Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 19th May 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA 
John Dallat MLA 
Raymond McCartney MLA
George Robinson MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance: 
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk) 
Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
Jim Wells MLA

The Committee decided to open the meeting in public session.

The meeting opened at 12.12pm in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from William Irwin, John McCallister, Stephen Moutray and Jim Wells.

2. Chairpersons Business.

Members agreed that once a month, the Committee would hold a longer meeting on a Wednesday to facilitate additional items of business. With effect from Wednesday 28 May 2008 Committee meetings would move to room 21 to accommodate this extra time. Members noted that this new arrangement will be reviewed on a regular basis.

George Robinson joined the meeting at 12.15pm.

3. Subordinate Legislation

John Dallat joined the meeting at 12.17pm.

Members noted the following new SL1s received:

• The Parking Places on Roads (Dungannon) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Glebe Road East, Glengormley (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicle) (Amendment No.5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Bank Parade, Newry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Waiting Restrictions (Templepatrick) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members agreed to seek further information on the content of objections to the proposals within the following new SL1s before further consideration:

• The Glebe Road East, Glengormley (Stopping-Up) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Bank Parade, Newry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;

Members indicated that they were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 7 May 2008:

• The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.4) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Off-Street Parking (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules which are subject to negative resolution and agreed to return to these when the Examiner of Statutory Rules reports on them:

• 206/2008 - The Old Carrick Road, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• 204/2008 – The College Park, Belfast (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted receipt of the fifteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, which was published on 13 May 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/143 The Donaghadee (Harbour Area) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None

That the Committee for Regional Development has considered 2008/182 The Bann Road , Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, 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 .

4. Correspondence.

The Committee notedthe following items of correspondence:

• Letter dated 6 May 2008 from Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, and attached report on the recently undertaken inspection of Belfast Harbour Police.

• Letter dated 7 May 2008 from Alan Doherty, DALO, regarding Departmental briefing to the Committee on DRD’s Corporate Plan 2008-11, and Business Plan 2008–09.

Members noted that this briefing will now take place on Wednesday 21 May 2008.

• Memo dated 9 May 2008 from Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel, informing that, following publication of the Varney Review of the Competitiveness of Northern Ireland, the Finance and Personnel Committee will take evidence from Sir David Varney on 4 June 2008, and is inviting the Committee to submit views on the Review in advance of this. Members agreed to submit views to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the Varney Review and noted that an electronic version of the Varney Review of the Competitiveness of Northern Ireland was sent to Members on 7 May 2008.

• Email dated 9 May 2008 from the Sustainable Development Commission informing of a lecture entitled ‘The Rapidly Changing World of Food’ by Professor Tim Lang, Commissioner for Natural Resources and Land Use, on 29 May 2008.

• Letter dated 9 May 2008 from Alan Doherty, DALO, in response to the Committees request for further information on the proposed Rapid Transit route, in particular the proposed route through the Bloomfield walkway and cycle path.

• Letters from various concerned residents regarding the proposed Rapid Transit route through Bloomfield walkway. Members noted that a standard response is being issued to those residents who have written to the Committee.

• Letter dated 9 May 2008 from Desmond Vance asking the Committee to consider alternatives to implementing a Rapid Transit system in the city.

• Letter dated 12 May from Alan Doherty, DALO, informing of the Minister for Regional Development’s intention to contact the Committee and seek its views in relation to public transport reform. Members agreed to request a research briefing on this subject for future consideration.

• Letter dated 12 May 2008 from Jo Aston, NI Authority for Utility Regulation, inviting the Committee to a workshop on the price control process for 2010 to 2012. Members noted that confirmation of a revised date for this workshop would follow in the coming days.

• Email dated 13 May 2008 from Vincenta Leyden, Northern Ireland Water, in response to the request by the Committee to be informed in advance of any decision or announcement on the Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water.

• Letter dated 12 May 2008 from the Minister for Regional Development informing Members of his intention to table a motion for a Take Note Debate on the strategic outline case for Rapid Transit in Belfast. The Minister’s preferred date is 3 June 2008. Members agreed to formulate a co-ordinated response to this debate.

• Letter dated 12 May 2008 from the Minister for Regional Development informing that he will not be available for Assembly business on 20 May 2008 as he will be attending a meeting of the British Irish Council in Cardiff. Also included is a letter advising that Junior Minister Kelly will stand in for the Minister at the adjournment debate of 20 May.

• Letter dated 15 May 2008 from the Minister for Regional Development, in response to the Committee’s correspondence of 1 May 2008 urging the Minister to prioritise the early progression of the regulations on disability discrimination and transport. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister after considering information on this issue which had been forwarded by the Committee of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. Members agreed to forward the response to the Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister for its information.

• Press article from News Letter on 13 May 2008 – ‘Anger Over Path to Bus Lane Plan’.

• Northern Ireland Water News Release on fire hydrant vandalism – ‘Don’t Leave Your Community Vulnerable’.

5. Any Other Business.

There was no other business.

6. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30am on Wednesday 21 May 2008 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.30 p.m.

Signed: 
FRED COBAIN MLA 
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development