COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 06 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA
Raymond McCartney 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
Tommy Gallagher MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.35am 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 9 December 2009
Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 8 December 2009, on its half year monitoring of Public Service Agreement (PSA) and Business Plan targets and Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-11.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 7 December 2009, in relation to a proposed Statutory Rule entitled “The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009”.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 8 December 2009, providing comments on a paper from Assembly Research Services in relation to an accessible transport strategy in Northern Ireland and agreed to consider the matter further as part of its work on accessible transport.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 11 December 2009, in response to a letter received from a member of the public raising concerns over services for disabled people . The Committee agreed to forward the response to the individual concerned.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC), dated 8 December 2009, providing comments on a paper from Assembly Research Services in relation to an accessible transport strategy in Northern Ireland and agreed to consider the matter further as part of its work on accessible transport.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 14 December 2009, providing additional requested information on the December 2009 Monitoring Round.
- Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 15 December 2009, in response to a request for information on the impact that the draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the Equalisation of State Pension Age will have on the delivery of the Department’s services. The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Social Development.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 16 December 2009, in relation to NIO penalties under Section 55 of the Data Protection Act.
- The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 December 2009, providing additional requested information on the issue of the emptying of septic tanks by Northern Ireland Water.
- The Committee noted correspondence from Northern Ireland Water, dated 17 December 2009, providing additional requested information on the issue of the emptying of septic tanks.
4. Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage
10.45am Mr Robinson joined the meeting
The Committee continued its consideration of the Report on the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: Members agreed the Membership and Powers section of the Report .
Agreed: Members agreed the List of Abbreviations and Acronyms section of the Report .
Agreed: Members agreed the Introduction section of the Report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Consideration of the Provisions of the Bill section of the Report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Other Issues section of the Report.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 1 of the report, “Minutes of Proceedings”.
Agreed: Members agreed that the minutes of proceedings of this meeting be included at Appendix 1, as unapproved minutes.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 2 of the report, “Minutes of Evidence”.
Agreed: Members agreed, subject to amendment, Appendix 3 of the report, “Written Submissions”.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 4 of the report, “Memoranda and Papers from the Department for Regional Development”.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 5 of the report, “Memoranda and Papers from Others”.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 6 of the report, “Northern Ireland Assembly Research Papers”.
Agreed: Members agreed Appendix 7 of the report, “Other Documents Relevant to the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill”.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee’s Report on the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill be printed.
Agreed: Members also agreed that the Committee’s Report should be laid in manuscript in the Assembly Business Office and that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Minister for Regional Development in advance of its publication. Members will be informed via email when this has been done.
Agreed: That a copy of the Chairperson’s speaking notes for the remaining plenary stages of this Bill be circulated to Members in advance of plenary.
5. Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill: Preparatory Briefing
Members noted a number of items of correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill .
The Committee received a preparatory briefing from Departmental officials, Andrew Murray, Harvey Hamilton and Gerry Anketell , on the content of the Bill in advance of its proposed introduction in the Assembly on 18 January 2010.
6. Local Government (Transfer of Roads Functions): Initial Briefing
The Committee received an initial briefing from Departmental officials, Michaela Glass, John Irvine, Harvey Hamilton and Gerry Anketell , on proposals for the Local Government (Transfer of Roads Functions) Bill.
11.05am Mr Wilson left the meeting
11.20am Mr Wilson rejoined the meeting
7. Departmental briefing on the Transport Emissions Baseline Report
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials, Tom Reid and Celia Chambers , on the findings of the Transport Emissions Baseline Report.
8. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:
- The Control of Traffic ( Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and The Parking Places on Roads ( Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Glensharragh Park, Castlereagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions ( Belfast) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Taxi Regulation (Portstewart) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Waiting Restrictions ( Bangor) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Parking Places, Loading Bays and Waiting Restrictions (Coleraine) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Prohibition of Traffic (Juniper Rise, Twinbrook) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Control of Traffic ( Amelia Street, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Waiting Restrictions ( Newcastle) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
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. 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.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a Departmental briefing on The Control of Traffic ( Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and The Parking Places on Roads ( Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 on 20 January 2010.
Members consideredthe following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation,which were noted at the Committee meeting on 9 December 2009:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Armagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Airfield Road Lower, Donnybrewer (Abandonment) 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.
9. Correspondence
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning on the cost of the ‘Uni-link’ service to the Jordanstown Campus of the University of Ulster and requesting an update on work on the A2 road in the Jordanstown area. The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister for Regional Development for comment.
- Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to an Irish News article on the Department’s Cycle to Work scheme.
- Agreed: Members notedcorrespondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the Department for Regional Development’s Regional Transportation Strategy Review and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Regional Development for comment.
Members noted the following newsletters:
- “ Northern Ireland Water – Belfast Sewers Project News”;
- “NIRTA News – December 2009/January 2010”; and
- “Equality Commission – Fair Employment Monitoring Round Report No.19”.
Members noted the following invitations:
- Invitation from CPPS Seminars to the “flooding resilience” seminar on 9 March 2010 at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London;
- Invitation from the Utility Regulator to the “sustainable energy as part of Northern Ireland’s economic future?” seminar on 14 January 2010 at the Linenhall Library, 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 press release from the Department of Finance and Personnel:
- “November busiest month for flooding incident line”.
Members noted the following press releases from the Department for Regional Development, previously emailed to Members:
- “Northern Ireland Water fined £1000 for pollution offence”;
- “Cloghogue junction opening will help Christmas traffic”;
- “Progress on £3.1 Million investment in Magherafelt”; and
- “Progress on £4.5 Million investment in Dungannon”.
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members considered a revised forward work programme for the Committee and agreed that the revised work programme should be published on the Assembly website.
Members noted a number of items of correspondence from Northern Ireland Water in relation to the prolonged winter freeze and sub-zero temperatures.
Agreed: Members discussed concerns in relation to the provision of winter services and gritting throughout Northern Ireland and agreed to receive a briefing on the issue at the Committee meeting on Wednesday 13 January 2010.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.01pm.