COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL 2009
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.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
George Robinson , MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.34 a.m. in open session.
Allan Bresland joined the meeting at 10.36 a.m.
Members noted receipt of the revised agenda for the meeting and decided to proceed on that basis.1. Apologies
Apologies were received from:
George Robinson , MLA.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members decided that the meeting should be recorded by Hansard.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland’s combined energy and water draft forward work programme, dated 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, and decided to return to consider this issue in more detail at a future meeting.
Members noted receipt of correspondence from the Department confirming that officials will brief the Committee on the draft collaborative spatial planning frameworks at the meeting to be held on 6 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 20 April 2009, from the Department regarding the recognition and acceptability of disabled badges for vehicle users from outside of Northern Ireland.
Members noted receipt of a paper from Assembly Research and Library Services regarding the European Water Conference attended by Assembly researchers via video link.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 10 April 2009, from the Department regarding the consultation on the draft Northern Ireland Environmental Noise Directive Action Plan and Competent Authority Noise Action Plan Guidance. Members decided to consider this paper in more detail at the meeting of13 May 2009, in conjunction with briefing on aviation strategy in Northern Ireland.
Members decided to postpone the planned Committee visit to Scotland until autumn 2009. Members decided to accept an invitation to visit the Belfast Sewer Project and a new waste water treatment plant on 10 June 2009.
Members decided to organise a pre-brief and dinner with the Committee’s specialist advisor on the managing data risk in Northern Ireland Water inquiry for 5 May 2009, in advance of the Committee meeting on this issue to be held on 6 May 2009.
5. Consideration of PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
Consumer Council executives Kathy Graham and Graham Smith joined the meeting at 10.48 a.m.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m.
Members received briefing from Consumer Council executives on consumers’ views on water.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 11.15 a.m.
Jim Wells re-joined the meeting at 11.20 a.m.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Consumer Council executives for their briefing.
Consumer Council executives Kathy Graham and Graham Smith left the meeting at 11.26 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Consumer Council.
6. Translink fare increases: briefing from DRD and Translink
Departmental officials Doreen Brown and Ciaran Doran and Translink executives Catherine Mason and Ciaran Rogan joined the meeting at 11.27 a.m.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 11.27 a.m.
Cathal Boylan re-joined the meeting at 11.30 a.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials and Translink executives on Translink fare increases.
Following a questions and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials and Translink executives for their briefing.
Departmental officials Doreen Brown and Ciaran Doran and Translink executives Catherine Mason and Ciaran Rogan left the meeting at 12.08 a.m.
Members noted the briefings provided by the Departmental officials and Translink executives.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 12.10 p.m.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 12.19 p.m with Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson), Allan Bresland, MLA, Willie Clarke, MLA, John Dallat, MLA, Raymond McCartney, MLA, Alastair Ross, MLA, Jim Wells, MLA and Brian Wilson, MLA, present.
Members decided to write to the Department and Translink, expressing the Committee’s disappointment at not receiving advance notification of the fare increases or the problems arising from the proposed increases, and stressing its wish to be kept informed of significant developments as they progressed, in good time and in advance of media announcements.
7. Consideration of PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance
Departmental officials Stuart Wightman and John Mills joined the meeting at 12.19 p.m.
Cathal Boylan re-joined the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the investment priorities in the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials Stuart Wightman and John Mills left the meeting at 12.33 p.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Northern Ireland Water executives George Butler, Paddy Brow, Trevor Haslett and Ronan Larkin joined the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Members received briefing from Northern Ireland Water executives on the investment priorities in the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.45 p.m.
John Dallat left the meeting at 12.54 p.m.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Northern Ireland Water executives for their briefing.
Northern Ireland Water executives George Butler, Paddy Brow, Trevor Haslett and Ronan Larkin left the meeting at 1.04 p.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by Northern Ireland Water.
Utility Regulator executives Jo Aston and John Mills joined the meeting at 1.05 p.m.
Members received briefing from the NIAUR executives on the investment priorities in the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Utility Regulator executives for their briefing.
Utility Regulator executives Jo Aston and John Mills left the meeting at 1.28 p.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Utility Regulator.
8. Subordinate Legislation .
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1:
- The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Race) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 .
Members decided they were content, subject to the resolution of NIE’s objection, with the following SL1 which they noted at the meeting of 22 April 2009:
- The Derriaghy Road, Lisburn (Abandonment) 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:
- 2009/162 The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/164 The Prohibition of Traffic ( Chichester Street, Belfast) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/116 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Armagh) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/165 The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/163 The One-Way Traffic (Armagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/118 The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/126 The Road Races ( North West 200) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/119 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- 2009/53 The Road Races (Benbradagh Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule which is subject to negative resolution.
- 2009/160 The Moira Road, Glenavy (Stopping-up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members also noted that the Examiner of the Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the statutory period, which is 26 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of additional information regarding the following SL1:
- The Larchwood Avenue, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Following discussions, Members decided to request further briefing from the Department on this SL1.
9. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 23 April 2009, from a member of the public, Mrs Anderson, regarding the Comber Greenway. Members decided to forward the letter to the Department and to write to Mrs Anderson informing her of the Committee’s action on her letter.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 16 April 2009, from members of the public, Mr and Mrs Reid, regarding the Comber Greenway. Members decided to forward the letter to the Department and to write to Mr and Mrs Reid informing them of the Committee’s work on this topic to date.
Members decided to defer, to the meeting of 6 May 2009, Committee consideration of the correspondence, dated 23 April 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development regarding a proposal for a harbour order to modernise the byelaw procedures for Coleraine Harbour.
Members noted receipt of an email, dated 24 April 2009, from Michael Lorimer, Executive Secretary of Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee regarding the 2009 Baywatch Parking Survey.
Members noted receipt of an email, dated 24 April 2009, regarding the PSNI response to the public consultation on the proposed Roads (Miscellaneous Provision) bill. Members decided to write to the Department noting receipt of this late received consultation response.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 27 April 2009, from Northern Ireland Water, entitled ‘Changes and Annual Increases to Non Domestic Water and Sewerage Charges.’ Members decided to place a copy of this information in the Assembly library and to write to party whips asking them to inform their MLAs that this information is available in the library.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to the Northern Ireland Water Forum 2009 on 20 May 2009. Members noted that, as previously agreed, the Chairperson would speak at this event.
Members noted receipt of an invitation from the University of Ulster to the inaugural Belfast Special Lecture, delivered by Sir Hugh Orde and Professor Desmond Rea, entitled ‘Patten: Ten Years on..’, on Thursday 28 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of the Equality Focus newsletter, dated March 2009.
Members noted receipt of the Sustainable Development Commission NI E-bulletin, dated March 2009.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to the Energy Ireland 2009 conference on 10 to 11 June 2009, in Dublin.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a conference entitled ‘Tackling Alcohol related anti-social behaviour, on 23 April 2009, in London.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a seminar entitled ‘Effectively addressing health of offenders and those accused of offending’, on 18 May 2009, in London.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a conference entitled ‘Third sector commissioning’ in London.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a seminar entitled ‘How best we can deliver most effective world class apprenticeships’ on 22 May 2009, in London.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
Members decided that the next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings. The Chairperson reminded Members of the pre-brief meeting with the Committee’s specialist adviser, in Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 7pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.35 p.m.