COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT

Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley 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)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
None

The meeting began in public session at 10:02am.

1. Apologies

Apologies were as indicated above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised the Committee that an article has been submitted to House Magazine summarising the Committee’s recent deliberations on housing and urban regeneration.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2010

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 11 February 2010 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising

4.1 Committee Response to the DWP Consultation on Proposed Reforms to Housing Benefit

Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft response to the Department for Work and Pension’s consultation “Supporting People into Work: the Next Stage of Housing Benefit Reform”.

4.2 Housing (Amendment) Bill – Further Consideration Stage

Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:06am

Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content with the Minister’s response at the Consideration Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill and therefore did not wish to bring forward an amendment to Clause 1 at Further Consideration Stage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek clarification on the wording of a proposed Departmental amendment to Clause 1 of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.

5. Consultation on the proposed Housing Bill – Departmental Briefing

The following officials joined the meeting at 10:09am:

Michael Sands Deputy Director, Housing, DSD;
Stephen Martin Housing Bill Team, DSD; and
Angela Clarke Head of Housing Market and Supply, DSD

The officials provided a briefing on the consultation on the proposed Housing Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .

Mr Simon Hamilton, Chairperson, left the meeting and Mr David Hilditch, Deputy

Chairperson, assumed the Chair at 10:43am.

The officials left the meeting at 10:53am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to submit a response to the Department’s consultation on the proposed Housing Bill:

seeking clarification on information sharing between social and private landlords in relation to anti-social tenants;
suggesting the introduction of a minimum fine for failure to register a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO);
seeking information on the use and effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in dealing with tenancy-related anti-social behaviour;
requesting clarification of the Housing Executive’s responsibility in respect of the provision of homelessness support for all ineligible non-UK nationals particularly from A8 countries; and
highlighting the critical importance of the provision of suitable accommodation in the private rented sector for homeless applicants.

6. Correspondence

6.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office in relation to the Warm Homes Scheme.

6.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to the Draft Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department seeking its response to the relevant actions in the Strategy.

6.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Community Relations Council in relation to the Housing Commission’s Key Issues Paper on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Community Relations Council to brief the Committee on issues relating to housing and community relations.

6.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning in relation to a paper from Disability Action on the impact of the Welfare Reform Bill on people with disabilities.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

6.5 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning to the Minister in relation to the Department’s use of automated communication systems when dealing with external customers.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the correspondence to the Minister for a response.

6.6 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Education in relation to funding for the Northern Ireland Nuture Group Network.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the correspondence to the Department to seek clarification on funding for the Northern Ireland Nuture Group Network.

6.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive inviting the Chairperson to address its Annual Management Conference on 12 May 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to address this Conference, diary permitting.

6.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Utility Regulator in relation to a public lecture entitled: “Fuel Poverty: Challenges and Solutions” on 1 March 2010.

6.9 The Committee noted correspondence from Groundwork NI inviting the Committee to attend regional seminars on Developing Community Allotments.

6.10 The Committee noted a copy of the February 2010 newsletter from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

7. The Savills Report on NIHE Stock Condition and Investment Strategy- Departmental briefing

The following officials joined the meeting at 10:58am:

Heather Cousins Director of Housing, DSD;
Michael Sands Deputy Director, Housing, DSD; and
Damien Carragher Head of Housing Finance, DSD.

The officials provided a briefing on the findings from the Savills Report on NIHE Stock Condition and Investment Strategy. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .

Mr Fra McCann declared an interest as an elected representative on Belfast City Council.

Mr Jonathan Craig left the meeting at 11:34am
Ms Anna Lo left the meeting at 11:40am
The officials left the meeting at 11:41am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting the following:

clarification on the NIHE maintenance and capital works budget for 2010/11 and its impact on Egan and other contractors;
information on the terms of reference and timeline for the social rent setting and related charges review;
information and the timeline for the review of the Housing Association Guide in respect of maintenance and repair standards;
clarification on whether an EQIA will be undertaken on the planned changes to the maintenance policy arising from the Savills Report;
details of which interface areas were included in the sample set for the Savills Report;
clarification on interest payments relating to NIHE’s historic loan; and
a copy of the Ford Report to assist the Committee’s planned Inquiry into Housing issues.

Agreed: The Committee also agreed to contact the Clerk highlighting particular areas of Housing Executive disrepair which would be forwarded to the Department.

Ms Anna Lo rejoined the meeting at 11:43am
Mr Jonathan Craig rejoined the meeting at 11:46am

8. Proposed Subordinate Legislation

8.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.