Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 14 October 2009
COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2009
BRYSON HOUSE, BELFAST
Present:
Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Simon Hamilton MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Colin Pidgeon (Assembly Research)
Apologies:
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
David McNarry MLA
Ian Paisley Jr MLA
Mr Peter Weir (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting opened at 10.08am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the following sessions will be recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the website: Evidence on Public Procurement Practice in Northern Ireland from the Social Economy Network and from Bryson Charitable Group; and Evidence from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) on the Outcome of September 2009 Monitoring Round.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 7 October 2009
Agreed: that the minutes be published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the composite request for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
The Committee considered a draft press release in response to the results from the Institute of Directors’ bank lending survey for April – August 2009. Members recognised that the lack of uptake of the different support schemes available to small businesses may not be solely attributed to the banks.
Agreed: that the press release be issued.
4. Public Procurement Practice in Northern Ireland: Evidence from Social Economy Network (SEN)
The Committee took evidence from Anne Graham, Director, SEN; Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice; and Marie Marin, Director, Employers for Childcare. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
5. Public Procurement Practice in Northern Ireland: Evidence from Bryson Charitable Group
The Committee took evidence from Sir Nigel Hamilton, Chairman; John McMullan, Chief Executive; and Brian McGinn, Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Bryson Charitable Group. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 11.53am.
Mr McLaughlin returned to the meeting at 11.55am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 11.55am.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 11.55am.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 11.59am.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 11.59am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.59am.
6. Outcome of September 2009 Monitoring Round: Evidence from DFP
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials; Richard Pengelly, Public Spending Director, Central Finance Group; Joanne McBurney, Central Expenditure Division, Central Finance Group; and Deborah McNeilly, Head of Finance Branch, DFP. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 12.04pm.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.05pm.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
7. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered a revised proposal from DFP for subordinate legislation: The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed : that the Committee will request an oral briefing on the revised proposal from DFP officials.
8. Assembly Research Paper on Efficiency Savings
The Committee considered a paper by Assembly Research on efficiency savings.
Agreed: that the Committee will request written and oral evidence on efficiency savings from the specialists identified in the research paper.
9. Assembly Research Paper on Public Procurement and SMEs
The Committee noted an Assembly Research update paper on Public Procurement and SMEs.
10. Update on the Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference
The Chairperson provided an update on the Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference. Members also considered a draft press release on the Conference.
Agreed: that members will forward suggestions for additional participants to the Clerk by Friday 16 October 2009.
Agreed: that the press release be issued.
11. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (CETI): Correspondence from Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Matrix Report on Public Procurement of Innovative Science and Technology Solutions.
Agreed : that the report will be included in the evidence for the ongoing Committee inquiry into public procurement.
- Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency: Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009.
- Committee for OFMDFM: Capital Costs for the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels.
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the correspondence to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.
- DFP: Departmental Performance in Responding to Committee Requests.
- DFP: Update on IntertradeIreland Report & Output from the Construction Industry Forum for NI.
- DFP: Update on Procurement issues arising from session on 16 September 2009.
Agreed: that the Committee will take evidence from the Central Procurement Directorate before completion of the inquiry into public procurement.
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Independent Review of Economic Policy.
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Update on Independent Review of Economic Policy.
- DFP: Response to Independent Review of Economic Policy.
Agreed: that the Committee will forward the correspondence to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for information.
- Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS): CIPS membership in Northern Ireland and opening statement to Committee on 7 October 2009.
Agreed: that the Committee will invite representatives from the CIPS membership in Northern Ireland to the Stakeholder Conference.
- Advice NI: Systems Thinking in the Public Sector.
- DFP: Timing of amendments to the Rates (Amendment) Bill.
- Chairpersons Liaison Group: Speaker’s Correspondence with the British Banker’s Association.
Agreed: that the Committee will respond to the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group on the options for Assembly committees to consider banking matters of joint concern, recognising the particular interest that CETI may have in this area.
- DFP: Sickness Absence Update.
- DFP: Follow up to session on Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit review of Land and Property Service (LPS) on 23 October 2009.
Agreed: that the Committee is content for DFP to release the Assembly Research paper on the Penny Product Calculation to LPS and the Local Authority Strategic Steering Group.
- DFP: Report on the review of the DFP Departmental Board.
- Federation of Small Businesses: Report on Public Procurement.
Agreed : that the report will be included in the evidence for the ongoing Committee inquiry into public procurement.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Correspondence on Debt and Mental Health.
12. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until Christmas recess.
Agreed : that the current draft of the programme be published on the Assembly website.
13. Any Other Business
14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.15 pm.
