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COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong 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
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (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 Mickey Brady MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA

The meeting commenced at 11.02am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

2.1 Members were reminded of the need to switch mobile phones off completely whilst recordings of Committee proceedings are being made.

2.2 Members were reminded of theneed to keep proper order at all times at Committee.

2.3 Agreed: Members agreed that a Christmas card would be issued on behalf of the Committee.

2.4 The Committee noted that transport would be provided on request to Members for the visit to the Eco-Village on 8 January 2009.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 th November 2008

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 27 th November 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Clerk advised Members that the further Consideration Stage of the Pensions No.2 Bill will be on Monday 8 December 2008 and that the Final Stage of the Bill is scheduled for Tuesday 9 December 2008. The Clerk undertook to inform Members by email if any further amendments had been received in the Bill Office.

5. Briefing by Departmental officials: December Monitoring Round

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.07am and briefed the Committee on the Department’s submission to the December Monitoring Round:

Barney McGahan – Deputy Secretary; and
Stephen McMurray – Director of Finance.

Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.20am.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for the briefing.

The officials left the meeting at 11.31am.

Agreed: The officials undertook to provide further information to the Committee in relation to the re-development of Jobs and Benefits Offices.

The Chairperson reminded Members that there was to be a Take Note Debate in the Assembly on Monday 15 December 2008 on the outcome of the December Monitoring Round. During this debate the Chairperson would participate on behalf the Committee.

6. Briefing on the Supporting People Programme
Session 1

The following representatives of the Simon Community joined the meeting at 11.32am:

Carol O’Bryan – Chief Executive, Simon Community NI; and
David Carroll – Director of Development, Simon Community NI.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the underspend within the Supporting People budget, and the impact of the inflationary freeze on Supporting People funding. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.46am.

Session 2

The following representatives of Women’s Aid joined the meeting at 11.47am:

Patricia Lyness – Senior Manager, Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid; and
Orla Conway – Senior Manager, Omagh Women’s Aid.

The representatives briefed the Committee on what services the Supporting People Programme enabled Women’s Aid to deliver. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.59am.

Session 3

The following representatives of Triangle Housing Association joined the meeting at 11.59am:

Chris Alexander – Chief Executive, Triangle Housing Association;
Oonagh Boyle – Board Member, Triangle Housing Association;
Noeleen Drive – Board Member, Triangle Housing Association; and
Raymond Nicholl – Board Member, Triangle Housing Association.

Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12pm.

The representatives briefed the Committee on the base-lining of the Supporting People budget. Representatives also briefed the Committee on the implications of the Bamford Review. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.

Ms Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting at 12.10pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.20pm.

Session 4

The following representatives of Shelter NI joined the meeting at 12.20pm:

Tony McQuillan – Director, Shelter NI; and
Carol Kinkead – Chairperson, Shelter NI.

The representatives briefed the Committee on their two projects funded by the Supporting People Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.32pm.

Session 5

The following representative of Fold Group joined the meeting at 12.32pm:

Eileen Patterson – Director, Housing Services.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12.24pm.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 12.33pm.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12.39pm.

The representative briefed the Committee on the need for a joined up policy and funding approach. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representative for attending.

The representative left the meeting at 12.41pm.

Agreed: The Clerk undertook to draft a letter to the Minister highlighting the Committee’s concerns in respect of the Supporting People Programme and related issues raised during the Committee briefing. This letter to be approved at next week’s Committee meeting.

Agreed: Following the submission of the letter to the Minister, the Committee to consider writing to the Ministers for Finance & Personnel and Health, Social Security and Public Safety.

12.50pm

7. Proposed Statutory Rules (SL1s)

The Committee considered the following Departmental proposal to make a Statutory Rule:

i) The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Agreed: The Committee indicated that it was content that the proposed Rule be made.

8. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and have been laid in the Assembly:

2008/465 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and

2008/474 The Christmas Bonus (Relevant week) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Questions put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/465 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule”

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2008/474 The Christmas Bonus (Relevant week) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule”

Noted: Some Members highlighted their concerns in relation to the absence of an Equality Impact Assessment and a built-in review in relation to the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 12.53pm.

9. Correspondence

9.1 The Committee noted a letter from the Chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Council requesting a meeting with the Committee Chairperson.

9.2 The Committee noted a response from the Department to a query from a Committee Member regarding work in the Strangford area.

9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee in relation to the Social Economy Enterprise Strategy.

9.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee advising on the terms of reference of its scrutiny of public procurement.

Agreed: The Committee directed the clerk to write to the clerk of the Finance and Personnel Committee to determine if review of the Department’s procurement strategy for Housing Associations was to be included in the terms of reference of the inquiry.

9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Health Committee on Supporting People.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister.

9.6 The Committee considered correspondence from Help the Aged, Age Concern and the Age Sector Platform on their campaign entitled “Can’t Heat or Eat Campaign”

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite representatives of the campaign to brief the Committee at a future Committee meeting.

9.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Health Committee on asthma and tree-planting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister.

9.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister on Social Housing in Portadown

9.9 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee on Procedures.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the DALO.

9.10 The Committee noted correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Strategic Stocktake.

1.00pm

10. Charitable Donations and Bequests Account

The Clerk briefed the Committee on the DSD Annual Report on Charitable Donations and Bequests Account for 2007/2008. Members noted the document.

11. The Pensions Regulator – Draft Code of Practice No.7

The Clerk briefed the Committee on the draft revised Code of Practice published by the Pensions Regulator. Members noted the document.

12. Social Fund Annual Report 2007/2008

The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Social Fund Annual Report 2007/2008.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a briefing from Departmental officials on the Department of Work and Pensions consultation document – The Social Fund: A New Approach at next week’s meeting.

Agreed: Members also agreed to seek a briefing in the New Year from the Department and the Advice Sector on funeral payments made from the Social Fund.

13. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the Committee's Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule several items of business to the Committee work programme for the New Year.

14. Any other business

Agreed: The Committee agreed that research should be undertaken on the arrangements in place for terminally or seriously ill claimants to receive benefits such as the Winter Fuel Allowance.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that following consideration of the research, invitations would be issued to appropriate organisations to brief the Committee on the issue of alleviating poverty for the terminally or seriously ill.

15. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 December 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.06pm.

Mr David Simpson MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
Thursday, 11th December 2008.

27 November 08 / Menu