COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Jim Wells , MLA (Deputy Chairperson).
Cathal Boylan, MLA.
Allan Bresland, MLA.
Tommy Gallagher, MLA.
Danny Kinahan, MLA.
Raymond McCartney, MLA.
Alastair Ross, MLA.
Brian Wilson, MLA. .
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk).
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk).
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor).
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer).
Apologies:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson).
Willie Clarke, MLA.
George Robinson, MLA.
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.33 a.m. in open session.
1. Tabled papers.
Members noted the tabled papers.
2. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson), Willie Clarke, MLA
and George Robinson, MLA.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted a change of membership. Members welcomed Tommy Gallagher to the Committee and noted his Declaration of Interests. Members decided to write to John Dallat to thank him for his service and contribution to the Committee.
4. The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2009 were agreed.
5. Matters Arising.
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development (DRD) regarding a letter received in the Social Development Committee office from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Regional Access Committee and Imtac concerning the Shared Surface Scheme. Members decided toforward the Department’s response to the Committee for Social Development.
Members noted receipt of a response from the Consumer Council in relation to the Draft River Basin Management Plans. Members decided to forward the response to the Committee for the Environment and the Department of the Environment.
Members noted receipt of the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s response to the Utility Regulators’ Social Action Plan 2009-2014. Members decided to forward the response to DRD.
Members noted receipt of the Department for Finance and Personnel’s paper in relation to the 10-day target for payment of Departmental invoices, which had been sent by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Members noted receipt of papers in relation to the upgrading of the M1 Motorway/ Westlink/ M2. Members decided to invite DRD officials to brief the Committee after summer recess.
Members noted receipt of a letter from DRD providing the Committee with an update on the A5/A8.
Members noted receipt of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) response in relation to DRD’s consultation on Port Master Plan Guidance. Members decided to return to consider the issue once the Committee has been briefed by DRD officials on their analysis of the consultation responses. Members decided to forward the response from RSPB to DRD.
Members noted correspondence from DRD in relation to the International Financial Report Standards. Members decided to commission a comparative research paper on the standards.
Members noted receipt of DRD’s response to follow-up questions on the Department’s June 2009 Monitoring Round.
Members decided to issue a letter to the Department of the Environment, along with a final version of the joint report from the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Regional Development in relation to the stakeholder event on the draft river management plans. Members also decided to forward the report to DRD and to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
6. Proposed harbour order for Coleraine harbour .
Captain Pat McKeeghan and James Carey, representatives from Coleraine Harbour Commissioners, joined the meeting at 10.55a.m.
Members received briefing from the representatives of the Coleraine Harbour Commission.
The witnesses left the meeting at 11.07a.m.
DRD officials, Brian White and Garry McKenna, joined the meeting at 11.07a.m.
Members received briefing from the officials and noted the written submission provided by DRD.
The officials left the meeting at 11.21a.m.
7. Update on Public Transport Reform.
DRD officials, Doreen Brown, Brian White and Sean Johnston, joined the meeting at 11.21a.m.
Members received briefing from the representatives of the Department. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the officials for the briefing.
Members noted the briefing provided by the officials.
Members decided to contact other relevant stakeholder groups and invite them to give oral evidence to the Committee on the issue of Public Transport Reform early in the new session.
The officials left the meeting at 11.45a.m.
8. Translink Corporate and Business Plan 2009/2010 and Internal Audit Review of Sponsor Control of Translink.
DRD officials, Doreen Brown and Ciaran Doran joined the meeting at 11.45a.m.
Tommy Gallagher joined the meeting at 11.45a.m. The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Tommy Gallagher to the Committee.
Members received briefing from DRD in relation to Translink’s Corporate and Business Plan and Internal Audit Review of Sponsor Control of Translink and noted the briefing provided by the officials.
Members decided to write to DRD, requesting that the Translink Corporate and Business Plan includes the capacity for increased accessibility to all members of the public.
Alistair Ross left the meeting at 12.10p.m.
The officials left the meeting at 12.10p.m.
9. Progress on Departmental Objectives: PSA Targets, Efficiency Delivery Plan Targets and Business Plan Targets for 2008-2009.
DRD officials, Paul Priestly, Doreen Browne, Lian Patterson, Geoff Allister and Pat Delaney joined the meeting at 12.11p.m.
Alistair Ross rejoined the meeting at 12.18p.m.
Members received briefing from Department in relation to PSA targets, efficiency delivery plan targets and business plan targets for 2008-2009 and noted the briefing provided by the officials.
The officials left the meeting at 12.32p.m.
The meeting was suspended at 12.34p.m.
The meeting re-convened at 12.40p.m. with Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Tommy Gallagher, Danny Kinahan, Raymond McCartney, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, and Brian Wilson present.
10. Subordinate legislation
Members noted the following new SL1s:
- The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 2009;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No. 5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.7) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Control of Traffic ( Joy Street, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Cascum Road, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Clearway (Ballymena) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Street Works (Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- The Loading Bays and Parking Places on Roads (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The Motor Hackney Carriage (Londonderry) (Amendment) Bye-Laws ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members decided that they were content with the policy merits of the SL1 listed below, which was noted at the meeting, subject to the resolution of the objections from Northern Ireland Electricity and Phoenix Gas before the making of the rule.
- College Park/College Park East, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members decided that they were content with the policy merits of the SL1 listed below, which was noted at the meeting of 20 May 2009.
- Penalty Charges (Exemption from Criminal Proceedings) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009. The Promenade, Portstewart (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules not subject to Assembly procedure:
- 2009/244 The Waiting Restrictions (Dunloy) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/234 The One-Way Traffic (Antrim) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- 2009/237 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Race) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- 2009/236 The Parking Places on Roads (Dundonald) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that t he Eighteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, 2008/09 session, was published on 29 June 2009. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:
‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2009/221 The Traffic Signs (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 , and has no objection to the rule’.
Those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Tommy Gallagher, Danny Kinahan, Raymond McCartney, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, and Brian Wilson.
Those against: None.
‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2009/222 The Railways Infrastructure (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland) 2009, and has no objection to this rule’.
Those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Tommy Gallagher, Danny Kinahan, Raymond McCartney, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, and Brian Wilson.
Those against: None.
11 Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 22 June 2009, from the Minister of the Environment, regarding an update on the progress of planning reform transfers.
- Members noted receipt of a letter, dated 26 June 2009, from the Clerk to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, regarding the impact of development on tributary streams and rivers in urban areas. Members decided to forward the letter to the Minister for Regional Development.
- Members noted a memo, dated 29 June 2009, from Peter McCallion, Clerk to the Committee for Social Development, inviting the Committee to submit written evidence on the Housing (Amendment) Bill. Members decided no to submit evidence in this instance, but agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for Regional Development.
- Members noted receipt of a report called, ‘Bridging the Gap; Transforming Public Transport in Northern Ireland’ from Price Waterhouse Coopers. Members decided to invite the authors of the report to present to the Committee early in the next session.
- Members noted receipt of a report called, ‘ Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics – January to March 2009’ from DRD.
- Members noted receipt of a report called, ‘ Changing patterns, Changing outcomes, Learning from the Equality Conference, 20 November 2008’, from the Derry City Council.
- Members noted receipt of a publication from Northern Ireland Water on Drinking Water Quality Annual Report for the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008. Members decided to meet with Northern Ireland Water individually to discuss water quality issues in their constituencies.
- Members noted receipt of a statement from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, sent to the Chairperson of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Committee concerning the end year Delivery Report for the Programme for Government. Members agreed to commission a research paper on this topic and consider the report at a Committee meeting in the new session.
- Members noted an invitation to attend the 5 th Annual Environment Conference to be held on 23-24 September in Croke Park, Dublin.
12. Any Other Business.
Cathal Boylan, along with Members of the Committee, thanked the deputy Chairperson, Jim Wells for his work and professionalism over the last two years in his role in the proceedings of the Committee for Regional Development. Members wished him every success in his new position as Chairperson of the Health Committee. Jim Wells thanked the Members of the Committee and the Clerk to the Committee for making his time with the Committee enjoyable and worthwhile.
The meeting was suspended at 12.56p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 2.15p.m with Cathal Boylan, Tommy Gallagher, Danny Kinahan, Raymond McCartney and Jim Wells present.
13. Committee inquiry: Managing data risk in Northern Ireland Water;
Additional oral evidence sessions.
i) Northern Ireland Authority for the Utility Regulator. Iain Osborne, the Utility Regulator and Dr Jo Aston joined the meeting at 2.15p.m. and gave oral evidence in relation to the Committee inquiry.
Members received briefing from the witnesses. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the witnesses for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 2.35p.m.
ii) Northern Ireland Water Limited.
Chris Meller and Peter Anyan, representatives from Northern Ireland Water, joined the meeting at 2.35p.m. and gave oral evidence in relation to the Committee inquiry.
Members received briefing from the witnesses. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the witnesses for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.07p.m.
iii) Department for Regional Development.
John Mills and Barbara Faloona, Department officials joined the meeting at 3.07p.m. and gave oral evidence in relation to the Committee inquiry.
Members received briefing from the officials, following a question and answer session; Members thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 3.33p.m.
14. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Committee for Regional Development will take place in Room 21, Parliament Building on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at 10.30a.m.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.34p.m.Signed: ……………………………………………