Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 11 MAY 2010,
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Jonathan Bell
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross 
Mr Peter Weir

In Attendance: Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk) 
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Mr Edward Cooke

Apologies: Mr Brian Wilson

The meeting began in public session at 12.46a.m.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Briefing by NIPSA on the proposals for the redeployment of Planning Service Staff

Mr Bell declared an interest as a former member of NIPSA.

Representatives from NIPSA briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposals for the redeployment of Planning Service Staff.

The main areas of discussion were recovery costs, application fees, planning reform order, funding priorities and impact on economy.

Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 13.21pm
Mr McCrea joined the meeting at 13.45pm
Mr Ross left the meeting at 13.48pm

3. Departmental briefing on the proposals for the redeployment of Planning Service Staff

Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the proposals for the redeployment of Planning Service Staff.

The main areas of discussion were shortfall in applications, cuts across the department and fees.

Mr McKay left the meeting at 14.52pm 
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 14.52pm

Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking that as soon as information is available on mechanisms that will allow staff to transfer back to planning functions even after they have been moved to local authorities to forward it to the Committee.

Agreed: That the Committee should discuss this issue further at its next meeting.

4. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20 May 2010 at 10.00a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 15.02p.m.

Cathal Boylan
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment
20 May 2010