Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 24 March 2010
COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 24 MARCH 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Peter Weir (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Mr David McNarry MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Mr Declan O’Loan MLA
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Karen Jardine (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.09am in open session.
1. Apologies
There was one apology.
Agreed: that the evidence sessions with Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials on the Draft DFP Operational Plan 2010-11 and Workplace NI are recorded by Hansard, and the Official Reports published on the website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 10 March 2010
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 noted the response from the Minister of Finance and Personnel to the Committee’s recommendation that the Executive, or an appropriate sub-group, meets with the Economic Reform Group NI (ERGNI) to discuss the issues raised in its report on The Case for a Reduced Rate of Corporation Tax in NI. Members were advised that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (CETI) had recently agreed, in principle, to table a motion for a ‘Take Note’ debate on this issue. Members agreed that it would be beneficial to undertake a more detailed examination of the findings and recommendations of the ERGNI report.
Agreed: the Committee will write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to propose that this work is taken forward by both committees in a co-ordinated way, under the procedural options available in Standing Order 64 for the disposal of matters of joint concern. The purpose of this joint work would be to consider any remaining issues and make recommendations to the Executive on the way forward, which could also form the basis for a motion for debate in plenary.
Agreed: the Committee will notify the Minister of its proposal to undertake a more detailed examination of the ERGNI report in conjunction with the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
The Committee noted the Secretariat paper providing a synopsis of the evidence session with ERGNI on 10 March 2010.
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.15am.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 10.15am.
Ms Purvis joined the meeting at 10.21am.
Mr Weir joined the meeting at 10.25am.
4. Draft DFP Operational Plan 2010-11 (DFP Briefing)
The Committee took evidence on the Draft DFP Operational Plan 2010-11 from the following officials from DFP’s Corporate Services Group (CSG): David Orr, Director of Corporate Services, CSG; Deborah McNeilly, Head of Finance Branch, CSG; and Colm Doran, Head of Business Planning & Corporate Governance, DFP.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.30am.
Mr Paisley Jr joined the meeting at 10.31am.
Mr Paisley Jr left the meeting at 10.33am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.33am.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 10.34am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.41am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.56am.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 10.57am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 10.58am.
Ms Purvis returned to the meeting at 11.02am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.04am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.07am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.07am.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: that, going forward, the Committee will consider written briefings from DFP on progress against the Operational Plan to identify key areas that members wish to examine in detail during subsequent oral evidence. This will ensure that the relevant Departmental officials are available to discuss these issues during oral evidence sessions.
5. Workplace NI (DFP Briefing)
The Committee took evidence on Workplace NI and the Draft Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Accommodation Plan 2010 - 2013 from the following DFP Officials: David Orr, Director of Corporate Services, CSG and Philip Irwin, Head of Properties Division, CSG, DFP.
The Chairperson left the meeting at 11.20am.
The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair at 11.20am.
The Chairperson returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair at 11.27am.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 11.48am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.04pm.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.11pm.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.11pm.
Agreed: that the witnesses will provide further information as requested by the Committee during the evidence session.
Agreed: the Committee will write to the Minister to request that he seeks an urgent decision by the Executive on the recommendations from Professor Sir George Bain’s review of the location of public sector jobs, which will inform the development of the NICS Accommodation Plan 2010 - 2013.
6. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered SR 2010 No.66 The Rate Relief (Low-Carbon Homes Scheme) Regulations (NI) 2010, together with correspondence from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. Members noted that the Examiner had raised a minor point with regard to technical scrutiny, which the Department had undertaken to rectify at an opportunity in the near future.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2010 No 66 The Rate Relief (Low-Carbon Homes Scheme) Regulations (NI) 2010, and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ final report.
The Committee considered SR 2010 No.67 The Rate Relief (Energy Efficiency Homes
Scheme) Regulations (NI) 2010, together with correspondence from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. Members noted that the Examiner had indicated he had no points to make by way of technical scrutiny.
Agreed: that the Committee for Finance and Personnel has considered SR 2010 No. 67 The Rate Relief (Energy Efficiency Homes Scheme) Regulations (NI) 2010, and has no objection to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ final report.
Mr Paisley Jr returned to the meeting at 12.16pm.
7. Payment of Rates by Credit Card
The Committee noted the response from DFP to the Consumer Council’s paper of February 2010 on the decision to allow the payment of rates by credit card. The Committee also considered a further paper dated March 2010 from the Consumer Council and a request to provide an oral briefing to the Committee.
Mr Paisley Jr left the meeting at 12.20pm.
Agreed: the Committee will invite the Consumer Council to give an oral briefing on this issue.
Agreed: the Committee will write to the Minister to request that the decision to allow the payment of rates by credit card is deferred, until the Committee has an opportunity to fully consider the evidence. Mr Weir asked that his opposition to this request be noted.
8. Correspondence
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.31pm.
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: Clarification on the cost of amending the Carer Premium within the NIHE’s Housing Benefit system.
- Committee for the Environment: Support for Carers.
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Support for Carers.
- Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development: Support for Carers.
- DFP: Response to Employment & Learning Committee regarding Automated Communication Systems.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.34pm.
- DFP: Response on Inquiry into Young People who are Not in Education, Employment or Training.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the response to the Committee for Employment and Learning.
- DFP: Response to Assembly Research Paper on Systems Thinking.
- Consumer Council: Money tips for parents and home contents insurance leaflet.
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: INTERREG Funding meeting.
Agreed: that the Committee will recommend that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment requests a briefing from the Special EU Programmes Body via DFP.
Mr Paisley Jr returned to the meeting at 12. 36pm.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12. 36pm.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.37pm.
Mr Paisley Jr left the meeting at 12.38pm.
- Committee for OFMDFM: response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the cost of insurance in NI.
Agreed: the Committee will take further evidence on this issue from the Consumer Council and representatives from the insurance industry.
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Bike to work scheme.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the correspondence to DFP.
- Children in NI: Response to the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
- British Heart Foundation NI - Response to the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
- The Methodist Church in Ireland: Response to the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments.
Agreed: the Committee will forward a copy of the Report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments to those organisations that have provided written submissions.
- Committee for the Environment: DoE and Private Sector Sick Absences Research Paper.
- CIGNI Professional College: Invite to Chair to Long Gallery Event on 31 March 2010.
- DFP: Letter from Minister on Review of Senior Civil Servant’s (SCS) Pay. In noting the Minister’s rationale for not including an “independent oversight” stage in the review process, members nonetheless expressed disappointment at this decision.
Agreed: the Committee will make a written submission to the review by the Office of Manpower Economics. The Committee will also request a briefing and an opportunity to make its own assessment of the draft review report, in advance of any final decisions being taken on the future pay arrangements for SCS
- DFP: Accruing Resources for year ending 31 March 2010.
- DFP: Consultation on amendments to Building Regulations (NI) 2000.
- Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance: Equal Pay in NICS.
Agreed: the Committee will forward the correspondence to both the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the NI Public Service Alliance for comment.
9. Committee Work Programme
Census 2011
The Committee noted that an evidence session on the preparations for the 2011 Census and the associated subordinate legislation has been scheduled for 14 April.
Agreed: the Committee will notify the Committee for OFMDFM of its views on the subordinate legislation following this evidence session.
Budget 2010
Agreed: the Committee will request a written briefing note from DFP on the implications of the Budget 2010 for NI.
NI Water
The Committee noted media reports that a recent independent review of NI Water had highlighted serious concerns with procurement governance. Members also noted that NI Water had been awarded ‘exemplar status’ in the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PWC) review of Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE) status in September 2009.
Agreed: in view of the issues regarding procurement governance, which were raised in the independent review of NI Water, the Committee will seek an explanation from the Procurement Board as to the awarding of ‘exemplar status’ by the PWC review of CoPEs. It was also agreed to copy this correspondence to the Committee for Regional Development for information.
Report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for NI Departments
Members noted that the Committee’s Report on the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans was published on 11 March.
Agreed: the Committee will request DFP to provide details of the timetable for finalising the plans together with confirmation of when they will be debated in the Assembly.
Members were advised that, subsequent to the publication of the Committee’s Report, Secretariat staff noted that a public consultation notice had been issued by DFP on 19 January 2010, inviting responses to the Executive’s proposals for the revised spending plans by 26 February.
Agreed: the Committee will request a written briefing from DFP on the outcome of this consultation.
Agreed: the Committee will commission research on budget processes in other jurisdictions from Assembly Research.
Agreed: that the draft work programme will be updated to reflect decisions taken at today’s meeting and published on the Assembly website.
10. Any Other Business
11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 at 10.00 am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.10pm.
