COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 28 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
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)
Mr Darren McStravick (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
None
The meeting began in public session at 10:04am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Chairperson passed on the Committee’s thanks to the outgoing Clerical Supervisor, Mrs Joy Hamilton.
3.Draft minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 21 January 2010 were agreed.
4. Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans– Departmental Briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 10:05am:
Barney McGahan Deputy Secretary, RHSS Group, DSD; and
Stephen McMurray Finance Director, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:34am.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 10:37am.
The officials left the meeting at 10:52am.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister expressing the Committee’s concern about the incomplete information received in relation to the Revised Departmental Expenditure Plans and to request more detailed information prior to the planned Equality Impact Assessment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to NICVA to request an update on the potential efficiencies arising from shared services across community groups.
Mr Alex Easton left the meeting at 11:01am
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
5.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
5.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
5.3 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Transfer Values (Disapplication) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Mr Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 11:08am
Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting at 11:09am
6. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which was laid in the Business Office:
6.1 SR 2010/8: The Housing Benefit (War Pension Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2010/8: The Housing Benefit (War Pension Disregards Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
6.2 SR 2009/418: The Income Support (Prescribed Categories of Person) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
The Committee considered the Department’s response to the Committee’s letter of 14 December 2009 setting out the Committee’s concerns in respect of the impact of the regulations for lone parents.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request: the economic appraisal on the range of strategic options for the provision of childcare in Northern Ireland and an update on the draft childcare strategy.
7. Welfare Reform Bill – Departmental Briefing.
The following officials joined the meeting at 11:10am:
Anne McCleary Director, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Margaret Sisk Deputy Director, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
Mr Billy Armstrong left the meeting at 11:22am.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:35am.
The officials provided a briefing on the next steps for the Welfare Reform Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing
The officials left the meeting at 11:46am.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Minister: to express the Committee’s concerns in relation to the delayed introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill; to request information on the implications of the anticipated disparity with Great Britain in respect of social security arrangements and to seek an update on the Department’s exchanges with the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to the anticipated disparity.
Agreed: The Committee further agreed that, as with the recent housing legislation, it would extend the fullest co-operation to the Department during the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to Housing Association vacancies.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request an update on the outcome of the planned reviews of: both the collection of data for the Annual Regulatory Return and the current Housing Association Regulatory Framework.
8.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Community Relations Council in relation to their Annual Overview and Annual Report for 2008-09.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should contact the Community Relations Council so as to determine if an oral briefing on relevant matters is required.
8.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Report of the Committee’s Inquiry into European Issues.
8.4 The Committee considered an invitation from Housing Rights Service to a consultation event hosted in conjunction with the Council for the Homeless NI to discuss the forthcoming Housing Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr Fra McCann would represent the Committee at this event and that the Chairperson may also attend, diary permitting.
8.5 The Committee noted an invitation from Community Evaluation Northern Ireland to the launch of “Measuring Up – A Review of Evaluation Practice in the Voluntary and Community Sector” to be held in Belfast Castle on Wednesday 10 February 2010.
8.6 The Committee noted an invitation from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People to an event entitled “Tackling Child Poverty Amongst 16 and 17 year olds” to be held on Wednesday 10 February 2010 in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast.
8.7 The Committee considered correspondence from Capita Conferences in relation to Capita’s 7 th National Developing the Adult Social Care Workforce Conference to be held on Tuesday 23 March 2010 in Manchester.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
9. Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland – Briefing by the Chartered Institute of Housing NI
The following representatives from the Chartered Institute of Housing NI joined the meeting at 11:54am:
David McCallum Chair, Chartered Institute of Housing NI; and
Grainia Long Director, Chartered Institute of Housing NI.
Mr Billy Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12:12pm
The officials provided a briefing on the Commission’s Key Issues Paper on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:34pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its response to the Housing Commission’s Key Issues Paper on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland at the Committee meeting of 4 February 2010.
Mr Simon Hamilton, Chairperson, left the meeting at 12:35pm.
Mr David Hilditch, Deputy Chairperson, assumed the Chair at 12:35pm.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
11. Social Housing Development Programme Strategic Guidelines – Briefing by the Participation and Practice of Rights Project
The following representatives from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project joined the meeting at 12:36pm:
Dessie Donnelly Strategic Development Officer, Participation and Practice of Rights Project; and
Nicola Browne Strategic Policy Officer, Participation and Practice of Rights Project.
Mr Simon Hamilton, Chairperson, rejoined the meeting and re-assumed the Chair at 12:38pm.
The representatives provided a briefing on the Social Housing Development Programme Strategic Guidelines. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 1:06pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking: clarification on the timeline for the agreement of the Social Housing Development Programme Strategic Guidelines; an update on the current review of the Strategic Guidelines and further information on the policy and process for allocating social housing equitably across all Section 75 groups.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Participation and Project of Rights Project to return and brief the Committee once the information has been received from the Department.
12. Any Other Business
12.1 Bill of Rights Consultation
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would not submit a response to the NIO consultation on the Bill of Rights as it is anticipated that this is to be reviewed by the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
12.2 Conference Papers
Members noted that the Committee Office had received papers on the 2009 NIFHA Annual Conference and the Centre for Public Policy Seminars conference entitled “What future for social and affordable housing.”
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 4 February 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:07pm.