Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 12 December 2001 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
3. Review of Retail Planning Policy
4. Discussion with Community groups
5. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr D Ervine
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr M Robinson
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr W Hay
Mr G Savage
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs S Young (Executive Support)
Miss J Massey (Administrative Support)
The meeting was called to order at 10.45am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
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The minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2001 were agreed.
2. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
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:
Proposed Century Street, Belfast (Stopping-up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
Proposed Cregagh Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
Proposed Trench park, Belfast(Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Department intends to make these Rules which are subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rules.
Mr Hussey left the meeting at 10.57am.
3. Review of Retail Planning Policy
(a) Presentation by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.
At 10.58am representatives of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) joined the meeting and gave a presentation on the review of retail planning policy presently being undertaken by the Department. The representatives were:
Mr Bryan Gray, Mr Paul Stewart and Mr Peter McBride.
The representatives explained their concerns about the considerable potential for damage to Northern Ireland's indigenous retail sector, while the review of retail planning policy is being conducted (the review process is likely to take another two years to complete). The NIIRTA believes that there should be an interim ban on out-of-town retail developments while the review is being conducted. They see this as essential for the survival of the independent retail sector.
The meeting was suspended from 11.04am until 11.36am to enable Members to attend the unveiling of two memorial plaques to Senators Barnhill and Wilson.
The representatives answered Members' questions.
Mr Hussey returned at 11.46am.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 11.46am.
The representatives were of the view that there should not only be no new planning applications for major retail developments processed by DOE Planning Service, but also those applications currently under consideration, should not proceed until the review of retail planning policy has been completed.
The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left the meeting at 12.00 noon.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 12.00 noon.
Mr Hussey left the meeting at 12.01pm.
(b) Presentation by the Royal Town Planning Institute in Ireland.
At 12.02pm representatives of the Royal Town Planning Institute in Ireland joined the meeting and gave a presentation on the review of retail planning policy presently being undertaken by the Department. The representatives were:
Miss Jenny Crawford, Mr Alex Coleman and Mr John Turner.
The representatives explained what they considered to be the key planning principles for retail development and answered Members' questions.
The representatives concurred with the view expressed by the NIIRTA that there should be no new planning applications for major retail developments processed by DOE Planning Service, and applications currently under consideration should not proceed until the review of retail planning policy has been completed.
The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left the meeting at 12.24pm.
4. Discussion with Community groups regarding consultation prior to the recent withdrawal of bus services
At 12.25pm representatives from a cross section of community groups joined the meeting to discuss the recent suspension of bus services in their areas and the level of consultation prior to the withdrawal of the services.
The representatives were:
Mr Tony Morgan - Ligoniel Improvement Association
Mr Paedar Cunningham - Poleglass Residents' Association
The Committee also considered written submissions from the Greater Turf Lodge Residents' Association and the Glencairn Community Development Association.
The message from each of the four community groups was that there had been no consultation by Translink prior to the withdrawal of bus services.
The Committee expressed concern at the lack of consultation and agreed that close and effective consultation with community representatives was essential, and hoped that this would take place in future.
The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left the meeting at 12.49pm.
5. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 9 January 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.49pm.