Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 5th March 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Willie Clarke MLA 
John Dallat MLA 
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA 
Raymond McCartney 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: 
Cathal Boylan MLA 
Stephen Moutray MLA

The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in open session.

The meeting opened at 10.40am in open session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies were received from Cathal Boylan and Stephen Moutray.

2. Draft Minutes of the meetings of 25 & 27 February 2008.

The minutes of the meetings held on 25 & 27 February 2008 were agreed.

3. Matters Arising.

Members decided that the Committee response to the Varney Review of the Competitiveness of Northern Ireland be published on the Assembly website.

Members noted a response from the Department on the A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue Dual Carriageway Scheme and decided to write to the Minister for Regional Development about the Road Scheme.

Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.45am.

Members noted a response from the Department on the treatment of Northern Ireland Water’s input VAT for 2007/2008 and agreed to write to the Department requesting further information on the basis of the VAT agreements and requesting that officials brief the Committee on this matter.

Members noted a response from the Department on the forthcoming review of the Parking Enforcement contract between the Department and NCP Services Ltd and decided to accept the Department’s offer to brief the Committee.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 11am.

Members noted a letter from the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy advising the Committee on progress in relation to the Ports Policy Review and agreed to write to the Minister requesting:

• that the Committee be kept informed on progress on ONS and HM Treasury views on classification;
• that the Committee be kept informed and consulted on the development of the Code of Practice; and
• that officials provide oral and written briefing for the Committee on progress and provide a detailed timetable to enable the Committee to plan its scrutiny of this subject.

Members noted a letter from the Department outlining further information in relation to potential underspend on roads capital programme and End of Year Flexibility and agreed to write to the Department requesting further clarification on the technical standard that needs to be set by the Department of the Environment in order to introduce the necessary legislation for new equipment on school buses.

Members noted supplementary information from DETI on the DRD Action Points in the Draft Regional Innovation Strategy Action Plan and agreed to request more detailed briefing from the Department on the timescale for and arrangements to deliver on the identified actions.

Members noted a short paper on leakage figures prepared by the Committee office and that a breakdown of leakage by zones had been requested from Northern Ireland Water. Members agreed to return to this issue and to write to the Northern Ireland Audit Office when the information requested had been received.

Members noted responses from the Department for Regional Development and Department of Finance and Personnel to the Committee’s request for clarification on the reduced subsidy requirement allocated to Northern Ireland Water in the final budget 2008-2011 and agreed to return to this issue after the Committee has heard evidence in public on the reapportionment of costs.

4. Affordability in the Strand Two Water Report.

Dr. Robert Barry of the Assembly Research and Library Service joined the meeting at 11.07am.

Members noted that this item of business had been carried forward from the meeting of 27 February 2008.

Dr. Barry briefed the Committee on a research paper he had prepared at the Committee’s request on the affordability tariff and water poverty.

Members agreed to forward Dr. Barry’s paper to the Department, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Professor Paddy Hillyard, QUB, Advice NI, Anti-Poverty Network, Age Concern and Help the Aged for comment. Members also agreed to return to this paper when formulating the Committee response to the public consultation on water and sewerage.

Dr Barry left the meeting 11.41am.

5. Speed Management Policy – Way Forward.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.50am.

Members received briefing from the Researcher on the Speed Management research paper and noted the responses from Stakeholders on the draft Speed Management Policy. Members also agreed that a draft response would be considered at the first Committee meeting after the Easter recess.

6. Review of the Regional Development Strategy: Committee consideration.

Ian Raphael joined the meeting at 12.15pm.

Members considered a draft response to the Department on the five- and 10- year Reviews of the Regional Development Strategy. Ian Raphael answered the Committee’s questions. The Committee agreed that a revised response, reflecting the Committee’s revisions, would be considered at the next Committee meeting.

Ian Raphael left the meeting at 12.30pm.

7. Subordinate Legislation.

Members noted the following new SL1s received:

• The Ballybollen Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Meadowview, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Cairncastle  Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Garron Tower Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
• The One Way Traffic (Spa, Ballynahinch) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Craigantlet Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Cookstown 100) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Spelga Pass Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Benbradagh Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races ( North West 200) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races (Eagle Rock Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Road Races ( North West Supermoto) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted additional information that had been received from the Department on the following SL1s which were noted at the Committee meeting on 13 February 2008.

• The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Temple Road (U1118) Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Kernan Grove and Central Walk, Craigavon (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• M2 / A6 ( Ballee Road East) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland International Rally) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Uel Wilson and Roy Sherman joined the meeting at 12.34pm to discuss aspects of these SL1s.

Members indicated that they were content with the above SL1s.

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

• 2008/61 The Traffic Weight Restriction Orders (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• 2008/62 The Waiting Restrictions (Limavady) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• 2008/64 The One-Way Traffic (Limavady) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• 2008/66 The Parking Places and Loading Bays on Roads (Kilkeel) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
• 2008/71 The Parking Paces and Loading Bays on Roads (Limavady) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• 2008/74 The Off-Street Parking (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted the following Statutory Rules subject to negative resolution. The Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the statutory period.

• 2008/72 The Kirk Road, Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Members noted receipt of The Tenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees , published on 19 February 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 2008/40 The Street Works (Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and has no objection to the rule .”

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

All those against: None

Members noted receipt of The Eleventh Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees , published on 3 March 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 2008/44 The Eastburn Avenue , Ballymoney Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 ; and has no objection to the rule .”

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

All those against: None

Members were content that the Clerk should notify the Business Office on the decisions reached by the Committee in considering these Statutory Rules.

8. Correspondence.

The Committee noted receipt of the following items of correspondence:

• Letter dated 25 February 2008 forwarding correspondence from Fiona McKinley, Park Road and District Residents Association regarding air quality, noise and expansion of George Best Belfast City Airport. Members decided to send this letter to the Committee for the Environment and the Department for Regional Development for comment. 
• Letter dated 27 February 2008 from the Committee for the Environment forwarding a letter from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) which the Environment Committee considered at its meeting on 21 February 2008. Members decided to write to the Department for Regional Development requesting an update on the situation at Balinacorr Sewage Works. 
• Memo dated 3 March 2008 from Damien Martin, Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMdFM) requesting a letter be forwarded to the Regional Development Minister regarding child poverty. Members agreed to forward this letter to the Minister for Regional Development. 
• Letter from the Participation Network enclosing promotional leaflets providing information and services on promoting the views of children and young people in the decision making process.  
• Letter dated 29 February 2008 from Shane McAteer, Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel inviting Committees to attend an awareness session on Public Procurement.  
• Letter dated 3 March 2008 from the Regional Development Minster Conor Murphy MP, MLA advising the Committee of his plans to appoint 2 non-executive directors to vacant positions on the Board of Northern Ireland Water. Members agreed to write to the Minister about these appointments.  
• Email from Capita Conferences inviting Members to attend their conference on Northern Ireland Governance.  
• Memo from Lucia Wilson, Clerk to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (ETI) enclosing the Consumer Council’s forward work programme.
• Email dated 18 February 2008 from Kieran Ruddy, Chairman of Pomeroy Development Projects requesting the Committee’s support for an application for planning permission for a social economy project in Pomeroy. Members agreed to issue a response to the Group highlighting that the issue is a planning matter and as such falls within the remit of the Environment Committee  

9. Any Other Business.

The Committee agreed a forward work programme and that the programme be published on the website.

The Committee noted that a Committee meeting would be held in open session on Wednesday 12 March 2008 to discuss the proposed reapportionment of costs from non-domestic to domestic customers of Northern Ireland Water.

The Committee noted that the proposed visit to the City of Derry airport on Wednesday 12 March 2008 would be rescheduled for after the Easter recess.

10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 12 March 2008 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.50pm.

Signed:
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development