COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 02 DECEMBER 2009
LISGOOLE SUITE, KILLYHEVLIN HOTEL, ENNISKILLEN
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Tommy Gallagher MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
George Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Danny Kinahan MLA
Brian Wilson MLA
1. Roads Structural Maintenance; Study Visit
The Committee undertook a site visit to view a road resurfacing scheme at Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh.
The meeting commenced at 10.51am in open session.
2. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 25 November 2009
Agreed : The minutes with one agreed revision, were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
4. Matters Arising
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 25 November 2009, relating to a proposed change to the content of future SL1 memos for subordinate legislation being brought to the Assembly for major road schemes.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 24 November 2009, updating the Committee on the Strangford Lough Ferry Review.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, dated 19 November 2009, in response to correspondence from the Deputy Chairperson on the draft Action Plan for the Accessible Transport Strategy.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 16 November 2009, and a copy of the report entitled “economic appraisal to introduce concessionary fares equivalency to rural community transport”.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 23 November 2009, in response to a letter received from a member of the public raising concerns over unnecessary work being carried out on the A2 Ballykelly Bypass. The Committee agreed to write to the individual concerned seeking confirmation that the Department’s response addresses the issues raised.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 23 November 2009, on the Belfast Rapid Transit Public Consultation enclosing a copy of the consultation documents. The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from Departmental officials on the outcome of the consultation, after the closing date of 19 February 2010.
5. December Monitoring Round
10.53am The meeting moved into closed session
Members noted the Department for Regional Development ’s submission to the December 2009 Monitoring Round, which had been marked as restricted by the Department.
Agreed: Members agreed a response to the Department, subject to agreed amendments, on the Department for Regional Development December 2009 Monitoring Round position.
11.15am The meeting returned in open session
6. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:
- The Parking Places and Loading Bay on Roads (Limavady) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members noted that the SL1 memo from the Department on the above proposal made no reference to its having been the subject of a public inquiry. Members noted that the Department had confirmed that the police service and relevant local council affected by the above proposal have been informed, and the Committee office has not received any comments from the relevant council regarding this policy proposal.
Members consideredthe following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 25 November 2009:
- The Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Parking Places on Roads (Newry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it is content with the policy merits of these SL1s.
7. Departmental briefing on roads structural maintenance
Members noted the following papers:
A. A copy of the Snaith Report “A review of structural maintenance funding requirements for the Roads Service” ; and
B. Additional information provided by the Department for Regional Development in response to Members’ queries raised at the meeting of 14 October 2009.
The Committee received a technical briefing and overview of expenditure on structural roads maintenance from Geoff Allister and Dr Andrew Murray of Roads Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, reiterating its concerns in relation to funding for structural maintenance of the roads network. Members also agreed to consider further action on the issue following receipt of the Minister’s response to this correspondence.
11.58am Mr McCrea left the meeting
8. Correspondence
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from the Committee for the Environment in relation to PPS18 and the supplementary planning guidance and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for consideration.
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from the Committee for Social Development in relation to the draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the Equalisation of State Pension Age and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for consideration.
Members noted the following press releases from the Department:
- “Cross border initiative to tackle traffic congestion”;
- “Progress on £2.5 Million investment in Larne”;
- “Broadway Underpass recommendations completed”;
- “Progress on £2.3 Million investment in Cookstown”;
- “Progress on £4.3 Million investment in Coleraine”;
- “Progress on £3.4 Million investment in Castlereagh”; and
- “Progress on £4.2 Million investment in Antrim”
Members noted the following invitations:
- Invitation from Energy Ireland to the Irish Renewable Energy Summit 2010 on 21 January 2010 at the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk;
- Invitation from Agenda NI to the Policy-Making Seminar on 10 December 2009 at the Mount Conference Centre, Belfast; and
- Invitation from CPPS Seminars to the “how best can we deliver more effective approaches to physical activity” on 25 January 2010 at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London.
Members noted the following report:
- IMTAC Disability Training – Good practice guidelines for transport providers.
9. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members noted receipt of a paper on the proposed extension of the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport that had been requested by the Committee following the briefing on the issue at the meeting on 25 November 2009.
Agreed: Members considereda revised forward work programme for the Committee and agreed that the revised work programme should be published on the Assembly website.
Members noted that an informal meeting of the Committee had been scheduled for 7 December 2009 at 12.30pm on the issue of the 2008 Drinking Water Quality in Northern Ireland report of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Agreed: Members considered and agreed that Christmas cards, issued on behalf of the Committee, should be distributed as e-cards, as opposed to traditional cards. Members were content that the Chairperson would approve the distribution list.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9 December 2009 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.12pm.