Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 4 October 2000
in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Declaration of Interests
4. Presentation by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
5. Port of Belfast
6. Railways Task Force Interim Report
7. Statutory Rules
8. Any Other Business
9. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Rt Hon JD Taylor MP
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mrs S Young ( Administrative Support)
Mr P Doran ( Assembly's Research Team)
Absent:
Mr PJ Bradley
The Committee meeting commenced at 10.39am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2000 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
Multinational Retailers.
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.40am.
Mr Taylor joined the meeting at 10.40am.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 10.41am.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 10.42am.
Mr Wells returned at 10.44am.
Mr Hutchinson returned at 10.45am.
The Committee considered the Department's reply and its intention to review policy contained in Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS 5) "Retailing and Town Centres" during the current financial year.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to give urgent consideration to its review of the policy in PPS 5.
3. Declaration of Interests
Mr McNamee declared that he had no interests relevant to the Committee's terms of reference.
The Chairman declared the meeting to be in public session.
4. Presentation by PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Mr Stephen Kingon, Mr Colin Treanor and Mr Chris Rainbird from PriceWaterhouseCoopers joined the meeting at 10.50am. Mr Paul Sweeney, Deputy Secretary, and Ms Roisin Alexander, Principle Officer, from the Department accompanied them. They discussed with the Committee options for involving the private sector in the delivery of public transport in Northern Ireland.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.18am.
Mr Taylor left the meeting at 11.20am.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.25am.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.26am.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 11.48am.
The Chairman thanked the delegation for the presentation and they left at 12.12pm.
Mr Byrne left the meeting at 12.13pm.
Mr Hay joined the meeting at 12.16pm.
5. Port of Belfast
The Committee noted the copy of the letter from Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) to the Minister advising that BHC's preferred option on the Future of the Port is now that of a Trust Port with Extended Powers.
Mr Hutchinson returned at 12.21pm.
Agreed: That the Committee will return to this matter on receipt of the Department's economic appraisal of the options contained in the Options Paper on the Future of the Port of Belfast; and its proposals on Harbour Legislation.
6. Railways Task Force Interim Report
Agreed: That Members will consider further the report and discuss it at next week's meeting.
That a response should be sent to the General Consumer Council.
That further consideration should be given to visiting successful railway networks in Great Britain.
7. Statutory Rules
The Committee noted two further Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make.
8. AOB
Members noted the Roads Service's offer to host a visit from the Committee.
Agreed: That the Clerk will liaise with the Department to make the necessary arrangements.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 11 October 2000 at 10.30pm. in room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.36pm.