COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stewart Kennedy (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Patricia Casey (Bill Clerk present for Agenda items 1-8)
Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.05am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Chairperson recorded the Committee’s thanks and expressed its best wishes to Mr David Hilditch MLA who recently left the Social Development Committee.
2.2 The Chairperson welcomed Mr Sydney Anderson MLA to the Social Development Committee.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2010
Agreed:The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 9 September 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Department for Social Development Disability Action Plan consultation
The Committee considered the consultation document for the Department’s Disability Action Plan for 2010-2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a copy of the Department’s Disability Action Plan to Disability Action for comment.
4.2 Department for Social Development Policy to Support Owner Occupiers in Redevelopment Areas consultation
The Committee considered the Department’s consultation document on its policy to provide support for owner occupiers in Redevelopment Areas.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek clarification on whether this policy would be applied retrospectively and to seek a Departmental briefing at the end of the consultation period.
4.3 Sustainable Development Strategy Implementation Plan consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this consultation document.
Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 10.16am.
4.4 Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration consultation
The Committee considered relevant extracts from the OFMDFM Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration consultation document and Department for Social Development submissions to the programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to the OFMDFM consultation: setting out Members’ concerns in respect of the impact on interface areas of the shared neighbourhood programme; expressing Members’ disappointment at the absence of a wider range of Departmental “grass roots” interactions and indicating support for the use of targeted emergency funding at ministers’ discretion which might be used to provide support for groups outside of normal funding structures e.g. ineligible migrants.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek clarity from the Department in respect of its assertion that it was to enhance networking between Neighbourhood Renewal Area partnerships that often serve single identity areas.
4.5 PSNI submission to the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill
The Committee noted the PSNI’s submission to the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that the submission would be forwarded to the Justice Committee.
5. Caravans Bill Evidence Session - Northern Ireland Housing Executive
The following representatives of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive joined the meeting at 10.26am:
- Colm McQuillan, Assistant Director, Strategic Partnerships, NIHE; and
- Connor Smith, NIHE.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.27am.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the Caravans Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 10.50am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Housing Executive seeking information in respect of the tenancy rights for Travellers on NIHE caravan sites.
Agreed:The Committee further agreed that the Clerk should write to the Housing Executive seeking its view on the impact of an amendment to Clause 1 of the Caravans Bill which would limit the application of Part 1 to those who are resident on a caravan site for more than 1 year.
6. Caravans Bill Evidence Session - John McCallister MLA
The Bill sponsor, Mr John McCallister MLA and Annette Holden joined the meeting at 10.52am.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in respect of a proposed amendment to the Bill.
The Committee Members were briefed on the proposed amendments to the Caravans Bill.
The Chairperson thanked Mr McCallister and Ms Holden for their evidence.
The Bill sponsor and Ms Holden left the meeting at 11.30am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward Mr McCallister’s evidence and related correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for comment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek independent legal advice as to whether the recent judgement in respect of the Curlew Holiday Park in St Merryn would be binding in Northern Ireland.
7. Caravans Bill Evidence Session - Department for Social Development
The following Departmental official joined the meeting at 11.31am:
- Stephen Martin, Housing Division, Department for Social Development.
The official briefed the Committee on proposed amendments to the Caravans Bill.
The official left the meeting at 11.49am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking its views on the compatibility with human rights legislation of the Housing Executive’s proposed amendments.
Agreed:The Committee further agreed that the Clerk should obtain independent legal advice on the compatibility with human rights legislation of the final form of the proposed amendments relating to the use of NIHE Travellers sites.
8. Caravans Bill - Review of Clauses
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the clauses of the Caravans Bill.
The Committee noted the response from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the Delegated Powers of the Caravans Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to await further evidence on proposed amendments relating to Travellers and qualifying residents’ associations before formally concluding evidence-taking for the Committee Stage of the Bill.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to give further consideration to other proposed amendments at next week’s meeting.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.12pm.
9. Subordinate Legislation
9.1 The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions and Housing Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the review of the Work Capability Assessment; the procurement of Medical Support Services and access to ESA for claimants with long-term debilitating or life threatening conditions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek: clarity on the implementation of the recommendations of the DWP review of the Work Capability Assessment; further information on the independent review of the operation of the Work Capability Assessment and an update on the procurement of Medical Support Services.
9.2 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Rule to be made.
9.3 Commencement Orders – Welfare Reform Act ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee noted that the Department is to make a series of Commencement Orders in relation to the Welfare Reform Act ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
9.4 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Rule to be made.
9.5 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Homeless Persons Advice and Assistance Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of this proposed rule until the form of the actual advice and assistance to be provided to homeless persons comes before the Committee.
9.6 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Introductory Tenancies (Abandoned Property) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of this proposed rule until the actual procedures in respect of property found in a repossessed house which was let under an introductory tenancy comes before the Committee.
9.7 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Introductory Tenancies (Abandonment Notice) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of this proposed rule until the form of notice which is to be served on an abandoned introductory tenancy comes before the Committee.
9.8 Proposed Statutory Rule: The Social Security (Housing Costs) (Standard Interest Rate) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of this proposed rule pending further information from the Department in respect the impact of the rule on all claimants in Northern Ireland and particularly those claimants in receipt of, or who are in the process of migration to, ESA.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department reiterating Members’ views that the Department’s benefit uptake programme should be refocused on those facing repossession proceedings in particular those claimants who may be eligible for but have not claimed ESA.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted a letter dated 10 September 2010from the Department in respect of issues relating to costs and savings associated with the Social Housing Development Programme.
10.2 The Committee noted a letter dated 3 September 2010 from the Department for Work and Pensions acknowledging the Committee’s evidence regarding the increase in State Pension Age to 66 years.
10.3 The Committee noted a letter dated 7 September 2010 fromThe Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
10.4 The Committee considered a letter dated 7 September 2010 from TheGreater Village Regeneration Trust setting out issues of concern in relation to the regeneration of the Village area in South Belfast, specifically: the valuation of vested homes; the use of energy efficiency and other measures in the redevelopment area and the use of social inclusion clauses in relevant building contracts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
10.5 The Committee noted a letter dated 9 September 2010 from Action for Children to the Minister on the Comprehensive Spending Review process in Northern Ireland.
10.6 The Committee noted a memo dated 10 September 2010 from the Committee for Justice enclosing a copy of the response from the Department of Justice to the Committee’s memo of 15 June 2010 regarding Legal Aid funding for the Preventing Possession Initiative.
10.7 The Committee noted an email received 10 September 2010 from CO3 (theChief Officer3rd Sector organisation) enclosing its response to the Minister for Social Development’s request for information in relation to impending cuts.
10.8 The Committee considered a letter dated 1 September 2010 from Mencap inviting the Committee and the Committee for Employment and Learning to a joint away day to discuss the barriers to employment for people with a learning disability.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to decline this invitation and to invite Mencap to the informal stakeholder event on 9 December 2010.
10.9 The Committee noted an email received 3 September 2010 fromCapita Conferences relating to a half day briefing on Resettlement Support and Housing Provision for Ex-Offenders.
10.10 The Committee considered an email received 9 September 2010 from the Environmental and Planning Law Association for Northern Ireland relating to a seminar on DSD’s role in urban regeneration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that – diaries permitting - a representative of the Assembly Research and Library services would attend on its behalf.
10.11 The Committee noted items of miscellaneous correspondence from Advice NI and the Frank Buttle Trust.
11. Forward Work Programme
Agreed:The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
12. Any Other Business
None
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2010 at 10.00am, in Room 29.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.33pm.
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development.
23 September 2010
09 September 10 / Menu
