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 Wednesday, 17 January 2007 in room 135,
Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Present: Mr Leslie Cree MLA
Mr Paul Girvan 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)
Mr Colin Jones (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Douglas (Clerical Officer)
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Senior Researcher)
Ms Roisin Kelly (Assembly Researcher)
Ms Grainne McEvoy (SDLP 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 and Mr Paul Girvan deputised for Mr Peter Weir.
2. Draft Minutes of the Meeting of 10 January 2007
The draft minutes of the meeting of 10 January 2007 were agreed for publication on the Assembly website.
Proposed: Mr Jim Shannon
Seconded: Ms Margaret Ritchie
3. Written Submission from the Water Service on Water Reform
Members noted a response from the Water Service to a series of questions raised by the General Consumer Council.
4. Consideration of draft Report on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government; Rates Charges; and Water Reform
Members noted that the majority of the report had been agreed at the last meeting, but that several paragraphs had been deferred for further consideration and in addition several proposed amendments had been received by the Clerk.
Members considered the paragraphs in the draft report which had been deferred or for which further amendments had been proposed.
Executive Summary
Paragraph 2 was agreed as amended
Paragraph 3 was agreed as amended
Section 1 – Comprehensive Spending Review
Investing in Northern Ireland’s Growth
Paragraph 34:
Final bullet point was agreed.
Section 2 – Rates Charges
Summary of Concerns
Paragraph 45 was agreed.
Consideration of Issues
Paragraph 53 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 51 was agreed
A new paragraph was agreed for insertion after paragraph 52.
A new paragraph was agreed as amended for insertion after paragraph 53.
Mr Girvan joined the meeting at 10.28am.
Paragraph 56 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 58 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 60 was agreed.
The meeting was suspended at 10.50am.
The meeting continued in closed session at 11.02am.
Paragraph 61 was agreed as amended.
Members noted that amendments agreed to paragraph 61 would impact on paragraph 4 of the Executive Summary and agreed to defer consideration of this paragraph until later in the meeting.
Section 3 – Water Charges
Consideration of Issues
Paragraph 78 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 86 was agreed.
Paragraph 87 was agreed as amended.
Paragraph 88 was agreed as amended.
Executive Summary
Paragraph 4 was agreed as amended.
Recommendations
It was agreed that staff should make consequential amendments to recommendations to reflect the amendments agreed to the main body of the report.
It was agreed that paragraphs 1 – 96 as amended stand part of the sub-group’s report.
It was agreed that the Executive Summary as amended stand part of the sub-group’s report.
It was agreed that the Recommendations as amended stand part of the sub-group’s report.
It was agreed that the full report as amended be adopted as the sub-group’s report to the Programme for Government Committee.
5. Any Other Business
Members noted that the amended report would be issued to the Programme for Government Committee on 18 January 2007 and would also be sent to the sub-group’s nominated members and those substitutes present at today’s meeting.
It was agreed that the Chairperson could sign off the minutes of proceedings of today’s meeting for inclusion in the report.
The meeting adjourned at 11.40am