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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Danny Kinahan MLA
Billy Leonard MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
Conall McDevitt MLA

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

Apologies:
Trevor Lunn MLA
George Robinson MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.43am in open session.

Members welcomed Mr Fra McCann to the Committee and also noted the extract of the Register of Members’ Interests relating to Mr McCann.

Agreed: Members agreed to write to Mr Willie Clarke thanking him for his contribution during his time as a Member of the Committee for Regional Development.

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

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Draft Minutes of meeting held on 8 September 2010

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

3. Matters Arising
  • Agreed: Members considered and agreed a Committee response to the Department for Regional Development in relation to its draft Disability Action Plan.
  • Agreed: Members noted details of attendance at Committee meetings for the 2009-10 session and agreed to the information being published on the Assembly website.
  • Agreed: Members considered and agreed arrangements for the Committee’s forthcoming stakeholder event on Budget 2010.
  • Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development in relation to the Department’s Cycle to Work Scheme and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee for information. Members also agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development raising the Committee’s concerns in relation to the correspondence.
  • Agreed: Members discussed concerns in relation to the Regional Development Strategy and agreed to raise these concerns with the Department for Regional Development.

10.52am The meeting moved into closed session.

  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the Roads Service Car Tariff Review 2010 and agreed to write to the Department raising Members’ concerns in relation to the review.
  • Agreed: Members considered the Committee’s End-of-Session report for 2009-10 and agreed to defer final consideration to the meeting of 22 September 2010.
  • Members received an update on the meeting of 14 September 2010 between the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Development Committee and the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

11.12am The meeting returned to open session.

  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on departmental inputs to the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.
4. Departmental briefing on the Transport Bill

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials , Doreen Brown, Anne Breen and Sean Johnston , on Clauses 1 and 2 of the Transport Bill and the related evidence received during the Committee’s public call for evidence.

The Committee noted submissions to the Committee from the Environment Committee and Belfast City Council.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking clarification on a number of issues raised, during briefing by officials.

Agreed: The Committee noted and agreed a revised timetable for the Committee Stage of the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee also agreed a motion to the Assembly for extension of time to complete the Committee Stage of the Transport Bill.

5. Briefings on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill

The Committee received briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services on the gating of alleys, as provided for in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill.

12.12pm Mr McCrea left the meeting.

The Committee also received briefing from Departmental officialsChris Galbraith, Brian O’Neill and Gerry Anketell, and from Robert Gray from the Department of the Environment, on the aspects of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill that are relevant to the Department for Regional Development.

12.22pm Mr McCrea returned to the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking clarification on a number of issues raised and to consider its response to the Committee for the Environment on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill at the meeting of 29 September 2010.

6. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:

  • The Bus Lanes Order (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 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 proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 8 September 2010:

  • The Parking Places on Roads (Lisburn) (No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Prohibition of Right-Hand Turn (Newry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The One-Way Traffic (Downpatrick) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking Places, Loading Bay and Waiting Restrictions (Armagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Portglenone) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Taxis (Lisburn) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) (Amendment No. 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The One-Way Traffic (Portglenone) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking Places on Roads (Lurgan) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking Places and Loading Bays on Roads (Londonderry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Waiting Restrictions (Lurgan) (No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Lisburn Road, Ballynahinch (Abandonment) Order (NI) 2010;
  • The Cycle Tracks ( Castlewellan Road A50, Newcastle) Order (NI) 2010;
  • The Loading Bays (Amendment) Order (NI) 2010; and
  • The Tullyrain Road (Route A26), Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (NI) 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:

  • 2010/293 The Trunk Road T8 (A31) (Magherafelt Bypass) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on this statutory rule in his Second Report to the Assembly for the 2010-11 Session, to be published on 24 September 2010.

Members considered the following statutory rules which were laid in the Assembly’s Business Office by the Department for Regional Development and are subject to the negative resolution procedure. Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules reported on these rules in the First Report to the Assembly for the 2010/11 session:

  • 2010/241 The Airfield Road Lower, Donneymore (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/242 The Devonshire Way, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/243 The Glensharragh Park, Castlereagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/244 The Seahill Road, Holywood (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/245 The Access Road to the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/254 The Depot Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/255 The Park Drive / Hamilton Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/260 The Moy Road (Route A29) and Drumcairn Road, Armagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
  • 2010/269 The St. Julian’s Way, Omagh (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.

In the absence of any objection, the following questions were put and agreed:

  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/241 The Airfield Road Lower, Donneymore (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/242 The Devonshire Way , Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/243 The Glensharragh Park, Castlereagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/244 The Seahill Road , Holywood (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/245 The Access Road to the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’

All those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Fred Cobain, Danny Kinahan, Billy Leonard, Fra McCann, Ian McCrea, Conall McDevitt and Michelle McIlveen.

Those against: None.

All Members present voted. No Members present abstained.

12.36pm Mr McCann left the meeting.

The following questions were also put and agreed:

  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/254 The Depot Road , Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/255 The Park Drive / Hamilton Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/260 The Moy Road (Route A29) and Drumcairn Road, Armagh (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/269 The St. Julian’s Way, Omagh (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’

All those in favour: Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Fred Cobain, Danny Kinahan, Billy Leonard, Ian McCrea, Conall McDevitt and Michelle McIlveen.

Those against: None.

All Members present voted. No Members present abstained.

Members decided that the Committee Clerk would inform the Business Office of the decisions made today.

Agreed: Members also considered the following statutory rule, which was laid in the Assembly’s Business Office by the Department for Regional Development and is subject to the negative resolution procedure, and agreed to defer final consideration of the rule to the meeting of 22 September 2010, pending receipt of the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ report:

  • 2010/281 The Fulton Street, Belfast (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
7. Correspondence

Members noted the September 2010 edition of AgendaNI

Members noted the Department for Regional Development’s Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010 .

Members noted the following press releases:

  • DOE News release – “Rethink resource usage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ”;
  • DOE News release – “Guidance on rural planning policy PPS 21 published ”;
  • DRD News release –“ Minister disappointed in delay to Civil Service Cycle to Work Scheme ”;
  • DRD News release – “Minister progresses action plan for Rathlin ”; and
  • DRD News release – “Rock netting works on the A2 Coast Road, Larne at Garron Point to commence ”.
8. Any Other Business

T8 (A31) Magherafelt Bypass
Agreed: The Committee noted the announcement by the Minister for Regional Development in relation to Statutory Orders for the A31 Magherafelt Bypass. Members also noted a report on the public inquiry into the Department’s proposal for the T8 (A31) Magherafelt Bypass and a statement by the Department on the report tabled at the meeting. Members agreed to raise the issue at a future meeting of the Committee, if necessary.

Minister’s Statement to the Assembly on 13 September 2010 on Northern Ireland Water
Members discussed the statement from the Minister for Regional Development to the Assembly on 13 September 2010 and agreed to defer consideration of the matter to the meeting of 22 September 2010.

Rathlin Island Ferry
Agreed: A Member of the Committee discussed concerns raised by a member of the public in relation to the Rathlin Island Ferry and the Committee agreed to consider the issue further at the meeting of 29 September 2010.

Forward Work Programme
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.

9. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 22 September 2010, at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43pm.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
22 September 2010

08 September 10 / Menu

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