PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2001
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. GMB report into transport
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 J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
Mr P Doran (Assembly Research Team)
Ms L Wilson (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting commenced at 10.32am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2001 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Roads Service Pay Negotiations.
The Committee discussed the Department's reply.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to provide additional information about:
(i) how many people were employed on temporary contracts in each of the five years preceding the change in policy on temporary contracts which occurred in July 1999;
(ii) how many were employed for more than one year: and
(iii) what area of the Roads Service they were employed in.
(b) GMB report into transport.
Agreed: That GMB be asked to provide its report in advance of the briefings on the issuing of bus licences due to take place at the meeting on 31 January 2001.
3. Presentation on the Department's Winter Services
The Minister and officials from the Roads and Water Services joined the meeting at 10.42am. The Officials were:
Mr Graeme Fraser Director of Operations, Roads Service
Mr John Kelly Director of Operations, Water Service.
Mr Hutchinson joined the meeting at 10.44am.
Mr Fraser gave a presentation on the winter services provided by the Roads Service and the problems it had encountered during the severe weather from 27 December 2000 to 31 December 2000. He and the Minister then responded to Members questions.
Mr Byrne joined the meeting at 10.53am.
The Chairman left the meeting at 11.05am.
The Deputy Chairman took the Chair at this point.
Mr Byrne left the meeting at 11.58am.
Mr Kelly gave a presentation on the winter services provided by the Water Service and how it had coped in the aftermath of the severe weather and the thaw which occurred on 31 December 2000. He and the Minister responded to Members' questions.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 12.20pm.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 12.20pm.
The Minister announced that he would be carrying out a review of Roads Service's policy on keeping roads accessible during periods of severe weather conditions. He expects the review to be completed in June 2001 and will involve the Committee at all stages of it. Officials will meet the Committee when necessary to brief Members on progress. The Deputy Chairman thanked the Minister and his officials for their presentation.
In relation to the launch of the consultation document on the Regional Transportation Strategy, the Deputy Chairman acknowledged the useful presentation given to the Committee on 20 December 2000 outlining many of the key issues in the Strategy. He expressed, however, some concern that the Committee had not received advanced notification of today's launch of the consultation paper. The Minister agreed to enquire into how this had happened but reassured the Committee that his Department was anxious to keep the Committee fully informed.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 12.29pm. at which point the meeting adjourned.
The meeting recommenced at 12.33pm.
4. Port of Belfast
The Deputy Chairman advised Members that the Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel has written to the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) supporting the Committee's request for officials from DFP to attend the meeting on 24 January 2001 to answer Members' questions on the Minister for Finance and Personnel's letter on the public expenditure aspects of the Port of Belfast issue.
The Committee discussed the latest events in the matter.
Agreed: That a meeting between the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman and the Belfast Harbour Commissioners would be arranged to discuss developments.
5. AOB
(a) Public transport.
The Committee discussed a letter from Mrs Jean Forbes recommending that Members inspect the system of suburban railways and park and ride facilities in Glasgow.
Agreed: That a written submission be obtained from Mrs Forbes and from Hilary Howatt, the Planning Manager of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive in Glasgow.
(b) Antrim-Knockmore railway line.
The Committee discussed the Minister's letter about the possible closure of the line.
Agreed: That additional information would be obtained and the matter discussed further at next week's meeting.
(c) Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) studies into Road Openings for utilities and Water Services.
Agreed: That the NIAO be asked
(i) when the reports on the studies can be expected. (ii) Should the Committee be consulted about such studies?
6. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 24 January 2001 at 10.30am. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.48pm.