COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig 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 Thomas Burns MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA

The meeting opened at 11.03am in public session

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2007

Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.

3. Chairperson’s Business

   1. The Chairperson informed Members that he had to leave the meeting at 11.45am and that the Deputy Chairperson would take the chair.
   2. As a plenary sitting of the Assembly had been scheduled for Thursday,
      25 October 2007, the Chairperson proposed that the Committee meeting on 25 October 2007 should be cancelled and the scheduled briefings postponed.

   Agreed – It was agreed to cancel the Committee meeting scheduled for
   25 October 2007 and postpone the scheduled briefings.

   3. The Chairperson informed Members that he would be speaking as Committee Chairperson at debates in plenary on 22 October 2007 in relation to the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2007 and the Great Britain Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill.
   4. The Chairperson reminded Members that the Chairperson of the Social Security Advisory Committee, Sir Richard Tilt, wished to meet with Members of the Social Development Committee on 29 October 2007, to discuss issues of mutual interest or concern. The Chairperson requested that any Members available to meet with Sir Richard Tilt should contact the Clerk after the meeting.
   5. The Chairperson informed Members that he had received an invitation to the launch of the Strategic Framework for the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council, to be held on 24 October 2007. As the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson were unable to attend the event, the Chairperson requested that any Members who wished to represent the Committee should contact the Clerk by close of play on 18 October 2007.
   6. The Chairperson informed Members that he and the Deputy Chairperson had met informally with the Minister at 2.10pm on 16 October 2007, prior to her statement in plenary on the future of the Conflict Transformation Initiative. The Committee discussed the Minister’s statement.

   Agreed – It was agreed to write to the Minister to formally request sight of the legal advice referred to in the statement, and to invite her to attend a Committee meeting on 22 October 2007 to discuss the matter further.

   Agreed – It was agreed that each Member of the Committee would be provided with a copy of the note of the informal meeting between the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the Minister that took place on 16 October 2007.

Mr Maginness joined the meeting at 11.26am.

4. Statutory Rule laid in the Assembly

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which is subject to negative resolution and has been laid in the Assembly:

SR 2007/431 – The Social Security (Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007.

Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2007 No. 431 The Social Security (Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance) (Amendment)Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

5. Health Committee Inquiry into the prevention of suicide and self harm

Agreed – The Committee agreed its response to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on its Inquiry into the prevention of suicide and self-harm.

6. Draft Inquiry Plan

Agreed – In relation to the Committee I nquiry into Town Centre Regeneration, the Committee agreed the inquiry plan; the list of consultees; the advertising of the inquiry; and, that research should be commissioned to consider the Terms of Reference and to identify examples of good practice.

7. Briefing on the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group and draft Social Housing Procurement Strategy

The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 11.37am:
Heather Cousins – Director of Housing
Michael Sands – Deputy Director of Housing
Donal MacRandal – Central Procurement Directorate, DFP (on secondment to DSD)

The officials briefed the Committee on the Minister’s responses in relation to the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group and the draft Social Housing Procurement Strategy . This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson left the meeting at 11.45am. The Deputy Chairperson took the chair.

The Committee expressed concern that the Minister did not feel it was appropriate to have the Northern Ireland Housing Executive represented on the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group, and that the Advisory Panel of Independent Experts would not include a representative from an organisation representing homeless people.

Agreed – It was agreed to write to the Minister to reiterate the Committee’s concerns, and to request a calendar of the meetings that have taken place, and those that are scheduled to take place, between the Homeless Strategy team and the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group.

Mr Cobain left the meeting at 11.58am.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 11.58am.

The Deputy Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 12.12pm.

Agreed – It was agreed to write to the Ministerto seek further information on potential suppliers and their use of sub-contractors, sub-subcontractors and other suppliers.

8. October Monitoring Round

The Committee noted a letter from the Department detailing the bids and reduced requirements submitted by the Department in relation to the October Monitoring Round.

9. Briefing onthe options for the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency

The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 12.15pm:
Colum Boyle – Director of Business Improvement Team, Social Security Agency
John O’Neill – Assistant Director Business Development, Social Security Agency

The officials briefed the Committee on theoptions for the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Maginness rejoined the meeting at 12.18pm.
Mrs McGill left the meeting at 12.45pm.

The officials agreed to provide the Committee with a draft list of locations of Benefit Processing Centres, as proposed in the indicative preferred option – Option 4. The officials were asked to provide this information prior to public consultation on the Strategic Business Review.

The Deputy Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 12.52pm.

10. Correspondence

    1. The Committee considered the Department’s response to its request for specific information on the time-frame for the review of District Council drinking in public bye-laws, and introduction of the proposed legislation.

       Agreed – It was agreed to note the correspondence and to consider the matter further when the Committee receives a copy of the draft Criminal Justice Order in Council when it is published for consultation.

    2. The Committee considered correspondence in relation to an individual’s grievance with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive regarding grants.

    Agreed – It was agreed to write to the Housing Executive about this matter.

3. The Committee noted the Minister’s response to its request for information on the process and procedures followed by the Department when inviting development proposals and when selecting a preferred developer.

11. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

12. Any other business

None.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Social Development is scheduled for Monday, 22 October 2007 in Parliament Buildings, after the conclusion of Department for Social Development business in plenary.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.55pm.

Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
8 November 2007

11 October 2007 / Menu