COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 25 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 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)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began in closed session at 10:03am.
The Committee considered the Department’s response to Committee queries in respect of the
Savills Report on NIHE Stock Condition and Investment Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the wording of a Committee Motion on the Savills Report to be brought to plenary for debate.
The meeting moved into public session at 10:11am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised the Committee of a forthcoming informal meeting with representatives of NICVA to discuss the Vital Links Project.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 18 February 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Housing (Amendment) Bill - Further Consideration Stage
Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10:13am.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content with the Department’s proposed amendment at Further Consideration Stage to Clause 1 of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.
4.2 Area Advice Centre Strategy Consultation
Agreed : The Committee agreed its response to the Area Advice Centre Strategy consultation.
4.3 Draft Press Release: Autism and Employment and Support Allowance.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft press release on autism and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
5. Response to the Report of the Committee’s Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration- Departmental Briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 10:15am:
Henry Johnston Director, Urban Regeneration Strategy Directorate, DSD; and
Ian Snowden Director, Regional Development Office, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the consultation on the Department’s response to the Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry report. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 10:19am.
Mr David Hilditch declared an interest as: a Member of Carrickfergus Borough Council; a Director of Carrickfergus Development Company; a member of Carrickfergus Masterplan Steering Group; and a member of the Transition Committee for the new Mid-East Antrim Council at 10:25am.
Mr Fra McCann declared an interest as a Member of Belfast City Council at 10:28am.
Mr Billy Armstrong joined the meeting at 10:34am.
Ms Anna Lo left the meeting at 10:34am.
Mr Thomas Burns declared an interest as a Member of Antrim Borough Council at 10:39am.
Mr Jonathan Craig joined the meeting at 10:48am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .
The officials left the meeting at 10:57am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking additional information on vesting and highlighting the Committee’s view that an evaluation framework should be put in place for town centre regeneration well in advance of RPA.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Environment Committee and the Regional Development Committee highlighting the Social Development Committee’s concerns in respect of utility company disruption, car parking and pedestrianisation issues in town centres and suggesting that those Committees seek clarification in respect of the relevant ameliorating policies of their departments.
Mr Simon Hamilton, Chairperson, left the meeting at 10:59am.
Mr David Hilditch, Deputy Chairperson, assumed the Chair at 10:59am.
6. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
6.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Contributions Credits for Parents and Carers) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
6.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Persons Serving Sentence of Imprisonment Detained in Hospital) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:03am.
6.3 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (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 seeking clarification on the monitoring framework and the safeguards relating to the revised medical statement and requesting feedback on the impact of the Statutory Rule a year after its introduction.
7. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rule which was laid in the Business Office:
7.1 SR 2010/32: The Pension Protection Fund and Occupational Pensions Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2010/ 32: The Pension Protection Fund and Occupational Pensions Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
8. Draft Concordat between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector- Departmental briefing
The following officials joined the meeting at 11:07am:
Maeve Walls Director, Voluntary and Community Unit, DSD;
Gordon Bell Voluntary and Community Unit, DSD; and
Russell McCaughey Voluntary and Community Unit, DSD.
The officials provided a briefing on the draft Concordat between the Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 11:13am.
Ms Anna Lo rejoined the meeting at 11:19am.
Mr Mickey Brady declared an interest as a non-executive member of the management committee of the Confederation of Community Groups in Newry at 11:23am.
Mr Jonathan Craig declared an interest as a member of several boards of voluntary organisations at 11:28am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing .
The officials left the meeting at 11:51am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the consultation on the Concordat and requesting information on: the range of, and funding issues relating to, the Voluntary and Community Unit’s programmes and on council performance relating to the delivery of voluntary and community projects.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department regarding the Warm Homes Scheme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to obtain more details of fuel poverty interventions in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department to the Clerk of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding their Inquiry into Participation in Sport and Physical Activity for Northern Ireland.
9.3 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the economic appraisals for the regeneration of Upper Long Streets and Parkside/Glen Areas.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting further information on the regeneration of the Upper Long Streets and Parkside/Glen areas.
9.4 The Committee noted a letter from the Department in relation to the feasibility of a boiler scrappage scheme in Northern Ireland.
9.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the outsourcing of Medical Support Services.
9.6 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to the Social Housing Development Programme and the removal of ring-fencing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would forward the Departmental correspondence to the Participation and Practice of Rights Project and invite this organisation to brief the Committee again on the Social Housing Development Programme.
9.7 The Committee considered correspondence from the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation in relation to the published consultation on “Assisting with Affordability Concerns for Vulnerable Energy Consumers”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would invite the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation to brief the Committee on social tariffs.
9.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) in relation to the Housing Commission’s Key Issues Paper on the Future for Housing in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to NIFHA to seek clarification on its assertion that the social housing allocations system should encourage the ethos of Shared Future Living.
9.9 The Committee considered correspondence from the Volunteer Development Agency in relation to the Transition Board of the Integrated Infrastructure Working Group.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Volunteer Development Agency to request a written briefing on the work of the Volunteer Infrastructure Working Group.
9.10 The Committee considered correspondence from the Chartered Institute of Housing in NI inviting the Chairperson to address the Conference of the Isles in May 2010 and to hold the Committee meeting of 27 May 2010 at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to address the Conference of the Isles event, diary permitting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that subject to a review of relevant arrangements, the meeting of 27 May 2010 would be held in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down.
9.11 The Committee noted various items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Participation Network and the Consumer Council.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 4 March 2010 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
Mr Thomas Burns left the meeting at 11:58am.
Mrs Mary Bradley declared an interest as a member of a number of community and voluntary groups at 12:01pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:01pm.