Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday, 7 February 2001
in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Staturory Rules
3. Public Service Agreements
4. Matters Arising
5. Port of Belfast
6. New TSN
7. AOB
8. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr P McNamee
Mr G Savage
Mr J Wells
Apologies:
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
The meeting commenced at 10.33am. and was chaired by the Deputy Chairman,
The Chairman had sent an apology that he would be late.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2001 were agreed.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 10.36am.
2. Statutory Rules
- The Committee noted the response from the Department which confirmed that Statutory Rules are needed to impose weight restrictions on roads. The Rules do not have to be laid in the Assembly. Statutory Rules are not required for temporary weight restrictions or for weight restrictions on bridges.
- The Committee noted the details of a Statutory Rule which the Department intends to make. It does not have to be laid in the Assembly.
- The Committee discussed the Statutory Rule:
- The Committee discussed two Statutory Rules which have been laid in the Assembly.
Proposed Trunk Road T4 (Greenan to Corgary) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
The Department intends to make this Rule which is subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rule.
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 007/2001-
Highfield Grove, etc., Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule".
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 011/2001-
Strone Park, Dundonald (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule".
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 10.46am.
The meeting moved to public session.
3. Public Service Agreements
The Minister joined the meeting at 10.46am. He was accompanied by the following officials;
Mr Graeme Fraser Acting Chief Executive, Roads Service
Mr Jack McGibbon Director, Finance Division
Dr Malcolm McKibbon Director, Regional Transportation Strategy
Mr Jim Devenney Water Service
Mr John McNeill Roads Service
Mr Keith Walsh Transport Policy Branch
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 10.50am.
They gave a presentation on the Department's draft Pubic Service Agreement and answered Members questions on it. The Officials agreed to provide a list of Road Schemes detailing what stage they were at.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.29am.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 11.44am.
The meeting returned to private session
Agreed: That the Clerk will prepare a response to the Minister incorporating the Committee's comments about the draft PSA.
4. Matters arising from previous meeting
- Bus licences.
- there may be implications for the Regional Transportation Strategy if more licences are issued;
- the Department of Environment should consult with the Department for Regional Development before issuing any further licences.
The Committee discussed the points raised at the last meeting about the issuing of bus licences to private companies.
Agreed: That the Clerk will write to the Department pointing out that:
That the Chairman will raise the concerns with the Minister.
That the Committee will return to the issue in its consideration of the Regional Transportation Strategy.
5. (a) Port of Belfast
The Committee considered the issue further. A letter from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) is expected before next week's meeting.
Agreed: That the Committee will consider the submission from BHC and a draft response to the Minister at a special committee meeting next week.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 12.15pm.
Mr Maginness joined the meeting at 12.15pm.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.15pm.
- Draft Harbour legislation.
The Committee received proposals from the Department to amend the legislation governing the powers of the trust ports in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To ask the Department to provide details of the current legislation and to compare it with the new proposals at the special meeting next week.
6. New TSN
The Committee received a report from the Department detailing progress on its action plan for new TSN.
Agreed: To raise with the Department the need, from a strategic perspective, to support the Rural Transport Community Partnerships through the maintenance of and improvements to the rural road network infrastructure.
7. AOB
- Strabane District Council.
- Conventions between Departments and Committees.
- Titanic Quarter lease.
Members discussed the request from Strabane District Council to meet the Committee to discuss road gritting in its Council area.
Agreed: That the Council be advised that the Committee is awaiting the review ordered by the Minister into road gritting.
That the Council be invited to meet the Committee when it visits the Northwest on a date to be arranged in the near future.
The Committee discussed the letter from the Permanent Secretary explaining the context of the letter leaked to the press on this issue.
Mr Hay left the meeting at 12.40pm.
Agreed: That the onus is on the Department to keep the Committee informed of issues.
That the Committee acknowledged the efforts made by the Department to involve it from the outset on the key strategic issues, as well as involving it in the consultation process at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Committee discussed recent reports that the lease of the Titanic Quarter was being sold.
Agreed: That Belfast Harbour Commissioners be asked about the implications for Harland and Wolff core land of any sale of the lease.
8. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 14 February 2001 at 10.30am. in Clarence Court, Adelaide Street, Belfast. The meeting will be followed by a workshop on the Regional Transportation Strategy.
The meeting closed at 12.50pm.