Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 29 June 2011
Venue: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
10.31am The meeting commenced in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
As above
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 22 nd June 2011.
3. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence received.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Personnel and agreed to forward to the Minister for Regional Development for comment.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee of the Environment on road safety issues in Lurgan and agreed to forward the correspondence to DRD for a response directly to the Committee of the Environment.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the roles, responsibilities and remuneration of senior posts at the Department’s arm’s length bodies Northern Ireland Water and Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and agreed to forward this correspondence to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Beggs to seek further information on how remuneration levels are determined and agreed to write to the Department seeking this information.
Agreed: The Committee noted a research paper on bus rapid transit systems and agreed to consider a Committee visit to a city/region of best practice dependant on consideration of a business case and itinerary.
4. Departmental Briefing: PSA targets 2008-11; Business Plan targets 2010-11; Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-11; End Year Monitoring 2010-11
10.42am The following officials joined the meeting:
Geoff Allister – Chief Executive of Roads Service
Barney McGahan – Deputy Secretary, DRD
Dr Malcolm McKibbin – Permanent Secretary, DRD
David Orr – Deputy Secretary, Regional Planning and Transportation
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.09am The officials left the meeting
5. Departmental Briefing: Roads Service – Capital Build Programme
11.10am The following officials joined the meeting:
Geoff Allister – Chief Executive of Roads Service
Dr Andrew Murray – Director of Network Services, Roads Service
John White – Director of Strategic Programmes, Roads Service
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.29am Mrs Kelly left the meeting
11.36am Mr McCrea left the meeting
11.45am Mr Lynch left the meeting
6. Departmental Briefing: Roads Service – Structural Maintenance issues
11.45am The following officials remained in the meeting to brief Members on the above:
Geoff Allister – Chief Executive of Roads Service
Dr Andrew Murray – Director of Network Services, Roads Service
John White – Director of Strategic Programmes, Roads Service
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
11.46am Mr Dickson left the meeting
Agreed: Members noted an invitation from Roads Service to view a structural maintenance scheme and agreed to accept this invitation at a date to be confirmed.
11.57am Mr McCrea rejoined the meeting
11.58am Mr Lynch rejoined the meeting
12.02pm Mr Dickson rejoined the meeting
12.14pm Mr Nesbitt left the meeting
12.16pm The officials left the meeting
7. Departmental Briefing: SR 2011/134: The Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations (Exemptions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
12.17pm The following officials joined the meeting:
Ciaran Crilly - Policy/Legislation Branch
Garry McKenna - Head of Policy & Legislation Branch
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
12.25pm The officials left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee for Regional Development has considered Statutory Rule 2011/134 The Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations (Exemptions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011and has no objection to the rule.
8. Subordinate legislation not subject to Assembly procedure
Members noted:
- SL1: The Prohibition of Traffic (Avoniel, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Waiting Restrictions (Dundonald) (Order) (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (2011 Order) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Waiting Restrictions (Newtownabbey) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Bus Lane (Victoria Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Waiting Restrictions (Dungannon) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking Places on Roads (Belfast) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.9) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Prohibition of Traffic (Thorndale Avenue, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Parking Places on Roads (Newtownabbey) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
- SL1: The Extinguishment of Right to Use Vehicles on Roads (Strabane) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
9. SL1: The Orchard Drive, Portadown (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that the Committee is content with the policy merits of these proposals.
10. SL1: The Old Church Road, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter until the end of the formal consultation in order that responses can be considered.
11. SL1: The Hanover Glen, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department indicating that the Committee is content with the policy merits of these proposals.
12. Any Other Business
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 subject to the Committee’s consideration of any itineraries/business cases.
Agreed: Members agreed to delegate authority to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to submit views on behalf of the Committee on the releasing or withholding of information in any non-routine and/or contentious freedom of information requests received during the recess period.
11. Date of the next meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that the first meeting of the Committee in the next session would be Wednesday 14 th September 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
12.34pm The meeting was adjourned
