COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Devlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assembly Research & Library Services) (Item 6)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr David Simpson MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting began in public session at 10.12am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 14 May 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Social Housing Development Programme
The Clerk advised the Committee that a Departmental briefing on the procurement issues relating to the Social Housing Development Programme had been scheduled for 28 May 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek further information from the Department on the number of housing unit completions and the number of “off the shelf” purchases planned within the Social Housing Development Programme for 2009-10.
3.2 Northern Ireland Housing Council Convention
Agreed: It was agreed that Mr Mickey Brady would attend the Northern Ireland Housing Council Convention in Armagh on 10 June 2009 on behalf of the Committee.
3.3 Meeting of 28 May 2009
Agreed: Members agreed that, owing to the Bank Holiday, they would be content to receive their papers for the meeting of Thursday 28 May 2009 on the morning of Tuesday 26 May 2009.
3.4 Homelessness Statutory Rule
The Clerk informed the Committee that the Department had been asked to address a number of drafting issues relating to the proposed statutory rule, The Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would undertake all reasonable measures to assist the Department in expediting the proposed statutory rule.
3.5 Committee Visit to Scotland
The Committee noted that the following Members will be attending the Committee visit to Scotland on 18 & 19 June 2009:
Mr Billy Armstrong; Mr Mickey Brady; Mr Thomas Burns; Mr Jonathan Craig; Mr Fra McCann; Miss Michelle McIlveen; and Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
3.6 Visit by Minister Tony McNulty – Department for Work and Pensions
The Clerk informed the Committee that Mr. Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions would be visiting Northern Ireland and wished to meet with Committee Members.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that those Members who wished to meet with the Minister would contact the Committee office.
4.NIHE Egan Framework Contracts – Contractor briefing
The following representatives of local Egan contractors joined the meeting at 10.18am:
Sean McCaughan – Quantity Surveyor, PK Murphy Construction Ltd;
Willie Oliver – Managing Director, Exorna Kitchens; and
Gerry McEvoy – Managing Director, Mascott Construction Ltd.
The representatives briefed the Committee on funding issues affecting Egan contractors.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 10.53am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its response during the Committee meeting of 28 May 2009.
5. Game Licensing (Wildlife Bill) – Departmental briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.55am:
Pat McAlister – Social Policy Unit, DSD; and
Caroline Hobson – Social Policy Unit, DSD.
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed abolition of game and game dealers’ licences.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
Agreed: It was agreed that a Committee response at the Second Stage of the Wildlife Bill would not be required.
The officials left the meeting at 10.58am
6. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
7. Correspondence
Departmental:
7.1 The Committee noted Departmental correspondence on the media campaign for the Household Fuel Payment Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Mr Mickey Brady expressed concerns in relation to difficulties experienced by claimants in accessing information on the Household Fuel Payment Scheme.
7.2 The Committee noted Departmental correspondence providing an update on the progress of the Warm Homes Scheme.
Other Correspondence:
7.3 The Committee considered correspondence from Advice NI, providing a briefing paper and report entitled, “Crunch Times at the Front Line”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Advice NI to brief the Committee, after the Summer Recess, on relevant issues in the briefing paper.
7.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) seeking an opportunity to brief the Committee on the Reform of the Private Rented Sector.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconsider the request from the RICS following the summary briefing on responses to the Private Rented Sector consultation by the Department.
7.5 The Committee considered correspondence from Participation and the Practice of Rights Project, providing a response to the Departments’ comments on the “Changing the Patterns of the Past” report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the report to the Department for comment.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to consider the issues raised by the correspondence when the Department briefs the Committee on the Strategic Regeneration Frameworks and the final outcome of the Crumlin Road Gaol / Girdwood Park EQIA.
7.6 The Committee considered correspondence from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Imtac and the Regional Access Committee seeking an opportunity to provide a briefing on Shared Surface Streets.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to sponsor an event at Parliament Buildings on Shared Surface Streets.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the correspondence to the Regional Development Committee, for information.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that this correspondence should form part of the evidence for the Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry
7.7 The Committee considered correspondence from Participation and the Practice of Rights Project providing the Committee with a copy of a publication entitled, “The Girdwood Gamble”, by the Girdwood Residents Jury.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to consider the issues raised by the report when the Department briefs the Committee on the Strategic Regeneration Frameworks and the final outcome of the Crumlin Road Gaol / Girdwood Park EQIA.
7.8 The Committee considered a briefing paper from Shelter Northern Ireland and the Simon Community Northern Ireland on Supporting People funding.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this issue when responses have been received from all the relevant Supporting People organisations.
Invitations:
7.9 The Committee noted an invitation from Cuan Mhuire, Newry inviting the Committee to attend an event on 26 June 2009 entitled, “A Celebration of Recovery from Addiction”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the invitation to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
7.10 The Committee noted an invitation from Capita Conferences, inviting the Committee to attend its 6 th National Conference, “Third Sector Commissioning, Overcoming Barriers and Realising Potential”, to be held on 22 June 2009 in London.
Agreed: It was agreed that Members wishing to attend this conference would contact the Committee Office.
Miscellaneous:
7.11 The Committee noted an e-mail from Environment Link providing the Committee with a copy of its fact sheet, “The Science of Climate Change: What You Need to Know”.
7.12 The Committee noted correspondence from Advice NI providing the Committee with a copy of its quarterly newssheet.
8.Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs – presentation by Assembly Research
Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services presented a briefing paper on issues relating to the Liquor Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the representative from Assembly Research and Library Services for their briefing.
Agreed: The Committee requested further information in relation to the use of closure powers in England and Wales.
9. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Landlords’ Association of Northern Ireland briefing
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.
The meeting moved into closed session at 11.25am
The following representatives of the Landlords’ Association of Northern Ireland joined the meeting at 11.25am:
Marnette Lyons;
Declan Boyle;
Dairmid Laird; and
Joe Nugent.
The representatives briefed the Committee on aspects of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.01pm
10. 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 to request a Departmental briefing on the June Monitoring Round, for the meeting of 28 May 2009.
11. Any other business
11.1 Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification on changes to the rules affecting the Fostering Allowance.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 12.24pm
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12.24pm
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 28 May 2009 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
he Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.26pm.
Mr David Simpson MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
Thursday, 11 June 2009.