Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 22 March 2012
Venue: The Town Hall, Bangor
The meeting opened at 10.40am.
1. Welcome from the Chief Executive of North Down Borough Council, Mr Trevor Polley.
2. Apologies
The apologies are noted above.
3. Draft Minutes of Meetings held on 08 March 2012
The Committee agreed the minutes of 08 March 2012.
4. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the Minister’s response to the Committee’s queries regarding the review of budget allocations for 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to Mr Kelly the Minister’s letter regarding funding opportunities for strongman events.
The Committee noted correspondence from NI Screen enclosing media reports on tax breaks for high end drama.
Agreed: The Committee agreed: to send to the Minister the letters from the Arts Council and National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) outlining the impact a reduction in budget would have to the delivery of their frontline services; to write to the Minister to request her views in relation to cultural tourism; to write to both Arts Council and NMNI requesting a copy of their Savings Delivery Plans; to send to the Committee for Finance and Personnel the letters from Arts Council and NMNI; and to send to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment the letter from NMNI.
The Committee noted the tabled correspondence from the Minister about the Ulster Scots Academy Ministerial Advisory Group’s budget and spend, and the Academy’s draft MOU with the Ulster Scots Agency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from the Minister regarding the Laganside Events Grant Funding to the Cathedral Quarter Steering Group.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an oral briefing regarding the Minister’s media communications protocol with her Arm’s Length Bodies.
5. Committee Inquiry into Maximising the Potential of Creative Industries in Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the European Commission document Call for Proposals: European Creative Districts onto the following organisations: Arts Council, NI Screen, Digital Circle, Craft NI, Queens University of Belfast and the University of Ulster.
6. Briefing from Digital Circle regarding Committee Inquiry into Maximizing the Potential of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland
The following officials joined the meeting at 10.55am:
Collaborative Network Facilitator, Mr Matt Johnston;
Director of Learning Pool, Ms Mary McKenna; and
CEO of Momentum, Dr Ian Graham.
The officials briefed the Committee.
Mr William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.56am.
A question and answer session followed.
The officials left the meeting at 11.45am.
Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 11.45am.
6. Briefing from Queen’s University Belfast regarding Committee Inquiry into Maximizing the Potential of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland
The following officials joined the meeting at 11.48am:
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Planning, Staffing and External Relations, Prof. Tony Gallagher;
Head of School of Creative Arts, Prof. Michael Alcorn; and
Director of the Naughton Gallery, Ms Shan McAnena.
The officials briefed the Committee.
Mrs Karen McKevitt left the meeting at 11.53am.
Mr Dominic Bradley rejoined the meeting at 11.54am.
A question and answer session followed.
Mrs Karen McKevitt rejoined the meeting at 11.58am.
Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 12.06pm.
Mr David Hilditch returned to the meeting at 12.16pm.
Mrs Brenda Hale left the meeting at 12.22pm.
Mrs Brenda Hale returned to the meeting at 12.25pm.
The officials left the meeting at 12.31pm.
7. Written briefing from Pobal regarding the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities
Agreed: The Committee agreed: to forward the written briefing from Pobal onto the Department for comment; and for an update on the progress in respect of the Ulster Scots language.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the Minister’s statement on salmon conservation measures which she delivered to the Assembly on 12 March 2012.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Chair of Sport NI regarding information previously provided by Sport NI in respect of its capital budget.
Agreed: The Committee agreed: to forward correspondence regarding the Marine Bill from the Committee for the Environment onto the Department; and to request a briefing from officials regarding DCAL’s interest in the Marine Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence regarding the Marine Bill from the Committee for the Environment onto Sport NI.
The Committee noted correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the abolition of DEL and the transfer of functions.
The Committee noted correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee enclosing a list of stakeholders that the Committee for Employment and Learning is consulting with regarding the abolition of DEL and the transfer of functions.
The Committee noted the research paper forwarded by the Committee for Finance and Personnel on linking budgets to outcomes: international experience.
The Committee noted the correspondence from Ofcom regarding local TV licences.
The Committee noted DCAL’s Investing Activity Report.
9. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted that the Stakeholder Discussion Forum on archaeological archives was held on 12 March 2012, and that a report would be provided to the Committee over the next few weeks.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted changes to the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed: that an informal meeting would be arranged with the Ulster Provincial Boxing Council; and that a briefing with another boxing Council would be scheduled onto the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to start the meetings of 19 and 26 April 2012 at 10am.
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 29 March 2012 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.37pm.
