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Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee

Minutes of meeting held in part public / part closed session on Wednesday, 03 July 2002 in room 135, Parliament Buildings

1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rule the Department intends to make
3. Strategic Planning Bill
4. Seminar Day in September 2002
5. Ulsterbus / Citybus Pensions Letter
6. Recommendations arising from inquiry into European Union Issues
7. Refusal of Planning Permission
8. Water and Sewerage Services
9. Public Transport in Northern Ireland - Draft Consultation Paper
10. Date of Next Meeting

Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr M Robinson

Apologies:
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr G Savage

In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss C Lagan (Executive Support)
Miss K Davidson (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)

The meeting was called to order at 10:48am.

The Chairman expressed the condolences of the Committee to the Deputy Chairman on the recent death of his father.

Mr Hussey requested that the minutes reflect the success of the recent official opening of the Derg Water Treatment Works and that a letter be sent to the Department, thanking all those involved in the launch.

1. Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2002 were agreed.

Mr Hutchinson joined the meeting at 10:50am.

2. Statutory Rule the Department intends to make

The Committee considered the Statutory Rule:

Proposed Old Road, Lisburn (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002

The Department intends to make this rule subject to negative resolution.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the rule.

3. Strategic Planning Bill

Agreed:
a) The draft timetable for the Committee's
consideration of the Strategic Planning Bill was agreed.

b) To invite comments on the Bill from other statutory committees.

4. Seminar Day in September 2002

The Committee discussed an invitation received from the Department, inviting Members to a seminar day in September 2002.

Agreed:
To invite senior officials from the Department to a working lunch in Parliament Buildings, to discuss the Department's key priorities and targets for the forthcoming year.

5. Ulsterbus / Citybus Pensions Letter

The Committee considered a draft letter to Translink, detailing the Committee's concerns over the method used to formulate the pension entitlement of retired Ulsterbus / Citybus employees.

Agreed:
Subject to a minor alteration, the Committee was content with the draft letter.

6. Recommendations arising from inquiry into European Union Issues

The Committee discussed the recommendations arising from the Committee for the Centre's inquiry into the approach of the Assembly and the devolved government on European Union issues.

Agreed:
To write to the Department, requesting the establishment of formal arrangements for considering EU issues relating to DRD.

7. Refusal of Planning Permission due to Capacity of Waste Water Treatment Works

The Committee discussed the recent media reports on the refusal of planning applications for new developments due to insufficient capacity of Waste Water Treatment Works.

Agreed:
It was agreed to monitor the situation and review the matter later in the year.

The meeting moved to closed session.

8. Water and Sewerage Services

The Committee discussed the Minister's memorandum detailing the water and sewerage issues faced by the Department.

Agreed:
The Committee acknowledged the financial pressures faced by the Water Service and broadly agreed with the recommendations set out in the paper.

9. Public Transport in Northern Ireland - Draft Consultation Paper

The Committee discussed the Department's draft consultation paper on public transport in Northern Ireland.

Agreed:
The Committee welcomed the public consultation and agreed to discuss the matter further once the results of the consultation process were published.

10. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 04 September 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 11:35am

26 June 2002 / Menu / 11 September 2002