Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in part public/part closed session on Wednesday, 23 January 2002 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rules
3. Regional Transportation Strategy
4. Update on Antrim to Knockmore railway line
5. Water shortage at Silent Valley Reservoir
6. Service Delivery Agreement
7. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in public transport
8. Water Service Annual Report and Accounts 2000-2001
9. Date of next meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr W Hay
Mr P McNamee
Mr M Robinson
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
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)
Mr S Wilson (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting was called to order at 10.49am in public session.
The Chairman welcomed Stephen Wilson as the new Assembly Researcher and thanked Sara Clavero for all her work for the Committee and wished her well for the future.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2002 were agreed.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 10.50am.
2. Statutory Rules
- The Committee noted one Statutory Rule, which the Department intends to make, but which will not be laid in the Assembly.
- The Committee considered the Statutory Rules:
Proposed Monree Road, Donacloney (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Proposed Athol Street Lane, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Proposed T1 Belfast - Bangor Trunk Road (Extension) 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.
The meeting moved to closed session.
3. Regional Transportation Strategy
At 10.55am officials from the Department joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on the Regional Transportation Strategy public consultation document, which the Department intends to launch after the Take Note debate in the Assembly week commencing 4 February 2002. The officials were:
Mrs Aileen Gault, Dr Malcolm McKibbin, and Mr Stephen Wood.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 11.10am
The officials answered Members' questions on the proposed Strategy.
Dr McKibbin agreed to provide the Committee with some further information on alternative sources of funding, including Public Private Partnerships.
The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 11.59am.
4. Update on Antrim to Knockmore railway line
This part of the meeting was scheduled to be in public session, however, the Departmental officials were expecting the session to be in private. Due to the misunderstanding, it was agreed to defer the briefing until the next meeting on 6th February 2002.
The meeting returned to public session.
5. Water shortage at Silent Valley Reservoir
At 12.20pm Water Service officials joined the meeting to brief the Committee following recent press articles about the low level of water in Silent Valley Reservoir. The officials were: Mr Robert Martin, Mr John Kelly and
Mr Trevor Haslett.
The officials explained the position in relation to water levels in the reservoir and answered Members' questions. The officials agreed to keep the Committee apprised of developments.
The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.55pm.
6. Service Delivery Agreement
The Committee agreed the response to the Minister outlining the Committee's comments on the Service Delivery Agreement.
7. Visit to Europe to examine best practice in public transport
The Committee considered and agreed the updated itinerary for the visit.
Members endorsed the Chairman's view on the number of staff who should attend the visit. The Chairman said he would to raise this matter at the Chairpersons Liaison Group meeting as well as speaking to the Clerk to the Assembly.
8. Water Service Annual Report and Accounts 2000-2001
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.
9. Date of next meeting
As the Committee will be in Europe next week, the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 6th February 2002.
The meeting adjourned at 1.06pm.