COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY, 20th NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Micky Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant)
Mrs Judith Murdoch (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
none
The meeting commenced at 11.04am in closed session.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Chairperson’s Business
There was no Chairperson’s business.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 th November 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 6 th November were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Neighbourhood Renewal Funding
The Committee noted a briefing note prepared by the Clerk on information regarding the Department’s request for additional support for Neighbourhood Renewal in the June & September monitoring rounds.
Agreed : Further information on Departmental monitoring round bids to be provided in respect of funds sought; secured and outturn expenditure.
11.05am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting
4.2 Responses from the Department
Agreed – The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Minister stating the Committees concerns and dissatisfaction regarding the receipt of late and incomplete papers from the Department and the failure of the Department to advise the Committee of a recent Ministerial Statement.
4.3 Pensions No.2 Bill
Members noted the timetable for accelerated passage of the Bill. A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Bill was tabled for Members information.
4.4 Members’ Attendance Records
Members noted that their attendance records at the Social Development Committee meetings for 2007/08 are to be published on the Committee web page.
5. Neighbourhood Renewal
The Committee considered a briefing prepared by the Clerk on the progress of the Committee’s consultation on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
Members discussed issues around the re-categorisation of Neighbourhood Renewal projects.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite further written evidence from representative groups affected by re-categorisation. Information to be sought on the type of projects affected; the number of jobs lost or potentially lost; the amount of money that would be saved by re-categorisation and the level of deprivation that exists within the areas adversely affected by the re-categorisation.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should amend the paper summarising the key findings of the consultation, to highlight the evidence basis of the findings and setting out draft recommendations.
6. Revised Warm Homes Scheme Consultation
The Committee considered a briefing paper prepared by the Clerk on the Revised Warm Homes Scheme consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on the revised Warm Homes Scheme.
7. Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry
The Committee noted a paper prepared by the Clerk on its visit to Boston / Providence as part of the inquiry. Information packs are available to Members on request through the Committee Office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Professor Richard Sommer ( Harvard University) to brief the Committee at a future meeting on the collaborative work which is currently being undertaken by the universities in relation to town planning and urban regeneration.
11.40am Mr Maginness left the meeting
11.40am the meeting moved into public session
8. Briefing by representatives from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) on the Compact between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector
The Committee considered a briefing from the following NICVA representatives:
Mr Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive
Ms Frances McCandless, Policy Director
12noon Mr Burns left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on this matter at a future meeting.
12.06pm
9. December Monitoring Round
The Chairperson reported that he had deferred the briefing by Departmental Officials as the paper provided by the Department was incomplete.
10. Proposals for Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Departmental proposals to make Statutory Rules:
i) The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.
ii) The Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department regarding the Committee’s concerns around the issue of sanctions and the status of work in the community.
12.20pm Mr Brady left the meeting.
12.20pm
11. Briefing by Departmental officials on the Crumlin Road Gaol/Girdwood Park Draft Masterplan – Equality Impact Assessment consultation.
Members took evidence from the following Departmental officials:
Mr Tim Losty, Director, North Belfast Community Action UnitMr Liam Barr, North Belfast Community Action Unit
Mr Danny Byrne, North Belfast Community Action Unit.
12.25pm Mr Maginness rejoined the meeting
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clerk should write to the Department in order to recommend that all communities (not just those immediately outside the development footprint) should be properly consulted with regard to the redevelopment of the area.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to invite Department officials to return after the consultation has closed to brief the Committee on its findings.
12.51pm
12. Correspondence
12.1 The Committee noted a copy of the Minister’s response to the Committee for Employment and Learning on European Social Fund Matched Funding.
12.2 The Committee noted correspondence received from the OFMDFM on the status of projects formerly funded under the Executive Programme Fund for Children and Young People
12.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Personnel to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the budget stock-take.
12.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Employment and Learning Committee in relation to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
12.5 The Committee noted correspondence received the Employment and Learning Committee on the impact of the housing crisis on the construction industry and agreed to forward a letter from the Employment and Learning Committee to the Minister for Social Development.
13. Information to note
The Committee noted the following correspondence for information:
- Northern Ireland Environment Link Event – European Environmental Policy – the Northern Ireland Dimension, Tuesday 9 December 2008 in Parliament Buildings.
- Correspondence to Chairperson from Northern Ireland Environment Link - Badger Cull is Not the Answer.
- Correspondence to Chairperson from Macmillan Cancer Support regarding a forthcoming event, Cancer Poverty – Northern Ireland’s new cancer challenge.
- Copy of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Annual Report 2007-2008.
14. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Committee's Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Departmental Officials should be invited to brief the Committee on the December Monitoring Round at its meeting on 27 November 2008; the meeting will begin at 10.30am.
Agreed: Members also agreed to invite the Construction Industry Group (CIGNI) to brief the Committee, if possible at its meeting on 11 December 2008, this meeting also to begin at 10.30am.
15. Any other business
The Committee noted details of the visit of Mr Hans-Gert Pottering, the President of the European Parliament to Parliament Buildings on Monday 24 November 2008.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 November 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.01pm.