COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday, 27th November 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo 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 Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.39am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
There was no Chairperson’s business.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 20 th November 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 20 th November 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Neighbourhood Renewal
The Committee considered a paper prepared by the Clerk which summarised the key findings of the consultation; highlighted the evidence basis and set out draft recommendations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft recommendations, subject to the completion of additional work on the re-categorisation issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that an additional recommendation should be included in respect of Masterplans – specifically that the Masterplan consultation process should not be allowed to inhibit or hinder the progress of Neighbourhood Renewal projects.
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister for Education, prompted by the Minister for Social Development’s briefing of 6 November 2008 and regarding the funding of Neighbourhood Renewal projects by the Department of Education.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the letter should be forwarded to the Minister of Education through the relevant committee.
6. December Monitoring Round
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Minister setting out the Committee’s requirements with regard to the December Monitoring Round and future monitoring rounds.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the letter should be sent to the Minister.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief it on the Department’s final December Monitoring Round submission at its meeting on 4 December 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek an assurance that the Department will take account of the Committee’s views when submitting the final version of the December Monitoring Round and future monitoring rounds to the Department for Finance and Personnel.
11.00am
7. Briefing by Departmental Officials: Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency - Consultation
The Committee was briefed by the following Departmental officials:
Mr Bryan Davis, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency (SSA)
Mr Colum Boyle, Director of Business Development, SSA
Mr John O'Neill, Assistant Director, Strategic Business Review, SSA
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Clerk reminded Members that the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) had previously written to the Committee on this issue and offered an oral briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite NIPSA to brief the Committee on the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency - Consultation in the New Year.
11.51am the meeting moved into public session
11.52am
8. Briefing by Departmental Officials on the Review of Public Administration (RPA) within the Department of Social Development
The Committee was briefed by the following Departmental officials:
Mr Henry Johnston – Director, Regional Development Office
Mr Geoff Beattie – RPA Project Manager
Mr Stephen McMurray – Director of Finance
Ms Sharon Gallagher – Director, Human Resources
The meeting suspended at 12.20
The meeting resumed in public session at 12.35
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should monitor the RPA timetable and inform the Committee of key milestones.
1.00pm
9. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)
The Committee considered the following Departmental proposals to make Statutory Rules:
i) The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.6) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed to make the Statutory Rule.
ii) The Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee had concerns regarding the proposal and requested a fuller explanation on the detail of the proposal from Departmental officials; the Committee deferred its decision.
iii) The Christmas Bonus 2008 – (Relevant Week) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed to make the Statutory Rule.
(iv) The Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed to make the Statutory Rule.
10. Pensions No.2 Bill Amendments
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding amendments to the Pensions No.2 Bill.
11. Correspondence
11.1The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the proposed Housing Bill and the Committee’s concerns relating to the proposed change to the definition of Houses in Multiple Occupation.
11.2The Committee noted an Invitation to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to attend the Housing Executive’s Board meeting on Wednesday 17 December 2008.
11.3 The Committee noted correspondence received from the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) on the impact of the economic downturn on employment in the construction industry and agreed to forward a letter from the OFMDFM Committee to the Minister for Social Development.
12. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Committee's Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to visit the Lisburn Eco Village on 8 January 2008, followed by a short Committee meeting on return to Parliament Buildings.
The Clerk spoke on the Warm Homes consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee after the consultation period.
13 Any other business
None.
14 Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 4 December 2008 at 11.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.18pm.