Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2007/2008
Date: 30 January 2008
COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Room 144 Parliament Buildings
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat 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)
Clairita Frazer (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)
Apologies:
William Irwin MLA
Members agreed to hold the meeting in public session.
The meeting opened at 10.44 a.m. in public session.
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Apologies.
Apologies were received from William Irwin.
John McCallister joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.46 a.m.
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Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting on 21, 22, 23 & 24 January 2008.
The minutes of meetings on 21, 22 and 24 January 2008 were agreed. The revised minutes of 23 January 2008 were also agreed.
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Matters Arising.
The Committee noted the revised Forward Work Programme, in particular the Committee meeting in Ballymena and visit to Wrightbus on 13 February 2008.
The Committee decided to visit Wrightbus in Ballymena on 13 February 2008. The Committee also decided to visit Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven on 20 – 22 February 2008. Members decided to confirm their availability to participate in both visits with Committee office staff on Wednesday 30 January 2008.
The Committee noted that their scrutiny of the 5 Year Review of the Regional Development Strategy has been provisionally scheduled for dates in February 2008. The Committee decided to discuss the timetable for Committee consideration of this issue after receiving briefing from Departmental officials at the meeting of 6 February 2008. The Committee asked the Clerk to prepare a handling plan.
Members agreed to schedule an away day to consider the outstanding issues from Strand One and Two of the Independent Review Panel’s report. Members asked the Clerk to prepare a detailed schedule of work for discussion in the coming weeks.
Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 11.00 a.m.
The Committee noted the response to its query re VAT in Northern Ireland Water and agreed to request further information on the future treatment of this issue.
The Committee noted the Consumer Council document ‘Fettering Issues re Energy (NI) Order 2003 and the Water & Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006’
The Committee noted the revised version of the Research & Library Services paper comparing the Consumer Council’s powers under the Energy 2003 Order with the 2006 Water & Sewerage Order.
The Committee noted the DALO response which outlines the remit, responsibilities and powers of the Department in relation to the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan and decided to write to the Committee of the Environment, bringing the matter to that Committee’s attention and seeking further information on the issue from the Department of the Environment.
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Briefing from Department of the Environment Officials on Control of Development in Airport Public Safety Zones.
DOE officials John Linden and David Cheddy joined the meeting at 11.24 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from DOE officials on the Control of Development in Airport Public Safety Zones.
John Linden and David Cheddy left the meeting at 11.48 a.m.
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Briefing from Northern Ireland Water on the Interim Performance Report.
Northern Ireland Water executives Katharine Bryan, Ronan Larkin, George Butler and William Duddy joined the meeting at 11.57 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from Northern Ireland Water executives on the Northern Ireland Water Interim Performance Report.
John Dallat left the meeting at 12.38 p.m.
Katharine Bryan, Ronan Larkin, George Butler and William Duddy left the meeting at 12.48 p.m.
The Committee agreed to accept the invitation by Northern Ireland Water executives to visit Northern Ireland Water’s Customer Contact Centre.
Brian Wilson left the meeting at 12.49 p.m.
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Subordinate Legislation
Members were content with the following SL1s noted at the meeting of 23 January 2008:
- The Street Works (Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Charlestown Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.51pm.
Members noted receipt of the eighth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees , published on 18 January 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:
Question put and agreed :
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2007/504 The Devonshire Way and Albert Street, Belfast (Footpaths) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Stephen Moutray and George Robinson.
There were no Members against.
Question put and agreed :
“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/001 The Moneymore Road, Cookstown (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and has no objection to the rule.”
All those in favour – Cathal Boylan, Willie Clarke, Fred Cobain, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Stephen Moutray and George Robinson.
There were no Members against.
Members were content that the Clerk should notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules.
Jim Wells rejoined the meeting at 12.53pm.
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Correspondence
Members noted receipt of the following items of correspondence:
- Memo dated 21 November 2007 from Stella McArdle, Clerk, Committee on Procedures informing the Committee of the inquiry into private legislation, and attached letter to Alan Doherty. Members agreedto forward the attached letter to the Department and to seek briefing from the Department on this issue.
- Email dated 22 January 2008 from Greenbox inviting members to its second conference to discuss ecotourism.
- Letter dated 23 January 2008 from Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA regarding the timescale for implementing the concessionary fares scheme for those aged 60-64.
- Letter dated 25 January 2008 from DALO Alan Doherty responding to the CBI submissions on the draft budget, PFG and ISNI.
- Email dated 25 January 2008 inviting members to attend the launch of The Sector Skills Agreement for Passenger Transport.
- Letter dated 28 January 2008 from Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy MP, MLA outlining the status of the A6 Derry to Dungiven dual carriageway project.
- Members will wish to note the attached conference entitled ‘3rd Annual All Island Infrastructure’ taking place on 6th -7th February 2008. Members agreed to purchase the delegate pack.
Members noted receipt of the following press releases:
- Press release received on 25 January 2008 from Northern Ireland Water regarding the loss of water supply in Omagh, Co Tyrone on Thursday 24 January 2008.
- Press release dated 28 January 2008 from Northern Ireland Water commenting on the publication of the IWRP Strand Two Report.
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Date, venue and time of next meeting.
The next meeting will be in Room 144, Parliament Buildings, at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 6 February 2008.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.55 p.m.
