Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.20am.

1.         Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

2.         Draft Minutes of Meetings held on 29 March 2012

The Committee agreed the minutes of 29 March 2012.

3.         Matters Arising       

The Committee noted two letters from the Department regarding the forthcoming consultation on salmon conservation.  

Agreed: The Committee agreed: to forward a copy of the Minister’s letter regarding cultural tourism onto National Museums Northern Ireland; and to request an oral briefing from National Museums Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s letter regarding cultural tourism onto both the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and National Museums Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted the Minister of Finance and Personnel’s letter regarding the reduction in National Museums Northern Ireland’s and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland’s budget.

Mr David Hilditch joined the meeting at 10.25am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed: to write to Belfast City Council to seek an update on its deliberations to provide funding to the Lagan Canal Gateway project; and to inform Lagan Canal Restoration Trust of the Committee’s actions.

Agreed: The Committee agreed its response to the Department of Justice’s draft Community Safety Strategy.

4.         Committee Inquiry into Maximizing the Potential of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from a film and music practitioner and also from the Association of Film and Television NI.

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Workers’ Educational Association.

5.         Briefing from Kabosh Theatre Company regarding the Committee Inquiry into Maximizing the Potential of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland 

The following official joined the meeting at 10.27am:

Artistic Director, Ms Paula McFetridge.

The official briefed the Committee.

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín left the meeting at 10.29am.

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín rejoined the meeting at 10.31am.

Mrs Karen McKevitt joined the meeting at 10.35am.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 11.06am.

Mr David Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 11.08am.

The official left the meeting at 11.15am.

6.         Briefing from Oh Yeah Music Centre regarding the Committee Inquiry into Maximizing the Potential of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland

The following officials joined the meeting at 11.16am:

Chair of Oh Yeah Music Centre, Mr John Darcy;

CEO of Oh Yeah Music Centre, Mr Stuart Bailie;

Musician, Ms Shauna Tohill; and

Label Manager of Small Town America Records, Ms Charlene Hegarty.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

Mrs Karen McKevitt left the meeting at 11.55am.

Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 12.02pm.

Agreed: It was agreed that: officials from Oh Yeah Music Centre would provide the Committee with case studies; and that it would host a visit from the Committee. 

The officials left the meeting at 12.12pm.

7.         DCAL Briefing on the Donation of Culturally Valuable Objects in Lieu of Tax – Finance Bill 2012: Legislative Consent Motion 

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister in relation to the Legislative Consent Motion.

The following officials joined the meeting at 12.13pm:

DCAL Official, Libraries and Museums Branch, Mr David Polley; and

DCAL Official, Libraries and Museums Branch, Ms Catherine Martin.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr David Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12.24pm.

The officials left the meeting at 12.27pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Minister could proceed with the next stage of the Legislative Consent Motion process.

Ms Michelle McIlveen left the meeting at 12.28pm. Mr William Irwin (Deputy Chairperson) took the Chair.

Mr Michael McGimpsey left the meeting at 12.28pm.

8.         Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee considered the Minister’s correspondence regarding the delivery of the regional stadiums project. It agreed to bring forward the scheduled briefing on regional stadiums to 10 May 2012.  

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding appointments to the Board of Trustees of National Museums.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister: to ascertain the source of the additional funding for both 2013 World Police and Fire Games Ltd and UK City of Culture 2013; and for details on the revised Business Case for UK City of Culture 2013. 

The Committee noted correspondence from the 2013 World Police and Fire Games Ltd.

The Committee noted correspondence from OFCOM regarding the publication of its Annual Plan 2012/13.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to NI Screen, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for the rationale of the decision to cut Northern Vision’s core funding.

The Committee noted Libraries NI’s Disposal and Retention Schedule. 

9.         Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted all invites received.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the organisers’ of the NICS Live event regarding the day that the event will be held.

10.       Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed the changes to the Forward Work Programme.

11.       Any other business

There was no other business.

12.       Date and Time of Next Meeting           

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will take place on Thursday 26 April 2012 at 10.00am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.37pm.

Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
26 April 2012