COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 14 JUNE 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
In Attendance: Ms Marie Austin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Neil Currie (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting opened at 11.02am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
It was agreed that the Deputy Chairperson would write, on behalf of the Committee Members and staff, to the Chairperson extending condolences on the death of his mother.
11.03am. Mr Burns joined the meeting.
11.04am. The meeting moved into public session.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2007
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising
The Deputy Chairperson informed Members that a letter had issued to the Speaker, seeking clarification in relation to the events in plenary on 4 June 2007, with regard to the accelerated passage motion for the Welfare Reform Bill. The Speaker’s office had advised the Clerk that a response would issue week commencing 18 June 2007.
The Deputy Chairperson informed Members that the further information requested from the Department in relation to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, would not be available for three or four weeks. However, the Department hoped to respond to the Committee before the summer recess. The Committee noted the position.
4. Westminster Pensions Bill
The Committee considered a letter from the Minister in relation to the Westminster Pensions Bill. The Committee noted the provisions of the Westminster Bill that will extend to Northern Ireland, namely the establishment of the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority and the extension to the Financial Assistance Scheme.
5. Westminster Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill
The Committee considered a letter from the Minister in relation to the Westminster Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill. The Committee noted that the provisions of the Westminster Bill will extend to Northern Ireland.
6. Briefing on homelessness issues
The following representatives from the Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum joined the meeting at 11.08am:
Ricky Rowledge – Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland
Nicola McCrudden – Housing Rights Service
David Carrol – Simon Community
Ms Rowledge briefed the Committee on homelessness and housing issues in Northern Ireland. This was followed by a question and answer session.
11.44am. Mr Cobain joined the meeting.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for the informative briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.57am.
11.57am. Mr Burns left the meeting.
7. Briefing on homelessness issues and the impending strategy, ‘Including the Homeless’
The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 11.58am:
Heather Cousins – Director, Housing Division
Michael Sands – Deputy Director, Housing Division
Janis Hatchell – Housing Division
Ms Cousins briefed the Committee on homelessness issues and the impending strategy, ‘Including the Homeless – a strategy to promote the social inclusion of homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless in Northern Ireland’. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The officials agreed to provide the Committee with a report, six months after the establishment of the steering group, detailing progress on the implementation of the Strategy and associated action plan.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.39pm.
12.39pm. Mr Cobain and Mr McCann left the meeting.
Agreed – Members noted that consideration of the draft strategy by the Executive Committee had been delayed. In view of the urgency in publication and implementation of the Strategy, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister seeking an explanation as to why Executive Committee consideration of the Strategy had been delayed.
8. Consideration of topic for first inquiry
The Deputy Chairperson asked Members to send to the Clerk, by Monday 25 June 2007, their views on which topics should be considered for the Committee’s first inquiry. This item will be placed on the agenda for the Committee meeting on 5 July 2007.
12.45pm. Mr McCann rejoined the meeting.
9. Correspondence
The Committee considered a letter from Ms C S Millar of CSM Estate Agents, regarding the Private Tenancies (NI) Rent Order 2006.
Agreed – It was agreed to raise this matter with officials from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive when they attend the Committee meeting scheduled for 28 June 2007.
The Committee considered a letter from Anne Moore from Save the Children, regarding publication of the Department’s Households Below Average Income Report 2005/06.
Agreed – It was agreed that the Clerk should obtain information from the Department on the current position in relation to the Households Below Average Income Report. The Committee agreed to revisit this matter when the information had been received.
The Committee considered a letter from Edward Cooke from the Built Housing Environment Overview.
Agreed – It was agreed to write to Mr Cooke again, reiterating that the Committee will be mindful of his views when considering issues in relation to the domestic housing sector.
The Committee considered a letter from Ciarnan Helferty from Queen’s University Belfast, regarding students living in university accommodation.
Agreed – As the matter fell within the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, it was agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
11. Any other business
None.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Social Development will be held on Thursday,
21 June 2007 at 11.00am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.50pm.