COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 5 JUNE 2008
DUNMISK SUITE, STORMONT HOTEL

Present:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Chairperson)
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 Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Alban Maginnes MLA

In Attendance:
Ms Marie Austin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened at 10.03am in public session.

1. Apologies

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson reminded Members that further consideration stage of the Charities Bill was scheduled for Tuesday 17 th June.

Mr Brady and Mr Maginness informed the Committee of a meeting they had on Wednesday 4 th June 2008 with Mr Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2008

Agreed – The draft minutes were agreed.

4. Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

5. Child Maintenance Bill and Accelerated Passage

The Clerk addressed the Committee and outlined the financial consequences of accelerated passage not being granted for the Child Maintenance Bill.

Agreed – As there was no consensus within the Committee on whether or not to support the Minister’s request for accelerated passage for the Child Maintenance Bill, it was agreed to take a vote on the matter.

Question put: That the Committee supports the Minister’s request for accelerated passage for the Child Maintenance Bill.

The Committee divided. Ayes 5; Noes 2.

AYES
Mr Campbell, Mr Hilditch, Mr Craig, Mr Maginness, Miss McIlveen.

NOES
Mr Brady, Mr McCann.

Question accordingly agreed to .

6. Briefing by Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships

Session 1

The following representatives of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships joined the meeting at 10.22am:

Mr Danny Power – Greater Falls Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Charles Lamberton – Triax – Cityside Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Mark Finlay – Inner South Belfast Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Brendan Curran – Brownlow Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the ethos of Neighbourhood Renewal and government responsibility and joined-up working.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 10.33am.
Miss McIlveen left the meeting at 10.34am.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending the meeting.

The representatives left the meeting at 10.57am

Session 2

The following representatives of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships joined the meeting at 10.58am:

Mr Roy McCartney – Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Cathal McCauley – Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the role of Partnership Boards.

Mr Cobain joined the meeting at 11.00am.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending the meeting.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.17am

Session 3

The following representatives of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships joined the meeting at 11.18am:

Ms Paula Bradshaw – South West Belfast Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Michael Doherty – Lenadoon Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Paul Gallagher – Strabane Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr David Patterson – Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

Ms Lo joined the meeting at 11.19am.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the development of action plans and operational issues including implementation.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending the meeting.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.49am.

Mr Campbell left the meeting at 11.50am.
Mr Hilditch took the Chair at 11.50am.

Session 4

The following representatives of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships joined the meeting at 11.51am:

Ms Renee Crawford – Lenadoon Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Paddy McMenamin – Lurgan Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

The representatives briefed the Committee on resources – financial and other.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending the meeting.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.09pm.

Session 5

The following representatives of Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships joined the meeting at 12.10pm:

Mr John McGrillen – Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Damien McIlroy – Waterside Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Gerry McIlroy – Brownlow Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Mr Gerry O’Reilly – Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the transfer of responsibility for Neighbourhood Renewal to local councils.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending the meeting.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 12.56pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.57pm.

7. Briefing by DSD officials on Neighbourhood Renewal

The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 12.58pm:

Angela Clarke – Head of Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
Mark O’Donnell – Belfast Regeneration Office.

The officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s work on Neighbourhood Renewal.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.

The officials left the meeting at 1.07pm.

Agreed – It was agreed that the Committee should write to each of the Statutory Committees to ascertain:

• What level of scrutiny each Committee had undertaken in relation to its Department’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy; and

• What future plans (if any) each Committee had to scrutinise its Department’s performance in this area.

Agreed – It was also agreed that the Clerk should draft a letter to the Department seeking further information on Neighbourhood Renewal.

8. Any other business

None.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 19 June 2008 at 11.00am in NICVA Buildings, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.08pm.

Mr David Simpson
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development

19 June 2008

29 May 08 / Menu