Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 24 October 2001 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules
4. Report on Executive Programme Funds - Second Tranche
5. Improving Civil Rights for Disabled People
6. Report on "Elected Members" Training Conference on the Planning System
7. Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company / Translink
8. Roads Service Presentation on the M1/Westlink Scheme
9. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr P McNamee
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr D Hussey
Absent:
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs S Young (Executive Support)
Miss J Massey (Administrative Support)
Ms S Clavero (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting commenced at 10.37am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2001 were agreed.
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.39am.
2. Matters arising
(a) Code of Practice for Agriculture Use of Sewage Sludge.
The Committee noted the Code of Practice.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 10.41am.
(b) Visit to Derry City Council.
The Committee discussed the provisional arrangements for the visit.
Agreed: The visit will take place on Wednesday, 28 November 2001. If Derry City Council offer the Guildhall, the Committee should accept this for the venue, otherwise Magee College could be used. The Committee should host a dinner for a small number of guests on Tuesday evening 27 November 2001, with hotel accommodation arranged for that night.
The Clerk will continue to make the necessary arrangements for the visit.
(c) Report on Transport Used for Children Travelling to and from School.
The Committee considered the Environment Committee Report on Transport Used for Children Travelling to and from School.
Agreed: The Minister should be asked to attend a future meeting to apprise the Committee of his Department's views on the recommendations contained in the report. The Clerk will write to the Department on this matter.
3. Statutory Rules
(a) The Committee noted three Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make, but which will not be laid in the Assembly.
(b) The Committee considered the Statutory Rule:
Proposed Street Works (Inspection Fees) Regulations (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.
On a separate matter, the Committee queried the Department's policy in relation to service ducts for utilities being located at the side of roads. It was agreed to revisit this issue whenever the Committee is considering the Department's response to the PAC report on Road Openings by Utilities.
4. Report on Executive Programme Funds - Second Tranche
The Committee noted the Finance and Personnel Committee Report on the second tranche of the Executive Programme Funds.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.10am.
5. Improving Civil Rights for Disabled People - NI Executive Response to the Disability Rights Task Force
The Committee considered the NI Executive response to the Disability Rights Task Force report on Improving Civil Rights for Disabled People.
Agreed: To await DRD's review in light of changes in GB.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.15am.
6. Report on "Elected Members" Training Conference on the Planning System
The Committee thanked the Assistant Clerk for attending the conference and for preparing a useful report on the key points arising from the conference.
7. Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company / Translink - Annual Report & Accounts and Annual Review 2000-2001
Agreed: Any comments on the Annual Report & Accounts and Annual Review 2000-2001 can be raised at the next meeting.
8. Roads Service Presentation on the M1/Westlink Scheme
At 11.20am Roads Service officials joined the meeting and gave a presentation on the proposed M1/Westlink scheme. The officials were: Mr David Orr,
Mr Jim Getty, Mr Derek Hamilton and Mr Lionel Walsh.
Mr Ervine returned at 11.29am.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.55am.
The officials answered Members' questions on the proposed scheme.
The officials agreed to provide the Committee with a local road network map, plus further information on the figures for vehicle usage per day and single occupancy vehicles.
The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.24pm.
The Committee thought it would be useful to have a copy of the Inspector's report into the M1/Westlink Public Inquiry.
Agreed: The Clerk will request a copy of the Inspector's report from the Department.
9. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 November 2001 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.27pm.