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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 29 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
George Robinson MLA

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

Apologies:
Trevor Lunn MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.43am in open session.

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

Members also noted a briefing paper from the Assembly Bill Clerk in relation to Clause 45 of the Transport Bill.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Draft Minutes of meeting held on 22 September 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed, subject to amendment, for publication on the Assembly’s website.

3. Matters Arising

  • Agreed: Members considered correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the Rathlin Island Ferry procurement process and agreed to forward all information received to date on this matter to the member of the public who raised the issue. The Committee also agreed to write to the Central Procurement Division of the Department of Finance and Personnel seeking clarification of its consideration of this matter.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to student bus passes.
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in response to issues raised by the Committee during a Departmental briefing on its September monitoring round return.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to issues raised during a briefing from Down District Council on the road infrastructure in the Downpatrick area, and agreed to forward the correspondence to Down District Council for information.
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in response to issues raised by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA).
  • Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to issues raised during its briefing to the Committee on the Regional Development Strategy and agreed to defer further consideration of the correspondence until the draft Regional Development Strategy is published.
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, and a research paper from Assembly Research and Library Services, in relation to the appointment of non-Executive Directors at Northern Ireland Water and the public appointment process in Northern Ireland.
  • Agreed: The Committee discussed and agreed, for issue, correspondence to the Consumer Council on its decision to withdrawn from its partnership with Northern Ireland Water.

4. Departmental briefing on the Transport Bill

10.46am Ms McIlveen left the meeting.
11.00am Mr Robinson joined the meeting.

Members noted that the Committee’s motion for extension of the Committee Stage of the Transport Bill was passed in the Assembly on 27 September 2010.

Members also noted arrangements for the Committee’s stakeholder evidence event on 5 October 2010.

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials , Brian White , Sean Johnston and David Strain , on Clauses 23 to 50 of the Transport Bill and the related evidence received during the Committee’s public call for evidence.

11.16am Mr McCann left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on a number of issues raised.

5. Departmental briefing on A5/A8 Road Schemes

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, David Millar, Conor Loughrey and Colin Hutchinson, on the A5/A8 Road Schemes.

Mr Bresland stated his concerns in relation to the consultation process with local farmers and residence affected by the A5 Road Scheme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward 2 items of correspondence on this matter, from members of the public, to the Minister for comment. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on a number of issues raised.

The Committee noted the following proposals to make subordinate legislation in relation to the schemes:

  • The Trunk Roads T3 and T6 (Western Transport Corridor) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and The Private Accesses at A5 Western Transport Corridor (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
  • The Trunk Road T9 (Coleman's Corner to Ballyrickard Road) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and The Private Accesses (A8 Belfast to Larne Dual Carriageway (Coleman's Corner to Ballyrickard Road)) Stopping-Up Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

6. PSA Targets 2008-11 and Efficiency Delivery Plan 2008-11: 1 st Quarter Monitoring for 2010-11

Agreed: Members noted the Department’s first quarter monitoring for 2010-11 of its PSA Targets 2008-11 and Efficiency Delivery Plan 2008-11, and agreed to write to the Department indicating that the Committee did not have any issues to raise in relation to the updates but did reiterate its concerns in relation to funding for structural road maintenance.

7. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:

  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.8) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
  • The Cycle Racing on Roads (Amendment) Regulations (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.

Agreed: In relation to “The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010”, t he Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting an update on the resolution of the objections received to the rule.

Agreed: In relation to “ The Cycle Racing on Roads (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010”, the Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure requesting its views on the detail of the proposals. The Committee also agreed to forward correspondence on this issue, from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, to the Minister for response.

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule:

  • 2010/316 The Back Streets at Alliance Drive and Alliance Gardens, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules reported on this statutory rule in his Second Report to the Assembly for the 2010-11 Session, and raised no issues in relation to this rule.

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 his Second Report to the Assembly for the 2010/11 session and raised no issues in relation to the rules:

  • 2010/317 The Glebe Road, Annahilt (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/318 The Northwood, Lurgan (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • 2010/319 The Bank Parade, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
  • 2010/320 The Belfast Road (A3), Dollingstown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 .

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

  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/317 The Glebe Road , Annahilt (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/318 The Northwood, Lurgan (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/319 The Bank Parade, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’
  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/320 The Belfast Road (A3), Dollingstown (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 George Robinson.

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.

Members 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. Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules reported on this rule in the Second Report to the Assembly for the 2010/11 session, and made no comment:

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

Mr McCrea indicated his intention to vote against this rule as he has significant concerns in relation to the outstanding issues on this scheme.

The following question was put and agreed:

  • ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/293 The Trunk Road T8 (A31) (Magherafelt Bypass) 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, Conall McDevitt and George Robinson.

Those against: Ian McCrea.

All Members present voted. No Members present abstained.

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

8. Correspondence

  • The Committee noted correspondence from Belfast International Airport announcing its award of Best UK Airport in the Holiday Extras Customers’ Awards 2010.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from McNeill Architectural Consultancy in relation to the successful planning appeal on interpretation of PPS21 CTY 10 Policy.

Members noted an invitation from AgendaNI to its Infrastructure Investment Seminar on Thursday 4 th 2010;

Members noted the WWF NI’s report on energy round table.

Members noted the following Departmental press release:

  • “Appointments to Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Board ”;
  • “Car sharing saves over £1 million”; and
  • “Travel plan to help relieve congestion”.

9. 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.

Agreed: Members discussed the issue of tree cutting and building height in the area around Belfast International Airport. The Committee agreed to request a meeting with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority and to defer final consideration of this matter to the meeting of 5 October 2010.

10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 October 2010, at 4.15pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.59am.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
5 October 2010

22 September 10 / Menu

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