COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Trevor Lunn MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.44am 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 meetings held on 23 June 2010
Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
- Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 June 2010, in relation to the Review of the Inclusive Mobility Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) and agreed to request additional information on the Review from the Department and to schedule oral and written briefings on the outcome of the public consultation from interested parties. The Committee also agreed to request a research paper from Assembly Research and Library Services on the review and the work of similar advisory committees in other jurisdictions.
- Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 21 June 2010, in relation to the Belfast Public Bike Hire Project and agreed to request a written update from the Department following completion of the feasibility study of the scheme.
- Agreed: The Committee considered and approved its draft report on its visit to the Belfast Streets Ahead project and agree that the report be published on the Assembly website.
- Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 23 June 2010, in response to issues raised by the Committee in relation to the Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) Guidelines.
- The Committee considered a number of research papers from Assembly Research and Library Services in relation to: the Economic and Social Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services (2010-2013); approaches to aviation strategy in the UK and the Republic of Ireland; Management of Utility Street Works; and the extension of the mains water network in England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Agreed: The Committee considered a research paper from Assembly Research and Library Services in relation to Vision Zero: The Swedish Roads Safety Strategy and agreed to forward the paper to the Environment Committee for consideration as part of its comprehensive response to the draft Road Safety Strategy.
- Agreed: The Committee considered a research paper from Assembly Research and Library Services in relation to community transport and agreed to defer consideration of the paper until the Committee meeting of 8 September 2010.
- Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee in relation to the Rathlin Island Ferry tendering process and agreed to write to the member of the public who raised the issue indicating the views of the Public Accounts Committee and of the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
10.49am Mr McDevitt joined the meeting.
- Agreed: Following the briefing received by the Committee on 23 June 2010, Members considered and agreed a Committee response to the Department in relation to its year-end performance and its 2010-11 Corporate and Business Plan.
4. Transport Bill
Agreed: The Committee considered the delegated powers memorandum for the Transport Bill and agreed to forward the memorandum to the Assembly's Examiner of Statutory Rules for scrutiny and comment.
Agreed: The Committee discussed and agreed a list of key stakeholder organisations that would be invited to give written evidence, as part of the Committee’s public call for evidence.
5. Departmental briefing on the Regional Development Strategy
11.02am The meeting moved into closed session.
11.17am Mr Kinahan left the meeting.
Mr Leonard declared an interest in this item of business as a member of Coleraine Borough Council.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, Jenny Pyper, Ian Raphael and Alison McQueen, on the draft Review of the Regional Development Strategy.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to respond to the Department in relation to the issues raised in the briefing and also to request a research paper and to investigate the options for specialist advice on this issue.
12.04pm The meeting returned to open session.
6. Departmental briefing on preparations for Budget 2010
12.09pm Mr Kinahan returned to the meeting.
Agreed: Members considered correspondence from the Department in relation to this issue and agreed to review additional information from the Department as received during July and to schedule a meeting during summer recess to address the issue, if Members consider it necessary. Members also agreed to convene an additional meeting of the Committee on 7 September 2010 to consider the Committee's response to the Minister on this issue.
7. Departmental briefing on Control Over Land Orders for Belfast International Airport and City of Derry Airport
Mr Kinahan declared an interest in this item of business as a resident of the area affected by the Belfast International Airport proposal.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, Keith Walsh and George Kearns on the Department's proposals to make subordinate legislation relating to the control of land at Belfast International Airport and City of Derry Airport.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department in relation to the issues raised by Members and also agreed to request briefing from the Civil Aviation Authority in relation to general aviation issues.
8. Lands identified for abandonment and disposal: Quarterly Update
Agreed: Members noted the Department’s quarterly update on lands identified for abandonment and disposal, and agreed to write to the Department indicating that the Committee has no issues of concern to raise.
9. Sustainable Transport Inquiry: Issues for inclusion in the draft report
12.27pm The meeting moved into closed session.
Agreed: Members discussed and agreed the revised heads of report and agreed that the revised draft report accurately reflects the views of the Committee and that the current draft should guide the drafting of the final report.
Agreed: The Committee decided to engage the Assembly’s Youth Panel when taking forward the report. It also agreed to convene a reference group to consider the inquiry findings and recommendations.
12.55pm The meeting returned to open session.
10. Research briefing on transport issues
The Committee received briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services on the Transport Ireland Conference and on the prevalence of car journeys from rural to urban areas in Northern Ireland in order to access essential services and employment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further information on the actions to achieve modal shift towards the use of public transport in Cork and Dublin.
11. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:
- The Loading Bays and Parking Places on Roads (Amendment No. 4) 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 has 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 considered the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation, which was noted at the Committee meeting on 23 June 2010:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Omagh) 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 these SL1s.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule:
- 2010/215 The Shore Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on this statutory rule in his Eighteenth Report to the Assembly, to be published on 28 June 2010.
Members noted SR2010/216 The Water and Sewerage Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
12. Correspondence
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Environment Committee on its Climate Change Report and agreed to consider its response to the Environment Committee at the meeting of 8 September 2010.
Members noted the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee’s (IMTAC) 2010-11 work plan.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 22 June 2010, in relation to the withdrawal of the Executive memorandum on the proposed Harbours Bill.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee on accessibility of local government art and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
Members noted proposals for a meeting with Down District Council in relation to the roads infrastructure in and around the Downpatrick area and indicated their intention to attend.
Members noted a request from the University of Ulster to meet with Members of the Committee in relation to transport implications of the University’s new city centre campus at York Street, Belfast.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee in relation to its Renewable Energy Inquiry and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment. Members also agreed to consider a Committee response to the inquiry at its meeting of 8 September 2010.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the Europe 2010 Strategy and the European Commission Work Programme.
Agreed: Members noted the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Memorandum on the Twelfth and Thirteenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2009-10, and agreed to defer consideration to the meeting of 8 September 2010.
Members noted documentation from the Committee office in relation to a take note debate on PfG Delivery Reports.
Members noted the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council’s monthly newsletter for June 2010, CR Week Review.
Members noted the following Departmental press releases:
- Bike to work this Friday;
- Roads Service reports on schemes in Ards area;
- Roads Service reports on schemes in Dungannon area;
- Publication of road and rail transport statistics January to March 2010; and
- Roads Service reports on schemes in Belfast area.
1.15pm The meeting moved into closed session.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 25 June 2010, in relation to the reorganisation of Roads Service section offices and agreed to request further information in advance of the written statement and to schedule a Departmental briefing on this issue in the autumn.
1.19pm The meeting returned to open session.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to schedule a briefing from the CEF in the autumn.
Agreed: The Committee noted the Pain’s Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme Review Report from the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland and agreed to schedule a meeting with QPANI in the autumn.
Members noted a statement from Northern Ireland Water in relation to loss of water in the Ballygowan/Ards Peninsula area, including the town of Ballygowan.
Members also noted a response from IMTAC to the Department’s consultation on its Disability Action Plan.
13. Any Other Business
Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members considered a revised forward work programme for the Committee.
End of Session Reports 2009-2010
Agreed: The Committee noted guidance from the Central Committee Office in relation to the end of session reports for Assembly Committees and agreed to consider a draft of the report at its meeting of 8 September 2010.
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
Agreed: The Committee noted that the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill passed Second Stage on 30 June 2010 and now stands referred to the Environment Committee. Members agreed to request a Departmental briefing on the elements of the Bill that relate to the work of the Department for Regional Development and to consider the Committee’s response to the Environment Committee at the meeting of 15 September 2010.
14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 7 September 2010, at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.23pm.