PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUB-GROUP ON THE COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW AND PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT; RATES CHARGES; AND WATER REFORM
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 4 January 2007 in room 152,
Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Present: Mr Leslie Cree MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Ms Margaret Ritchie MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Ms Kathy Stanton MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance: Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Officer)
Ms Roisin Kelly (Assembly Researcher)
Mr Brian Crowe (UUP Researcher)
Dr Dara O’Hagan (SF Researcher)
Ms Grainne McEvoy (SDLP Researcher)
The meeting commenced at 10.00am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr Mark Durkan MP MLA and Mr Mitchell McLaughlin MLA.
Ms Margaret Ritchie deputised for Mr Mark Durkan, Mr John O’Dowd deputised for Mr Mitchell McLaughlin. Ms Kathy Stanton deputised for Mr Raymond McCartney from 1.15pm.
2. Draft Minutes of the Meeting of 20 December 2006
The draft minutes of the meeting of 20 December 2006 were agreed for publication on the Assembly website.
Proposed: Mr Peter Weir
Seconded: Ms Margaret Ritchie
10.04am – Mr O’Dowd left the meeting
10.05am – Mr O’Dowd returned to the meeting
3. Supplementary information received on Rates Charges
Members noted the contents of the supplementary information received from the Northern Ireland Fair Rates Campaign, Help the Aged/Age Concern and the Department of Finance and Personnel on Rates Charges.
4. Supplementary information received on Water Reform
Members noted the contents of the supplementary information received from the General Consumer Council on Water Reform.
5. Initial Draft Report on Rates Charges
Members considered an Initial Draft Report on Rates Charges.
6. Updated Assembly Research Paper on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government
Members noted the updated Assembly Research Paper on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government.
7. Written submissions received on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government
Members noted the contents of written submissions received from –
- Strategic Investment Board
- Rural Development Council
- Northern Ireland Environmental Link
- Northern Ireland Local Government Association
Open session
8. Evidence Session with the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland
Members noted the written submission received from the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland.
Members took evidence from Mr Victor Hewitt, Director, Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.20am
The Chairman thanked the witness for attending.
9. Evidence Session with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Members noted the written submission received from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:-
Mr Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
Ms Frances McCandless, Director of Policy, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
11.35am - Mr Peter Weir returned to the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the witnesses for attending.
Closed Session
12.04pm – Mr Raymond McCartney left the meeting.
10. Issues arising from morning session and preparation for afternoon session
Members discussed the issues arising from the morning session in preparation for the afternoon evidence sessions.
It was agreed that the sub-group would re-convene at 1.10pm.
12.20pm – the meeting adjourned for lunch
Open session
1.15pm – Ms Kathy Stanton joined the meeting
11. Evidence Session with the Confederation of British Industry
Members noted the written submission received from the Confederation of British Industry.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:-
Mr Nigel Smyth, Director, Confederation of British Industry
Mr Declan Billington, Chairman, Confederation of British Industry
Mr Brian Ambrose, Vice-Chairman, Confederation of British Industry
Mr Alastair Hamilton, Chairman, Confederation of British Industry, Northern Ireland Economic Affairs Committee
1.59pm – Mr O’Dowd left the meeting.
2.05pm – Mr O’Dowd returned to the meeting.
The Chairman thanked the witnesses for attending.
12. Evidence Session with the Department of Finance and Personnel
Members noted the written submission received from the Department of Finance and Personnel including a paper on priorities identified by the eleven Departments.
2.14pm - Mr Weir left the meeting
2.15pm – Mr Weir returned to the meeting.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:-
Mr Leo O’Reilly, Budget Director, Central Finance Group, Department of Finance and Personnel
Mr Richard Pengelly, Head of Central Expenditure Division, Department of Finance and Personnel
The Chairman thanked the witnesses for attending.
Closed session
13. Consideration of outcomes for draft report
Members debated the outcomes from the evidence sessions to inform the draft report.
14. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
8. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the sub-group will take place on Wednesday, 10 January 2007 in closed session at 10.00am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 3.34pm.