Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 29 MAY 2008,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Trevor Clarke
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 Iain Elliott (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:

The meeting commenced in public session at 10.08 a.m.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes

Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 22 May were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

The Chairperson informed members that a draft motion to extend time on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill was in members’ meeting papers for consideration.

Agreed: That the motion is lodged with the Business Office.

4. Briefing by Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU)on the Rose Energy project

Representatives from The Ulster Farmers’ Union briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on a proposal to construct an incinerator plant on the banks of Lough Neagh. The UFU emphasised that they had no specific views on the siting of the pant as this was a commercial decision.

The main areas of discussion were the type of plant being proposed, the amount of jobs under threat if the proposal wasn’t allowed and the type of activities other European countries are carrying out to meet EU directives.

Agreed: That the Committee visits one of the power plants currently in operation in England/Scotland.
Agreed: That letters are sent to DARD and DETI asking for their views on the Rose Energy proposal.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Planning Service asking how they approach projects of this size, nature and sensitivity.

Mr Clarke joined the meeting at 10.43a.m. 
Mr Ford joined the meeting at 10.44a.m.

5. Briefing by Airtricity on Supplementary Planning Guidance to PPS18 on Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s landscapes

Representatives from Airtricity briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Supplementary Planning Guidance to PPS18 and wind energy development.

The main areas of discussion were grid capacity, visual impact, the possibility of using a twin track approach to planning and the number of applications currently in the planning system.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing concerns at the slowness of EHS in responding to consultations.
Agreed: That a briefing from Departmental Planning Service officials on SPG is requested for 12 June meeting.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for more time to respond to the SPG consultation.

6. Departmental briefing on Budget Monitoring

Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on budget monitoring.

The main areas of discussion were the amount of money set aside for planning reform and the completion of the EPIC planning system.

7. Committee’s initial consideration of responses to the Road Safety Consultation

The Committee deliberated on the responses to their Road Safety consultation.

Agreed: That a more in depth deliberation of the responses is deferred to the meeting on 26 June.

8. Statutory Rules

SR 2008/196 – The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.

Question put and agreed:

That the Committee for the Environment has consideredThe Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

9. Correspondence

1. Members noted a letter from DOE in response to request made by Environment Committee for information on current level of engagement between the DoE and the Participation Network NI.
2. Letter from DOE in response to request made by Environment Committee for information regarding the McAnultys Yellow Line Coach Hire Complaint (A copy the original correspondence to the Chairperson has also been included for member’s information). 
   Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for a reply on the specifics of the complaint in terms of phone calls not being returned and letters not being replied to.
3. Letter from DOE in response to request made by Environment Committee for more information on the regulations which govern display of MOT Discs. 
   Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking if there is a central database and, if so, do enforcement officers have access to this database at the roadside.
4. Members noted an e-mail from DOE in reference to joint meeting with Minister Foster regarding multiple mandates.
5. Members noted a letter from the DOE regarding ‘EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval – UK Consultation’.
6. Letter Regarding ‘Diversity Works – A research study exploring the relationship between multiple identity and employability’. 
   Agreed: That a copy of this letter is sent to the Minister for information.
7. Letter from DOE regarding a request for a copy of the DoE response to a letter dated 14 th April 2008 from the Killinchy Rural Preservation Group to the Minister of the Environment. 
   Agreed: That a copy of the letter is sent to KRPG for information.
8. Members noted an invitation to attend the ‘Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance’ on the 19 th - 22 nd of October 2008 at the Dusit Hotel, Makati, in the Philippines.
9. Response from the Department to request for further information on the amount of people currently working on planning policy statements at any one time. 
   Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for details of the numbers of staff actively working on present planning policies and if the Department has a forward plan for all the planning policy statements.
10. Copy of e-mail to Chairperson on the issue of American Stretched Limousines. 
    Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister asking for an update on correspondence with the author of this e-mail.
11. Letter from DOE formally inviting the Committee to visit the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). 
    Agreed: That a visit is arranged during recess.
12. Members noted an invitation for a representative of the Committee to attend ‘Moving to an Ecological Economy. True Valuing of Biodiversity’ on the 3 rd June, 2008 in London

Member noted the following DOE Press Releases:

1. Minister Announces £3.9 Million in funding for listed Buildings
2. Stormont ‘Rocks’ again as Minster Launches Geodiversity and Biodiversity Strategy

10. Any Other Business

The Chairperson advised members of a recent Coleraine Council meeting in relation to a proposed landfill site.

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking for an update on this issue.

The Chairperson advised members that the Minister had made a statement in plenary on the creation of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee on the creation of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency at the meeting on 3 July.

Mr Boylan advised members that a residents group were interested in speaking to the Committee regarding the proposed North-South Interconnector at the meeting in Armagh on 19 June.

Agreed: That the residents group is invited to the meeting on 19 June.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 June 2008 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.50p.m.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
5 June 2008