Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
John Dallat, MLA.
John McCallister, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA.

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).

Apologies:
Willie Clarke, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA (Deputy Chairperson).

Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.40 a.m. in open session.

  1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from:
Willie Clarke, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA (Deputy Chairperson).

Members decided to send a letter of condolence to Jim Wells, MLA on his recent family bereavement.

  1. Chairperson’s Business.

George Robinson joined the meeting at 10.41 a.m.

  1. The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2008 were agreed.

  1. Matters Arising.

Members noted a Safer Journeys to School Report from the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, and that the Consumer Council will forward further research to the Committee.

Members considered an invitation to the Chairperson to meet with the Chief Executive of the Consumer Council to discuss Translink’s pricing and fuel purchasing policy. Members agreed that the Chairperson should attend this meeting.

Members decided to respond to the consultation on the removal of the exemption for operators of transport services from Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, run by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. Members decided to request research on this issue from Assembly Research and Library Services.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 18 December 2008, from the Department concerning the EWAY, in response to a request for information from members of the public. Members agreed to forward this letter to the members of the public, asking them to engage with the Department as the scheme progresses to detailed design stage.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 December 2008, from the Minister for Regional Development advising the Committee that the Department for Regional Development and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development have been working together and have identified a package of measures to increase rural transport provision and access to services. Members decided to write to the Department requesting more detailed background briefing on this issue, including the business case, finance and the work completed to date.

Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m.

Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department, dated 17 December 2008, concerning the Strangford Lough Ferry Service. Members agreed to receive background briefing on the Strangford Lough Ferry. There was also discussion on the funding for the Lough Foyle Ferry Service, and Members decided to seek briefing from the Department on this issue at the same time.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 8 December 2008, from the Minister for Regional Development, noting the Committee’s inquiry into the management of data risks in Northern Ireland Water.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 18 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Draft River Basin Management Plans. Members also noted that the Committee will return to this issue as the public consultation progresses. Members decided to request information from the Committee for the Environment, the lead Committee on this issue, on their proposals for handling this matter.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 18 December 2008, from the Department concerning its actions to reduce energy costs and its use of alternative energy sources for street lighting. Members decided to commission research on examples of street lighting in other jurisdictions.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 17 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Internal Audit Review of DRD Sponsor Control of NITHC/Translink.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 December 2008, from the Department concerning the status of Northern Ireland Water. Members decided to request briefing from the Department on the status of Northern Ireland Water and to request research on this issue from Assembly Research and Library Services.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 16 December 2008, relating to the Water and Sewerage charges – Equality Impact Assessment from the Department.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 12 December 2008, from the Department concerning traffic congestion on the M1/Westlink and M2 Motorways. Members decided to request briefing from the Department on this issue in March 2009.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 12 December 2008, from the Department concerning Access to Restricted Zones in Coleraine town centre.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 12 December 2008, from the Department concerning Translink’s fuel purchasing policy and recent fare increase. Members decided to request briefing from Translink and the Department concerning this issue during the 2009 session. Members also decided to request research on practices in other companies/jurisdictions.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 12 December 2008, concerning the Environmental Noise Directive – Draft Action Plan.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 9 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Proposed Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) and that the Committee will receive briefing on this issue in March 2009.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 9 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Roads Miscellaneous Provisions Bill – Consultation on Policy Proposals and that the Committee will receive briefing on this issue in April 2009.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 10 December 2008, concerning the Narrow Water Bridge project. Members decided to request that the Department provides the Committee with updates on the progress on developments relating to the proposals at Narrow Water.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 10 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Departmental business planning process 2009-10. Members decided to confirm briefing from the Department for the Committee meeting of 25 February 2009.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 9 December 2008, from the Department concerning the Ministerial Guidance for PC10. Members decided to request briefing on this issue early in the 2009 session. Members also decided, in advance of this briefing, to request further information from the Department on this matter.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 5 December 2008, from the Department concerning public transport and PSA, 13 indicator 7. Members decided to request research on this issue from Assembly Research and Library Services.

Members noted correspondence, dated 5 December 2008, from John Simmons, Clerk to the Committee for Education, concerning School Transport provision for those children with disabilities.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 23 December 2008, from the Department concerning the impact of the economic downturn on employment in the construction industry.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 16 December 2008, from the Department in response to the Committee on Procedures’ request for information as part of its inquiry into Assembly Questions.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 5 January 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development concerning the Dungiven Bypass. Members decided to forward this correspondence to Mr Hegarty of the Dungiven Bypass Committee for information.

  1. Review of the Regional Development Strategy: progress update.

Mike Thompson, Director of Regional Planning and Transportation Division, and Ian Raphael, Deputy Director of Regional Planning and Transportation Division, joined the meeting at 11.28 a.m.

Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy.

Roisin Kelly, Committee Clerk, left the meeting at 11.47 a.m.
Aiobhinn Treanor, Committee Clerk, joined the meeting at 11.47 a.m.

John Dallat left the meeting at 11.55 a.m.

Roisin Kelly, Committee Clerk, re-joined the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
Aiobhinn Treanor, Committee Clerk, left the meeting at 11.55 a.m.

John Dallat re-joined the meeting at 12.01 p.m .

Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.

Mike Thompson, Director of Regional Planning and Transportation Division, and Ian Raphael, Deputy Director of Regional Planning and Transportation Division, left the meeting at 12.15 p.m.

Brian Wilson left the meeting at 12.15 p.m.

Members noted the briefing from the Department officials on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy. Members decided that the Committee would liaise with the Department to schedule briefings and updates as the Review moves into this next, important, pre-consultation, phase. Members also decided to request further information concerning the work of consultants, as well as road improvements in Scotland.

John McCallister left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.

  1. Progress on Departmental Objectives: PSA targets, Efficiency Delivery Plan targets and Business Plan target updates.

Nigel McCormick, Director of Finance, and Pat Delaney, Head of Strategic Planning, joined the meeting at 12.17 p.m.

Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 12.18 p.m.
Alastair Ross left the meeting at 12.20 p.m.

Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on progress on Departmental Objectives and its PSA targets, Efficiency Delivery Plan targets and Business Plan target updates.

Alastair Ross re-joined the meeting at 12.24 p.m.
Cathal Boylan re-joined the meeting at 12.24 p.m.
John McCallister re-joined the meeting at 12.25 p.m.

Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.

Nigel McCormick, Director of Finance, and Pat Delaney, Head of Strategic Planning, left the meeting at 12.29 p.m.

Members noted the briefing from Departmental officials on the progress on Departmental Objectives and its PSA targets, Efficiency Delivery Plan targets and Business Plan target updates.Members decidedto request further information from the Department concerning hybrid bus orders.

  1. Subordinate Legislation.

Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:

Members noted that they were content with the policy merits of the following SL1s which were noted at the meeting of 10 December 2008:

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:

At the meeting of 10 December 2008, Members considered the following statutory rules, subject to the content of the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ report, and indicated that they were content that the rules were made:

Members noted that the Examiner’s report has now been published, and that he makes no comment on any of these rules .

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 23 December 2008, from the Private Office concerning receipt of the Committee’s request to review the Roads Service policy on road gritting.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 December 2008, from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister noting receipt of the Committee’s letter regarding flood management.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 6 January 2009, from Jill McDonald of Sustrans requesting an opportunity to brief the Committee on the Active School Travel work carried out by Sustrans. Members agreed to invite Sustrans to brief the Committee on this issue on a later date in the forward work programme.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 16 December 2008, from Colum Delaney of the RSPB requesting the opportunity to brief the Committee on its views on the Regional Development Strategy. Members agreed to invite the RSPB to brief the Committee at a later date in the forward work programme.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 16 December 2008, from John Caldwell attaching a letter forwarded to the Regional Development Minister regarding the condition of a road in Donaghadee. Members decided to write to the Department requesting a copy of the Minister’s response to Mr Caldwell’s letter.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 5 December 2008, from the Finaghy Road Safety Group thanking the Committee for its support in the group’s three year road safety campaign to have two pedestrian islands installed. Members decided to offer their congratulations to the group.

Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 December 2008, from Mr and Mrs Cosgrove, enclosing a copy of a letter to Translink’s Central Area Manager, regarding passenger transport statistics. Members decided to write to Translink requesting a copy of Translink’s response to Mr and Mrs Cosgrove.

Members noted receipt of a memo, dated 23 December 2008, from Peter Hall, Clerk to the Employment and Learning Committee regarding the work and programmes of the Employment Services Board, and requesting that a copy of the presentation made to the Employment and Learning Committee be forwarded to the Minister for Regional Development for response. Members agreed to forward the information to the Minister for Regional Development.

Members noted receipt of correspondence and a press release, dated 7 January 2009, from Chris Mellor of Northern Ireland Water, regarding the termination of the contractual relationship with Steria, and an offer to brief the Committee on this issue. Members decided to request briefing from Northern Ireland Water on this issue, at the meeting of 21 January 2009.

Members noted receipt of an invitation to the Irish Renewable Energy Summit, to be held in Dundalk on Wednesday 21 January 2009.

Members noted receipt of an invitation for the Annual All Island Infrastructure Investment Conference 2009, to be held in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, on 11 – 12 March 2009.

Members agreed that , if they wish to attend either of these conferences, they would contact the Committee Office.

The Chairperson suspended the meeting for lunch at 12.41 p.m.

The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 1.38 p.m with Fred Cobain (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross and Brian Wilson present.

Members decided to consider the written evidence submitted in relation to the Committee inquiry, in closed session.

  1. Committee Inquiry: Managing Data Risks in Northern Ireland Water. Consideration of written evidence received.

Members decided to return to open session at 1.57 p.m.

  1. Committee Inquiry: Managing Data Risks in Northern Ireland Water. Oral Evidence from Northern Ireland Water Limited.

Northern Ireland Water executives Chris Mellor, Ronan Larkin and William Duddy joined the meeting at 1.57 p.m .

Members received briefing from the Northern Ireland Water executives.

Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Northern Ireland Water executives for their briefing

Northern Ireland Water executives Chris Mellor, Ronan Larkin and William Duddy left the meeting at 2.58 p.m.

George Robinson left the meeting at 2.58 p.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 2.58 p.m.

  1. Committee Inquiry: Managing Data Risks in Northern Ireland Water. Oral Evidence from the Utility Regulator.

Utility Regulator executives Iain Osborne and Jo Aston joined the meeting at 2.59 p.m .

Members received briefing from the Utility Regulator executives.

Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Utility Regulator executives for their briefing.

Utility Regulator executives Iain Osborne and Jo Aston left the meeting at 3.38 p.m.

  1. Any other business.

Members noted that, due to a family bereavement, Jim Wells would be unable to attend the Climate Change conference in London on 19 January 2009.

Members noted that Assembly Research and Library Services are planning to hold a stakeholder engagement event in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings as part of the scoping work for the Committee inquiry into Transport and Sustainability. Members agreed to complete a cross party support booking form to enable this event to take place.

Members agreed the forward work programme for the next four weeks and decided to publish this information on the Committee’s web pages.

  1. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

The next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 21 January 2009, in Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30 a.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.40 p.m.

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

10 December 08 / Menu