COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín 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:
Mr Fra McCann MLA
The meeting began at 9.36am in open session.
Ms Ní Chuilín chaired the meeting when proceedings commenced.
At 9.38am Mrs Bradley declared an interest as a member of the Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.
1. Apologies
As above.
2.Chairperson’s Business
None.
Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2011
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 10 February 2011 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill
The Committee noted a letter from the Department setting out technical amendments to the Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill and a final set of amendments for the Consideration Stage of the Bill.
Mr Anderson joined the meeting at 9.40am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to support the technical amendments proposed by the Department relating to the insertion of a new clause giving the Northern Ireland Housing Executive powers to take action to enhance community safety.
4.2 NIHE Response to the Evaluation of the Supporting People policy and its administration
The Committee noted correspondence setting out the Housing Executive’s response to the Department’s Supporting People policy evaluation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this matter further when a response from the Department to earlier correspondence is received.
4.3 PAC Correspondence
The Committee noted a memo from the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee in respect of Northern Ireland Audit Office investigations into the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Ms Lo joined the meeting at 9.48am
5. Strategic Guidelines for the Social Housing Development Programme: Draft EQIA Consultation – Briefing from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project
The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Participation and Practice of Rights Project and excerpts from the Strategic Guidelines draft EQIA consultation document.
The following representatives joined the meeting at 9.48am:
Nicola Browne, Strategic Policy Officer, PPR Project; and
Kate Ward, Policy Assistant, PPR Project.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the SHDP Strategic Guidelines Draft EQIA consultation. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Craig joined the meeting at 9.49am.
Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 9.50am.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
The representatives left the meeting at 10.26am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request further information in relation to: the Housing Executive’s land purchase strategy and current land bank; details of the anticipated effect of the revised Strategic Guidelines on Section 75 groups – particularly age and disability groups; how the Housing Executive is to promote shared housing; and how the revised Strategic Guidelines will affect the allocation of housing under the SHDP throughout Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to copy any Departmental responses on this matter to the Participation and Practice of Rights Project.
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to Correspondence
6. Correspondence
6.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety regarding clauses 1, 2 and 3 of the Autism Bill.
6.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect of its submission to the Department of Finance and Personnel as part of the February 2011 monitoring round.
6.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department responding to recent correspondence from statutory committees on the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill and the Planning Bill. The Department indicated that as the Bills have been approved by the Executive it would not be appropriate for the Minister to comment.
6.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing a briefing note on the Belfast Strategic Regeneration Frameworks. The briefing paper appeared to indicate that the Minister intends to brief the Executive on the Belfast Strategic Regeneration Frameworks and identified some priorities for the frameworks.
6.5 The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in response to the Committee’s letter of 11 October 2010 regarding issues raised by the Causeway Coast Communities Consortium on local preference housing points. The Department highlighted problems associated with local preference points and indicated that the Common Housing Selection Scheme is not to be revised in this regard.
Ms Lo left the meeting at 10.31am
6.6 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister providing a copy of the Hansard transcript from a briefing received from the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company.
6.7 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the OFMDFM forwarding correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission and the OFMDFM succession plan.
6.8 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Justice relating to proposed Ministry of Justice regulations designed to support EU regulations relating to child maintenance.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 10.32am
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the proposed regulations to the Department for comment on the policy issues involved.
6.9 The Committee noted items of miscellaneous correspondence from the Equality Commission and the Educational Guidance Service for Adults.
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to Subordinate Legislation
7. Subordinate Legislation
7.1Pension Protection Fund – Annual Increases in amounts of the Levy Ceiling and Compensation Cap
7.1.1 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Ms Lo rejoined the meeting at 10.33am
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Statutory Rule to be made.
7.1.2 The Pension Protection Fund (Pensions Compensation Cap) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Statutory Rule to be made.
Mr Gallagher rejoined the meeting at 10.36am
7.2 The Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.41am:
Anne McCleary, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD; and
Michael Pollock, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, DSD.
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed rule. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 10.52am.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 11.01am.
Members expressed concerns in respect of the impact of the proposed rule on Local Housing Allowance particularly for those claimants with large families who may require houses with more than 4 bedrooms.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of the proposed rule pending receipt of information from the Department on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s revised guidelines for awarding Discretionary Housing Payment to Local Housing applicants.
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to the Ministerial briefing on the Charities (Amendment) Bill
8. Charities (Amendment) Bill – Ministerial Briefing
The Minister for Social Development Mr Alex Attwood and the following officials joined the meeting at 11.02am to brief Members on the Charities (Amendment) Bill:
Roy McGivern, Voluntary and Community Unit, DSD; and
Philip Gunn, Departmental Solicitors Office.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 11.07am.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.24am.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 11.35am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the revised Charities (Amendment) Bill pending receipt of the Draft revised Bill.
Mr Cobain left the meeting at 11.35am.
Mr Hamilton assumed the Chair at 11.35am.
The Committee agreed to resume consideration of subordinate legislation
9.1 The Homeless Persons Advice and Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 11.39am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the proposed Statutory Rule to be made.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should seek additional information from the Department on the type and nature of the training that it is to be provided for NIHE staff involved in the provision of the advice and assistance as detailed in the proposed rule.
9.2 The Introductory Tenancies (Disposal of Houses) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the rule to be made.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should obtain further information in respect of the definitions of the terms “introductory tenancy” and “secure tenancy” from the Department.
9.3 SR 26 2011 The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews, etc (Equalisation of State Pension Age) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
Ms Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting at 11.42am.
Some Members expressed concerns relating to the changes in State Pension Age and how these will adversely affect women’s ability to claim Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Allowance.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule: SR 2011 No. 26 t he Social Security (Work-focused Interviews, etc (Equalisation of State Pension Age (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and, subject to the Examiner’s report, has no objection to the Rule.”
The Committee agreed to consider the agenda item relating to the Departmental briefing on the Neighbourhood Renewal Mid-term Review.
10. Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Mid-term Review – Departmental Briefing
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.47am:
Henry Johnston, Director of Urban Regeneration Strategy Directorate, DSD; and
Tony McKibben, Head of Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, DSD.
The Committee noted a copy of Ministerial correspondence and excerpts from the Mid-term Review Report on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Mid-term Review Report. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.02pm.
Mr Easton left the meeting at 12.28pm.
At 12.32 Mr Anderson declared an interest as a member of Craigavon Borough Council and Chairperson of the Development Department in the Council
Mr Anderson left the meeting at 12.46pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.
The officials left the meeting at 12.49pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to seek an update on the implementation plan associated with the mid-term review and the community assets and capacity audit which is being undertaken by the Community Evaluation Network.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should seek clarification as to the apparent absence of reference to Kilcooley in respect of the deprivation indices in the mid-term review report.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted a draft agenda for the NEA fuel poverty event in the Stormont Hotel on Thursday 3 March 2011.
Mr Anderson rejoined the meeting at 12.50pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
12. Any Other Business
None.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 24 February 2011 in Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 9.30am.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.51pm.
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development.
24 February 2011
10 February 11 / Menu
