MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00PM ON THURSDAY, 22 MARCH 2001
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Regional Development Strategy
4. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
5. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
6. Housing
7. Any Other Business
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:
Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Sir John Gorman
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr D O'Connor
Mr E ONeill
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Mr S Wilson
In Attendance:
Mr S Graham
Mr K Barker
Mr L Hart
Ms V Surplus
Apologies:
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson), Mr G Kelly,
Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.05pm.
Private Session
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
The Committee noted that the Chairman had written to the Minister in relation to the Strategic Options Study requesting that the Committee be closely involved in the study from the earliest possible stage and further that the Committee would like to see the Terms of Reference at the earliest opportunity.
The Committee agreed the timetable for undertaking and completing the inquiry in relation to Urban Regeneration and Community Development and further agreed the approach to be adopted.
The Committee agreed to consider Housing as agenda item 6.
3. Regional Development Strategy
The Committee noted the content of a paper tabled by the Clerk and agreed that it should form the basis of the Committee's response to the Regional Strategy document. The Committee further agreed to add comments, agreed with and to be drafted by the Clerk, in relation to SPG's 4, 5, 16, 19, and the general and implementation sections.
4. Subordinate Legislation - Proposals
The Committee considered the Department's proposals outlined for Statutory Rules in respect of the following - Payment to the Families of the 'Disappeared'. The Committee agreed that Departmental officials be requested to attend next week's meeting to explain the rationale for and the implications of the proposals to enable the Committee to consider further.
5. Subordinate Legislation - Motions
The Committee considered Statutory Rules in respect of the following -The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001,The Housing Benefit (Extended Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and agreed that departmental officials should be requested to attend next week's meeting to provide further clarification.
The Committee expressed concern, in general, about not always being clear as to the impact of Statutory Rules that they are being asked to pass and agreed that Departmental officials should be invited to a Committee meeting at the earliest opportunity to discuss these concerns.
6. Housing - Draft Terms of Reference & Timetable
The Committee noted the paper tabled by the Clerk. The Committee agreed that
- Private Sector Renewal
- Houses in Multiple Occupation & the Regulation of the Private Rented Sector
- Large Scale Voluntary Transfers and the NIHE
- Rights of Housing Association Tenants to Buy Their Properties
should be the subject of a single report and the Committee would conduct two further and separate inquiries into 'Anti-Social Behaviour' and 'Homelessness'.
The Committee further agreed the timetable for the completion of this report, the narrow Terms of Reference for items 3 and 4 and in the interests of keeping to the timetable that, rather than going for formal public consultation letters to selected organisations will issue on 26 March with a deadline of 20 April for replies.
7. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to invite The Law Society to make a presentation to the Committee in relation to ' The Home Buying Process' at its meeting on 5 April.
The Committee noted the letter from the Secretary to the Investing for Health Team and that the Clerk had commissioned the Research Department to provide a briefing paper to allow for discussion at next week's meeting. The Committee further agreed to invite the Investing for Health Team to make a presentation at next week's meeting specifically on those matters relating to Social Development issues.
The Committee noted that the Clerk had been selected as one of two representatives from the NI Assembly to participate in an exchange visit to the Legislature in Ottawa and that therefore he would be absent for two of the first three weeks in May.
The Committee noted the letter from the Office of the Centre concerning its inquiry into the proposal for a Children's Commissioner.
The Committee noted that The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development is
due to begin two inquiries. One relates to the Livestock and Meat Commission and the Committee agreed that no further action was necessary. The other relates to preparation for the next phase of the Rural Development Programme as a follow-up to the Public Account's Committee (PAC) Report on the Rural Development Programme. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development seeking clarification of the remit of the inquiry and asking to be kept informed of developments at an early stage.
The Committee noted the letter from the Department providing the detailed criteria for bids to the Executive Programme Funds. The Committee agreed to consider its content and have a further discussion at next week's meeting.
The Committee noted the Report compiled by the Bogside and Brandywell Initiative/Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership and agreed to consider its content and have a further discussion at next week's meeting.
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 29 March 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
March 2001
15 March 2001 / Menu / 29 March 2001