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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Billy Armstrong MLA
Cathal Boylan MLA
Anna Lo 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:
Allan Bresland MLA
Billy Leonard MLA
George Robinson MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.16am in open session.

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

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

Members agreed to defer consideration of the minutes of the last meeting and matters arising until later in the meeting, to allow maximum time for the planned evidence sessions.

2. Departmental briefings on water and sewerage services governance issues

10.19am Mr McDevitt joined the meeting.
10.25am Mr McCrea joined the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials John Mills, Stuart Wightman and Andrew Grieve on the Memoranda of Understanding laid in the Assembly under Article 11 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 .

Agreed: The Committee also received a briefing from Departmental officials Gary Fair and John Mills on the Governance Letter to Northern Ireland Water .

10.47am Mr Armstrong left the meeting.
10.55am Mr McCann left the meeting.

10.58am Mr McCann returned to the meeting.

3. Ministerial briefing on the draft water and sewerage services Bill

11.05am Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee received a briefing from the Minister for Regional Development and from Departmental officials John Mills and Stuart Wightman on the draft Water and Sewerage Services Bill .

11.27am Mr McCrea left the meeting.

11.48am Mr McCrea returned to the meeting.

11.50am Mr McDevitt left the meeting.

4. Briefing from the Utility Regulator on Water and Sewerage Services governance issues

12.00pm Mr McDevitt returned to the meeting.
12.00pm Mr Armstrong left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee received a briefing from Shane Lynch and Jo Aston of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) on the Memorandum of Understanding, laid in the Assembly under Article 11 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, between the Department and the NIAUR, the draft Water and Sewerage Services Bill and on other governance issues .

12.11pm Mr McCann left the meeting.
12.17pm Miss McIlveen left the meeting.
12.22pm Miss McIlveen returned to the meeting.
12.29pm Mr McCann returned to the meeting.

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

Following further discussion on the Water and Sewerage Services Bill, Mr McCann proposed the following motion:

“that the Water and Sewerage Services Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure”.

The motion was seconded by Mr Boylan.

The Committee divided: Ayes 2; N oes 4; Abstentions 1.

Ayes: Mr Boylan and Mr McCann.

Noes: Ms Lo, Mr McCrea, Mr McDevitt and Miss McIlveen.

Abstentions: Mr Cobain.

The motion therefore failed.

12.41pm Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Regional Development, informing him of this decision.

12.44pm Mr Boylan and Mr McCann left the meeting.

5. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:

  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.6) (Northern Ireland);
  • The Road Races (Gortin Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Spelga Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • Proposed Parking Places and Waiting Restrictions (Moy) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Craigantlet Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 - Newry; and
  • The Road Races (Eagles Rock Hill Climb) 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 considered the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 9 February 2011:

  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Parking Places on Roads (Londonderry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Prohibition of Traffic (North Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Loading Bays (Amendment No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order (northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Parking Places on Roads (Newry) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Cycle Routes (Amendment no.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 - Omagh;
  • The Parking Places on Roads (Castlederg) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Private Access at No.168 Dublin Road, Loughbrickland (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011; and
  • Proposed Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations (Exemption) Regulations (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.

6. Correspondence
  • Members noted the latest newsletter from the House of Lords EU Committee.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the winding down of the Sustainable Development Commission and the OFMDFM succession plan.
  • Agreed: Members noted the consultation document and a Written Ministerial Statement from the Regional Development Minister on the Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland – Framework for Collaboration and agreed that that outcome of the consultation should be a matter for the Committee in the next mandate.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to its inquiry into sport and physical activity and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted a press release from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the announcement of a public inquiry into the A5 road scheme and agreed to continue with a scheduled briefing on this issue from the Alternative A5 Alliance on 2 March 2011.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development on the North South Ministerial Council meeting held in Transport Sector format on 9 February 2011.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted an offer from the Consumer Council to brief the Committee on the content of its report on the water crisis and agreed to schedule a briefing during March 2011.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Department and a public advert for the recruitment of the Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC).

Members noted the Equality Commission’s February 2011 newsletter.

The Committee noted Roads Service’s Annual Report and Accounts.

The Committee noted a statement from Northern Ireland Water on the recent interruption to water supply in Kilkeel.

Members noted a press release from Translink on the Metro bilingual passenger information consultation.

Members also noted a press release from Translink on its appointment of construction firm FP McCann for a £1.3m project.

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.

8. Draft Minutes of meetings held on 9 February 2011

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

9. Matters Arising
  • Agreed: Members noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the appointment of the interim Chairperson and non-Executive Directors of Northern Ireland Water and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department and Northern Ireland Water for comment.
  • The Committee noted a report from NICVA and PricewaterhouseCoopers providing comment on the Northern Ireland Draft Budget 2011-2015.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development, dated 10 February 2011, in relation to the 2010-11 Spring Supplementary Estimates.
  • Agreed: Members considered and agreed a response to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, on the Northern Ireland Executive Economic Strategy – Priorities for Sustainable Growth consultation document .
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Shareholder Unit in the Department for Regional Development providing correction and clarification on evidence to the Committee on 19 January 2011 on the water crisis.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to the reorganisation of Roads Service section offices.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development providing clarification on a number of issues discussed during the evidence session to the Committee on the Draft Budget on 9 February 2011 and agreed to defer consideration of the correspondence to the meeting of 23 February 2011.
  • The Committee noted 2 items of correspondence from the Department for Regional Development in relation to its February monitoring round return.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Regeneration Strategy Board for Derry-Londonderry on the Draft Budget.
  • Agreed: The Committee considered and agreed, subject to amendment, a response to the Minister for Regional Development on the Department’s spending and savings proposals for the Draft Budget.
10. Consideration of draft Committee report on “Transport Matters” event

Agreed: For reasons of time, Members deferred consideration of the draft of the Committee’s report on the “Transport Matters” event, held on 12 January 2011, to the meeting of 23 February 2011.

11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 February 2011 at 9.30am in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.58pm.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
23 February 2011

09 February 2011 / Menu

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