COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present: Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
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
In Attendance: Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10:03am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7 January 2010 were agreed.
3 Matters Arising
3.1 Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-2011
The Chairperson advised Members of the proposed schedule for the Committee’s consideration of the Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-2011.
4. “Consultation on the Public Benefit Test” – Briefing by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
The following representatives from the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland joined the meeting at 10:07am:
Tom McGrath Chief Commissioner, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland;
Rosemary Connolly Legal Commissioner, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland; and
Seamus Murray Head of Secretariat, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Mr Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 10:08am
The representatives provided a briefing on the consultation on the Public Benefit Test. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting an update on the charity registration process and any further delays in the Commission’s development of investigation and enforcement capacity.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 10:32am.
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
5.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Housing Benefit (War Pension Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek information on those affected and the amounts involved in respect of the erroneous withdrawal of war pension disregards in relation to Housing Benefit entitlement. The Committee further agreed that the Clerk should seek clarification from the Department on the back-dating of entitlement in this regard.
6 Consultation on the Volunteering Strategy – Departmental Briefing
The following official joined the meeting at 10:35am:
Janine Fullerton Head of Community Support Team, Voluntary and Community Unit, DSD.
The official provided a briefing on the recent consultation on the Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10:44am
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 10:51am
The Chairperson thanked the official for the briefing.
The official left the meeting at 11:07am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request: an update on the timetable for implementing the Volunteering Strategy; information on Volunteer Bureaux Initiative funding which is due to cease after 31 March 2010 and clarification on the barriers to volunteering for benefit claimants and how these might change as a consequence of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: It was further agreed that the Committee’s response to the consultation would indicate:
- Members’ concern in respect of the proposals relating to revisions to volunteering infrastructure. The Committee indicated that the infrastructure aspects of the Strategy should encourage local participation and reflect the commitment and dedication of all local and regional volunteer centres; and
- the Committee’s belief that the Volunteering Strategy should dovetail with the policies of other departments, particularly the Department of Employment and Learning’s re-skilling initiatives for graduates, and those of non-governmental bodies including ethnic minority organisations.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s 38th Annual Report.
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 11:08am
7.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the December Monitoring Round and Departmental Expenditure Plans.
7.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society regarding the consultation on The Village Urban Renewal Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to arrange a briefing from the Department, Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and a representative Community Association on this issue.
Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:13am
7.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Citizens Advice Bureau requesting an opportunity to brief on issues relating to the current economic downturn.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should arrange a briefing from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
7.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister in relation to a proposed Ministerial Statement scheduled for 18 January 2010.
7.6 The Committee considered correspondence from the Environment Committee in relation to the game licensing and game dealer licensing aspects of the Wildlife and Environment Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department and request that the Committee be copied in to the response.
7.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Chartered Institute of Housing inviting the Committee to an informal meeting with the Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland on Friday 29 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would advise the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting at 11:16am
7.8 The Committee was content to note various items of miscellaneous correspondence.
8. Warm Homes Scheme – Briefing by the Scheme Operators.
The following representatives from the Warm Homes Scheme Operators, Bryson Charitable Group and H&A Mechanical Services Ltd joined the meeting at 11:17am:
Nigel Brady Director, Northern Ireland Energy Agency, Bryson Charitable Group;
Orla Ward Senior Manager, Northern Ireland Energy Agency, Bryson Charitable Group;
Martin Collins Director, Warm Homes Project, H&A Mechanical Services Ltd; and
Bob Cooke Administration Manager, Warm Homes Project, H&A Mechanical Services Ltd.
The representatives provided a briefing on the Warm Homes Scheme. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr David Hilditch declared an interest at 11:22am – indicating his involvement in Carrickfergus Borough Council’s tendering process for its recycling services which included the Bryson Charitable Group.
Mr Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 11:31am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Warm Homes Scheme Operators requesting: a breakdown of the uptake of Warm Homes’ measures by constituency; a breakdown of ineligible applicants to the Scheme and information on the Scheme Operators’ success in respect of follow-up activity for ineligible applicants.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek: clarification in respect of the annual targets for the Scheme; details of contractual flexibility in respect of revised measures or different eligibility criteria and the comparison between the costs of measures in the new scheme and the old.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:57am
The representatives left the meeting at 11:58am.
9. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
10. A.O.B.
10.1 Savills’ Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister to urgently request access to the Savills’ Report so as to inform a planned Committee Inquiry into housing.
10.2 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Processing
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should arrange a Committee visit to the ESA processing centre in James House, Belfast.
10.3 First Housing Aid & Support Services.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would contact the Committee Office should they require copies of the information pack provided by First Housing Aid & Support Services.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 21 January 2010 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.03pm.