PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUB-GROUP ON REVIEW OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND RURAL PLANNING
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 13 December 2006 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: Patsy McGlone
Present: Tommy Gallagher
Alex Maskey
Philip McGuigan
Edwin Poots
Mervyn Storey
Jim Wilson
In Attendance: Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Michael Rickard (Assembly Clerk)
Roisin Fleetham (Assistant Clerk)
Elaine Farrell (Clerical Supervisor)
Observing: Damian McGinity (SF Researcher)
Clive McFarland (DUP Researcher)
Nuala O’Neill (SDLP Researcher)
The meeting commenced at 10.14pm.
1. Apologies
None
Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.18 am
2. Minutes of Meeting 8 Dec ‘06
These were agreed for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Declaration of interests
The following interests were declared:
Patsy McGlone – Member of Cookstown District Council;
Mervyn Storey – Member of Ballymoney Borough Council;
4. Matters Arising
Members discussed whether the meeting would be held in closed or public session. It was agreed that meetings would be held in closed session, except during witness sessions and a tape recording of the discussions would be taken for use exclusively by Committee staff.
The Clerk reported that Mike Thompson, DRDNI has agreed to forward the papers that were released recently under a Freedom of Information request in respect of PPS 14 and to clarify the position in relation to policy proposals on farm buildings. The Clerk also reported that Damian Prince, OFMDFM would be providing further clarification of redundancy costs in respect of local government and the current position of co-terminosity within the RPA.
In response to a query from Jim Wilson members indicated that party position papers would be submitted during the meeting.
5. Revised Procedures for Sub-Groups
Members noted the revised procedures for the sub-group, as approved by the Programme for Government Committee.
The Chairperson brought to the attention of members the letter from the Secretary of State’s Office dated 30 Nov 06 to the Programme for Government Committee. Members wished to record that they did not accept that witnesses should nor be asked to state Departmental views as outlined in Paragraph 4 and agreed that this be relayed to the PFG Committee.
6. Review of Public Administration
Senior Departmental Officials from the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety, Department of Education and Department of Environment joined the meeting at 10.30am.
Officials gave a presentation on a strategic overview in relation to the three main strands of the RPA. Officials in attendance were: -
Stephen Peover – Permanent Secretary, DOENI
Dr Andrew McCormick – Permanent Secretary, DHSS&PS
Dr Edward Rooney – Under Secretary, DENI
Dr Denis McMahon – DHSS&PS
Mr McGuigan arrived at 10.32am
A question and answer session ensued.
Departmental Officials left the meeting at 11.32 am
Dick Mackenzie – Local Government Boundaries Commissioner for N. Ireland accompanied by Ms Mandy Morrison – Secretary to LGBCNI gave a presentation on the work he is undertaking in relation to the new local government boundaries and the timescale involved.
A question and answer session ensued.
Mr Mackenzie and Ms Morrison left the meeting at 12.00 noon
The meeting adjourned at 12.02 pm
The meeting resumed at 12.19 pm
Mr Poots left the room at 12.19 pm
Mr Poots entered the room at 12.22 pm
7. Rural Planning
A discussion on PPS 14 ensued.
Mr Maskey left the room at 12.33 pm
The meeting adjourned at 12.38 pm for lunch
The meeting resumed at 12.52 pm
Mr Maskey entered the room at 12.56 pm
The chairperson proposed that the Clerk provide the following papers for consideration at the next meeting:
Papers from DOENI, DARD, DRD and NIO outlining the advice that had been provided to the Minister prior to publication of PPS 14.
It was agreed that the Clerk should prepare a draft section for inclusion in the sub-group’s report setting out the issues relating to PPS 14.
The chairperson proposed that papers from the following groups outlining their position in relation to PPS 14 should be obtained for the next meeting:
Royal Society for Protection of Birds
Friends of the Earth
8. Party Position Papers
All parties submitted a paper. It was proposed that the Clerk would distil key points from these papers for inclusion in a draft report. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
The Clerk circulated a suggested structure and headings for the sub-group report. A debate ensued.
It was agreed that the sub-headings would be:
RPA
General
Equality Issues
Funding for Transferring functions
Costs & savings
Co-terminosity
Local Government
Number of Councils
Party Positions
Modernisation and Reform
Set of Principles
Local Government Taskforce
Governance
Community Planning
Human Resources
Finance
Shared Services
Estate Issues
Central Local Government Relationship
Performance Management
Transferring Functions
Health
Structures
Operating Arrangements
Location of Headquarters
Co-terminosity
Education
Structures
Operating Arrangements
Location of Headquarters
Further Education Colleges
Political Accountability
Other Bodies
Quangos
Political Accountability
Equality Impact
PPS 14
Party Positions
Pros and Cons
Policy Alternatives
It was agreed that the Clerk would provide members with copies of the Deloitte report, which dealt with projected costs and savings arising from the RPA. Other relevant papers, such as the views the Local Government Finance Officers Group, would also be obtained.
9. Draft Press release
Members considered a draft press release. The Chairperson proposed that both he and the Principal Clerk re-word the heading and issue to the press, there was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
10. Next Meeting
The sub-group will next meet at 10.30am, 20 December 2006 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 2.05 pm.
Chairperson: Patsy McGlone
Date: 20.12.06