COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 14 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton 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)
Mr Jonathan McMillen (Legal Advisor) (for agenda items 1-6 only)
Ms Patricia Casey (Bill Clerk) (for agenda items 1-6 only)
Apologies:
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting commenced at 9.40am in closed session.
Mr Hamilton declared an interest as a member of Comber Recreational Football Club.
Mr McCann declared an interest as a member of the Irish National Foresters Club and Cumann na Meirlach.
Mr Anderson declared an interest as a member of Craigavon Borough Council.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
None
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 7 October 2010 were agreed.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 9.44am.
Ms Lo joined the meeting at 9.45am.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted information from the Department in respect of the PSNI investigation into the Nelson Street development.
5. Caravans Bill – briefing from Assembly Legal Services
The Committee noted advice from Assembly Legal Services on the Caravans Bill.
Mrs Bradley joined the meeting at 9.53am.
Mr Easton joined the meeting at 10.03am.
The meeting moved into open session at 10.33am.
6. Caravans Bill – Clause by Clause Scrutiny
Stephen Martin, a Departmental official joined the meeting at 10.35am to brief Members on proposed amendments to the Caravans Bill.
The Committee noted:
- a response from the Department in respect of amendments to the Bill;
- a response from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on the impact of the proposed amendments to the Bill on the provision of caravan sites for Travellers;
- a response from the Committee for Enterprise Trade & Investment in respect of a proposed amendment to the Bill introducing qualifying residents’ associations in the seasonal sector;
- a response from the British Home and Holiday Parks Association setting out typical caravan sale prices in Northern Ireland;
- a paper from Assembly Research and Library Services on caravan sale prices in Northern Ireland;
- a response from the Trading Standards Service setting out the rights and responsibilities of caravan owner occupiers and site owners in respect of the removal of a caravan from a site; and
- correspondence from the Minister for Social Development and the Minister for the Environment on the site licensing regime for Travellers’ sites.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to seek assurances from the Department and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that the amended Caravans Bill would not present unmanageable difficulties for the Housing Executive in its provision of caravan sites for Travellers. The Committee also agreed that it required assurances in respect of the mitigating measures that the Housing Executive is to undertake as a consequence of the Caravans Bill.
Agreed: The Committee further agreed that it required information on the consultation that the Housing Executive has or intends to undertake with district councils in respect of the provision of Travellers caravan sites.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should seek advice in respect of the proposed increase of the qualifying residency period and whether this would enhance the rights of individuals to legally occupy NIHE caravan sites for an indefinite period without permission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to An Munia Tober seeking this organisation’s views on the relevant proposed amendments to the Caravans Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Caravans Bill.
The Departmental official left the meeting at 11.05am.
7. Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill – evidence session with the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs, Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and Golfing Union of Ireland.
The following representatives of the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs, Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and Golfing Union of Ireland joined the meeting at 11.06am to brief Members on the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill:
- John Davidson, Chairman, Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs;
- Katie Nixon, Executive Manager, Northern Ireland Sports Forum;
- Danny Murphy, General Secretary, Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association; and
- Kevin Stevens, Secretary, Golfing Union of Ireland.
Mr Brady left the meeting at 11.27am.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.29am.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.54am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the submissions from the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs, Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association and Golfing Union of Ireland to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure for information.
8. Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill – evidence session with Northern Ireland Hotels Federation and Pubs of Ulster.
The following representatives of Northern Ireland Federation of Hotels and Pubs of Ulster joined the meeting at 11.55am to brief Members on the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill:
- Janice Gault, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Hotels Federation;
- Eugene McKeever, President, Northern Ireland Hotels Federation;
- Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Pubs of Ulster; and
- Eugene Cassidy, Member, Pubs of Ulster.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.17pm.
Mrs Bradley left the meeting at 12.34pm.
Mr Craig left the meeting at 12.38pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek information from the Department on:
- the advertising ban relating to events organised by registered clubs;
- the late licensing rules for so-called nightclubs; and
- restrictions on alcohol advertising generally.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.47pm.
The meeting was temporarily adjourned at 12.48pm.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 12.48pm.
The meeting reconvened at 12.54pm.
9. Subordinate Legislation
9.1 The Income Support (Lone Parent Students) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
The Committee noted information from the Department on the withdrawal of the above proposed Statutory Rule.
Mr McCann rejoined the meeting at 12.56pm.
9.2 SR 337/2010 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010 No. 337 : The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
9.3 SR 340/2010 The Social Security (Housing Costs) (Standard Interest Rate) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of the Rule pending a briefing from Departmental officials at next week’s meeting.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted a letter dated 11 October 2010 from the Minister to the Chairperson providing a copy of his statement to the Assembly on the NIHE Strategic Review.
10.2 The Committee considered a letter dated 4 October 2010 from the Department providing a timeline for the Social Housing Development Programme Strategic Guidelines EQIA consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Department on this matter in early February 2011.
10.3 The Committee noted a letter received 7 October 2010 from the Department providing further information on the NIHE Strategic Review; alternative funding streams for social housing improvement schemes; Small Pockets of Deprivation and Neighbourhood Renewal funding.
10.4 The Committee noted a letter dated 8 October 2010 from the Department agreeing to brief the Committee on the Policy Evaluation of NIHE’s administration of the Supporting People fund.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on the Supporting People Strategy when the legislative programme permits.
10.5 The Committee considered a letter dated 7 October 2010 from the Department responding to the Greater Village Regeneration Trust on the urban renewal process. The Committee also noted an email received 4 October 2010 from a member of the public in respect of negative equity relating to a compulsory purchase in the Village Regeneration area.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it would forward the letter from the member of the public to the Department for comment. The Committee further agreed to schedule briefings on this matter as soon as the Committee work programme permits.
10.6 The Committee noted a letter dated 5 October 2010 from the Citizens Advice Bureau enclosing a copy of its Dealing with Debt annual report for 2009/2010.
10.7 The Committee noted a memo dated 5 October 2010 from the Committee for Finance and Personnel forwarding for information, the Assembly Research briefing note: The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study: carers and the domestic rating system; the Assembly Research briefing paper: Support Provision for Carers and related correspondence from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
10.8 The Committee noted an email dated 5 October 2010 from Queens University Belfast advising of the launch of two documents under its Budget Analysis Project.
10.9 The Committee noted a memo dated 6 October 2010 from an anonymous member of staff at NIHE to the Chief Executive of NIHE.
10.10 The Committee noted a letter dated 6 October 2010 from the Rainbow Project and the Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative enclosing draft responses to the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration consultation exercise.
10.11 The Committee considered an email dated 4 October 2010 from the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland, inviting the Chairperson to make a keynote speech at the Launch of the Young People’s Charter for Change on Housing in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to attend this event - diary permitting.
10.12 The Committee considered a letter dated 4 th October 2010 from the RSPB and the Royal Town Planning Institute (NI) inviting the Chairperson to attend the launch of the 2010/2011 sustainable planning awards.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to attend this event - diary permitting.
10.13 The Committee noted an email received 5 October 2010 from the University of Ulster inviting members to attend a half day seminar at Jordanstown on Wednesday 15 December 2010 at 9.30am. The seminar is described as providing an opportunity for housing and healthcare professionals to discuss the challenges facing supported housing in Northern Ireland.
11. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
12. Any Other Business
The Committee noted that Members of the OFMDFM Committee may attend the Social Development Committee’s Call for Evidence event facilitated by NICVA on 25 November 2010.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 21 October 2010 at 9:30am, in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.07pm.
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development.
21 October 2010
7 October 10 / Menu
