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, 10 January 2007 in room 135,
Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: Mr David McNarry MLA
Present: Mr Leslie Cree MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Ms Margaret Ritchie MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In Attendance: Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr David Douglas (Clerical Officer)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Officer)
Ms Roisin Kelly (Assembly Researcher)
Mr Richard Bullick (DUP Researcher)
Mr Brian Crowe (UUP Researcher)
Dr Dara O’Hagan (SF Researcher)
The meeting commenced at 10.08am in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr Mark Durkan MP MLA, Mr Mitchell McLaughlin MLA, Mr Raymond McCartney MLA and Mr Peter Weir MLA.
Ms Margaret Ritchie deputised for Mr Mark Durkan, Mr John O’Dowd deputised for Mr Mitchell McLaughlin.
2. Draft Minutes of the Meeting of 4 January 2007
The draft minutes of the meeting of 4 January 2007 were agreed for publication on the Assembly website.
Proposed: Mr Jim Shannon
Seconded: Ms Margaret Ritchie
3. Matters arising
Members noted the contents of the under-noted documents in response to points raised by Mr O’Dowd at the last meeting of the Sub-Group –
- Equality Commission for NI/Central Procurement Directorate - Guidance on equality and sustainable development considerations in public sector procurement - Consultation draft.
- Department of Finance and Personnel - Public Procurement Policy.
- Procurement Guidance Note 03/04 - Social Considerations in Public Procurement.
Mr O’Dowd expressed appreciation that the information was received so promptly.
Members noted the contents of a tabled letter dated 9 January 2007 from the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation together with attached response to questions raised by the General Consumer Council.
Members noted the contents of a letter dated 8 January 2007 from the Department for Regional Development on Water Reform together with attached response to questions raised by the General Consumer Council.
Members agreed that the contents of these documents should be copied to the General Consumer Council and that the outstanding reply from the Water Service, in relation to the questions put forward by the General Consumer Council, should be copied to the General Consumer Council and Members on its receipt.
4. Consideration of draft Report on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government; Rates Charges; and Water Reform
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph.
Introduction
Paragraphs 1 – 6 were agreed.
Section 1 – Comprehensive Spending Review
Background
Paragraphs 7 – 9 were agreed.
Summary of concerns raised with sub-group
Paragraphs 10 – 20 were agreed.
Annex A was agreed as amended.
Consideration of issues: Priorities for a Draft Programme for Government
Paragraph 21 (a) to (d) were agreed.
Paragraph 21 (e) was agreed as amended.
Additional point (f) to be inserted was agreed.
Addressing Restricted Growth in Public Expenditure
Paragraphs 22 – 26 were agreed.
Early Consideration and Consultation on Priorities & Budget 2008-09 to 2010-11
Paragraph 27 was agreed.
Paragraph 28 was agreed as amended.
Achieving Resource Releasing Efficiencies
Paragraph 29 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 30 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 31 was agreed.
Making better use of existing resources
Paragraphs 32 - 33 were agreed.
Investing in Northern Ireland’s Growth
Paragraph 34 was agreed.
The bullet points were agreed as amended.
An additional bullet was agreed.
Use of an Agreed Economic Package
Paragraphs 35 – 36 were agreed.
11.22am – the meeting adjourned
11.40am – the meeting resumed
It was agreed that a further meeting of the sub-group would be necessary in order to sign off the Report with the agreed amendments and that a form of words for any further suggested amendments should be forwarded to the Clerk by lunch-time on Monday 15 January 2007.
Section 2 – Rates Charges
Background
Paragraphs 37 – 40 were agreed.
Summary of Concerns
Paragraphs 41 – 44 were agreed.
Paragraph 45 – deferred for consideration at the next meeting following a request for further information.
Paragraphs 46 – 50 were agreed.
Consideration of Issues
Suggested recommendation in relation to farmhouses. Form of words to be submitted to the Clerk.
Paragraph 51- deferred for consideration at the next meeting.
Paragraph 52 was agreed.
Paragraph 53 - deferred for consideration at the next meeting.
Paragraph 54 was agreed.
Paragraph 55 - deferred for consideration at the next meeting. Form of words to be submitted to the Clerk.
Paragraphs 56 – 57 were agreed.
Paragraph 58 – deferred for consideration at the next meeting following a request for further information.
Paragraphs 59 – 61 deferred for consideration at the next meeting.
Paragraphs 62 – 63 were agreed.
Section 3 – Water Charges
Background
Paragraphs 64 – 66 were agreed.
Summary of Concerns
Paragraphs 67 – 77 were agreed subject to updating in light of information received from the Department for Regional Development and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation.
Consideration of Issues
Paragraph 78 - - deferred for consideration at the next meeting. Form of words to be submitted to the Clerk.
Paragraphs 79 – 85 were agreed.
Paragraph 86 - deferred for consideration at the next meeting following a request for further information.
Paragraph 87 was agreed.
Paragraph 88 - deferred for consideration at the next meeting.
Paragraphs 89 – 93 were agreed.
5. Any Other Business
Members noted that a request under the Freedom of Information Act had been received by the Transitional Assembly asking for ‘A copy of all documents issued by any statutory body to the Programme for Government or any of its sub-groups, as well as any transcript of any meeting of the Programme for Government Committee or any of its sub-committees.’ Members further noted that the Programme for Government Committee is considering the request.
Members noted that the Programme for Government Committee agreed at its meeting on Monday 8 January that transcripts of evidence sessions (Hansard reports) should be published, on the website, once each sub-group report has been agreed by the PfG Committee.
6. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the sub-group will take place on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 in closed session at 10.00am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.30pm