COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2010
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

The meeting commenced at 10.47am in open session.

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 5 October 2010

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

3, Matters Arising

• Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 5 October 2010, in relation to the delay in introducing the Cycle to Work Scheme in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure for information and to raise Members’ concerns on this issue with the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
• Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 6 October 2010, in relation to proposed changes in cycle racing legislation and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
• Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 7 October 2010, in relation to the Department of Justice’s consultation on Bribery Prevention Procedures and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Justice.
• Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 7 October 2010, in relation to the Regional Development Strategy and agreed to write to the Department raising Members’ concerns.

4. DOE Consultation on the Review of Operator Licensing

Agreed: The Committee considered and agreed its submission to the Committee for the Environment on the Department of the Environment’s Review of Bus Operator Licensing.

5. Department for Regional Development’s Equality Unit Progress Report

The Committee noted correspondence and the Section 75 Annual Progress Report to the Equality Commission 2009-2010 from the Department for Regional Development; a research paper on the Equality Commission’s guidance on the Section 75 Duty; and the Department’s latest Quarterly Progress Report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further information from the Department and to schedule a Departmental briefing on its new Equality Scheme following consultation on the new draft Equality Scheme and Action Plan.

6. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:

• The One-Way Traffic ( Belfast) (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Parking Places on Roads ( Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Parking and Waiting Restrictions ( Belfast) (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010;
• The Street Works (Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
• The Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) (2010 Act) (Commencement No.1) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2011.

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 noted the following European Directive that the Departmental for Transport (DfT) proposes to make subordinate legislation on:

• Directive 2008/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Road Infrastructure Safety Management.

Members considered the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 5 October 2010:

• The Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010; and
• The Bramblewood Grove (Footway) (Abandonment) 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 considered the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 29 September 2010:

• 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.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of these SL1s.

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 Third Report to the Assembly for the 2010/11 session, published on 8 October 2010:

• 2010/331 The Bog Road, Ballygowan (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.

In the absence of any objections, the following question was put and agreed:

• ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/331 The Bog Road , Ballygowan (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.’

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

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rule:

• 2010/342 The Sunninghill Gardens, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on this statutory rule in his Fourth Report to the Assembly for the 2010-11 Session, to be published on 22 October 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek clarification on issues raised in relation to this rule before making its final decision at the meeting of 3 November 2010.

7. Correspondence

• Agreed: Members noted a research paper from Assembly Research and Library Service on NICVA’s Comprehensive Spending Review Series.
• Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Rainbow Project and the Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative (LASI) on relation to the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for consideration.

Members noted Sustrans’ report “Moving forward: A year of delivering smarter travel choices”.

The Committee noted the Northern Ireland Transport Statistics 2009-10.

Members noted an invitation from RTPI / RSPB to the Northern Ireland Sustainable Planning Awards 2010-2011 .

Members noted the following press releases:

• DRD Press release – “Minister welcomes drinking water quality report ”;
• DRD Press release – “Progress on £1.9million structural road maintenance investment in Banbridge ”; and
• Utility Regulator Press release – “Utility Regulator chief executive to take up major role at UK-wide regulator ”.

8. Transport Bill

The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials, Brian White, Anne Breen and Sean Johnston , on the Department’s Review of the Public Transport Reform Outline Business Case.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking clarification on a number of issues raised during briefing by officials. The Committee also agreed to commission a research paper, from Assembly Research and Library Service, on the Department’s Review of the Outline Business Case.

11.33am Mr Cobain left the meeting; Miss McIlveen took the Chair.
11.35am The meeting moved into closed session.
11.52am Mr Kinahan joined the meeting.

Agreed: Members considered the evidence received to date on the Transport Bill and noted the content of the first draft of the Committee’s report to the Assembly.

Agreed: The Committee agreed a number of issues to be clarified in advance of formal consideration of its draft report.

12.19pm Mr Cobain returned to the meeting and took the Chair.
12.28pm Mr McCann left the meeting.
12.34pm Mr McCann returned to the meeting.
12.36pm Mr McCann left the meeting.
12.40pm The meeting returned to open session.

9. Any Other Business

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.

Key Issues and Future Challenges
Agreed: Members noted and agreed arrangements for forthcoming stakeholder events, during January and February 2011, on transport and accessibility; gateways and connectivity; and water and sewerage services.

12.46pm The meeting moved into closed session.

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Sir Jon Shortridge in relation to the independent investigation that resulted from the Public Accounts Committee meeting of 1 July 2010 and agreed to write to Sir Jon Shortridge indicating that the Committee did not feel it appropriate to contribute to the investigation, at this time.

Agreed: The Committee noted that correspondence had been received by a number of MLAs in relation to the purchase of train rolling stock in Northern Ireland and agreed to schedule consideration of this issue until the meeting of 3 November 2010.

10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3 November 2010, at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.52pm.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
3 November 2010

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