COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Research and Library Services) (Items 5&9)
Mr Denis Arnold (Bill Clerk) (Item 5)
The meeting began in public session at 10:32am.
1. Apologies
No apologies were recorded.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 Town Centre Regeneration Report
The Chairperson thanked the Members for their contribution to the debate on the Town Centre Regeneration Report on Monday 2 November 2009.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 22 October 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 NI Multiple Deprivation Measure 2009 Consultation.
The Committee agreed that it would not submit a response to the consultation on the proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2009.
Mr Mickey Brady joined the meeting at 10:35am
4. 2 Informal Reception – Press Release
The Committee agreed a press release for the Committee’s Informal Reception on Thursday 5 November 2009.
Mr Fra McCann joined the meeting at 10:36am
5. Housing (Amendment) Bill.
5.1 Briefing by Housing Rights Service
The following representatives from Housing Rights Service joined the meeting at 10:37am:
Janet Hunter Director, Housing Rights Service; and
Nicola McCrudden Policy and Communications Manager, Housing Rights Service.
The representatives provided a briefing on proposed amendments to Clause 2 of the Housing (Amendment) Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:40am
Ms Carál Ní Chuilínjoined the meeting at 10:40am
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 10:42am
5.2 Clause-by-Clause Scrutiny
The Committee continued the formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10:43am:
Stephen Martin Housing Bill Team, DSD
Stephen Baird Housing Bill Team, DSD.
Clause 1 – Homelessness Strategy
The Committee considered the proposed amendment of Clause 1 Article 6A(1) in which the word “may” would be replaced by “shall”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the amendment would not be brought forward but that the Chairperson would seek assurances at Consideration Stage in respect of the duty of the Housing Executive to produce a Homelessness Strategy. The Committee further agreed that if it was not content with the Ministerial response that it may choose to introduce the amendment at Further Consideration Stage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed, subject to a review of the final wording, that Clause 1 Article 6A(5) be amended to include local councils in the list of organisations that are required to take the Homelessness Strategy into account in the exercise of their functions.
The Committee considered the proposed amendment relating to the inclusion of the Prison Service in the list of organisations that are required to take the Homelessness Strategy into account in the exercise of their functions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this amendment until the submission of the final wording of another amendment to the Clause. The latter amendment to include the addition of the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the list of organisations required to take the Homelessness Strategy into account in the exercise of their functions.
Clause 2 – Duty of Executive to provide advice
Agreed: The Committee agreed, subject to a review of the final wording, that Clause 2 be amended such that the Housing Executive will be required to have regard to the form and content of advice as specified by the Department.
Clause 10 – Anti-social behaviour: Executive’s policies and procedures
The Committee considered the Department’s response in relation to measures to tackle anti-social behaviour in social housing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Department’s response.
Clause 12 – Increase in Housing Council representation on Executive
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer consideration on the amendments to increase Housing Council representation or add a tenancy advocate to the Board of the Housing Executive.
Additional Amendments
The Committee considered the Department’s response in relation to a proposed amendment to introduce a code of practice relating to conflicts of interest for Housing Association staff.
Agreed: The Committee accepted the Department’s assurances and agreed to abandon the proposed amendment.
The Committee considered the Department’s response to proposed amendments in relation to the Common Housing Selection Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Department’s response. The Committee further agreed to abandon the proposed amendments on the Common Housing Selection Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would seek assurances that the issues raised by the Committee in relation to the Common Housing Selection Scheme would be taken into consideration during the Department’s ongoing review of the Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider an amendment relating to the registration of private landlords at the Committee meeting of 12 November 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the additional information provided by the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) in relation to ex-offenders and homelessness.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The officials left the meeting at 11:30am.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:30am.
6. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Fund (Applications and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the proposed statutory rule until the Department provided additional information in relation to the abuse of the Crisis Loans system and the mitigating proposals.
6.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to two ongoing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Pension Reform consultations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would not submit a formal response to either of the two DWP consultations.
6.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the redefinition of Broad Rental Market Areas in Belfast.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to delay further consideration of this issue until the Department briefs the Committee on the review of Local Housing Allowance in February 2010.
7. Committee Report’s on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy – Departmental Response.
The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 11:39am:
Henry Johnston Director, Urban Regeneration Strategy Directorate, DSD;
Elaine Wilkinson Director, Belfast Regeneration Office, DSD;
Ian Snowden Director, Regional Development Office, DSD; and
Paul McNaught North West Development Office, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the Department’s response to the Committee’s report on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
Mr Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 11:53am.
Ms Carál Ní Chuilínleft the meeting at 12:06pm.
Mrs Mary Bradley left the meeting at 12:15pm.
The officials left the meeting at 12:16pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward Members’ questions to the Department for a written response.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister relating to the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings (SPED) scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek further clarification from the Department on the value of SPED properties awaiting sale and that the Committee would revisit the issue at the meeting of 12 November 2009.
8.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the appointment of the new Charity Commissioner.
8.3 The Committee considered the Department’s response regarding receipt of support from the NIO Community Fund.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
8.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the proposed funding and timeframe for implementation of the Belfast City Centre Westside Regeneration Masterplan.
8.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to an ongoing consultation on 5 draft Physical Regeneration Concept Masterplans for Belfast and a related Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA).
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would contact the Committee Office for copies of relevant documentation.
8.6 The Committee considered a response from the Department to correspondence from the Participation and the Practice of Rights Project regarding the Equality Impact Assessment on the Social Housing Development Programme Strategic Guidelines.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Participation and the Practice of Rights Project to brief the Committee on this matter.
8.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding the progress of the Shared Neighbourhood Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department asking to be kept updated on the Programme and the results of the independent evaluation of the pilot Programme.
8.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department confirming that it will brief the Committee on gaming machine stakes and prizes and the wider review of Gambling Policy.
8.9 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the regeneration of the Parkside, the Glen and Upper Long Streets areas.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request further updates, when available, on the proposals for the re-development and refurbishment of Parkside and the Glen and the economic appraisal for the Upper Long Streets areas.
8.10 The Committee noted a copy of the Save the Children’s report “A Child’s Portion” concerning public expenditure on children in the UK.
8.11 The Committee considered a memo from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) concerning the Department’s engagement on EU issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek the information requested from the Department and forward the response to the OFMDFM Committee.
8.12 The Committee considered correspondence from PK Murphy Construction Ltd concerning funding shortfalls for Egan contracts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward this correspondence to the Department.
8.13 The Committee considered correspondence from the Council for the Homeless (CHNI) inviting the Committee to visit the North West.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should contact CHNI to explore the feasibility of a visit.
8.14 The Committee considered correspondence from the NI Housing Executive inviting the Chairperson to address the next meeting of the Housing Forum on 1 December 2009 in La Mon House Hotel.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chair to address this meeting, diaries permitting.
9. Fuel Poverty - Assembly Research and Library Services Briefing Paper.
The Committee noted the Assembly Research and Library Services Briefing Paper on Fuel Poverty.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the presentation on the Fuel Poverty paper should be rearranged.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the tabled Forward Work Programme.
11. Any other business
11.1 Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Minister to request an urgent review of all sources of funding for community development and support projects.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 12 November 2009 at 10:00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:30pm.