THURSDAY 8 MARCH 2001 AT 2.00PM IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:   Mr F Cobain (Chairman)   Mr Tom Hamilton   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

Welcome: The Chairman welcomed its new member Mr T Hamilton to the Committee

Apologies:   Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson), Sir John Gorman, Mr G Kelly

Mr Cobain took the chair at 2.08pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

The Committee noted that the Clerk would report further next week on progress in relation to the investigation into Urban Regeneration/Community Development.

The Committee noted that the Clerk is working with the Research Department to progress matters in relation to the investigation into Housing.

The Committee noted that members had had an informal meeting with the Social Security Advisory Committee (GB) earlier today and agreed that it might be useful to maintain contact particularly with the Northern Ireland Representative, Professor McLaughlin.

The Committee agreed to postpone its visit to Tyrone/Fermanagh planned for 22/23 March due to the current outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

3. New TSN - Final Report of the PSI Working Group on Travellers

The Committee agreed that it would consider Recommendations 1- 7 and 33 contained in chapter 4 of the Report. The Committee further agreed the Clerk should arrange for the Researcher to draft a background paper in relation to recommendations 5, 6 and 7 with particular attention being given to the resource implications for the NIHE.

4. Regional Development Strategy

The Committee agreed to discuss Strategic Planning Guidelines (SPG's) 3,4,5,13,16,19,20,21 and 27 at next week's meeting and that particular attention should be paid to the issue of brownfield sites. The Committee further agreed that independent advice might need to be sought in relation to Urban Capacity Studies and the Clerk was asked to consider how this might be progressed.

5. Executive Programme Funds

The Committee noted that the Clerk is awaiting details in relation to the criteria under which bids were made and will report back to the Committee in due course if anthying significant is revealed.

6. Any Other Business

The Committee was reminded of the BT event in the Long Gallery, jointly sponsored by Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson) and Sir J Gorman, on Wednesday 14 March between 12.00 and 2.00pm.

The Committee noted the terms of the Finance and Personnel's Committee's Public and Private Partnerships (PPP) Inquiry.

7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00pm on Thursday 15 March 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR F COBAIN

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN  

March 2001