COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Eleanor Murphy (Assembly Research and Library Services) (Item 10)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
The meeting began in public session at 10:25am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 4 February 2010 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland - Social Development Committee Response
Agreed : The Committee agreed to amend the draft response to the Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland to reflect the Committee’s views in relation to the rent convergence exercise.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft response as amended.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would seek to arrange a suitable plenary debate following the publication of the final report of the Commission on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland.
3.2 2009-2010 Spring Supplementary Estimates and the 2010-2011 Vote on Account
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to contribute to the debate on the Supply Resolutions for the 2009-2010 Spring Supplementary Estimates and the 2010-2011 Vote on Account.
4. Local Housing Allowance/Housing Benefit Reform – Departmental Briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 10:30am:
Margaret Sisk Deputy Director, Social Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Rosemary Hughes Social Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the implementation of the Local Housing Allowance and the consultation on the proposed reforms to Housing Benefit. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .
The officials left the meeting at 11:05am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification on the uptake of Discretionary Housing Payment by LHA claimants experiencing shortfalls between Housing Benefit and contractual rent.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its response to the Department for Work and Pensions’ consultation on proposed reforms to Housing Benefit in Great Britain at the meeting of 18 February 2010.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:12am
5. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
5.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Home Repair Assistance Grant (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which was laid in the Business Office:
6.1 SR 2010/20: The Pensions (2008 Act) (Supplementary Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2010/20: The Pensions (2008 Act) (Supplementary Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the Consultation on the Volunteering Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should forward the correspondence to the Committee for Employment and Learning for information.
7.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Social Security Agency in relation to the Advice Sector Forum and the Systems Thinking pilot schemes.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence pending a briefing on the pilots later this year.
7.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Social Security Agency regarding the Committee’s visit to the Employment and Support Allowance Processing Centre on 18 March 2010.
7.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to the promotion of townland names.
7.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the February Monitoring Round.
7.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in relation to the rescheduling of the Programme for Government Delivery Report Take Note Debate.
7.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in relation to a Housing Rights Service Research Paper entitled: “Analysis of the Court Representation Service for Mortgage Possession Proceedings in Northern Ireland”.
7.8 The Committee considered correspondence from Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in relation to recommendations from its Inquiry into Child Poverty.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department seeking a written update on the relevant recommendations.
7.9 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development on issues relating to Community Transport.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department and request a copy of the Minister’s reply.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider the Minister’s reply before deciding on any further Committee response on this issue.
7.10 The Committee considered correspondence in relation to neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities training.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for research staff to attend the relevant training courses, diaries permitting.
7.11 The Committee considered correspondence from Capita Conferences in relation to an upcoming National Conference on Tackling the Social Exclusion of Older People on Tuesday 30 March 2010 in Central London.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for Mr Mickey Brady MLA to attend the conference.
7.12 The Committee considered correspondence from Advice NI in relation to their Annual General Meeting on 26 February 2010.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that Members would advise the Committee Office if they wish to attend this meeting.
7.13 The Committee noted various items of miscellaneous correspondence from Building Construction Design and Capita Conferences.
8. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed to undertake a visit, which may include Members of another statutory committee, to review the Belfast Streets Ahead project and its impact on disabled access.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should investigate a possible visit to a supported housing development scheme operated by Trinity Housing Association in Lisburn.
Mr Thomas Burns re-joined the meeting at 11:26am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
9. Mandatory Landlord Registration Schemes - Assembly Research and Library Services
Ms Eleanor Murphy from Assembly Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on Mandatory Landlord Registration Schemes. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Murphy for her briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should would write to the NI Local Government Association (NILGA) and the Society for Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE) and invite them to submit written briefings outlining their views on the enforcement of private tenancy standards and a mandatory landlord registration scheme in Northern Ireland.
10. Any Other Business
10.1 Mortgage Relief Scheme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek an update on the evaluation of the Mortgage and Debt Advice Service funded by the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should contact the Housing Rights Service to request the inclusion of updated information on repossessions and related court statistics during the briefing planned for May 2010.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18 February 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:49am.