NI Assembly Banner

Homepage > The Work of the Assembly > Committees > Regional Development > Minutes

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2011
LONG GALLERY, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Billy Armstrong MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Anna Lo 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
Billy Leonard MLA
Ian McCrea MLA

The meeting commenced at 10.12am 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 16 February 2011

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

3. Matters Arising

  • Agreed: Members considered and agreed, subject to amendment, a report on the Committee’s event to launch of the “Transport Matters” Report on Wednesday 12 January 2011 . The Committee also agreed to publish the report on the Assembly website and to forward the report to the Minister for Regional Development and Translink for comment.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Consumer Council offering to provide briefing on its report on the water crisis and decided to schedule a briefing on 2 March 2011.
  • Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Civil Aviation Authority in relation to the Department for Regional Development’s proposed Control Over Land Orders for Belfast International Airport and the City of Derry Airport and general aviation issues. Members decided to schedule a meeting, on 1 March 2011, for Members of the Committee to discuss the issue with Departmental officials and to decide how to progress the matter. These Members will report back to the Committee on this matter.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development providing clarification and further information following the briefing on 9 February 2011 on the Draft Budget relating to the Port of Belfast.
  • Members noted correspondence from the Consumer Council in relation to the Water and Sewerage Services Bill.
  • Agreed: Members noted Sustrans’ response to the Department for Regional Development on the Draft Budget and its Equality Impact Assessment and decided to consider the Sustrans response as part of the Committee’s report on the Draft Budget .
  • Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Dungiven Bypass Committee on the Draft Budget and decided to consider the correspondence as part of the Committee’s report on the Draft Budget .
  • Agreed: Members noted IMTAC’s response to the Department for Regional Development on the Draft Budget and its Equality Impact Assessment and on the Equality Impact Assessment for the Department’s arrangements for the purchase of rail tickets using the half fare Smartpass and decided to consider IMTAC’s Draft Budget response as part of the Committee’s report on the Draft Budget .
  • The Committee noted correspondence from Belfast Harbour Commissioners in relation to the release of resources from the harbour.
  • Agreed: The Committee considered a draft of its report on the Draft Budget. Members decided to forward suggested amendments to the Committee office by 25 February 2011 and to consider a revised report, incorporating the proposed amendments, at the meeting of 2 March 2011.
  • The Committee noted a statement from the Minister for Regional Development on the North/South Ministerial Council Transport Sector meeting of 9 February 2011.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development on the draft Water and Sewerage Services Bill and decided to write to the Minister providing clarification on the decision taken by the Committee at the meeting of 16 February 2011.

10.30am Ms Lo left the meeting.

  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Utility Regulator on its memorandum of understanding with the Department and the draft Water and Sewerage Services Bill.
  • The Committee noted a paper from Assembly Research and Library Service on the use of audio visual technologies on public transport.

4. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation:

  • The Road Races (Mid-Antrim 150) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Road Races (Benbradagh Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • The Parking Places on Roads (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011; and
  • The Road Races (Tyrone Rally) 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.

10.31am Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
10.31am Ms McIlveen left the meeting.

Members considered the following Departmental proposals to make subordinate legislation, which were noted at the Committee meeting on 16 February 2011:

  • The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • 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.

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:

  • 2011/32 The Tullyrain Road (Route A26), Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011;
  • 2011/33 The Back Street at Carrick Hill and Library Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011; and
  • 2011/34 The Candahar Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Members noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will report on these statutory rules in his Eleventh Report to the Assembly for the 2010-11 Session, to be published on 25 February 2011.

5. Correspondence

  • Agreed: Members noted the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Action Plan from the Environment Committee and agreed to forward the plan to the Department for Regional Development for comment.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to House of Lords European Activities.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to European Engagement.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development and from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to a Legislative Consent Motion on the Public Bodies Bill.
  • The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission and the OFMDFM succession plan.
  • Members noted an invitation from AgendaNI to its “Crisis Communications” seminar on 14 April 2011 in the Grand Opera House, Belfast.

10.32am Mr McDevitt left the meeting.

Members noted the following Departmental press releases:

  • Minister Murphy launches design a sticker competition for walk to school week;
  • Minister Welcomes £8.6 Million for City of Derry Airport safety works; and
  • Minister welcomes additional £9 Million for roads maintenance schemes.

Members noted the following press releases from Northern Ireland Water:

  • Pipes still need to be protected;
  • Burst watermain – Lincoln Park Londonderry;
  • Unexploded shells in the Mournes; and
  • Burst watermain – Lincoln Court Londonderry.

6. 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.

Agreed: A Member raised concerns in relation to the Dungiven Bypass and the Committee decided to consider the issue at the meeting of 2 March 2011, and circulate the papers tabled today in advance of that meeting.

7. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 March 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 10.33am.

Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

2 March 2011

16 February 2011 / Menu

Contact Us           Jobs            Sitemap            Links           Search            RSS Feeds