Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 04 July 2012
Venue: Oak Room 2, Seagoe Hotel, Portadown
10.35am The meeting commenced in public session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Agreed: The Deputy Chair asked the Clerk to advise the Committee of a meeting between the Minister and the Chairperson on 3 July 2012 to discuss the recent flooding. Members agreed that the Department should complete their reviews and present to Committee by the end of the first week in August. Members also agreed that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department for Finance and Personnel and Northern Ireland Water attend this meeting and that the Department should provide them with copies of their maintenance programmes.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Oliver Bellew has left the Committee and thanked him.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 20th June 2012.
4. Correspondence
Members noted the correspondence received.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Central Committee Office in relation to Freedom of Information requests and agreed that authority be delegated to the Chairperson/deputy Chairperson in relation to FOI type inquiries during the summer recess.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of the Environment in respect to the audio visual pilot project.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department relating to road safety in rural areas and agreed to ask Sustrans for an update on training for cyclists and to whether or not they have been successful in getting more relevant training in place.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the audio visual pilot project.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to NI greenways and
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to car parking fees and penalty charges.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect to unadopted sewerage infrastructure and agreed to include in the report for the Inquiry into Unadopted Roads.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the monitoring of post project evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to parking charges and agreed to write to the Department outlining the Committee concerns over car parking charges at airports and the link between this and illegal car parks.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Fair Employment Tribunal ruling on the appointment of the chair to Northern Ireland Water and agreed to write to the Minister outlining the Committee support for any inquiry or investigation in relation to appointments to Departmental positions and making sure everything is done in a fair and transparent manner.
The Committee noted correspondence from QPANI in relation to a funding boost.
5. Translink briefing: Portadown Railway Station Update
10.56am The following Officials joined the meeting:
Clive Bradberry – Infrastructure Executive
David Cowan – Area Manager
The Officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.16am The Officials left the meeting
6. Departmental Briefing: Belfast on the Move
11.16am The following Representatives joined the meeting:
Ciarán de Búrca – Director of Rapid Transit Branch
Stephen Pollock – Network Development Manager, Eastern Division
The Representatives presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.36am The Officials left the meeting
7. Departmental Briefing: Railways Investment Scoping Exercise
11.36am The following Representatives joined the meeting:
Tom Reid – Director of Transportation Policy
Keith Walsh – Ports and Transport Division
The Representatives presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.44am Mr Dickson left the meeting
11.53am Mr Ó hOisín left the meeting
The meeting was inquorate.
11.55am Mr Dickson rejoined the meeting
The meeting was quorate.
11.58am Mr Ó hOisín rejoined the meeting
11.58am Mr Dallat left the meeting
12.02pm The Officials left the meeting
8. Inquiry Into the Better Use of Public Funds for Transport
Members agreed a forward work programme, agreed that the signpost be placed in the local media and agreed that the title of the Inquiry be changed to reflect the remit of the Inquiry being for buses and not public transport generally and agreed to ask Assembly Research for a comparison between the cost of private rail operators in the UK with those of Translink.
12.07pm – The Committee went into closed session to discuss the draft report on the Committee Inquiry into Unadopted Roads.
12.18pm – The Committee recommenced in open session.
9. Subordinate legislation not subject to Assembly procedure
Members noted:
- The Parking Places on Roads (Armagh) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
- The Waiting Restrictions (Holywood) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Bushmills) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012;
- The Taxis (Bushmills) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012;
- Parking Places (Electric Vehicles) Orders 2012;
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Belfast) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012;
- The Road Races (Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
- On-Street Parking (Amendment) (Increase in Tariffs) 2012
- Off-Street Parking (Amendment) (Increase in Tariffs) 2012
10. SL1: The A3 Northway, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that it is content with the merits of the policy proposals.
11. SL1: The Drumlin Road, Donaghcloney (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
Mr Moutray declared an interest as a member of Craigavon Borough Council.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that it is content with the merits of the policy proposals.
12. Statutory Rule 2012/235 The M2 Motorway at Whitla Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development has considered Statutory Rule 2011/423 The M2 Motorway at Whitla Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and has no objection to the rule.
13. Any other business
One member raised the issue of parking fines and wanted to encourage the Minister to consider dual layered tariffs for different offences.
14. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 12th September 2012 at 10.30am in Room 21.
12.25pm The meeting was adjourned
