Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 16 January 2002 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rules
3. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in Public Transport
4. Water Service Organisational Review
5. Service Delivery Agreement
6. Roads Service Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000
7. Letter from the Permanent Secretary
8. Correspondence from Eurotrack Ireland
9. Family of Settlements Report
10. Any Other Business
11. 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 P McNamee
Mr M Robinson
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr J Byrne
Mr W Hay
Absent:
Mr D Ervine
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 10.35am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2002 were agreed.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 10.36am.
2. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered two 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 409/2001 -
Street Works (Inspection Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule.
Question Put and Agreed: That the Regional Development Committee has considered the Statutory Rule 413/2001 -
Street Works (Maintenance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule.
Agreed: In future it was not necessary for Members to receive copies of the reports prepared by the Examiner of Statutory Rules, unless he has any objections to the Rules.
3. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in Public Transport
The Committee considered and agreed the provisional arrangements made to date.
Agreed: The Clerk should write to the Northern Ireland MEPs in order to apprise them of the Committee's visit and, if possible, to arrange a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Committee discussed some issues relating to the business scheduled to be debated in the Assembly week commencing 28 January 2002, as most Members would be absent due to the visit.
Agreed: The Chairman will raise the matter with party Whips.
The Committee discussed the public transport system in Manchester, and considered the merits of visiting Manchester as part of the Committee's ongoing contribution to the Regional Transportation Strategy.
Agreed: The merits of visiting Manchester should be explored, with a paper to be prepared by the researcher.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 10.55am.
4. Water Service Organisational Review
At 10.55am Water Service officials joined the meeting and gave a presentation to update the Committee on the Water Service organisational review. The officials were:
Mr Robert Martin
Ms Maura McCusker
Mr Gerry Byrne
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.07am.
Mr Martin agreed to keep the Committee informed on the Water Service change process.
The officials answered Members' questions and they left the meeting at 11.40am.
5. Service Delivery Agreement
At 11.40am officials from the Department's Finance Division joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on the Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) for the Department. The officials were:
Mrs Linda Brown
Mr Jack McGibbon
Mr John Angus
Mr Stephen Creagh
The officials explained the procedures in relation to the performance targets set for departmental objectives, and answered Members' questions.
The Chairman thanked the officials for the briefing and advised that the Committee would consider the matter further before responding to the Minister.
The officials left the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mr Savage left the meeting at 12.07pm.
6. Roads Service Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000
Agreed: Members should consider the report in their own time and inform the Clerk if there are any issues they would like raised at a future meeting.
7. Letter from the Permanent Secretary
When the Permanent Secretary attended the meeting on 14 November 2001, he undertook to respond to a number of points on various issues that were raised at the meeting. The Committee was grateful for the comprehensive response from the Permanent Secretary.
8. Correspondence from Eurotrack Ireland
The Committee considered a letter plus correspondence from Mr Bob Pue, Chairman of Eurotrack Ireland. Mr Pue had requested to meet the Committee to present their proposals for the future of the railway system in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: As the correspondence from Eurotrack Ireland was substantial, a presentation was not required at this time.
9. Family of Settlements Report
The Committee welcomed the letter which accompanies the report, as it emphasises the importance of the target of 60% of urban housing growth to be provided within urban limits without town cramming, for the period up to the review of the Regional Development Strategy in 2010.
Mr Hutchinson returned at 12.17pm.
10. Any Other Business
(a) Regional Transportation Strategy
The Chaiman advised Members that the Department would like to give a further briefing on the Regional Transportation Strategy at next week's meeting, in advance of the public launch of the proposed Strategy. The Department had asked for the briefing to a closed session.
Agreed: Officials from the Department should attend next week's meeting. The Committee was content for the briefing to be a closed session.
(b) Fish Kill and Pollution on the Sixmilewater River
The Deputy Chairman raised the issue fish kill and pollution on the Sixmilewater River, and handed the Clerk a video and paper relating to the matter.
Agreed: To consider this matter at a future meeting.
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 23 January 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.20pm.