PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 14 MARCH 2001
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules
4. Regional Development Strategy (RDS)
5. Any other business
6. Date of next meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr D Ervine
Absent:
Mr D Hussey
Mr P McNamee
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)
The meeting commenced at 10.44am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2001 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Ring of Gullion.
The Department's reply is awaited.
(b) Proposed closure of the Antrim to Knockmore railway line.
Mr Hay joined the meeting at 10.47am.
Agreed: That the Committee will await the Department's proposed Equality Impact Assessment before receiving evidence sessions.
(c) Review of Roads and Water Services.
Agreed: That the one-day seminar to discuss the review of the Roads and Water Services will take place on 28 March 2001 in Clarence Court.
(d) Northern Ireland Audit Office Report (NIAO) - Road Openings.
The Committee will have the opportunity to discuss this matter after the Department has responded to the report which the Public Accounts Committee will produce in response to the NIAO report.
(e) Titanic Quarter Leases
The Committee noted the response from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
(f) Closures of the Belfast to Dublin railway line.
The Committee noted the report from Translink detailing the dates and reasons for the closures of the line.
3. Statutory Rules
(a) 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.
(b) The Committee considered the Statutory Rule:
Route U3316 Ballyhacket Lane, Castlerock (Abandonment) 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.
(c) The Committee considered three Statutory Rules, subject to negative resolution, which have been made and laid in the Assembly.
Question Put and Agreed: That the Regional Development Committee has considered the Statutory Rule 053/2001 -
Route B7 Chapel Hill Road, Mayobridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule.
Question Put and Agreed: That the Regional Development Committee has considered the Statutory Rule 060/2001 -
Route A26 Larne Road Link, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule.
4. Regional Development Strategy (RDS)
The Committee decide its response to the final draft of the RDS.
Agreed: That the response on the elements relevant to the Regional Development Committee will be sent to the Minister.
That the Chairman and Deputy Chairman will meet the Minister and discuss the issues raised.
That the responses from the other Committees, if received, will be discussed at the meeting on 28 March 2001.
5. AOB
(a) Inquiry into Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
The Committee noted the letter from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee advising that it will be undertaking an Inquiry into PPPs.
Agreed: That the Committee would have no input at this stage but would await the report with interest.
(b) Use of bus lanes by taxis and motor cycles.
The Committee considered a letter from the Northern Ireland Cycling Initiative (NICI) expressing concern about proposals to allow taxis and motor cycles to use bus and cycle lanes.
Agreed: That motor bikes should not use bus and cycle lanes. That public hire taxis should be allowed to use bus lanes to facilitate speedier public transport.
That public hire taxis must be clearly identifiable.
That the use of public hire taxis of bus lanes should be carefully regulated and monitored.
(c) Press notice from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).
The Committee noted the press announcement from John Prescott announcing additional money to improve rural buses and the information from the Department about funding already allocated to rural transport here.
(d) Road Scheme Priority List.
The Committee welcomed the response from the Department detailing the Roads Major Work Schemes and the factors determining when they will be completed.
Mr McFarland left the meeting at 11.52am.
Agreed: That the Committee strongly supports the Department's bid for additional resources from the Executive Programme Funds to finance the schemes.
That the Department be asked to provide regular updates on progress on the schemes.
That the Committee is concerned at the possible delays that might effect some of the schemes resulting from the Alconbury case against the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.01pm.
(e) Report on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland.
The Committee will examine the recommendations, relevant to Regional Development, made in the report of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That information be obtained on the workings of independent agencies which look at areas where Government Departments and Agencies have not complied with regulations, such as illegal discharge of effluent into rivers.
6. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 21 March 2001 at 10.30am. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.03pm.