Minutes of Proceedings - 13 May 2008
Present:
Mr Robin Newton (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr John Dallat
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr Fra McCann
Mrs Claire McGill
Mrs Anna Lo
Mr George Savage
In Attendance:
Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Dr Robert Barry (Assembly Research Service)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Willie Clarke
Mrs Naomi Long
The meeting opened at 4.04pm in public session.
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Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above. Mr Beggs attended in place of Mr Armstrong. Mrs Lo attended in place of Mrs Long.
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Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 th May 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 12 th May.
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Matters Arising.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 4.06pm.
Mr Dallat joined the meeting at 4.07pm.
The Chairperson asked about Members availability take oral evidence from the Rural Community Network on Thursday 15 th May 2008.
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Evidence Session – Citizens Advice Bureau.
The witnesses joined the meeting at 4.11pm.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mr Paul Herink, Director of Information and Policy Unit, Citizens Advice Bureau.
Mr Andrew Murie, Information and Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Bureau.A question and answer session followed the presentation from Mr Herink and Mr Murie.
Mrs McGill joined the meeting at 4.20pm.
Mrs Hanna joined the meeting at 4.25pm.
Mr McCann joined the meeting at 4.30pm.
Mrs Hanna left the meeting at 4.32pm.
Mr Buchanan left the meeting at 4.30pm.
Mr Buchanan rejoined the meeting at 4.32pm.The witnesses left the meeting at 4.42pm.
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Research Briefing.
Dr Robert Barry of the Assembly Research Services briefed the Committee on his meeting with Post Office Ltd regarding their statistical findings.
Agreed: Members requested that Dr Barry provide the Committee with a summary of his research findings.
Agreed: Members agreed that Dr Barry’s research be shared with Postwatch and anyone else requesting them.
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Evidence Session – Help the Aged.
The witnesses joined the meeting at 4.51pm.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mr Duane Farrell, Head of Policy, Research and Communications, Help the Aged.
Ms Ciara Convie, Head of Community Development and Services, Help the Aged.
A question and answer session followed the presentation from Mr Farrell and Ms Convie.The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 5:11pm to allow for plenary division.
The Chairperson reconvened the meeting at 4.37pm with the following Members present:
Mr Robin Newton, Mr Roy Beggs, Mr John Dallat, Mrs Anna Lo, Mr Fra McCann and Mr George Savage.Mr T Clarke rejoined the meeting at 5.26pm.
Mrs McGill joined the meeting at 5.29pm.
The witnesses left the meeting at 5.30pm.
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Evidence Session – Wandsworth Community Centre.
The witnesses joined the meeting at 5.31pm.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mr Stephen Crosby, Community Development Worker, Wandsworth Community Centre.
Ms Alison Smith, Community Development Worker, Wandsworth Community Centre.
Ms Yvonne Morrison, Member of the Public.A question and answer session followed the presentation by Mr Crosby.
Mr T Clarke left the meeting at 5.50pm.
The witnesses left the meeting at 6.05pm.
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Consultation Responses.
Members noted receipt of a consultation response from Belfast City Council.
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Correspondence.
The Chairperson advised Members that further letters have been received from Groomsport residents regarding the closure of their post office.
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Any Other Business.
The Chairperson advised Members of the request that the statistics produced by Assembly Research Services be used in a presentation by Research Services to the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).
Agreed: Members agreed that the statistics could be used in a presentation to the ESRI.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 15th May, Room and Time to be arranged.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.09pm.
MR ROBIN NEWTON
Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee on Local Postal Services.15th May 2008.
