Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 21 November 2001 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
4. Statutory Rules made and laid in the Assembly
5. Letter from Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association
6. Briefing from Translink regarding attacks on buses and drivers
7. Presentation on the RTS Conference Report
8. Visit to Europe
9. Rural Transport Fund
10. Visit to North West
11. Terms of Reference for European Inquiry
12. Report on 'Improving the Planning System' Conference
13. AOB
14. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Absent:
Mr P McNamee
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 10.40am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2001 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Environment Committee Report on Transport Used for Children Travelling to and from School.
The Committee considered a letter from the Clerk of the Environment Committee expressing disappointment at the DOE Minister's response to its report and seeking the Regional Development Committee's support.
Members were of the opinion that a Regulatory Impact Assessment should be carried out by DOE to evaluate the potential costs and likely benefits of making the proposed change to the '3 for 2' seating provision.
The Committee was of the view that it should await the composite reply from the inter-departmental working group which is developing a co-ordinated response to the Report.
| Agreed: | An interim response should be sent to the Environment Committee stating that the Committee is sympathetic to the Report and supportive of the main recommendations. However, the Committee wish to defer issuing a comprehensive response until the Regulatory Impact Assessment has been carried out and the findings of the inter-departmental working group become available. A full evaluation of the cost implications is also needed. A copy of DRD's interim response to the Report should be sent to the Environment Committee. |
3. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
(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 Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Department intends to make this Rule which is subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rule.
4. Statutory Rules made and laid in the Assembly
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.50am.
The Committee considered seven 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 338/2001 - Street Works (Sharing of Costs) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule. |
| Question Put and Agreed: | That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 380/2001- Route B127 Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin (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 381/2001- Route DR129 Foyle Avenue, Greysteel (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 382/2001- Rowland Way, Belfast (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 383/2001- Route C154 Tandragee Road, 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 384/2001- Lindenwood Park, Londonderry (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 385/2001- Route A26 Larne Road Link (Abandonment) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule. |
5. Letter from Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association
The Committee considered a letter from the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) requesting to meet the Committee to discuss the review of retail planning policy presently being undertaken by the Department
| Agreed: | The NIIRTA should be invited to meet the Committee. The Royal Town Planning Institute should also be invited to meet the Committee, as they had previously requested to make a presentation on the same issue. The Clerk will arrange the presentations for the meeting on 12 December 2001. |
6. Briefing from Translink regarding attacks on buses and drivers
At 11.03am representatives from Translink joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on the incidents involving attacks on Translink buses and drivers.
The representatives were:
Mr Ted Hesketh - Managing Director, Translink
Mr Philip O'Neill - Acting Central Areas Operations Manager, Translink
Professor Julian Hine - Chair of Transport, Translink
Mr Joe McCusker - Amalgamated Transport & General Workers Union
William Morrow - Citybus driver
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.26am.
The representatives informed the Committee of the impact and implications of the increased attacks on drivers and Translink property, including the cost implications and the detrimental effect on services.
The Chairman thanked the representatives for attending and they left the meeting at 11.56am.
7. Presentation on the Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) Conference Report
At 11.58am officials from the Regional Transportation Strategy Division joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on developments following the RTS conference on 28 September 2001. The officials were:
Dr Malcolm McKibbin
Ms Aileen Gault
Mr Peter McWilliams
The officials informed the Committee of the main findings from the conference; outlined the proposed amendments to the Strategy as a result of the views expressed at the conference; and updated the Committee on the way ahead in the formulation of the RTS.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.16pm.
The Chairman thanked the officials for attending and they left the meeting at 12.38pm.
Mr Savage left the meeting at 12.38pm.
8. Visit to Europe
| Agreed: | The Committee will decide which locations to visit and the duration of the visit at the meeting on 28 November 2001. |
9. Rural Transport Fund
| Agreed: | To defer consideration of this matter until 5 December 2001. |
10. Visit to North West
Members travelling by public transport were asked to note that the bus will be leaving the front of Parliament Buildings at precisely 4.45pm on 27 November 2001.
11. Terms of Reference for European Inquiry to be conducted by the Committee of the Centre
The correspondence from the Committee of the Centre asked for information on the percentage of DRD's budget which is European funding, and how often, if at all, the Minister attends European Council of Ministers meetings.
| Agreed: | The Clerk should contact the Department on these points. The Committee will revisit the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry when the information is received from the Department. |
12. Report on 'Improving the Planning System' Conference
The Committee noted the useful report prepared by the Researcher on the 'Improving the Planning System' Conference held on 8 November 2001.
13. AOB
(a) Formal Launch of Regional Development Strategy (RDS)
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister dated 19 November 2001 regarding the launch of the RDS on 4 December 2001.
The Committee welcomed the reassurance in the Minister's letter which states that a covering letter will accompany the Family of Settlements report, to stress the importance of the regional brownfield target, and that this will also be highlighted at the launch of the RDS.
14. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 November 2001 at 10.15am in Derry City Council Chamber, Guildhall.
The meeting closed at 12.44pm.