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COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 19 MARCH 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Mickey Brady 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

In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Devlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Denis Arnold (Bill Office) (Item 10)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assembly Research & Library Services) (Item 7)

Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

The meeting began in public session at 11.03 a.m.

1. Apologies

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.

2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2009

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 12 March 2009 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.05 a.m.

3.1 Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules – The Household Fuel Payments Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/70)

The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

3.2 Tackling Alcohol-related Anti-Social Behaviour Conference

Agreed: Members agreed to contact the Committee office by 19th March 2009 should they wish to attend the conference.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that if Members were unable to attend the conference that committee staff would attend instead.

3.3 Saving Gateway Accounts Bill – pilot studies and misuse of accounts

The Committee noted Departmental correspondence responding to Members’ queries in respect of the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill.

3.4 Warm Homes Scheme

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further clarification in respect of the operation of the Warm Homes Scheme from the Minister during her briefing of 26th March 2009.

4. Girdwood Park/Crumlin Road Gaol site – Departmental briefing

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.10 a.m:

Liam Barr – North Belfast Community Action Unit, DSD and
Anne Loughran – North Belfast Community Action Unit, DSD.

The officials briefed the Committee on the interim feedback from the consultation on the draft Equality Impact Assessment on the Crumlin Road / Girdwood Park master plan.

Mr Alban Maginness joined the meeting at 11.25am
Mr Billy Armstrong left the meeting at 11.28am

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for attending.

Mr Alban Maginness left the meeting at 11.47am
The representatives left the meeting at 11.47am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a further briefing from the Department when the Equality Impact Assessment on the Crumlin Road / Girdwood Park master plan was concluded.

Mr Alban Maginness rejoined the meeting at 11.51 a.m

5. Local Housing Allowance 3rd Quarter Report – Departmental briefing.

The following Departmental official joined the meeting at 11.52 a.m:

John O’Neill – Director of Social Security Policy and Legislation, DSD.

The official briefed the Committee on the 2008-09 3rd Quarter Report on Local Housing Allowance.

The Chairperson thanked the official for attending.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.11 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking further information regarding the circumstances of tenants who appear to be worse off under the LHA scheme.

Agreed: The Committee also agreed to write to the Department seeking further information on actual expenditure versus budget and applications (and refusals) for Discretionary Housing Payment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a briefing from the Housing Rights Service, before consideration of the final report of the LHA pilot year, in June 2009.

6. Funding of Social and Affordable Housing – Presentation by Assembly Research and Library Services

Assembly Research and Library Services made a presentation to the Committee on the use of debt to fund social and affordable housing.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to raise the issue of alternative forms of funding for social and affordable housing with the Minister at the budget briefing, planned for 26th March 2009.

7. Proposed Statutory Rule (SL1s)

7.1 The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.57 p.m:

Angela Clarke – Housing Division, DSD and
Avril Hiles – Housing Division, DSD.

The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Registered Rents (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Agreed: The Committee indicated it was not content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department, seeking a copy of the legal advice that it had obtained in relation to the proposed rule and details of the financial implications of the proposed rent increases.

Agreed: The Committee also agreed to write to the Department suggesting that consideration be given to an addition to the Housing (Amendment) Bill which would resolve the legal difficulties associated with the proposed rule.

8. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which have been laid in the Assembly:

8.1 2009/78 The Pension Protection Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/78 The Pension Protection Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”

8.2 2009/89 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to confirmatory resolution.

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/89 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.”

8.3 2009/80 The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/80 The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objections to the rule.”

8.4 2009/90 The Social Security (National Insurance Number Information: Exemption) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/90 The Social Security (National Insurance Number Information: Exemption) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the rule.”

8.5 2009/92 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, which is subject to negative resolution.

Question put and agreed:

“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/92 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objections to the rule.”

9. Correspondence
Departmental:

9.1 The Committee noted Departmental correspondence to the Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music School.

9.2 The Committee considered correspondence from Professor Eileen Evason, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Joint Standards Committee.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Professor Evason asking her to brief the Committee on the work of the Joint Standards Committee.

9.3 The Committee considered Departmental correspondence on Post Project Evaluations.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

9.4 The Committee considered correspondence advising of the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal to abolish game and game dealer licences.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a Departmental briefing on this issue.

Other:

9.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee on Procedures requesting that a letter be forwarded to the Department in relation to the Inquiry into Legislative Consent Motions.

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

9.6 The Committee considered a letter from William Dickson concerning the redevelopment of areas of the Blackstaff Ward in South Belfast.

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

9.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Health regarding funding for the Hope Centre, Ballymena.

9.8 The Committee noted correspondence from Ligoniel Village Neighbourhood in relation to funding issues.

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

9.9 The Committee noted correspondence from the Chartered Institute of Housing providing details of its new term syllabus.

Invitations:

9.10 The Committee noted an invitation from the Child Poverty Alliance to attend a series of seminars focusing on issues relating to child poverty, to be held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

Miscellaneous:

9.11 The Committee noted correspondence from The Equality Commission providing a copy of its e-newsletter.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session for the next item of business.

The meeting moved into closed session at 12.49 p.m.

10. Bill Stages – Briefing by Assembly Bill Office

The Committee received a briefing from the Bill Office on the role of the Committee in the legislative process.

11. Forward Work Programme

The Clerk outlined future items of business for the Committee as set out in the forward work programme.

12. Any other business

12.1 Mr Mickey Brady informed the Committee of an upcoming Neighbourhood Renewal event to be held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

12.2 The Committee considered releasing research papers prepared for it by Assembly Research and Library Services.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that all existing research papers could be made available to the Department.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 March 2009 at 11 a.m in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.08 p.m.

Mr David Simpson MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
Thursday, 26 March 2009.

12 March 09 / Menu