Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 29 November 2000
in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules
4. Port of Belfast
5. Any Other Business
6. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young ( Administrative Support)
Apologies:
Mr J Wells
The meeting commenced at 10.48am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2000 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Implications of using private bus companies for public transport.
The Chairman of the Environment Committee has agreed that the Committee can call officials from the Department of Environment (DOE) to discuss the matter.
Agreed: That officials from the DOE, representatives of Translink and the General Consumer Council will be asked to attend a meeting of the Committee in January 2001.
(b) Railways - Proposed visit to the Chilterns Railways.
Committee staff are finalising the arrangements for the visit.
Agreed: That the programme should be revised to include a visit to a light rail system which operates close to Birmingham.
(c) Brownfield sites.
The Committee discussed further the report produced by the Assembly's research team.
Agreed: That representatives of the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group will be asked to attend a meeting of the Committee to discuss brownfield sites.
That the Chairman and Deputy Chairman will choose any other witnesses, if required.
(d) Additional meetings
Agreed: That the Committee will meet on 20 December 2000 to discuss the draft Regional Transportation Strategy.
(e) Tax on lorries entering U.K.
Concerns were raised about the implications for the Ports in Northern Ireland of the proposal to introduce a tax on lorries entering the U.K.
Agreed: That more information will be obtained about the proposal and which Department has the lead in the matter.
3. Statutory Rules
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 330/2000-
Route U1071 Steeple Road, Antrim (Abandonment) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule"
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 337/2000-
Torrens Gardens, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule"
The Committee noted two tables listing Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make. The first table listed Rules which do not have to be laid in the Assembly and the second table listed Rules which are subject to negative resolution and which will be sent to the Committee for scrutiny when laid.
4. Port of Belfast
At 11.11am Dr. Alf Baird from Napier University in Edinburgh joined the meeting and presented to the Committee a critique of the Department's economic appraisal on the options for the future of the Port of Belfast. He answered Members questions arising from the presentation.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.34am.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.56am.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 12.04pm.
Mr Hutchinson returned at 12.10pm.
The Chairman thanked Dr Baird for his assistance and he left the meeting at 12.17pm.
Mr McFarland left the meeting at 12.17pm.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 12.18pm.
Agreed: That the Committee will meet the Belfast Harbour Users Group; the Belfast Harbour Commissioners; and the Department and PricewaterhouseCoopers at its meeting on 13 December 2000.
The meeting returned to Matters Arising.
(f) Department's responsibilities in relation to planning issues
The Department's reply was distributed to Members.
(g) Larne Lough Initiative.
Agreed: That the Committee will look at this issue early next year, when the papers are available.
Mr Ervine returned at 12.25pm.
(h) Programme for Government
The Committee will discuss the Minister's letter in response to the Chairman's letter of 10 November 2000 at the next meeting.
(i) Trade Union submission on public transport
The Union's report is still awaited.
5. AOB
(a) The Chairman informed Members of the resignation of Mr John Taylor MP from the Committee with effect from 22 November 2000. His replacement is not yet known.
(b) The Chairman and Deputy Chairman will meet Mr Michael Ryan from Bombardier Aerospace early next week to discuss the issue of lands currently leased by Shorts from Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
(c) Members were handed letters from the Department dealing with
(i) the rationalisation of sewer maintenance in Belfast; and
(ii) pay negotiations in the Roads Service.
6. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 13 December 2000 at 10.00am. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.28pm.