Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 02 May 2012
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
10.30am The meeting commenced in public session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dallat, MLA as the newly appointed Member of the Committee.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Deputy Chairperson would write to the outgoing Members, Mr Joe Byrne MLA and Mr Roy Beggs MLA, thanking them for their work on the Committee.
The Deputy Chairperson updated Members on recent discussions with the Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy MLA, on car parking charges and car parking penalties. Members noted that it had been agreed that the Chief Executive of Translink would appear before the Committee at its meeting on 16 May.
10.33am Mr Hussey joined the meeting
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Mr Ross Hussey, MLA as the newly appointed Member of the Committee.
The Deputy Chairperson also updated Members on the recent Committee visit to Brussels to discuss matters relating to the TEN-T project.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 18th April 2012.
4. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence received.
Agreed: The Committee received correspondence from the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to the decision to continue the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme until March 2015, pending business case approval and EQIA processes. Members agreed to write to the Department seeking an update on the internal business case.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in respect of the ‘Pro-Life’ Strategy and agreed to forward it to the Department for comment.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee in relation to the memorandum of reply on road openings by utilities.
The Committee noted correspondence the Department for Regional Development and the Committee for Justice in respect of the draft Community Safety Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect of the A8 Belfast to Larne dualling and agreed to request a departmental briefing on the matter.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in response to queries raised by Members at the Committee meeting on 28 March regarding the Department’s draft Business Plan 2012/13.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect of the A5 Western Transport Corridor and agreed to request a copy of the relevant Inspectors report.
The Committee noted a copy of a member’s legislative proposal relating to co-operation on children’s services.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Hoy Dorman Consulting in relation to un-adopted roads and agreed to include it in the Committee’s on-going report.
5. Consumer Council Briefing – Oral Briefing on Un-adopted Roads Inquiry
10.43am The following Officials joined the meeting:
10.46am Mr McCrea joined the meeting
Graham Smith – Head of Water
Robert Dempster – Senior Consumer Affairs Officer
The Officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.19am The Officials left the meeting
6. Law Society Briefing – Oral Briefing on Un-adopted Roads Inquiry
11.19am The following representatives joined the meeting:
11.23am Mr McCrea left the meeting
Brian Spears – Law Society
Anne Brown – Chairwoman of the Conveyancing & Property Committee
Imelda McMillan – Law Society President
The representatives presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.45am Mr Moutray left the meeting
11.46am Mr McNarry left the meeting
11.48am Mr Lynch left the meeting
11.50am Mr Lynch re-joined the meeting
11.54am Mr McNarry re-joined the meeting
11.59am Mr Ó’hOisín left the meeting
12.04pm The representatives left the meeting
7. Building Control Briefing – Oral Briefing on Un-adopted Roads Inquiry
12.06pm The following representatives joined the meeting:
Ian Wilson – Lisburn City Council
Jonathan Hayes – Armagh City and District Council
Ken Hunter – Southern Group Building Control
Trevor Martin – Belfast City Council
The representatives presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
12.28pm The Officials left the meeting
8. Departmental Briefing – PFG Delivery Plans
12.29pm The following Officials joined the meeting:
Deborah McNeilly – Director of Finance
Tom Reid – Director of Transport Policy, Strategy and Legislation
John Mills – Director of Water Policy Division
Philip Hamilton – Principal Engineer Strategic Programmes, Roads Service
The Officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Agreed: Officials agreed to update the Committee on information relating to the Enterprise Train Service and the possibility of railroad works being carried out outside normal working hours.
12.43pm Mr Hussey left the meeting
12.44pm Mr Dickson left the meeting
12.47pm Mr Dickson re-joined the meeting
12.48pm Mr Dallat left the meeting
12.50pm Mr Hussey re-joined the meeting
12.55pm Mr Dickson left the meeting
12.57pm The Officials left the meeting
9. Subordinate legislation not subject to Assembly procedure
Members noted:
- SL1 –The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Strabane) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
- SL1 –The Parking Places and Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
- SL1 –The Parking Places on Roads (Toome) (Northern Ireland) 2012
10. SL1: The Route U5160 Carnbane Industrial Estate, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that it is content with the policy merits of these proposals.
11. Statutory Rule: SR 2012/129 The College Avenue, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development considered Statutory Rule 2012/129 The College Avenue, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and had no objection to the rule.
12. Any other business
None.
13. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 9th May 2012 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
13.00pm The meeting was adjourned
Mr Pat Doherty MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
9th May 2012
