Bypass Committee’s desire to see the de-coupling of the Dungiven bypass scheme from the overall A6 Derry/Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway scheme. Members decided to forward the correspondence to the Minister for Regional Development for comment.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 28 November 2008 from Norman Irwin of the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding Directive 2007/2/EC. Members decided to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking its views on the proposals and requesting briefing on any financial or other resource implications arising from these proposals.
Members noted receipt of a memo dated 2 December 2008 from Alex McGarel, Clerk to the Committee for the Environment attaching briefing on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. Members decided to forward this correspondence to the Department.
Members noted receipt of a memo dated 5 December 2008 from Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel, outlining the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s efforts to meet local banks in order to discuss the current economic downturn.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend a Christmas party with BT on 16 December 2008.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend the Utility Regulators Annual Stakeholder Reception on 11 December 2008.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend a seminar hosted by the Utility Regulator entitled How can regulators help deliver sustainability?, on Friday 16 January 2009.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend a conference hosted by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development entitled Achieving Balanced Regional Development: Dynamic Systems, Spatial Strategies and Collaboration on 22-23 January 2009. Mr John Dallat expressed his interest in attending. The Committee decided to return to consider this event at an early meeting in January 2009.
9. Any other business.
No other business was presented.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 14 January 2009, in Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.05 p.m.