Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 16th April 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA 
William Irwin MLA 
John McCallister MLA 
Raymond McCartney MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
George Robinson MLA
Jim Wells MLA 
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk) 
Oliver Bellew (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)

Apologies: 
None

The Committee decided to hold the meeting in open session.

The meeting opened at 10.34 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

There were no apologies.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m. 
George Robinson joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.

2. Draft Minutes of the meeting of 9 April 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2008 were agreed.

3. Chairpersons Business.

The Committee agreed that the following Members have indicated their intention to attend the ‘Transport Ireland: Towards a Modern and Sustainable Transport Future’ conference in Dublin on 14 May 2008:

• Fred Cobain
• John Dallat
• Raymond McCartney
• Cathal Boylan
• Willie Clarke

Members noted that the remaining Committee Members were unable to participate due to prior commitments.

Members decided that, due to this conference, the Committee meeting scheduled for 14 May 2008 will not take place.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted receipt of a briefing document on the timescale for, and arrangements to deliver on the DRD Action points in the draft Regional Innovation Strategy, and agreed to request that the Department provide a written report on progress in September 2008.

Members noted the response from the Department for Regional Development to Members’ request for further information on the treatment of Northern Ireland Water’s input VAT for 2007/2008. Members agreed to seek oral briefing from Departmental officials on this issue.

Members noted the letter from the DALO of the Department of the Environment to Patricia Casey, Clerk to the Environment Committee in response to the paper compiled by the Park Road and District Residents Association on expansion at George Best Belfast City Airport, and agreed to write to the Park Road and District Residents Association setting out the facts received.

Members noted the letter from Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel, requesting feedback to DFP’s proposed template for the provision of quarterly monitoring round information, and agreed to consider a draft response at the meeting of 23 April 2008.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.

5. Draft Speed Management Policy: Committee Consideration.

Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Researcher on a research paper on Variable Speed Limits Outside Schools: A Scottish Case Study.

Members requested further research on the Scottish ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ scheme, the criteria for the deployment of speed cameras, and statistics on collisions involving drivers from other jurisdictions.

George Robinson left the meeting at 10.44 a.m.

Members considered a revised draft response to the Department on the draft Speed Management Policy, and decided to add further detail to the response. Members agreed to consider the additional information received and finalise a committee at a future meeting.

6. Mis-apportionment of Costs Departmental Briefing.

Department for Regional Development officials John Mills, Paul Priestly and Barbara Faloona joined the meeting at 11.10 a.m.

George Robinson rejoined the meeting at 11.10 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from Department for Regional Development officials on their written responses to queries submitted to the Department on behalf of Members.

Following a question and answer session, officials agreed provide more detailed information on a range of issues. Members decided to return to this issue upon receipt of the additional information from the Department.

Department for Regional Development officials left the meeting at 12.13 a.m.

Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.13 p.m.

Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 12.14 p.m.

7. Aviation Duty Consultation: Consumer Council Briefing.

Northern Ireland Consumer Council executives joined the meeting at 12.15 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from Consumer Council Executives on the UK aviation duty consultation being carried out by Her Majesty’s Treasury and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Northern Ireland Consumer Council executives left the meeting at 12.34 p.m.

The Committee decided to respond to this consultation, and Members will consider a draft response at next weeks meeting.

8. Subordinate Legislation.

Members noted the following new SL1s received:

• The Parking Places on Roads (Warrenpoint) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Roads (Variable Speed Limits at Schools) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Access Road adjoining Cavan Road, Dungannon (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Old Belfast Road, Bangor (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Little King Street (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races ( North West Supermoto) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Road Races (The Tour of the Sperrins Rally) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members indicated that they were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 9 April 2008:

• The Westlink (Busways) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races ( Ulster Rally) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Skegoneill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Upper Galliagh Road, Londonderry (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Parking Places on Roads (Omagh) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:

• 162/2008 - The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
• 164/2008 – The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
• 165/2008 – The Parking Places on Roads (Carrickfergus) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

The Committee agreed that the Department issue two new orders to replace The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No2) Order 2008 and The Parking Places on Roads Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008, which the Committee had previously considered. Members agreed that the Department would now proceed to issue the following revised SL1s to reflect the advice received by the Department from the Departmental Solicitors office. These are:

• The Parking Places on Roads Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Parking Places on Roads (Fivemiletown) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted receipt of the thirteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, which was published on 11 April 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/149 The M2/A26 ( Ballee Road East link) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, William Irwin, Stephen Moutray, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/135 The Motorways Traffic Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, William Irwin, Stephen Moutray, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/136 The Ballyboley Road , Larne (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, William Irwin, Stephen Moutray, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

Members instructed the Clerk to notify the Business Office on the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules .

9. Correspondence.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

Letter dated 31 March 2008 from Gordon Best, Regional Director, Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland (QPANI), inviting Members to visit a quarry, and view the efforts made towards sustainable development by Member quarries, and enclosed copy of QPANI’s 2007 Annual Report. Members agreed to invite representatives from the Quarry Products Association to brief the Committee at a date to be confirmed.

Letter dated 7 April 2008 from the Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, acknowledging the Committee’s response to the five and 10 year review of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS).

Letter dated 10 April 2008 from Chris Mellor, Chairman Northern Ireland Water (NIW) responding to the Committee’s invitation to brief the Committee on 16 April 2008, and attaching a copy of NIW’s internal review terms of reference. Members noted receipt of the terms of reference and agreed to invite NIW executives to brief the Committee once the NIW internal review is complete.

Pamphlet from wiseradvice, training and support for money advisers. Members of the Committee have been invited to speak at the Seminar, “Dealing with Codes of Practice and Utilities” to give a brief outline of the Committee’s actions to date regarding its response to the Independent Water Review Panel Strand One and Two report, and the Committee’s future actions regarding a formal response. Members agreed to decline this invitation due to prior commitments, and to write to Advice NI to advise them of this decision.

10. Any Other Business.

Members agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification on traffic and accident management at the M2 roadworks.

11. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 23 April 2008 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.44 p.m.

Signed:
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development