COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE 2010
CLOCK TOWER SUITE, TULLYGLASS HOUSE HOTEL, BALLYMENA
Present:
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA
Billy Leonard MLA
Conall McDevitt MLA
George Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Trevor Lunn MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.42am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.
2. Departmental briefing on Planning Scenarios for Translink’s Corporate Plan 2010-2013
10.46am The meeting moved into closed session.
Members noted papers from the Department in relation to Translink’s Corporate Plan 2010-2013.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, Doreen Brown, Ciaran Doran and Greg Campbell, on the Department’s planning scenarios for Translink’s plan.
11.19am Mr Boylan left the meeting.
11.29am Mr Boylan returned to the meeting.
11.54am Mr Clarke left the meeting.
11.57am Mr Clarke returned to the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an additional meeting of the Committee on Monday 21 June 2010 to consider its response to the Department on this issue.
12.02pm The meeting returned to open session.
3. Departmental briefing on rail issues
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, Garry McKenna and Ciaran Crilly, on the proposed amendment to the Railway (Safety Management) Regulations 2010 and on the UK–wide Railways Interoperability Regulations 2010.
12.04pm Mr McDevitt left the meeting.
12.10pm Mr McDevitt returned to the meeting.
Agreed: Members noted an SL1 on the proposed amendment to the Railway (Safety Management) Regulations 2010 and agreed to consider the policy merits of the proposal at the Committee’s meeting on 23 June 2010.
4. Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 8 June 2010
Agreed: The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
12.11pm Mr Clarke left the meeting.
5. Matters Arising
• Agreed: The Committee considered its response to the Rural Community Network, on the issue of rural transport, for inclusion in its next edition of Network News and agreed to consider a further draft response at the Committee’s meeting of 23 June 2010.
• Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 8 June 2010, in relation to its ‘Bike to Work’ scheme.
• Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 8 June 2010, in relation to the Equality Impact Assessment of Restricted Zone Access Permits.
• Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 9 June 2010, to the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to employment of external advisors by government departments.
• Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, dated 10 June 2010, in relation to the September 2010 Monitoring Round.
6. Consideration of a written Departmental update on the draft Executive paper on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a Departmental briefing on the transposition of the directive and on the outcome of the Department’s public consultation, following the summer recess.
7. Consideration of the Committee’s draft Sustainable Transport Inquiry report
12.24pm The meeting moved into closed session.
Agreed: Members considered sections 1 and 2 of the draft Committee report on its Sustainable Transport Inquiry and agreed the broad themes of the report and subject areas to be developed, as part of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its approach to further evidence gathering for the inquiry, that would be incorporated into a revised draft of the report, following the summer recess.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider an issues paper at the Committee meeting on 30 June 2010.
12.54pm The meeting returned to open session.
8. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:
• The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
• The Glebe Road, Annahilt (Footway) (Abandonment) 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 has 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 considered the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation, which was noted at the Committee meeting on 8 June 2010:
• The Parking Places on Roads (Bushmills) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of this SL1.
9. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, dated 7 June 2010, in relation to the Committee’s report on the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Community Transport Association (CTA), raising concerns in relation to the Department of the Environment’s review of operator licences, and agreed to write to the Environment Committee and to schedule a briefing from the CTA in September 2010.
The Committee noted correspondence from IMTAC in relation to access to sea travel for disabled people and people with reduced mobility.
The Committee noted the Equality Commission’s May 2010 newsletter.
Members noted a report of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, in advance of its publication, on its Preliminary Inquiry into Public Sector Efficiencies.
Members noted an invitation from the Department for Regional Development to the Belfast Grand Prix Cycle Race on Friday 18 June 2010.
Members noted the following Departmental press releases:
• Roads Service reports on schemes in Armagh area;
• Roads Service reports on schemes in Cookstown area;
• Roads Service reports on schemes in Newtownabbey area;
• Regional Development Minister opens £13.5 Million wastewater treatment works in Enniskillen; and
• Murphy announces preferred route for Cookstown Bypass.
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.
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday, 21 June 2010, at 12.00pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.01pm.
Signed:
Michelle McIlveen, MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
21 June 2010