COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Billy Armstrong MLA
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland 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 10.33am in open session.
Members welcomed Mr Billy Armstrong to the Committee and also noted the extract of the Register of Members’ Interests relating to Mr Armstrong.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to Mr Kinahan 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 20 October 2010
Agreed : The minutes were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website.
3. Matters Arising
10.36am Mr McCann joined the meeting.
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 11 October 2010, in relation to Budget 2010 spending priorities.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, dated 11 October 2010, in relation to the Cycle Races on Roads (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 18 October 2010, providing clarification on issues raised during the Department’s briefing to the Committee on the reorganisation of Roads Service Section Offices.
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 12 October 2010, in relation to Roads Service’s Car Park Tariff Review 2010.
Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development, dated 25 October 2010, on the implications of the spending review on the Department’s budget.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the gauge of new train rolling stock and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
Agreed: The Committee noted the Department’s draft report on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy and agreed that the Department should proceed to seek Executive approval to publicly consult of the report.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development in relation to the A5 and A6 road schemes and agreed to request a further update on this issue from the Department.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Community Relations Council in relation to OFMDFM’s Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) consultation document and agreed to forward the correspondence to the OFMDFM Committee for consideration.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence and the report from the Department for Regional Development on Northern Ireland Water’s Draft Water Resource Management Plan and agreed to request a written briefing from the Department on the outcome of Northern Ireland Water’s consultation on the plan.
4. Transport Bill
10.38am The meeting moved into closed session.
The Committee received a verbal update on the outcome of the Chairperson’s meeting with the Minister for Regional Development in relation to the Transport Bill on 2 November 2010.
Agreed: The Committee considered a draft of its report on the Transport Bill and agreed further amendments to the draft report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on issues raised and also to write to the Federation of Passenger Transport in relation to issues raised in its correspondence to the Committee.
10.50am Mr McDevitt joined the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider a draft Committee report on its evidence gathering event of 5 October 2010 following completion of Committee Stage of the Transport Bill.
The Committee decided to continue with its consideration of the draft report, from part 5 onwards, at its next meeting.
11.40am The meeting returned to open session.
11.30am Mr McDevitt left the meeting.
5. Departmental update briefing on the review of financial assistance for properties not served by an existing water main
11.44am Mr McDevitt returned to the meeting.
The Committee received an update briefing from Departmental officials , Andrew Grieve and Joanne Adair, on the review of financial assistance for properties not served by an existing water main .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a Departmental briefing, in early 2011, on the outcome of the public consultation on this matter.
6. Departmental briefing on the Review of IMTAC
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials , Jenny Pyper, Alan Preston and Gavin Hamilton , on the KPMG report on the Review of IMTAC .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request copies of the draft report and other additional information on the review process from the Department and to schedule further briefings on this matter from other interested parties, at a date to be agreed.
7. Subordinate Legislation
Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:
- The Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
- The Coolmillish Road (Route B3), Armagh (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- The Cycle Lanes ( Glengall Street and Great Victoria Street, Belfast) (Amendment) 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 proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 20 October 2010:
- 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.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of these SL1s.
Agreed: Members considered Directive 2008/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Road Infrastructure Safety Management and, having noted the additional information provided by the Department, agreed that the Committee would write to the Department, indicating that it was content with the policy merits of the Directive.
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:
- 2010/342 The Sunninghill Gardens, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 .
Members noted the additional information provided by the Department in response to the Committee’s query.
In the absence of any objections, the following question was put and agreed:
- ‘That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2010/342 The Sunninghill Gardens, Belfast (Stopping-Up) 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.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the Department for Regional Development’s Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Dungiven Bypass Committee in relation to funding issues for the Dungiven Bypass.
Agreed: Members noted a news release on Translink’s announcement of its latest bus and rail performance results and agreed to write to Translink seeking additional information in relation to the news release.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Environment Committee in relation to the precautionary principle when placing dwellings near to or under high voltage cables, and the physical risk that this poses. The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
The Committee noted correspondence from Northern Ireland Water in relation to the first edition of the “Sewers and Adoption” publication.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to Northern Ireland Water’s Code of Practice for work on private land and agreed to request a written briefing on the outcome of Northern Ireland Water’s public consultation on the code.
Agreed: The Committee noted that the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has commenced Committee Stage of the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill and agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development requesting an indication of the impact that this Bill will have on its work. The Committee also agreed to seek an extension of the deadline for response to the OFMDFM Committee to allow time to consider the Department’s response.
Agreed: The Committee noted the draft Play and Leisure Implementation Plan and agreed to forward the draft plan to the Department for comment.
Members noted the Department’s report “ Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics: April to June 2010”.
Members noted an invitation from Belfast Healthy Cities to the Launch of its report “Climate Change and Health: Impacts, Inequalities and Action” on 8 November 2010.
Members noted an invitation from the Department for Regional Development to attend the “NICS Live” event on 16 November 2010.
Members noted the following press releases:
- DRD News Release – “Progress on £2.8 Million investment in Down“.
- DRD News Release – “Bid for electric car infrastructure moves ahead“.
- DOE News Release – “Poots announces further improvements in water utility discharges“.
- OFMDFM News Release – “Robinson and McGuinness visit Ballygawley dualling project“.
- DRD News Release – “Murphy calls for ballot box on Rathlin Island to stay“.
- NI Water statement – “Kitty's Road Pollution Incident“.
- DOE News Release - “Northern Ireland Water Ltd fined £700 for pollution offence“
- DRD News Release - “Cross border bridges between Caledon and Glaslough officially opened“
- DRD News Release - “ DRD and DOE sign with Renault-Nissan Alliance to progress electric vehicles“
- DRD News Release - “ Progress on £5.6million investment in Fermanagh“
- DRD News Release - “ M2/A26 Balee Road East dualling scheme opens“
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.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.04pm.
Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
10 November 2010
20 October 10 / Menu
