COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 20 MAY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Willie Clarke, 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).
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor).
Annette Page (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Jim Wells, MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.35 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Allan Bresland, MLA and Jim Wells, MLA.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members decided not to meet on Wednesday 3 June 2009.
Members were reminded to contact the committee office if they could not attend the meeting to be held on 27 May 2009.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted a report prepared by Assembly Research and Library Services on the Transport Ireland conference.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 14 May 2009, from the Department regarding the Minister for Regional Development’s intention to make a written statement on Monday 18 May 2009, announcing the publication of the Department for Regional Development’s Corporate Plan 2009-11 and Business Plan 2009-10.
Members noted a request from a newspaper seeking a copy of a letter, dated 23 April 2009, from the Regional Development Minister regarding the proposal for a harbour order to modernise the bye law confirmation and making procedures for Coleraine Harbour. Members noted that the Department was content to release this item. Members also noted that the information would be released in the normal course of Assembly business on 20 May 2009.
Members noted that another request for information had been received in the committee office for papers relating to the aviation issues discussed at the meeting of 13 May 2009 in George Best Belfast City Airport, and that they would be kept informed of progress on this request.
Following discussion, Members decided to request oral briefing from the Coleraine Harbour Commissioners on the proposal for a harbour order to modernise the bye law confirmation and making procedures for Coleraine Harbour, and in conjunction with the briefing scheduled from the Department on this issue.
5. Briefing on Translink Corporate and Business Plan.
Departmental officials Ciaran Doran, Doreen Brown and Gregory Campbell joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.
Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.
Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.43 a.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 10.43 a.m.
Members received briefing from Departmental officials on the development of Translink’s corporate and business plan.
During discussion with officials, Raymond McCartney , MLA declared an interest specifying that his brother is engaged in the taxi industry.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 11.02 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Departmental officials Ciaran Doran, Doreen Brown and Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 11.10 a.m.
Members decided to write to the Department seeking further information on this issue. Members also decided to request information from Translink on the breakdown and overview of staff in Translink and details of how Translink consults when arriving at decisions to cut or eliminate services, and the Department’s role in this process.
Members decided to move to closed session at 11.12 a.m.
6. Reclassification of Northern Ireland Water
Members received briefing from the researcher on the reclassification of Northern Ireland Water. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the researcher for her briefing.
Cathal Boylan re-joined the meeting at 11.14 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the researcher .
Departmental officials Nigel McCormick, John Mills and Gary Fair joined the meeting at 11.35 a.m.
Members received briefing from the Departmental officials on the reclassification of Northern Ireland Water. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 11.58 a.m.
Members noted the briefing provided by the Department.
Departmental officials Nigel McCormick, John Mills and Gary Fair left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
7. Briefing on draft reports from the research event on sustainable transport
Members received briefing from the researcher on thedraft reports from the research event on sustainable transport. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the researcher for their briefing.
Members noted the briefing provided by the researcher.
Members decided that they were content with the approach to the sustainable transport inquiry. Members also decided to return to consider draft terms of reference and a handling plan at the meeting to be held on 17 June 2009.
Members decided to move to open session at 12.21 p.m. with Fred Cobain (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, George Robinson, Alastair Ross and Brian Wilson present.
8. Subordinate legislation
Members noted receipt of the following new SL1s:
- The Waiting Restrictions ( Newcastle) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The Penalty Charges (Exemption from Criminal Proceedings)(Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members decided, in relation to thePenalty Charges (Exemption from Criminal Proceedings)(Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009, to write to the Department requesting additional written briefing on this proposal.
Members decided they were content with the following SL1s which they noted at the meeting of 13 May 2009:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena)(Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009: and
- The Motor Hackney Carriages ( Belfast) (Amendment No.2) Bye-laws ( 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:
- 2009/181 The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule which is subject to negative resolution by the Assembly:
- 2009/190 The Ridgeway Street, Belfast (Abandonment) 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 22 June 2009.
John Dallat left the meeting at 12.24 p.m.
9. Correspondence
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 8 May 2009, from the Clerk to the Environment Committee and attached letter, dated 10 May 2009, from the Chairperson of the Environment Committee, Patsy McGlone, MLA requesting information from the Department for Regional Development on how and to what extent each of the Public Service Agreements (PSA) for which it is responsible contribute to Northern Ireland’s emission reduction target. Members agreed to forward this request to the Department.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 12 May 2009, from the Assistant Clerk to the Environment Committee regarding the proposals for the extension of designated Shellfish Waters Areas in Northern Ireland and a request that Department for Regional Development officials provide oral briefing to the Environment Committee. Members agreed to forward this request to the Department.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 14 May 2009, from the Department in response to a memo sent by the Environment Committee to all statutory committees regarding a briefing received by a BT sustainability officer.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 May 2009, from Katy Best, Business Development Manager, of George Best Belfast City Airport regarding the Committee for Regional Development’s meeting held at the airport on 13 May 2009.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 12 May 2009, from the Department noting receipt of letters from Members of the public regarding the Comber Greenway.
Members noted receipt of correspondence, dated 15 May 2009, from the Department regarding a request for an update on significant road schemes and confirmation that Departmental officials are scheduled to provide oral briefing at the Committee meeting to be held on 24 June 2009 on the preferred route announced for the A6 Derry/Londonderry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 18 May 2009, from the Department regarding the Travelwise Walk to School Week. Members decided to forward this press release to the Education Committee, the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee, and the Environment Committee for information.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 18 May 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads Service to invest £2.8 million in Ballymoney area’.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 18 May 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads Service to invest £4.7 million in Banbridge area’.
Members noted receipt of a press release, dated 18 May 2009, from the Department entitled ‘Roads Service to invest £5.1 million in Omagh District Council Area’.
Members noted receipt of an Environmental Link newsletter, dated April 2009, entitled ‘The Science of Climate Change: What you need to know’.
10. Any Other Business
Members noted that new travel and subsistence forms for claiming committee expenses are available from the Central Committee office and that old forms should be destroyed.
Members decided to travel to the Belfast Sewers Project on 10 June 2009 via minibus.
Cathal Boylan , MLA, raised a query regarding contact information for Northern Ireland Water in the context of a request for information he had made to Northern Ireland Water.
11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
Members decided that the next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 27 May 2009, at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.29 p.m.
FRED COBAIN, MLA.
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development .