COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Willie Clarke, MLA.
John Dallat, MLA.
John McCallister, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA.
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Kevin Stewart (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.34 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from:
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA.
2. The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 24 February 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development regarding the Roads Service winter gritting policy and criteria, and Members agreed to write to the Minister thanking him for the information, and noting that Roads Service officials would report their findings back to the Committee.
Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 26 February 2009, from the Department for Regional Development regarding the Department’s approach to mitigating the risk of potential clawback of the 2000-2006 European funding.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department regarding additional information, requested at the meeting of 4 March 2009, on the review of the Regional Transportation Strategy discussion paper, and a presentation regarding the Regional Development Strategy.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 2 March 2009, from the Department regarding details of the forthcoming consultation on PC10 draft Environmental and Social Guidance.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 2 March 2009, from the Department regarding information days on the Draft River Basin Management Plans. In addition Members decided that the Assembly Research & Library Service would attend this event on behalf of the Committee.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 1 March 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development regarding the Rathlin Island draft policy, and Members agreed to write to the Minister noting receipt of his letter. In addition, Members decided to schedule briefing on this issue at a later date in the forward work programme.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 25 February 2009, from the Department regarding the proposed package of measures being developed jointly by the Department for Regional Development and Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to rural transport. Members agreed to write to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development to seek its views on the issues outlined in the Minister’s letter. In addition Members agreed to write to the Environment Committee seeking written briefing, in the first instance, on the policy for granting planning permission to private transport operators in rural areas.
Members noted that reports on sickness absence in the Department for Regional Development for industrial and non-industrial staff during the 2007/2008 financial year, and trend information for the six years from 2001/2002, had been received from the Department, and will be forwarded to the Research Service & Library Service for comparison and analysis. In addition, Members noted that copies of these reports are available on request from the Committee office.
Members agreed a response to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister’s consultation on the removal of the exemption for operators of transport services from Part III of the DDA 1995. In addition, Members agreed to forward the response to the Minister for Regional Development, and to the Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. Members decided to publish this response on the Committee’s web pages.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.55 a.m.
Members discussed a draft response to the Utility Regulators consultation on its Social Action Plan 2009-2014, and Members decided to return to the matter at the meeting to be held on 18 March 2009.
4. Draft Corporate Plan 2009-11 and Business Plan 2009-10.
Members noted receipt of the Department’s draft Corporate Plan 2009-11 and Business Plan 2009-10.
Departmental officials Pat Delaney and Lian Patterson joined the meeting at 11.10 a.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the DRD draft Corporate Plan 2009-11 and Business Plan 2009-10.
Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing, and Members agreed to write to the Department with additional questions arising from the briefing session.
Departmental officials Pat Delaney and Lian Patterson left the meeting at 10.35 a.m.
5. Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:
- The Road Races (Dungannon Bush) Order (NI) 2009; and
- The Road Races (Garron Tower Hill Climb) Order NI 2009
Members decided that they were content with the policy merits of the following SL1, which was noted at the meeting of 4 March 2009:
- The Loading Bay, Parking Places and Waiting Restriction on Roads (Porstewart) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 4 March 2009, regarding objections received from a taxi driver in relation to the Bus Loop Service Road (Off Lakeview Road), Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009. Members decided that they were content with this SL1, subject to the Department successfully resolving objections from a taxi driver and NIE, prior to making the statutory rule.
Members decided that the Committee Clerk would inform the Department of the decisions reached by the Committee.
6. Reclassification of Northern Ireland Water.
Members received briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services on the likely financial and governance implications of a decision to reclassify Northern Ireland Water from a public corporation to a non departmental public body. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the researcher for her briefing.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 6 March 2009, from the Department for Regional Development regarding briefing on the status of Northern Ireland Water. Following discussion, Members decided to request briefing from Departmental officials on this matter at a later date in the forward work programme, and to schedule a further briefing from the Assembly Research and Library Service in advance of that session.
7. Committee Inquiry into Managing Data Risks in Northern Ireland Water Limited: Consideration of written evidence.
Members decided to move to closed session at 11.55 p.m.
Members noted progress to date on the Committee’s inquiry, and discussed the written evidence received in relation to the Committee inquiry into Managing Data Risks in Northern Ireland Water. Members decided to extend the inquiry timetable to June 2009, and to request evidence from the following additional witnesses: Northern Ireland Water’s auditors, Crystal Alliance, and the independent reporters, Black and Veatch.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
Members decided to move to open session at 12.02 p.m.
8. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 9 March 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development to Fred Cobain, MLA, regarding a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued to a constituent of Councillor Thomas Buchanan, MLA. Members agreed to forward the correspondence to Cllr Thomas Buchanan, MLA.
Members noted receipt of a letter , dated 3 March 2009, from the Department for Regional Development enclosing a leaflet entitled ‘About Us’, which describes the work of the Department for Regional Development.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attend the launch of ‘Tapping into Consumer Views on Water: A Research Report by the Consumer Council Commissioned by Northern Ireland Water’, on Friday 27 March 2009, from 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., at the Canal Court Hotel, Newry. Members noted that the Regional Development Minister will launch the report and that they should contact the Committee office should they wish to attend this event.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attendaweb streaming link to the European Commission Water Conference in Brussels on 2-3 April 2009, at Greenmount College Manor House. Members decided that Assembly Research & Library Service would attend the event on behalf of the Committee.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to attendthe Gerry Rogan Initiative Trust’s ‘Corporate Responsibility’ conference, at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, on 26 March 2009. Members decided that they should contact the Committee office should they wish to attend this event.
9. Any other Business.
Members noted receipt of press releases, dated 11 March 2009, regarding the roads maintenance budget, and potential implications for Northern Ireland if it fails to comply with EU directives. Members decided to request a copy of the report entitled “Challenging the Priorties”, published by the Institution of Civil Engineers.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 18 March 2009.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.06 p.m.
Signed:
FRED COBAIN, MLA.
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development .
Dated: