Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 23 February 2012
Venue: Lylehill Suite, Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick
The meeting began in public session at 10:06am.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 16 February 2011 were agreed with an amendment at item 4.
3. Chairpersons Business
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Gregory Campbell to the Committee.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a note of a meeting held with Waste to Energy.
Agreed: That contact details for the three Waste Management Groups are forwarded to Ms. Campion.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a note of a meeting held with the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs.
Agreed: That an invitation is sent to representatives of the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs asking them to attend a future meeting to brief the Committee.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department requesting an update on National Parks.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a note of a meeting held with Value Cabs and fonaCab.
Agreed: That a note of the meeting is forwarded to the Public Hire Coalition.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking how it intends to deal with the tax issue if it adopts the concept of a maximum fare as outlined in the consultation document.
4. Matters Arising
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on Road Safety Strategy action measures.
Agreed: That the query in relation to action measure 8 is forwarded to the Committee for Regional Development.
Agreed: That the query in relation to action measure 137 is forwarded to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on a Code of Practice for Fishing Static Gear in Strangford Lough.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking to be kept informed of the outcome of the recent meeting with EU Officials and expressing the Committee’s concern at the lack of evidence to prove that pot fishing harms modiolus. Also agreed to ask if any research has been conducted on the impact of removing certain species from the Lough through pot fishing.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Modiolus in Welsh waters.
Members noted a Departmental reply to Belfast Hills Partnership on the culverting of urban river valleys.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial letter in relation to Voluntary Transition Committees.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department expressing the Committee’s disappointment at the lack of enthusiasm in the letter and asking for a timescale for the local government reform process. Also agreed to ask how the Department intends to use the work of the previous policy development panels and Transition Committees and to stress the need to reduce the risk of lack of political representation on the Committees.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial letter in relation to the Carbon Reduction Commitment Efficiency Scheme.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking officials to brief the Committee on this issue at a future meeting.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Ministerial reply to Committee queries on Taxi and Bus Operators Licensing.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department highlighting the urgency in addressing bus operator licensing.
Members noted a copy of Mr. Campbell’s declaration of interests.
Members welcomed a Departmental reply on the possibility of a Climate Change Bill for Northern Ireland.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Law Society reply on the cost of car insurance in Northern Ireland and a Departmental reply on continuous insurance enforcement.
Agreed: That a copy of both replies is forwarded for information to the Committees for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Justice in advance of an Ad Hoc Committee being established to consider this issue.
Agreed: That a future Ad Hoc Committee looking at this issue considers engaging with local insurance brokers as well as UK umbrella bodies for the insurance industry.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the draft OFMDFM European priorities paper.
Agreed: That a copy of the Departmental reply is forwarded to the OFMDFM Committee.
Members noted a summary of the Climate Change in Northern Ireland Conference.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a PSNI reply to Committee queries on hoax calls.
Agreed: That a copy of the reply is forwarded to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Justice Committee encouraging a closer partnership on this issue.
Members welcomed a draft code of practice on litter and draft guidance on fixed penalty notices.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department highlighting the need for Transition Committees to be involved in looking at guidance documents to avoid different council approaches resulting in future discrepancies within amalgamated councils.
5. Draft Inquiry report into used tyre disposal
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a copy of the draft Committee report and an annex dealing with key sectoral issues.
Agreed: That this report is re-tabled at the meeting on 1 March 2012 for discussion.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to queries from Belfast City Council on the illegal disposal of tyres.
Agreed: That this reply is included in the draft Committee report.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on why there is no target for tyre recycling in the Waste Management Strategy 2006-2020.
Agreed: That this reply is included in the draft Committee report.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking which type of tyres the landfill ban does not apply to and how tyre components, like inner tubes, are dealt with and also informing them the Committee would like to see recycling targets for waste tyres included in the Waste Management Strategy 2006-2020 .
6. Proposals for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – The Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Agreed: That this paper is re-tabled at the meeting on 8 March 2012.
7. Statutory Rules
Draft SR – The High Hedges (Fee Transfer) Regulations (NI) 2012.
Agreed: Members content to recommend that the Rule is affirmed by the Assembly.
SR 2012/25 – Spring Traps Approval Order (NI) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/25 – Spring Traps Approval Order (NI) 2012 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2012/33 – The High Hedges (Fee) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/33 – The High Hedges (Fee) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/34 - The Controls on Dogs (Non-application to Designated Land) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/34 - The Controls on Dogs (Non-application to Designated Land) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/35 – The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/35 – The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/36 – The Statutory Nuisances (Insects) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/36 – The Statutory Nuisances (Insects) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/37 – The Statutory Nuisances (Artificial Lighting) (Designation of Relevant Sports) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/37 – The Statutory Nuisances (Artificial Lighting) (Designation of Relevant Sports) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/38 – Street Litter Control Notices (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/38 – Street Litter Control Notices (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
SR 2012/39 – The Dog Control Orders (Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2012/39 – The Dog Control Orders (Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to these rules subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
8. Correspondence
Invitation to the Committee Chairperson to attend a meeting organised by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.
Agreed: That the Chairperson attends the meeting.
Departmental response to queries forwarded by the Committee on behalf of Judith Cochrane MLA regarding proposed EU Regulation Type Approval and Market Surveillance of 2 & 3 wheeled vehicles.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is forwarded to Judith Cochrane MLA.
Member’s noted the following correspondence:
Copy of the Committee for Finance and Personnel quarterly report on outstanding Post Project Evaluations
Letter of thank you from the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, and Culture of the Oireachtas.
Copy of DOE Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Strategy Report.
9. Any other business
A Member raised the issue of the Rose Energy planning application.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking when a decision will be announced on this planning application.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 8 March 2012 at 10:00am in the
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:10am.
