Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 06 SEPTEMBER 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea

In Attendance: 
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk) 
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Daithí McKay
Mr Peter Weir

The meeting opened at 10.36am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes

Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
Agreed – Clerk to check with Department re response to Dermaflaw enquiry.

3. Matters arising

The Chairperson advised Members that he had met with Departmental officials for an update on the review of RPA. He also briefed Members on his meetings with Gillian Kane and Philip McDonagh (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) and Sharon Turner (co-author of the Environmental Governance Review Report).

4. Taxis Bill

The Chairperson briefed Members on their role in the Committee Stage of the Taxis Bill.

Agreed – The motion to extend Committee Stage until Friday 07 December 2007. 
Agreed – Late submission from National Association of Funeral Directors to be accepted. Request Department to clarify position re funeral cars.
Agreed – Committee to invite oral evidence from every individual/organisation who has provided a written response.

5. UK Climate Change Bill – Legislative consent motion

The Members considered the request from Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, dated 28 June 2007, to comment on various aspects of the UK Climate Change Bill. Members were also provided with a copy of the response from the Climate Change Coalition NI on the questions and a research paper on the Bill.

Agreed – Members agreed a response to the questions from the Minister.

6. Draft Addendum to Planning Policy Statement (PPS 7):

Residential Extensions and Alterations

Members were briefed by John Eltham and Valerie Hamilton, Departmental Officials on the Draft Addendum to PPS 7, Residential Extensions and Alterations. Mr Eltham and Ms Hamilton answered questions from the Members.

Agreed – The Committee to seek clarification on various aspects of the Draft Addendum.

7. Proposals for Secondary Legislation

SL1 – Proposed Draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (NI) 2007.

Agreed – The Committee for the Environment considered the proposed Draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objections to the proposal.

SL1 – The Draft Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007

Agreed – The Committee for the Environment considered The Draft Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objections to the proposal.

SL1 – Proposed fee increase by DVA in respect of Driving Licences

Agreed – The Committee for the Environment considered The Proposed fee increase by DVA in respect of Driving Licences and has no objections to the proposal.

Agreed – The Committee to seek clarification from the Department on concessions/reduced fees for applicants with disabilities who have to renew their licence every three years.

SL1 – Proposed legislation to amend the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 1994

Agreed – The Committee for the Environment considered The Proposed legislation to amend the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 1994 and has no objections to the proposal.

8. Correspondence

   Letter from Avril Swann outlining a grievance with NI Housing Executive regarding grants. Also attached is a copy of correspondence from the NI Ombudsman in relation to this matter.

   Agreed – Copy of correspondence to be forwarded to DSD Committee with Ms Swann being advised accordingly.

   Letter from DOE in response to previous correspondence from Lowlands Health and Energy Limited re: planning application for renewable energy site at Randalstown.

   Agreed – Copy of response from Department to be forwarded to Lowlands Health and Energy Limited.

   E-mail from Nigel Crothers outlining details of a course/project that he has written on various environmental issues.

   Agreed – Mr Crothers to be invited to Committee meeting at appropriate time.

   Letter from Craig Maxwell regarding industrial rates on manufacturing and copy of reply letter to Mr Maxwell from Lafarge Cement Ireland.

   Agreed – Copy of correspondence to be forwarded to DETI and DFP Committees with Mr Maxwell being advised accordingly.

   Letter from Firmus Energy regarding the availability of natural gas in NI and the potential for this to contribute to climate change objectives.

   Agreed – Firmus to be advised that Committee have considered and noted the contents of their letter.

   Department’s response to query re: the establishment of a Mourne National Park.

   Agreed – Copy of response to be forwarded to relevant organisations.

   Letter from Portstewart Community Vision re: the current housing situation in Portstewart and surrounding areas.

   Agreed – Copy of correspondence to be forwarded to DSD and DRD Committees with Mr Hamilton being updated accordingly.

   Departmental response to the Committees request for information on Teal Lough ASSI, and Strangford Marine Current Turbine.

   Agreed – Write to Department for clarification of response.

   Copy of response from Sue Wilson, Tara Seal Research Centre, to Dr Seymour, Environment & Heritage Service, and a review of the seal aspects of monitoring reports.

   Agreed – Committee to request a copy of EHS response to Ms Wilson.

   Email from Marshall Hay, SITA NI, requesting the opportunity to meet with the Committee to discuss and provide assistance on how local authorities and government can meet EU recycling targets.

   Agreed – Committee to advise Mr Hay that they have considered his request but that they are unable to meet with his organisation at present.

   Letter from Department re: draft Departmental Strategic Objectives

   Agreed – Committee to request a copy of the final draft.

   Letter from the Department informing the Committee of their involvement in the Programme for Government process.

   Agreed – Committee to request that future updates from Department are in a simpler format.

   Email from the Construction Employers Federation requesting a date and time to meet with the Committee.

   Agreed – CEF to be advised of suitable date.

   Copy of e-mail from Lee Burke to Arlene Foster, Minister, re diminishing CO2 emissions.

   Agreed – Committee to request a copy of the Department’s response to Mr Burke.

   E-mail from John Sedgwick re overdevelopment in Ballyrobert.

   Agreed – Copy of correspondence to be forwarded to DRD Committee with Mr Sedgwick being updated accordingly.

   Letter from the Department re: Development control Advice Note (DCAN) 14: Siting and Design of Radio Telecommunications Equipment. The attachments have been emailed to Members’ Assembly addresses, due to their size.

   Agreed – Committee to provide recommendations on the siting of Radio Telecommunications Equipment.

   Letter from Lady Sylvia Hermon MP outlining the concerns of a constituent regarding the impact the present planning system is having on tourism opportunities. Lady Hermon requests that the constituent, Mr Wilson, be invited to brief the Committee on his concerns.

   Agreed – Committee to ask Lady Sylvia Hermon to request a written submission from Mr Wilson prior to any decision being taken.

   Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 1.00pm.

   Letter from Greenore Residents and Tidy Towns Ltd re: proposed development at Greenore Port, County Louth.

   Agreed – Committee to seek clarification from OFMDFM on whether or not they have taken action over the concerns raised.

   Letter from Lady Sylvia Hermon re: lack of access for emergency vehicles in Prior’s Lea, Holywood, and response to Assembly written question regarding the issue by Regional Development minister Conor Murphy. Lady Hermon requests that the Committee visit the area to view firsthand the problems being experienced by residents.

   Agreed – Committee to refer correspondence to DRD and DSD Committees with Lady Sylvia Hermon being updated accordingly.

   Letter from Ciaran Cunningham, Programme Delivery Support Unit re: meeting with the Committee to discuss provision of waste treatment and disposal to ensure compliance with EU directives.

   Agreed – PDSU to be invited to Committee meeting at appropriate time.

   Letter from Northern Ireland Local Government Association, and SOLACE requesting an opportunity to address the Committee on the Review of Public Administration.

   Agreed – NILGA and SOLACE to be invited to Committee meeting at appropriate time.

   Email from Professor Sue Christie, Northern Ireland Environment Link, inviting the Committee to the launch of the Northern Ireland Archaeology Forum in Dungannon.

   Agreed – Ms Christie to be advised that Members have noted the invitation.

   Submission on the Taxis Bill by the National Association of Funeral Directors (received 03 September 2007).

   Agreed – Submission to be included for consideration of Taxis Bill.

   All other items of correspondence included for 06 September 2007 meeting were noted by the Members.

9. Any other business

The Chairperson advised Members that other work will need to be carefully prioritised for the next few months to allow for consideration of the Taxis Bill.

Agreed – The Chairperson and Clerk to prioritise the visits by organisations to future Committee meetings.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 September 2007 at 10.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.25 pm.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment.
06 September 2007