COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr David Hilditch 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 John Devlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Researcher)
Apologies:
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
The meeting began in private session at 11.03am.
1. Apologies
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed new Assistant Assembly Clerk, John Devlin to the Committee secretariat.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 29 January 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 The Clerk updated the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule: The Financial Assistance (Fuel payments) Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Mr Burns joined the meeting at 11.07
4.2 Members were updated on the proposed visits to a Job & Benefits office and the Belfast Benefits Delivery Centre on 19 February 2009.
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín joined the meeting at 11.09
4.3 The Clerk briefed the Committee on the February Monitoring Round documentation received from the Department.
4.4 The Clerk updated members on an information request to the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a formal information request should be made to the Department in respect of the 2008-09 outturn of the Social Housing Development Programme.
5. Draft report into Neighbourhood Renewal
The Committee considered the draft report into Neighbourhood Renewal paragraph by paragraph. The Committee agreed the main body of the report as follows:
Executive Summary, read and agreed
Summary of Recommendations, read and agreed
Introduction, read and agreed
Background, read and agreed
Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, read and agreed
Summary of Responses to Consultation, read and agreed
Findings and Recommendations, read and agreed with amendments
Agreed: It was agreed that the report should be published and that the Clerk would make the necessary arrangements for laying the report in the Business Office for debate in the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the following motion:
“That the Report be the Second Report of the Social Development Committee to the Assembly”
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the following motion should be put to the Assembly:
“That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Social Development on the Consultation on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and calls on the Department for Social Development to implement the recommendations.”
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would review, when available, the Department’s response in respect of the Neighbourhood Renewal anti-social behaviour targets.
Agreed: The Committee agreed, that following the Assembly debate and to inform its review of RPA, it would consider Neighbourhood Renewal programmes in other jurisdictions.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 11.28
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.29
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11.36
The meeting moved into public session at 11.37am.
6. Impact of Fuel Poverty on Cancer Patients – Macmillan Cancer Support
The following representative of Macmillan Cancer Support joined the meeting at 11.38am:
Heather Monteverde – Northern Ireland General Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support.
The representative briefed the Committee on the issues surrounding fuel poverty and cancer patients. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the representative for attending.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 11.41am
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 12.05pm
The representative left the meeting at 12.10pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Social Development, highlighting its support for the extension of the anti-fuel poverty payments to seriously ill cancer sufferers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Social Development in the first instance (and OFMDFM, if necessary) to suggest that the extension of the winter fuel payment to seriously ill cancer sufferers be brought into effect under the provisions of the Financial Assistance Act (Northern Ireland) 2009.
7. Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Taskforce Report
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Taskforce Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Taskforce indicating the Committee’s support for the recommendations in the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, highlighting its support for the introduction of social tariffs for electricity and gas consumers.
8. February Monitoring Round – Departmental Briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.14pm and briefed the Committee on the February Monitoring Round:
Barney McGahan – Deputy Secretary
Stephen McMurray – Director of Finance
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.46pm.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 12.47pm
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12.56pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Finance and Personnel setting out its support for the funding bids in the February Monitoring Round submission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clerk should write to the Department seeking additional clarification in respect of the February Monitoring Round.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clerk should write to the Department seeking further information on the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings.
9. Proposed Statutory Rule - SL1
The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee indicated it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Department for Work and Pensions consultation paper, Flexible Retirement and Pension Provision – Next Steps.
10.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the legislative timetable and proposed extension of the penalty points system for Liquor Licensing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider Liquor Licensing issues again after Executive approval has been received for the proposals.
10.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding the Local Housing Allowance.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on the treatment of 5 bedroom houses under the Local Housing Allowance scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this correspondence again, when the next quarterly report on Local Housing Allowance is presented.
10.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department for Finance and Personnel to the Finance and Personnel Committee relating to the potential for clawback of European grants.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting an update on progress in respect of relevant DSD projects.
10.5 The Committee considered correspondence from Evelyn and Keith Dougherty relating to an ongoing issue with Shelter NI and GABLE NI.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department.
10.6 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety requesting the Committee forward a letter to the Minister for Social Development, regarding tree planting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Minister.
10.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning relating to the Cedar Foundation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department.
10.8 The Committee considered attending CIPFA and the Chartered Institute for Housing (CIH) Seminar on 25 February 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the invitation at its next meeting.
10.9 The Committee noted the email, “ America is a Jewish Colony: Update on Olmert’s bragging about his humiliation of Bush and America.”
10.10 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister in relation to the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to give further consideration to the Minister’s letter at its next meeting.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a visit should be scheduled to a Macmillan Cancer Support benefit advice centre.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 01.07pm
Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting at 01.08pm
12. Any other business
12.1 Members considered correspondence from the Hope Centre Ballymena.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to give further consideration to this correspondence at its next meeting.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 February 2009 at 11am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 01.10pm.