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

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)

Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Allan Bresland MLA

Billy Leonard MLA

Conall McDevitt MLA

In Attendance: Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)

Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)

Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Billy Armstrong MLA

Cathal Boylan MLA

Anna Lo MLA

Fra McCann MLA

Ian McCrea MLA

George Robinson MLA

The meeting commenced at 9.35am 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 meetings held on 8 December and 14 December 2010

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

3. Matters Arising

  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the gauge of new train rolling stock .
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the Committee’s request for written briefing on the revised governance letter which was issued to Northern Ireland Water .
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to objections raised to The Candahar Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 .
  • Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development to a member of the public in relation the A6 Randalstown to Troone Dual Carriageway .
  • Agreed: Members noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the A6 Dualling proposal from Dungiven to Londonderry and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
  • Agreed: Members considered and agreed a Committee response to the OFMDFM Committee on the draft Child Poverty Strategy.
  • Members noted correspondence from Northern Ireland Water in relation to the transfer of Account Services Team, currently employed by Echo Managed Services, to Northern Ireland Water.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Education Committee in relation to gritting arrangements for rural schools and agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development on this issue.
  • Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the delay in implementing the Cycle to Work Scheme .

4. The Transport Bill

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) providing clarification on a previously raised issue regarding the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the revised draft of its report to the Assembly on the Transport Bill, section by section.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the executive summary stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the recommendations section stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the introduction section stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the introductory paragraphs on the Consideration of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 1 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clauses 2-5 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 6 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clauses 7-9 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 10 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 11 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 12 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clauses 13-44 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 45 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 46 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clause 47 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of clauses 48-50 of the Bill by the Committee stand part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the paragraphs on the consideration of schedules 1 and 2 of the Bill stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 1, containing the minutes of proceedings, stands part of the report .

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 2, containing the minutes of evidence, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 3, containing the written submissions, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 4, containing the memoranda and papers from the Department for Regional Development, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 5, containing the Assembly research papers, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 6, containing other papers submitted to the Committee, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that appendix 7, listing the stakeholders invited to give evidence, stands part of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the report be the First Report of the Committee for Regional Development for the 2010-11 Session.

Agreed: Members agreed that an extract of the minutes of proceedings of this meeting be included in Appendix A to the report, as unapproved minutes.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report of the Committee for Regional Development on the Transport Bill be ordered to print.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the report be laid in manuscript in the Assembly Business Office on Thursday 16 December 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the report be forwarded to the Minister for Regional Development, in confidence, 3 days prior to its publication.

5. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposal to make subordinate legislation:

  • The Waiting Restrictions (Markethill) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011.

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 December 2010:

  • The Clearway (Route A6, Glenshane Road, Maghera) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Prohibition of Traffic (Rosemount Gardens, Londonderry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010;
  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011; and
  • The waiting Restrictions (Strabane) 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.

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules:

  • 2010/397 The Pennyburn Industrial Estate Service Road, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
  • 2010/403 The Cascum Lane (U4466), Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on these statutory rules in his Eighth Report to the Assembly for the 2010-11 Session, to be published on 14 January 2011.

Members noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to objections received to the Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

6. Correspondence

  • Members noted correspondence from IMTAC in relation to the Department for Regional Development’s consultation on Startpass Ticketing.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Disability Action in relation to the requirement for the needs of disabled people throughout Northern Ireland to be taken into account in the draft budget. The Committee agreed to consider this correspondence as part of the Committee’s work on Budget 2011-15.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to Department’s review of financial assistance for properties not served by an existing water main and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment .
  • The Committee noted a number of press releases and press statements from Northern Ireland Water in relation the ongoing severe winter conditions and a timeline of media interest in relation to frozen pipes.
  • The Committee noted the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland - Investing Activity Report for November 2010 from the OFMDFM Committee.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Health Committee on the Autism Bill and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
  • The Committee noted a statement from Northern Ireland Water in relation to billing and data quality issues.
  • The Committee noted the latest issue of the Shared Space journal from the Community Relations Council.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Freight Transport Association in relation to the draft budget and agreed to consider this correspondence as part of the Committee’s work on Budget 2011-15.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development in relation to the Plugged-in Places initiative.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Social Development Committee in relation to Business Improvement Districts and licensing of pavement cafés and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.

Members noted the following newsletters :

  • Agenda NI, December 2010 / January 2011 edition; and
  • The Equality Commission’s monitoring report for 2009.

Members noted the following press releases :

  • DRD News Release – “ Carshare NW celebrates first birthday ”;
  • DRD News Release – “ Progress on £3.7 Million investment in Armagh ”;
  • DRD News Release – “ Progress on £6.4 Million investment in Lisburn ”;
  • DRD News Release – “ Meeting cancelled – Progress on £3.6 Million investment in Coleraine ”; and
  • Utility Regulator News Release – “ Utility Regulator announces new Chief Executive ”.

7. 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.

The Executive’s Draft Budget

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule briefings on 12 January 2011 from key stakeholders on the Executive’s draft Budget. The Committee also agreed to request a paper from Assembly Research Service on the content of the draft Budget and its implications for the work of the Department for Regional Development.

Winter Gritting

Mr Leonard declared an interest in this issue as a member of Coleraine Borough Council.

Members discussed their concerns in relation to Roads Service’s gritting policy and agreed to write to the Department for Regional Development seeking clarification on issues raised and to consider a future briefing on the issue from Roads Service and NILGA in the new year.

Committee event – 8 December 2010

Members noted that the event to launch the Consumer Council / YouthAction report “Transport Matters”, postponed from 8 December 2010, has been rescheduled for 12 January 2011.

8. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 January 2011, at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 9.58am.

Fred Cobain, MLA
 Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

12 January 2011

14 December 10 / Menu

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