Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 9 January 2002 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. The Committee agreed to issue a press release
2. Minutes of last meeting
3. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
4. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in Public Transport
5. Regional Transportation Strategy/Rural Transport Fund Presentation
6. December Monitoring Round 2001/02 - briefing by the Department
7. Strategic Planning Bill - Consultation Document
8. Committee of the Centre - European Inquiry
9. Service Delivery Agreement
10. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee - Report on Energy Inquiry
11. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee - Tourism Inquiry
12. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Ervine
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr M Robinson
Apologies:
Mr J Byrne
Mr W Hay
Mr G Savage
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 was called to order at 10.42am.
1. The Committee agreed to issue a press release stating its abhorrence at the attack on the train at Marino Halt outside Holywood on 7 January 2002.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2001 were agreed.
3. 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.
4. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in Public Transport
The Committee considered a revised draft itinerary (including approximate costs) for the visit to Europe. The Committee discussed the merits of remaining an extra night in Zurich.
Agreed: The Committee approved the itinerary and agreed that an extra night in Zurich was necessary in order to ensure that the Members have sufficient time to meet with relevant officials and experience at first hand, the local public transport system. The Committee will therefore, depart on 27 January and return on 1 February 2002.
Mr Ervine was the only Member present who indicated that he would not be able to participate in the visit.
5. Regional Transportation Strategy/Rural Transport Fund Presentation by the Department
At 11.06am officials from the Department joined the meeting. The officials were:
Dr Malcolm McKibbin }
Ms Aileen Gault }
Regional Transportation Strategy Division
Mr Peter McWilliams }
Mr Keith Walsh Transport Policy and Support Division
Dr McKibbin updated the Committee on developments in relation to the Regional Transportation Strategy since his last briefing on 21 November 2001, and outlined some proposed amendments to the Strategy.
The Committee expressed concern that the Department had not fully investigated the possibilities of joint funding for infrastructure projects (for the north west region in particular) with its counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
Dr McKibbin agreed to give consideration to the Committee's concerns in relation to this matter.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.43am.
Mr Walsh then briefed the Committee on how the Rural Transport Fund has progressed in the last two years, and how it integrates with the Regional Transportation Strategy.
The Committee agreed that it would be useful to see illustrated on a map of Northern Ireland, the 66 bus services that had originally been supported by the Rural Transport Fund. Mr Walsh agreed to the Committee's request.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 12.14pm.
The officials left the meeting at 12.20pm.
6. December Monitoring Round 2001/02 - briefing by the Department
At 12.22pm officials from the Department joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on the December Monitoring Round 2001/02. The officials were:
Mrs Linda Brown - Principal Establishment and Finance Officer
Mr Jack McGibbon - Director of Finance
Dr Andrew Grieve - Finance Division
Mr Bradley returned at 12.26pm.
The officials explained the figures relating to the various bids and easements.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.41pm.
The officials answered Members' questions and they left the meeting at 12.45pm.
7. Strategic Planning Bill - Consultation Document
The Committee considered a letter from the Minister along with the revised consultation document, which had incorporated the changes to the proposed Strategic Planning Bill, as outlined by the Minister at the Committee meeting on 14 November 2001.
Agreed: To await the outcome of the public consultation exercise and consider the matter further at that time.
8. Committee of the Centre - European Inquiry
To assist its Inquiry, the Committee of the Centre had previously asked for information on the percentage of DRD's budget which is European funding, and whether the Minister has attended any European Council of Ministers meetings.
Agreed: The information provided by the Department should be forwarded on to the Committee of the Centre.
The Committee did not express any views on the Terms of Reference for the European Inquiry.
9. Service Delivery Agreement
The Committee considered a letter from the Minister along with the current draft Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) for the Department.
Agreed: The Clerk should ask officials to attend next week's meeting to discuss the SDA.
10. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee - Report on Energy Inquiry
The Committee considered a memo from the Clerk of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment (ETI) Committee along with a draft of the Energy Inquiry report. The ETI Committee had asked for comments on paragraphs 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11 in particular, as they fell within the remit of the Regional Development Committee.
The Committee considered a draft response to be sent to the ETI Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft response to the ETI Committee.
11. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee - Tourism Inquiry
The Committee considered a memo from the Clerk of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment (ETI) Committee announcing that the Committee is about to undertake an Inquiry into Tourism in Northern Ireland, and outlining the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.
Agreed: To forward on to the Minister for Regional Development a letter from the ETI Committee Clerk, inviting the Department to comment on the Terms of Reference.
As any response to the Inquiry from the Department will come through the Clerk, the Committee agreed to reconsider commenting on the Terms of Reference at that time.
12. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 January 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.54pm.