Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 29 May 2013
Venue: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
2:28 pm The meeting opened in public session.
5. Memorandum of Reply
The Committee considered the memorandum of reply to the Committee’s previous reports on ‘Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Management of Response Maintenance Contracts’.
2:30 pm Mr Rogers entered the meeting.
2:33 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.
2:43 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.
2:45 pm Mr Hazzard entered the meeting.
2:53 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.
2:57 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance and Personnel.
Ms Hamill undertook to clarify in writing some information relating to the MOR.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 22 May 2013
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Correspondence received re Land and Property Services
The Committee noted correspondence from a member of the public highlighting concerns of the criteria applied to the calculation of rates relating to a previous tenancy.
The C&AG briefed the Committee that it does not fall within his remit to investigate individual cases but undertook to investigate the generic criteria and or discretion used by Land and Property Services when calculating settlements in disputed rates cases and would report back his findings to the Committee.
3:17 pm Mr Rogers left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the C&AG’s approach.
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel seeking initial views on the enclosed correspondence from DFP on the Financial Provisions Bill 2013.
The C&AG briefed the Committee on the effect of the proposed legislative amendments and confirmed that the measure had no budgetary impact for his office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to reply to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
3:28 pm The meeting went into closed session.
6. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on ‘Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools’
The Committee considered its draft report on ‘Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools’.
Paragraphs 17 - 18 read and agreed.
Paragraph 19 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 26 read and agreed.
Paragraph 32 read, amended and agreed.
3:40 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.
Paragraph 33 – 36 read and agreed.
Paragraph 37 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 38 – 39 read and agreed.
Paragraph 40 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 41 – 43 read and agreed.
Paragraph 44 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 45 read and agreed.
3:55 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
Paragraphs 46 – 47 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 48 read and agreed to delete.
4:00 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
Paragraph 49 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 50 – 53 read and agreed.
4:18 pm Mr Clarke left the meeting.
Paragraphs 54 – 55 read, amended and agreed.
4:20 pm Mr Clarke entered the meeting.
4:20 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.
4:20 pm Mr Clarke left the meeting.
4:21 pm Mr Clarke entered the meeting.
Paragraph 56 read and agreed
Paragraph 57 read amended and agreed.
4:40 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.
4:43 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.
4:55 pm Mr Girvan left the meeting.
4:51 pm Mr Hazzard left the meeting.
4:56 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.
5:02 pm Mr McKay left the meeting.
5:02 pm The meeting was inquorate.
5:05 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.
5:07 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.
Paragraph 58 read and agreed to delete.
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Read and agreed as per the main report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the correspondence to be included within the report.
Agreed: The Committee ordered the report to be printed.
The meeting was inquorate.
4. Forward Work Programme
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on a request received via the Clerk to reschedule its evidence session with the Department for Regional Development for 25 September 2013.
Agreed: Since it did not present any scheduling difficulties the Committee agreed to move its evidence session to 25 September.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the revised draft of the forward work programme and agreed to update it on its webpage.
3:25 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.
3:40 pm Mr Copeland and Mr McKay left the meeting.
7. Inquiry on ‘Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service: An Organisational Assessment and Review of Departmental Oversight’ and ‘Report on Accounts 2011-2012’
Correspondence from Ardmore Advertising
The Committee noted correspondence from Mr John Keane, Managing Director, Adrmore Advertising providing the additional information sought by the Committee following its evidence session on 25 April 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to factor the information into its draft report for consideration at a later date.
Correspondence from Charles Hurst
The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Surgernor, Chairman, Charles Hurst providing the additional information sought by the Committee following its evidence session on 25 April 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to factor the information into its draft report for consideration at a later date.
Correspondence from Mr Peter Craig
The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Peter Craig, Former Chief Fire Officer in response to its offer of a right to reply to correspondence sent to it by Mrs Linda Ford.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to factor the information into its draft report for consideration at a later date.
Correspondence from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Committee noted correspondence from Dr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety providing the additional information sought by the Committee following its evidence session on 25 April 2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Mr Joe McKee, Chairman, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to give further oral evidence at the meeting of 12 June accompanied by the relevant Accounting Officer(s).
Correspondence from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Committee noted correspondence from Dr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in response to its offer of a right to reply to correspondence sent to it by Mrs Linda Ford.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to factor the information into its draft report for consideration at a later date.
8. Any other business
There was no other business.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 5 June 2013 at 2:00 pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5:32 pm.
