COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stewart Kennedy (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting began at 9.45am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are as indicated above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
None.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 16 th December 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
Mr McCann joined the meeting at 9.47am.
Mr Easton joined the meeting at 9.48am.
4.1 Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment
Members noteda letter from the Minister on the review of the Work Capability Assessment in Northern Ireland and the Foreword and Executive Summary of the GB Review of the Work Capability Assessment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a briefing from the Department on the review of the Work Capability Assessment in Northern Ireland.
4.2 Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Mid-Term Review
Members noted a letter from the Minister and the Executive Summary of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Mid-Term Review.
Mr Craig and Mr McCallister joined the meeting at 9.51am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a briefing from the Department on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Mid-Term Review.
4.3 Informal consultation on local generalist voluntary sector advice
Members noted a letter from the Department advising of an informal Departmental consultation on guidance to district councils on the provision of local generalist voluntary sector advice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should draft a response to this consultation for the Committee’s approval.
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to Subordinate Legislation.
5. Subordinate Legislation
5.1The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews, etc.) (Equalisation of State Pension Age) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Statutory Rule to be made.
Mr Easton left the meeting at 9.55am.
5.2 The Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Statutory Rule to be made.
5.3 SR 2010 No. 422 The Home Repair Assistance Grant (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2010 No. 422 t he Home Repair Assistance Grant (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and, subject to the Examiner’s report, has no objection to the Rule.”
Mr Easton rejoined the meeting at 10.00am.
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to Departmental Expenditure Plans.
6. Departmental Expenditure and Saving Delivery Plans / NIHE Governance Audit – Ministerial briefing
The Minister for Social Development and the following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.02am:
Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, DSD; and
Barney McGahan, Deputy Secretary, Resources, Housing & Social Security Group, DSD.
The Minister and officials briefed the Committee, on the Department’s Draft Budget 2011-2015 and updated the Committee on the NIHE Governance Audit . This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Easton left the meeting at 10.55am.
Mr McCallister left the meeting at 11.00am.
Mrs Bradley declared an interest as a member of the Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership at 11.25am.
Mr Craig declared an interest as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee.
The Committee noted a Ministerial undertaking to brief the Committee at a future meeting on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s response during the recent period of adverse weather conditions.
The Chairperson thanked the Minister and the officials for their briefing.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 12.11pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking clarification on the issues raised during the briefing including: proposed increases in NIHE rents; possible redundancies at NIHE; Invest to Save proposals to limit the impact of future severe weather events on NIHE tenures; the quantum of the increased contribution which is to be sought from Housing Associations for new house-building; the progress of Housing Associations in securing procurement efficiencies; proposed increased expenditure in respect of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and further detail on the impact of the proposed cuts to Departmental expenditure for 2011-2015.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to seek written submissions from key stakeholders on the draft budget.
The meeting was suspended at 12.14pm.
Mr Brady and Mr McCann left the meeting at 12.14pm.
The meeting reconvened at 12.24pm.
7. Consultation on proposals to curb irresponsible drinks promotions – Departmental Briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.24pm to brief the Committee on the outcome of the consultation on proposals to curb irresponsible drinks promotions:
Liam Quinn, Head of Social Policy, DSD; and
Caroline Hobson, Social Policy Unit, DSD.
The Committee noted a Departmental paper on the outcome of the irresponsible drinks promotions consultation; an Assembly Research and Library Services paper on minimum alcohol pricing; the executive summary of a (SPICe) briefing note on the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill and correspondence from the Northern Ireland Drinks Industry Group.
Mr McCann joined the meeting at 12.26pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.40pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to support an amendment to the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill which will allow regulations to be brought forward to curb irresponsible drinks promotions on the basis that the regulations will be subject to Assembly Scrutiny and will be applied to irresponsible drinks promotions with serious wider social ramifications.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to costs associated with open space provision; the Minister’s Welfare Reform Remedies Paper and the Block Leasing Report.
8.2 The Committee noted a letter from the Department providing further detail on the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund support for play and leisure activities and facilities.
8.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to reallocations from Housing to Urban Regeneration Projects as a consequence of delays to capital disposals; changes to the cost profile for the Colin Gateway project and measures adopted by NIHE to reduce rent arrears.
8.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department responding to queries raised following consideration of the Confederation of British Industry’s Northern Ireland Report entitled “Time for Action NI – Delivering public services in a time of austerity”. The Department advised that it is commissioning research into social rent alignment and is considering the option of mutualising NIHE as part of the wide-ranging review of the Housing Executive. The Department also referred to options for the sale of surplus land and buildings and urban regeneration revenue-generating activities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel for information.
8.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department issued to Mr Edward Cooke who wrote to the Committee with queries relating to procurement practices in NIHE.
8.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the public consultation into Disability Living Allowance Reform.
8.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister as requested.
8.8 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Regional Development enclosing DRD’s response to a query raised by the Committee on the consultation document on Business Improvement Districts and Licensing of Pavement Cafes.
8.9 The Committee noted correspondence fromthe Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel enclosing an Assembly Research briefing note on “Resource DEL: administrative cost controls”.
8.10 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development enclosing a presentation on cross-departmental rural development issues issued by Assembly Research and Library Services.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
8.11 The Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations copying the Committee into correspondence to the Minister for Finance and Personnel referring to the report commissioned by the Committee on Housing Association reserves
8.12 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk of the Committee for the Environment enclosing a letter from the Chairperson to the Minister for Social Development regarding the Planning Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister as requested.
8.13 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee enclosing a letter to the Minister regarding the CAL Committee’s review into the “Value and Impact of Museums in Northern Ireland”
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister as requested.
8.14 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel enclosing a response from DFP to the Northern Ireland Housing Council Report on Lifetime Homes Standards.
8.15 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister enclosing a copy of the Official Report on its evidence session on the Child Poverty Strategy and Childcare Strategy.
8.16 The Committee noted correspondence from the Acting Head of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division inviting the Committee to the launch of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division’s media campaign to promote the Child Maintenance and Information Support Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would attend this event.
8.17 The Committee noted correspondence fromthe Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust inviting Members to a briefing on the impact of the Spending Review with Minister Sammy Wilson MP MLA on Tuesday 18 January 2011.
8.18 The Committee noted correspondence fromthe Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Northern Ireland seeking a meeting with the Committee to discuss renewable energy issues.
8.19 The Committee noted correspondence from the Head of the European Commission office in Northern Ireland inviting Members to a lunchtime briefing on the key elements of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
8.20 The Committee noted that Capita Conferences is holding a national conference entitled: “Social Housing in the Big Society” in Central London on Wednesday 4 May 2011.
8.21 The Committee noted items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, Participation Network, Wiseadvisor training, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, the Royal Society of Ulster Architects, the Law Centre, and NISRA.
8.22 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department on proposed revisions to Sunday Trading.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating Members’ concerns and setting out the Committee’s view that any change to Sunday Trading laws should include protections for shop and other workers.
9. Rinmore NIHE Stock Transfer – Departmental Briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.45pm to brief the Committee on the transfer of NIHE stock to Apex Housing Association at Rinmore.
Michael Sands, Deputy Director, Housing Division, DSD; and
David Malcolm, Housing Division, DSD.
The Committee noted a copy of the Departmental briefing paper and recent relevant correspondence from NIPSA.
Mr Craig left the meeting at 12.58pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it generally welcomed the proposed stock transfer at Rinmore and further agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department seeking an update on the outcome of the residents’ ballot and the progress of the improvement works and new house-building.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 1.09pm.
10. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
11. Any Other Business
A Member of the Committee expressed his concerns in respect of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s response during the recent adverse weather conditions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this issue in detail following a Ministerial briefing within the next few weeks.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 20 January 2011 in Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 9.30am.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.10pm.
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development.
20 January 2011
11 January 11/ Menu
