Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 14 September 2011
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
10.30am The meeting commenced in public session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson apprised Members of his meeting with the Minister for Regional Development and with representatives of Translink during the summer recess.
10.33am Mr McCrea entered the meeting
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 29 th June 2011.
4. Declarations of Interest
Members noted the extract from the Register of Members’ Interests.
5. Correspondence
10.38am Mrs Kelly left the meeting
10.45am Mrs Kelly rejoined the meeting
Members noted correspondence received.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from a number of groups and individuals in relation to the A5. The Committee noted a proposal from the Chairperson to make arrangements for a Committee meeting to be held in the vicinity of the A5 project area and agreed that such a meeting should be incorporated into the Committee’s forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee noted the 2009 Regional Strategic Transport Network Journey Times Report. The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Beggs to highlight those networks where journey times were less than 10 miles per hour including sections of the A2 and agreed to write to the Department highlighting this issue.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence in relation to road safety at Belvedere Manor, Lurgan. The Committee noted a proposal from Mrs Kelly and agreed to write to the Department requesting that the Committee is kept informed of progress on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence in relation to parking in Whiteabbey village. The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Dickson and agreed to write to the Department requesting that the Committee is kept informed of progress on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence in relation to disabled parking and penalty charges and noted that the Committee is awaiting a response from the Department. The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Dickson and agreed to write to the Department requesting that the Committee is kept informed of progress on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Sustrans seeking an informal meeting with the Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and agreed that this meeting should be arranged.
6. Oral briefing: YouthAction NI and Consumer Council – Young People’s Access to Public Transport
10.50am The following representatives joined the meeting:
Caroline Redpath - Assistant Director, YouthAction N.I.
Jamie Frew - Youth Work Apprentice, YouthAction N.I.
Charlene Mullan - Peer Support Worker, YouthAction N.I.
Ryan Simpson - Senior Consumer Affairs Officer, the Consumer Council
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
10.57am Mrs Kelly left the meeting
11.01am Mr Dickson left the meeting
11.10am Mr Dickson rejoined the meeting
11.15am The representatives left the meeting
7. Departmental Briefing: SR 2011/261 The Railways (Safety Management) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
11.16am The following officials joined the meeting:
Ciaran Crilly – Policy and Legislation branch, DRD
Garry McKenna –Policy & Legislation branch, DRD
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.20am Mr McCrea left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development has considered Statutory Rule 2011/261 The Railways (Safety Management) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and has no objection to the rule.
11.27am The officials left the meeting
11.27am Mr Nesbitt left the meeting
8. Departmental Briefing: Draft Active Travel Strategy
11.28am Mr Nesbitt rejoined the meeting
11.28am The following officials joined the meeting:
Tom Reid, Director of Transportation Policy Division
Aileen Gault, Transportation Policy Division
Tracey Arlow, Transportation Policy Division
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.37am Mr Moutray left the meeting
11.42am Mr McCrea rejoined the meeting
Agreed: Members noted a proposal from the Chairperson and agreed that the Committee undertake an inquiry into cycling/cycling infrastructure and its potential contribution to the economy.
11.51am The officials left the meeting
9. Departmental Written Briefing: Section 75 Annual Progress Report to the Equality Commission 2010-11 and approval of the Equality Scheme
Members noted the report and noted that the Committee is awaiting a response to correspondence issued by the Committee office seeking clarification on Disability Awareness training within the Department.
10. Subordinate legislation not subject to Assembly procedure
Members noted:
- SL1: The Parking Places on Roads (Lisburn) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Control of Traffic (Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The One-Way Traffic (Belfast) (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No.6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Taxis (Enniskillen) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Strabane) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The One-Way Traffic (Belfast) (Amendment No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Rathfriland) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 10) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
11. SL1: The Browning Drive, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter until consultation has been undertaken in order that responses can be considered.
12. SL1: The Shankbridge Road Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter until consultation has been undertaken in order that responses can be considered.
13. SL1: The Ballydogherty Road (U5003) Loughgilly (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter until consultation has been undertaken in order that responses can be considered.
11.58am Mr Moutray rejoined the meeting
14. Statutory Rule 2011/275 – The Eskragh Road (U1104) Granville, Dungannon (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development has considered Statutory Rule 2011/275 The Eskragh Road (U1104) Granville, Dungannon (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and has no objection to the rule.
15. Statutory Rule 2011/276 – The Disert Road, Draperstown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development has considered Statutory Rule 2011/276 The Disert Road, Draperstown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and has no objection to the rule.
16. Committee Study Visit to Nantes
Members noted the draft itinerary and business case for this visit on 20 th – 22 nd September 2011.
Members noted that the Clerk to the Committee will accompany the following Members on this visit:
Mr Jimmy Spratt - Chairperson
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mrs Dolores Kelly
17. Committee Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members considered the draft forward work programme for September to December 2011 and agreed that the Committee office should make arrangements for the visits and briefings in the programme.
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Beggs that the Committee seek further information on governance and practices at Northern Ireland Water and agreed as an initial step to commission research into the governance arrangements at Northern Ireland Water.
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from Mr McCrea that local government representatives attend the Committee meeting of 5 th October 2011 when the Committee would receive a briefing from Roads Service on the arrangements for winter service 2011-12. The Committee agreed to invite the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) to attend the meeting to provide a local government view on winter service issues.
18. Any Other Business
There was no other business
19. Date of the next meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that due to the Committee study visit to Nantes next week, the next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 28 th September 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
12.13pm The meeting was adjourned
