Minutes of Proceedings

10:33am The meeting commenced in open session.

1. Apologies

As above.

10:35am Mr McAleer joined the meeting

2. Chairperson's Business

The Chairperson updated Members on the Committee's recent visit to Welsh Water and the National Assembly for Wales.

The Chairperson also clarified that neither he nor the Deputy Chairperson have ever led a delegation from the Committee on a "junket"; as described by Mr McNarry in a recent press article.

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 10th April 2013.

4. Correspondence

Members noted the correspondence received.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Minister Poots regarding the Inquiry into the Better Use of Public and Community Sector Funds for the Delivery of Bus Transport Options and agreed to include the documentation in the Committee Inquiry.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the review of the efficiency delivery programme and agreed to forward to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding Translink's Progress on Capital Projects.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding a bus fire incident in Moneymore.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding observations received from Dr Alan Lennon.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding Translink's Passenger Charter results.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding observations received from Mr Bob Pue on Rapid Transit.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding the Committee's Unadopted Roads Inquiry and agreed to grant an extension for the Department's response.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding its consultation on Environmental Noise Directive, Road Noise Action Plans.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding its consultation on the Certification of Train Drivers Directive.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding illegal parking in cycle lanes.

Agreed: The Committee noted a copy of Sustrans Bike It Belfast Spring 2013 Newsletter.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Irish Football Association requesting to brief the Committee on the new IFA Stadium project and agreed that the Clerk liaise with their representative to arrange a briefing.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding further information on Passenger Charter Results.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Regional Development regarding Narrow Water Bridge.

Agreed: The Committee noted an IMTAC paper regarding travel training programmes in Great Britain.

5. Translink Briefing: Bus Operations Focus

10:41am The following officials joined the meeting

Ciaran Doherty – General Manager (Bus Services), Translink

Philip O'Neill – Chief Operating Officer, Translink

The officials presented to the Committee in respect of the work of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

10:49am Mrs Kelly joined the meeting

10:50am Mr McAleer left the meeting

10:50am Mr McNarry joined the meeting

11:02am Mr McAleer re-joined the meeting

11:14am Mr Dickson left the meeting

11:16am Mr Dickson re-joined the meeting

11:14am The officials left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee would write to the Department asking what is the extent and value of Translink's land assets.

6. Translink Briefing: Corporate/Business Plan

11:15am The following officials joined the meeting

Catherine Mason – Chief Executive, Translink

Ciaran Doran – Director of Public Transport Performance Division, Department for Regional Development

The officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

11:35am Mrs Kelly left the meeting

11:55am Mrs Kelly re-joined the meeting

11:57am Mr McNarry left the meeting

11:59am The officials left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee would write to the Department asking what loss projections are forecast for 2014/15 and how it plans to negate these.

Agreed: The Committee would write to the Department asking for clarity on where the £5.8m reserves come from.

7. Community Transport Association Briefing: The Inquiry into Comprehensive Transport Delivery Structures

12:00pm The following representative joined the meeting

Kellie Armstrong – Director, NI Community Transport Association

The representative presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr McCrea declared an interest as a member of Cookstown District Council.

12:03pm Mr McNarry re- joined the meeting

12:15pm Mr Lynch left the meeting

12:17pm Mr Lynch re-joined the meeting

12:20pm The representative left the meeting

8. Northern Ireland Transport Working Group Briefing: The Inquiry into Comprehensive Transport Delivery Structures

12:21pm The following representatives joined the meeting

Dr Stephen McCabe – Policy and Projects Officer, Northern Ireland Environment Link

Dr Joanna Purdy – Public Health Development Officer, Institute of Public Health

Steven Patterson – Northern Ireland Director, Sustrans

The representatives presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

12:21pm Mr McCrea left the meeting

12:25pm Mr McAleer left the meeting

12:41pm Mr McNarry left the meeting

12:45pm The representatives left the meeting

9. Subordinate Legislation not subject to Assembly Procedure

Members noted:

The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Strabane) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013The Weighting Restrictions (Cookstown) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013

10. Any Other Business

Mrs Kelly raised the issue of the A5 road project and requested that this issue is raised at the Minister's briefing at the meeting on 8th May 2013.

Agreed: The Committee would write to the Department requesting that the Minister provides the Committee with an update on the A5 road project as part of his briefing at the meeting on 8th May 2013.

11. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 1st May 2013 at 10:30am in Room 21.

12:49pm The meeting was adjourned

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Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
01/05/13