COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 2009
GEORGE BEST BELFAST CITY AIRPORT
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).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.52 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members decided that they were content for the media to film during the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked George Best Belfast City Airport executives for facilitating the meeting.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 7 May 2009, from the Department attaching a press release regarding the opening of the third lane of the M2 Motorway between Sandyknowes and Greencastle junctions on Saturday 9 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 23 April 2009, from the Department regarding a proposal for a harbour order to modernise the byelaw confirmation and making procedures for Coleraine Harbour. Members decided to request oral briefing from the Department on this matter.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 10 April 2009, from the Environment Committee highlighting the types of road service operator licences available to transport providers. Members decided to write to the Environment Committee providing clarification on the initial information request regarding planning permission for operators of rural transport services.
Members noted receipt of a research paper, dated 12 March 2009, on examples of energy efficiency measures in street lighting in other jurisdictions. Members decided to publish the research paper on the Assembly website.
Members noted receipt of a research paper on the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development’s visit to the Netherlands and a presentation from BMC Moerdijik and AE & E Austria on the incineration of poultry litter. Willie Clarke, MLA, who, as a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, participated in the visit to the Netherlands, provided Members with further information.
Members noted receipt of a research paper, dated 7 May 2009, and received oral briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services regarding a proposed research and engagement event into issues relating to the mobility of disabled and older people in Northern Ireland. Members decided to request that Assembly Research and Library Services undertakes preparatory in this area. .
5. Committee consideration of policy proposals for a Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
John McCallister left the meeting at 11.05 a.m.
Members noted written briefing and correspondence from the Department on the policy proposal for a Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) bill.
Members decided that they were content that the Department presents the policy memorandum to the Executive for its approval of the policy proposals. Members also decided that they were content that the Department instructs legislative council to begin a draft Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) bill.
6. Aviation strategy in Northern Ireland and the Regional Development Strategy: Departmental briefing.
Departmental officials Mike Thompson and Keith Walsh joined the meeting at 11.07 a.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on aviation strategy within the context of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS). Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Members decided to request further information from the Department on the delineation of responsibility regarding noise at airports between the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment. Members also decided to request a copy of the Roads Service submission on the planning application for the proposed expansion of the runway at the George Best Belfast City Airport.
Departmental officials Mike Thompson and Keith Walsh left the meeting at 11.40 a.m.
7. Subordinate legislation
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Motor Hackney Carriages ( Belfast) (Amendment No.2) Bye-laws ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members decided they were content with the following SL1s which they noted at the meeting of 6 May 2009:
- 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 noted receipt of the following statutory rule which is not subject to any Assembly procedure, but is for Members’ information only:
- 2009/182 The Road Races ( Ulster Rally) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule which is subject to negative resolution by the Assembly:
- 2009/180 The Henry Street , Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the statutory period for this rule, which is 15 June 2009.
Members noted that t he Fifteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees,2008/09 session, was published on 11 May 2009. Members also noted that the following statutory rule, subject to negative resolution, was included in the Examiner’s report:
- The Moira Road, Glenavy (Stopping up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
In the absence of any objections, the following question was put and agreed:
‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered t he Moira Road, Glenavy (Stopping Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009, and has no objection to the rule.’
All those in favour: Fred Cobain (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, Brian Wilson.
All those against: none
8. Correspondence
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 27 April 2009, from Peter Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Energy Holdings, in response to a letter from Mr G W Allister, Chief Executive Road Services, regarding the Public Accounts Committee report on streetworks.
Members noted receipt of an email, dated 11 May 2009, from Shane McAteer, Clerk of the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the June 2009 monitoring round and the response from the Department of Finance and Personnel, dated 7 May 2009 . Members decided to request briefing from the Department on the June monitoring round at the meeting to be held on 27 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 6 May 2009, from a member of the public, Mr Ian Thompson, to the Regional Development Committee, a number of MLAs from Upper Bann, the First and deputy First Minister, the Minister for Regional Development and the Consumer Council regarding changes to the Goldliner services from 4 May 2009. Members decided to forward this correspondence to Translink for comment.
Members noted receipt of an email, dated 11 May 2009, from Mr Nevin Taggart of the North Antrim Local Interest List (NALIL).
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 8 May 2009, from the Department regarding the Minister’s intention to make a statement to the Assembly on Monday 11 May 2009 on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) transport sector meeting held on 3 April 2009. Members decided to write to the Environment Committee asking it to request briefing from the Department of the Environment on road safety discussed at the transport sector meeting held on 3 April 2009.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated Monday 11 May 2009, from Translink regarding Translink fare changes, entitled ‘Customers Urged to Make the Savings with Smartlink and Multi-Journey Ticket Deals’.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 11 May 2009, from the Department regarding Translink fare increases, entitled ‘Transport Minister outlines position on Translink fare increases’.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 12 May 2009, from the Department regarding the A2 Broadbridge award of contract, entitled ‘DRD Minister announces contract award for construction of A2 Maydown to City of Derry Airport Dualling’.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a seminar entitled ‘Responding to budget 2009 – Maintaining excellence through local government beyond the economic downturn’, on Monday 1 June 2009 at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London.
9. Any Other Business
Members noted the revised forward work programme and decided to publish it on the Committee’s website.
Members decided to write to the Minister for Regional Development to welcome recent developments on security costs and to encourage him to continue discussions with all the relevant parties with an interest in the Greencastle to Magilligan ferry service.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
Members decided that the next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 20 May 2009, at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50 a.m.