Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY 24 APRIL 2008,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir

In Attendance: Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk) 
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Chris Corr (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke

The meeting commenced in public session at 10.37 a.m.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above

1. Minutes

Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 17 April were agreed.

1. Matters Arising

Proposed Committee visit to Armagh:

The Chairperson informed the Committee that the venues available for the proposed Committee visit to Armagh on 5 June were the Armagh Planetarium and the Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre.

Agreed: That Committee staff book the Armagh Planetarium for the visit.

Chairperson’s meeting with Federation of Master Builders:

The Chairperson updated members on a meeting he held with the Federation of Master Builders.

Overlap of Committee Business:

The Chairperson informed members that the Chair of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee had written asking for a meeting with the Chair and Deputy Chair to discuss multiple mandates.

Agreed: That a meeting is arranged between both Committee Chairs and Deputy Chairs.

4. Briefing by Road Haulage Association on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill

Representatives from the Road Haulage Association briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.

Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.04a.m.

The main areas of discussion were the implications of the bill on road safety, the impact on small operators, Northern Ireland hauliers being stopped by enforcement officials in GB and the lack of legislation and co-ordination in the Republic of Ireland.

5. Departmental briefing on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill

Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.

Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 11.17a.m.

Mr McGlone left the meeting at 11.20a.m and Mr Boylan assumed the Chair.

The main areas of discussion were the current level of enforcement in Northern Ireland, the impact on single operators, the possibility of equivalent legislation being introduced in the Republic of Ireland and the fees structure.

Mr McGlone returned to the meeting at 11.29 and resumed the Chair.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.32a.m.

Agreed: That the Department forward information in relation to the current enforcement team to the Committee.

Agreed: That the Department forward the answers to questions raised at the stakeholder briefings to the Committee.

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2008/138 – The Waste and Contaminated Land (1997 Order) (Commencement No. 8) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Agreed: That consideration of this statutory rule is deferred to the meeting on 1 May.

Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 11.54a.m.

7. Correspondence
1. Members noted an invitation from The Environmental Industries Commission to the Brownfield Expo Conference to be held at the NEC Birmingham, Wednesday 12 May.
2. Members noted a letter from Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland outlining their business plan for the coming year.
3. Letter from Firmus energy requesting the opportunity to brief the Committee on the expansion of Northern Ireland’s gas network.

Agreed: That Firmus Energy are invited to a future Committee meeting.

7. Members noted the Planning and Environmental Policy Group’s report on Addendum to PPS 7: Residential Extensions and Alterations.
8. Members noted a letter from the Ulster Wildlife Trust expressing thanks for inclusion in the Committee’s recent visit to the Lough Fea Grouse Conservation trust.
9. Letter from the Ulster Wildlife Trust outlining the Trust’s interests and areas of particular expertise in relation to the Committee’s remit and request that the Committee forward the contact details of the Lough Fea Grouse Conservation Trust to the UWT.

Agreed: That contact details for the Lough Fea Grouse Conservation Trust are forwarded to the Ulster Wildlife Trust.

7. Letter from Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland notifying Members of launch of Biodiversity Geodiversity Strategy – "Our nature with Aggregates"
8. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning application F/2001/0007/F
9. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning application Z/1996/2070/F
10. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning application R/1996/0677/O
11. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning application J/1994/0386/F.
12. Members noted a letter from the Department to Chairperson expressing thanks for recent briefing on the role and remit of the Committee.

Mr Gallagher rejoined the meeting at 11.59a.m.

7. Members discussed a letter from the Department to Committee response for clarification on a number of issues relating to PPS14 – Emerging Findings Paper.

Agreed: That a response is sent to the Department seeking further clarification on certain elements of the Departmental response.

7. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Refuse planning application Z/1997/2681/F
8. Members noted a letter from the Minister indicating intention to announce Notice of Opinion to Approve planning application T/2001/0517/F
9. Members noted a letter from the Department outlining intention to publish on their website a statement relating to a policy consultation on coexistence of GM and non-GM crops.
10. Request from the Clerk to the Committee for Social Development that the Committee forward to the Minister a copy of the attached letter outlining plans to transfer responsibility for the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme to local government.

Agreed: That a copy of this request is sent to the Department for comment.

7. Members noted a Departmental response to request for further information on illegal dumping.
8. Members noted a Departmental response to request for further information on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
9. Email from Mr. Ciaran Tolan regarding difficulties faced by unrelated and unmarried home co-owners.

Agreed: That, if Mr Tolan replies to the Chairperson with his home address, a copy of this correspondence is passed to the Department for comment.

7. Members noted a letter from the Business office indicating that the document ‘Planning and Environmental Policy Group: Siting and Design of Radio Telecommunications Equipment’ is now available.
8. Letter from the Ulster Wildlife Trust inviting the Committee to visit the launch of the Northern Ireland Marine Protected Areas Project Report on May 1^st and Strangford Lough on September 4^th or 5^th.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Ulster Wildlife Trust advising that the Committee will visit Strangford Lough on September 4.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Ulster Wildlife Trust advising that Committee members are unable to attend the launch of the report on May 1.

Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 12.36p.m.

7. Reply from Ms. Fiona McKinley of the Park Road and District Residents Association to Departmental letter regarding further development at the George Best Belfast City Airport. Ms. McKinley has indicated that representatives of the association will be available for interview if requested.

Agreed: That a meeting is arranged with the Chairperson of the Committee.

7. Members noted an invitation from the Consumer Council and CCEA to attend the launch of ‘Eco- World’, to be held in W5 at the Odyssey arena, Tuesday 29 April.

Agreed: That a letter is sent advising that Committee members are unable to attend this event.

7. Freedom of Information request from Sinead Grimes, of Belfast City Council, for briefing documents presented to the Committee on April 10 by Departmental officials on the subject of planning reform.

Agreed: That this request is passed to the Freedom of Information Unit to release the information.

7. Letter and attached documents from the Minister requesting that Departmental officials be given the opportunity to brief Members on the progress of carbon reduction commitments on May 15.

Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee at the meeting on May 15.

Publications/Conferences/Press Releases:

7. Members noted the following DOE News releases –

"Foster praises efficient work of the planning service"

"Delivery drivers and passengers to belt up"

"Stewartstown man fined £3,000 for waste offences"

"Foster unveils new research findings on our natural environment"

"Tandragee Company fined £2,500 for pollution offence"

"Armagh Company fined £1,000 for pollution discharge"

"Cookstown quarry fined £1,000 for pollution discharge"

"Londonderry developer fined £2,000 for sewage pollution"

8. Any other business

The Clerk updated members on revised Hansard procedures for Committee meetings.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held, subject to quorum, on Thursday, 1 May 2008 at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.47p.m.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
24 April 2008