Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 22 February 2012
Venue: Room 30
The meeting opened at 10.05am in public session
1. Apologies.
Apologies are noted above.
Agreed: that Agenda items 4 and 5 are recorded by Hansard and the Official Report published on the Assembly website.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 15 February 2012
Agreed: that the minutes are published on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Table of Requests for Information from DFP
The Committee noted the table of requests for information from DFP which provided an update on any matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Revisions to the NI Civil Service Handbook – Disciplinary Procedures for Senior Officials
Agreed: to defer discussion on this issue until the Committee meeting on 29 February, when the Deputy Chair will be available to take the chair, in line with the previous approach taken on this matter.
4. EU Structural Funds – Evidence Session with DFP Officials
Members took evidence from the following DFP officials: Martin Tyrrell, Head of North South Policy and Programmes Unit, European Division; and Maura Young, Head of EU Structural Funds Policy and Finance Branch, European Division. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 10.14am
Mr Humphrey returned to the meeting at 10.18am
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 10.19am
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 10.36am
Agreed: that the DFP officials would provide follow up information as requested during the session.
5. EU Structural Funds – Evidence Session with Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
Members took evidence from the following witnesses: Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, SEUPB; and Shaun Henry, Director, Managing Authority, SEUPB. The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
Agreed: that the SEUPB officials would provide follow up information as requested during the session.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11.15am
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 11.45am
Mr Humphrey returned to the meeting at 11.46am
A decision on how the Committee would proceed on this matter was deferred until the meeting became fully quorate.
6. Outcome of Consultation on Building Regulations– DFP Briefing
The Committee received a briefing from the following DFP officials: Seamus McCrystal, Head of Building Standards, Building Standards Branch, Properties Division; Hilda Hagan, Building Regulations and Energy, Building Standards Branch, Properties Division and Gerald Coulter, Building Standards Branch, Properties Division.
Mr Cree declared an interest as a past Chairman of South Eastern Group Building Control.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.51am
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 11.51am
Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting at 11.54am
7. EU Structural Funds
Agreed: that the secretariat will examine the Official Report of the evidence sessions with both DFP officials and SEUPB, and bring forward a draft paper outlining key issues for consideration by members at next week’s meeting.
8. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered the following proposal for subordinate legislation:
SL1 - The draft Rates (Deferment) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (NI) 2012
Agreed: That the Committee has considered DFP’s proposal for subordinate legislation under the draft Rates (Deferment) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
9. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
- DFP: Aggregate pay data;
Agreed: to request the available aggregate pay data for the NICS, including for previous years.
- DFP: “C” series funding;
- DFP: Response regarding Green New Deal; and Committee for Social Development: Green New Deal;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence from DFP to the Committee for Social Development and to the Green New Deal Group.
Mr Girvan left the meeting at 12.05pm
- Committee for Regional Development: Inquiry into Un-adopted Roads in Northern Ireland;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP as requested.
- Correspondence from Martina Anderson MLA regarding NICS personnel issues;
Agreed: to request that DFP responds to Committee on the generic issues raised; and that DFP also responds directly to Ms Anderson in respect of the case-specific issues.
Mr Girvan returned to the meeting at 12.06pm.
- Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (COFMDFM): Equal Pay issues;
Agreed: to forward the correspondence to DFP; and to notify the COFMDFM that non-confidential correspondence relating to this issue is published on the Committee’s website.
- Response from Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding Access to Justice Review.
- Correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding Departmental Saving Plans.
- DFP: Forecast Outturn Data.
- COFMDFM: Investing Activity Report.
- DFP: Review of budget allocations;
Agreed: to copy the correspondence to relevant committees for information.
- DFP: Shared Services;
Agreed: to copy to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for information.
10. Committee Work Programme
Members considered a draft of the Committee Work Programme.
DFP: Forthcoming Legislation
Members noted correspondence from the DFP Minister regarding forthcoming legislation.
PfG Delivery Report
Agreed: to request a DFP briefing on the Department’s position in respect of the recent PfG Delivery Report.
Visit to Causeway Exchange – 29 February
Members noted a draft itinerary for next week’s visit to NI Direct at Causeway Exchange.
Agreed: Members will confirm their attendance and travel arrangements for the visit with Committee staff.
Agreed: that the Committee Work Programme is amended to reflect decisions made today, and that the revised programme is published on the Assembly website.
11. Any Other Business
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 29 February at 10.00am in NI Direct premises, First Floor, Causeway Exchange, Bedford Street, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.10pm
