COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 3 July 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA Mr Alban Maginnes MLA Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 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 11.02am in public session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson advised Members that Caroline Thorpe, the Features Editor of “Inside Housing” would be visiting Northern Ireland on 21 st and 22 nd July and had expressed an interest in meeting and interviewing Members of the Committee. Members wishing to meet with Ms Thorpe were advised to contact the Committee Office by 4 th July.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Gaming Order (NI) 2008
The following officials from the Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 11:07am:
Linda McHugh – Department for Social Development Gary McAlorum – Department for Social Development.
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule: The Gaming (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order 2008.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.31am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was not content with the Department’s proposal to make the rule and asked the Committee Clerk to commission a research paper on gaming legislation for consideration in the next session.
6. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
The Committee considered the following proposed Statutory Rules:
Child Maintenance Bill – proposed Commencement Orders
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department’s proposal to make the Commencement Orders.
The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Mr John O’Neill joined the meeting 11.35am.
Mr John O’Neill from the Department for Social Development briefed the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule.
Agreed: It was agreed that the proposed Rule would be considered further when a relevant report by the Social Security had been published.
The Chairperson thanked Mr O’Neill for the briefing.
Mr O’Neill left the meeting at 11.38am.
7. 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:
The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Question put and agreed :
“That the Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008 No.258, The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the ESR’s report, has no objection to the Rule.”
8. Proposed Procurement Strategy for the Social Housing Development Programme
8.1 The following representatives from the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) joined the meeting at 11.39am:
Christopher Williamson – Chief Executive of NIFHA
Frank Dunne – Chairman of NIFHA
Ian Elliott – Chief Executive of Oaklee Housing Association
John McLean – Chief Executive of Fold Housing Association.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the proposed Procurement Strategy for the Social Housing Development Programme. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.18pm.
8.2 The following officials from Department for Social Development joined the meeting at 12.19pm:
Heather Cousins – Director of Housing
Thomas O’Reilly – DSD Official
David Malcolm – Housing Division.
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Procurement Strategy for the Social Housing Development Programme. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12.33pm.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.18pm.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister in relation to issues raised by the Committee on the proposed Strategy.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12.42pm.
Ms Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting at 12.33pm
9. Administration of DLA
Members considered a response from the Director of Operations for the Social Security Agency to questions asked by the Committee on the administration of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would write to the Department to seek further clarification on the administration of DLA and that the Chairperson would write to the President of The Appeals Service NI, to seek his views on correspondence received from the Social Security Agency.
10. Correspondence
i. The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister in relation to public appointments to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
ii The Committee noted correspondence from the Permanent Secretary of DSD enclosing the DSD End of Year Position Report.
Agreed: It was agreed that Mr Alan Shannon would brief the Committee on the End of Year Position Report in the next session.
iii A policy briefing paper: “Promoting Responsible Letting in the Private Sector” by Housing Rights Service was considered.
Agreed: It was agreed that representatives from Housing Rights Service should be invited to brief the Committee on reform of the private rented sector.
iv The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in relation to the Sustainable Development Strategy.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would arrange a DSD briefing on this matter.
11. Forward work programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: It was agreed that a visit to the Galliagh Estate in Derry/Londonderry should be arranged for 6 th November 2008.
The Chairperson advised Members that representatives of Woodbrook Eco-Village in Lisburn, would be writing to the Committee to invite Members to visit the development.
Agreed: It was agreed that this matter would be considered further when an invite had been received.
12. Any other business
Members raised concerns regarding the difficulties some organisations were facing in obtaining ESF Match Funding.
Agreed: It was agreed that Members should monitor developments over the summer recess.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.53pm.