Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 13 December 2011
Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
11.01am The meeting commenced in public session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Chairperson’s Business
None
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 7th December 2011.
4. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence received.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Translink. Members noted a proposal from the Chairperson and agreed to write to Translink seeking specific information on fees paid to consultants for advertising, marketing and public relations services as well as the costs incurred internally for such services. Members noted a proposal from Mr Beggs and agreed to also request information on what assessment has been made on the value of money achieved in outsourcing such services.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and agreed to write to the Department to ascertain awareness of the use of outcome models.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Agriculture and Rural Development and agreed to write to the Department seeking information on what engagement has taken place with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the proposed Reservoirs Bill.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Environment in relation to septic tanks and agreed to forward to the Department for a response directly to the Committee for Environment copying this Committee into the response.
5. Departmental Briefing: January Monitoring
11.08am The following officials joined the meeting:
Deborah McNeilly – Director of Finance
Stewart Barnes – Head of Financial Planning and Management Branch
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.20am The officials left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from the Chairperson and agreed to write to the Minister for Finance and Personnel in support of the Department’s bids. Members noted a proposal from Mr Byrne and agreed to highlight in the correspondence the difficulties in managing contracts resulting from the reduced frequency of monitoring rounds.
6. Departmental Briefing: Strangford Lough Ferry Fare Review
11.21am The following officials joined the meeting:
Graeme Beckett – Head of Roads Service consultancy
Liam McEvoy – Principal Transport Planner
Carrie Teggart – Roads Consultancy Provider
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.29am Mrs Kelly left the meeting
11.58am Mr Dickson left the meeting
12.00pm Mr Dickson rejoined the meeting
12.01pm Mr Lynch entered the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from the Chairperson and agreed to request information in relation to the staffing costs associated with the ferry service.
12.02pm Mr Copeland left the meeting
12.03pm The officials left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from the Chairperson and agreed to write to the Minister requesting that the increase in fares be deferred until a strategic review of the ferry service has been carried out.
12.13pm Mr Byrne and Mr Moutray left the meeting
12.14pm Mr Copeland rejoined the meeting
7. Subordinate legislation not subject to Assembly procedure
Members noted:
- SL1: The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
8. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members noted a proposal from Mr Ó hOisín and agreed to hold a meeting on the train to Derry at a date to be agreed in 2012.
9. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be Tuesday 11th January 2012 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
12.18pm The meeting was adjourned
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
11th January 2012
