COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 6 MAY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Willie Clarke, 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).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
John Dallat, MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.35 a.m. in open session.
Members noted receipt of the revised agenda for the meeting and decided to proceed on that basis.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from:
John Dallat, MLA.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 10.37 a.m.
George Robinson joined the meeting at 10.37 a.m.
Members decided that the Committee will travel by minibus to the meeting to be held on 6 May 2009, in George Best Belfast City Airport.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 30 April 2009, from the Department confirming that it will provide written and oral briefing to the Committee regarding the consultation on the Accessible Transport Strategy Action Plan.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 29 April 2009, from the Department to the Clerk of the Environment Committee regarding proposals for the extension of designated shellfish waters areas in Northern Ireland.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.41 a.m.
Members noted receipt of the Department’s quarterly equality progress report and associated annexes for the period ended 31 March 2009.
Members decided to defer consideration of the proposal for a harbour order to modernise the byelaw confirmation and making procedures for Coleraine Harbour until the meeting of 13 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 30 April 2009, from the Department concerning the internal audit review of public transport performance division sponsor control of NITHC/Translink. Members decided to request that the Department keeps the Committee informed of the progress on the three outstanding recommendations relating to the internal audit review of public transport performance division sponsor control of NITHC/Translink.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 28 April 2009, from the Department regarding the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Members noted receipt of a Newsletter article, dated 1 May 2009, entitled ‘Minister to reveal preferred route for bypass’, and correspondence, dated 6 May 20009, from the Department attaching a press release regarding an announcement by the Regional Development Minister on 6 May 2009, on the preferred route for the proposed Derry/Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway including a dual carriageway bypass of Dungiven.
Members decided to move to closed session at 10.45 a.m.
5. Departmental update on the proposed Translink fare increases.
Departmental official Ciaran Doran joined the meeting at 10.46 a.m.
Members received briefing the Departmental official on Translink fare increases.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental official for his briefing.
Departmental official Ciaran Doran left the meeting at 11.05 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Members decided to request, from the Department, copies of relevant correspondence between the Consumer Council and Translink on the issue of Translink fare increases.
6. Committee response on the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
Members decided to clear the draft Committee response to the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance paragraph by paragraph.
Members decided that the changes identified by Members should be made by the Committee Clerk, and the Chairperson should sign the response and send it to the Department . Members also decided to publish the response on the Committee’s web pages.
Members decided to return to open session at 11.22 a.m.
7. Review of the Regional Development Strategy: Departmental update.
Departmental officials Mike Thompson and Ian Raphael joined the meeting at 11.22 a.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the review of the Regional Development Strategy.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials Mike Thompson and Ian Raphael left the meeting at 11.50 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Members decided to move to closed session at 11.52 a.m.
8. Managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water inquiry: briefing by specialist adviser on examples on industry norms and good practice.
The Committee’s specialist adviser, Tony Lawson, joined the meeting at 11.54 a.m.
Members received briefing from the specialist adviser in relation to the managing data risks in Northern Ireland Water inquiry.
Jim Wells joined the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
Fred Cobain left the meeting at 12.00 p.m. and the deputy Chairperson, Jim Wells, MLA, assumed the chair.
George Robinson left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.14 p.m.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the specialist adviser for his briefing.
Committee specialist adviser, Tony Lawson, left the meeting at 12.17 p.m.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 12.21pm
Members noted the briefing provided by the specialist adviser.
9. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 1 May 2009, from the Department regarding the Larchwood Avenue, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 28 April 2009, from the Minister for Regional Development regarding his intention to report to the Assembly on 11 May 2009 on the sixth North/South Ministerial Council in the Transport Sector.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 29 April 2009, from the Northern Ireland Freshwater Taskforce. Members decided , in the first instance, to submit a series of questions to the Department for written answser.
Members noted receipt of three emails regarding the Rathlin Island Ferry.
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 12.25 p.m.
Fred Cobain rejoined the meeting at 12.26 p.m.
The Chairperson and Members decided that they were content that the deputy Chairperson should remain in the chair for the remainder of the meeting.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 6 March 2009, from the office of Sir Reg Empey, forwarding a letter from Bob Pue, Chief Executive of the Great Northern Ireland Railway (Ireland). Following consideration of the correspondence, Members decided to write to Mr Pue outlining the Committee’s work on this topic, and informing him of the Committee’s planned inquiry into sustainable transport.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to the opening of the recently installed foot and cycle bridge in Swatragh Park, on 15 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of the Equality Focus newsletter, dated April 2009.
Members noted receipt of the Environmental Link – Policy Priorities for Northern Ireland Environment 2009 newsletter.
John McCallister left the meeting at 12.39 a.m.
10. Subordinate legislation
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:
- The Road Races (Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions ( Belfast) (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Taxis (Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine) (Amendment) Bye-Laws (Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The Proposed Redpoll Avenue Bus Turning Circle, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members decided they were content with the following SL1 which they noted at the meeting of 29 April 2009:
- The Road Races (Armoy Motorcyle Race) 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:
- 2009/175 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/171 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- 2009/170 The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 29 April 2009, from the Department regarding the Henry Street (Stopping Up) Order 2008. Members noted that, following the withdrawl by NIE of its objection to the Henry Street (Stopping Up) Order 2008, Roads Service indicates that it will proceed with the making of this order.
11. Any Other Business
Members decided to include some additional comments in the Committee’s response to the draft PC10 Ministerial environmental and social guidance.
12. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
Members decided that the next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 10.30 a.m. in George Best Belfast City Airport.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.42 p.m.