COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo 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)
Mrs Lorraine McFarland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began in public session at 11.17am.
1. Apologies
As detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed the Committee that he would have to leave before the conclusion of the meeting and that the Deputy Chairperson assume the Chair.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 23 April 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Departmental Correspondence
The Committee noted the Clerk’s briefing on Departmental response times to Committee correspondence.
4.2 Meeting Papers for 7 May 2009
Agreed: Members agreed that, owing to the Bank Holiday, they would be content to receive their papers for the meeting of Thursday 7 May 2009 on the morning of Tuesday 5 May 2009.
5.Town Centre Regeneration Policy Stocktake – Departmental briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 11.22am:
Ian Snowden – Acting Director, Regional Development Office, DSD; and Robert Kidd – Regional Development Office, DSD.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s stocktake on its Town Centre Regeneration Policies.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11.56am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting a copy of the Town Centre Regeneration Policy stocktake document.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that additional questions relating to the briefing should be forwarded to the Department.
Mr David Simpson left the meeting at 12.01pm
Mr David Hilditch assumed Chairmanship of the Committee at 12.01pm
6. Private Rented Sector Strategy - Departmental briefing
The Clerk informed the Committee that the scheduled Departmental briefing on the Strategy for the Private Rented Sector has been postponed until 14 May 2009.
7. Strategic Business Review: Equality Impact Assessment Consultation – Departmental briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 12.02pm:
Colum Boyle – Director of Business Development, Social Security Agency, DSD;
John O’Neill – Assistant Director of Business Development, Social Security Agency DSD; and
Pat Magee – Assistant Director, Human Resources, Social Security Agency, DSD.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Equality Impact Assessment consultation document for the Strategic Business Review of the Social Security Agency.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 12.20pm
Mr Billy Armstrong left the meeting at 12.20pm
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.43pm
Agreed: In light of recent problems with the payment of benefits, the Committee agreed to write to the Department, seeking clarification on the actions to be taken to improve co-ordination between the Social Security Agency and the Post Office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the draft Press Release should be issued as amended.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that additional questions relating to the briefing should be forwarded to the Department.
8. Proposed Statutory Rule - SL1
The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Housing Benefit (Child Benefit Disregard) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was not content for the Department to make the Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking further clarification in respect of the impact of the proposed Rule on divorced or estranged parents.
9. Correspondence
Departmental:
9.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to the energy efficiency advertising campaign.Other Correspondence:
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the University of Ulster, Coleraine Campus, inviting the Deputy Chairperson to attend the 2009 graduation ceremony.
9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Royal National Institute for the Blind relating to the extension of Disability Living Allowance (higher rate mobility payments) to the visually impaired.
9.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Landlords Associations of Northern Ireland (LANI) inviting Committee Members to attend the LANI General Meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this invitation again following the Departmental briefing on the Private Rented Sector.
9.5 The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and a reply from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to the Committee’s letter regarding EU funding and the global economic downturn.
9.6 The Committee noted a Report from the Citizens Advice Bureau entitled “Paying for a Funeral.”
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the revised Forward Work Programme.
11. Any other business
11.1 Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Chairman’s planned contribution to the debate on Employment Support Allowance scheduled for 5 May 2009.
11.2 The Chairperson advised the Committee of anticipated proposed statutory rules relating to the Swine Flu outbreak.
11.3 Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the issuing of Warm Homes Scheme tenders.
11.4 Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the payment of Household Fuel Payments.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 12.55pm
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 May 2009 at 1pm in the Annesley Room, Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, Newcastle, County Down.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.56pm.