Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 04 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Tommy Gallagher MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
George Robinson MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Cathal Boylan MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.31am in open session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.

2. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 21 October 2009

Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.

3. Matters Arising.

10.34am Mr Gallagher joined the meeting
10.35am Mr Wilson joined the meeting

10.35am Mr Robinson joined the meeting

4. Committee Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill 2009

Members noted a tabled paper in relation to evidence as part of the Committee Stage of the Bill.

Agreed: Members also noted correspondence from NIPSA on the proposals in the Bill and agreed to receive a briefing from NIPSA on the issued raised in its correspondence.

5. Progress on Trunk Road T8 Orders: Departmental Briefing

10.58am Mr McCartney joined the meeting

The Committee was briefed by Jim Beattie, Uel Wilson and David Millar of Roads Service on progress to date on the Trunk Road T8 Orders.

Agreed: Members agreed to write to Roads Service, Western Division, seeking clarification on the development and implementation of traffic management plans for this scheme, in particular the traffic in the Magherafelt area.

Agreed: Members further agreed to write to the Department on the issue of legal representation for individuals during inquiries; to write to the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) seeking clarification on the support services, including any assistance with legal representation, it provides to its members; and also to seek clarification on how this issue is dealt with in other devolved administrations.

6. Sustainable Transport Inquiry: Update and Revised Timetable

Agreed: Members received an update on the Sustainable Transport Inquiry and agreed that the update be published on the Assembly website and circulated to relevant stakeholders.

Agreed: Members noted a revised timetable for the inquiry and agreed that it be published on the Assembly website.

Agreed: Members noted a memo to the Assembly’s Statutory Committees requesting written evidence as part of the Inquiry and agreed that the memo be issued.

7. Response to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Consultation on the Multiple Deprivation Measures

Members noted correspondence from the Department setting out its views on the above consultation and also received a briefing from Assembly Research Services on an analysis paper relating to the consultation. The researcher agreed to provide additional information on issues identified by the Committee.

Agreed: Members considered and agreed, subject to amendment, the Committee’s response to the Finance and Personnel Committee and agreed that it be issued.

8. Equality Unit Quarterly Report

Members noted the Department’s Equality Unit’s Quarterly Report.

9. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:

Members noted that the SL1 memos from the Department on the above proposals made no reference to their having been the subject of a public inquiry and that the Department does not, at this time, anticipate the need for a public inquiry. Members noted that the Department had confirmed that the police service and relevant local councils affected by the above proposals have been informed, and the Committee office has not received any comments from the relevant councils regarding these policy proposals.

Members consideredthe following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which had been noted at the Committee meeting on 21 October 2009:

Agreed: that the Committee write to the Department indicating its approval of the policy merits of these SL1s.

10. Correspondence.

Members noted the following press releases from the Department:

Members noted the following invitation to the Chairperson:

Members noted the following report:

11. Any Other Business

Agreed: Members considereda revised forward work programme for the Committee and agreed that the revised work programme should be published on the Assembly website.

Agreed: Members decided that, for the duration of the postal strike, meeting papers should be delivered to Members’ rooms on the Monday morning preceding Committee meetings.

12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 November 2009 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.44am.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development .
11 November 2009.

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