PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 4 JULY 2001
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules
4. Draft Corporate and Business Plans
5. Inquiry into Titanic Quarter leases
6. Welsh Water
7. Regional Planning Policy Statement (RPPS) on Housing in Settlements
8. Drinking Water Quality Report 2000
9. Strategic Planning (NI) Order 1999
10. Correspondence from the Clerk of the ETI Committee
11. Date of next meeting
Present were:
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr P McNamee
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr R Hutchinson
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)
Mrs L Wilson (Assembly Research Team)
Mr H Lowe (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting commenced at 10.34am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2001 were agreed.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 10.36am.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 10.37am.
2. Matters arising
- Budget 2002/03.
- Statutory Rule Ref 1/26/3: Off-Street Parking (Amendment No. 2) Order (NI) 2001.
The Committee considered a draft response to the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Executive's Position Report.
Agreed: That letters should be sent to the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee and to OFMDFM.
Following last week's meeting, a number of questions were sent to the Department regarding the proposal to revise the car parking charges in certain car parks.
Members were issued with the Department's response to the questions and asked to contact the Clerk if they had any comments.
3. Statutory Rules
- The Committee noted four Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make but which will not be laid in the Assembly.
- The Committee considered the Statutory Rules:
- Draft Harbour Orders.
Route A31 Magherafelt Road, Moneymore (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001;
Route A26 Larne Road Link, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001;
Lindenwood Park, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001;
Route DR219 Foyle Avenue, Greysteel (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001;
The Department intends to make these Rules which are subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rules.
Statutory Rule Ref 2/26/5: Trunk Roads T3 and T10 (Omagh Distributor Stage III) Order (NI) 2001.
Agreed: To defer consideration of the Rule until the outcome of the public inquiry into the Direction Order is known.
The Committee considered the Statutory Rules:
Belfast Harbour Order (NI) 2001
Londonderry Harbour Order (NI) 2001
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (NI) 2001
The Department intends to make these Rules which are subject to affirmative resolution.
With regard to the procedures for selection onto Port Authority boards, the Committee was of the opinion that the Port Authorities should accept the persons nominated by the Council.
Agreed: Subject to clarification of this point, the Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rules.
4. Draft Corporate and Business Plans
Mrs Lucia Wilson from the Assembly Research Team briefed the Committee on the main issues arising from the draft Corporate and Business Plans for the Department and its two Agencies, Roads and Water Services. She highlighted some areas of concern in the plans and provided a comparison with last year's plans.
Agreed: The Committee had no comments to make on the draft plans, however, it will review progress in the achievement of the targets set, and will carefully monitor performance against the Programme for Government and the Public Service Agreements.
5. Inquiry into Titanic Quarter leases
The Committee considered the draft report on the Inquiry.
Agreed: That the Deputy Chairman would speak to the Clerk regarding some amendments to the report.
The contents of a press release to issue on publication of the report were discussed and agreed.
6. Welsh Water
Members were issued with a briefing note prepared by Mr Houston Lowe from the Assembly Research Team. He briefed the Committee on the arrangements by which this not-for-profit company can raise money for infrastructure projects through the issue of bonds; and the implications for Public Expenditure.
Agreed: That the Committee would discuss this matter further after the summer recess.
7. Regional Planning Policy Statement (RPPS) on Housing in Settlements
The Committee noted the Scoping Paper - Regional Planning Policy Statement 2 (RPPS) - Housing in Settlements.
8. Drinking Water Quality Report 2000
The Committee noted the Department's Drinking Water Quality Report 2000.
9. Strategic Planning (NI) Order 1999
The Committee noted the legal advice on this Order.
10. Correspondence from the Clerk of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
- Letter regarding: i) the co-ordination of road openings by utilities and ii) the recommendation that Water Service should provide stand-by generators in pumping stations.
- Letter regarding the proposed Research, Development and Innovation Strategy (RDI) for Northern Ireland.
With regard to i) the Committee agreed it should reserve judgement until the Department responds to the PAC report on this matter.
With regard to ii) the Committee accepted that stand-by generators would be helpful to deal with power cuts, however, as it was essentially a NIE problem, Members agreed that it was up to that organisation to minimise the impact of power cuts and ensure that essential services are given priority regarding reconnections.
The Committee had no views at this time on the proposed strategy, but would like to be kept informed of developments.
Agreed: That the Clerk would write to the Clerk of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee informing her of the Committee's view on the above matters.
11. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 5 September 2001 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 11.29am.