Committee for Communities
Minutes of Proceedings - Tuesday 16 November 2021
Minutes of Proceedings - Tuesday 16 November.docx (97.74 kb)
Committee for Communities
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday 16 November 2021
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Belfast
Present:
Ms Paula Bradley MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Kellie Armstrong MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Mark Durkan MLA
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Ms Áine Murphy MLA
Ms Aisling Reilly MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Andy Allen MLA
Ms Áine Murphy MLA
Ms Aisling Reilly MLA
In Attendance:
Dr Janice Thompson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Rachel Ashe (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
The meeting began in open session at 9.06am. The following Members were present at the start of the open session: Paula Bradley, Kellie Armstrong, Andy Allen, Stephen Dunne, Mark Durkan, Aisling Reilly.
Andy Allen declared an interest as a private landlord.
Stephen Dunne declared an interest as a private landlord.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 9 November 2021.
3. Private Tenancies Bill Papers
The Chairperson informed the Members of a request to brief the Committee by Propertymark with the briefing now having been scheduled for Thursday 18 November. The Committee was content to note.
The Chairperson informed the Members of a follow-up research paper from RaISe in response to previous Committee queries on the Bill. The Committee was content to note the paper.
4. Briefing on the Private Tenancies Bill by the Fuel Poverty Coalition NI
Paul Frew joined the meeting at 9.13am.
Áine Murphy joined the meeting at 9.24am.
The following representatives joined the meeting:
- Pat Austin
- Jamie Miller
The Chairperson welcomed the representatives from the Fuel Poverty Coalition NI to the meeting. The representatives briefed the Committee and took part in a question and answer session with Members.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Economy regarding the Energy Strategy to enquire about the levels of energy efficiency that were being investigated and whether tackling problems with damp and mould were included in the Strategy.
5. Briefing by Homeless Connect on the Private Tenancies Bill
The Chairperson informed Members that they had been due to receive a briefing from Homeless Connect at today’s meeting but that, due to illness, the briefing had been cancelled and a written paper had been provided. The Committee was content to note the paper.
Andy Allen left the meeting at 9.44am.
6. Briefing by the Landlords Association Northern Ireland (LANI) on the Private Tenancies Bill
Paul Frew declared an interest as a private landlord.
The following representative joined the meeting:
Richard Smyth
The Chairperson welcomed the representative from the Landlords Association Northern Ireland (LANI) to the meeting. The representative briefed the Committee and took part in a question and answer session with Members.
The Chairperson thanked the representative for his attendance.
7. Any Other Business
Kellie Armstrong informed Members that the Community Development Networks Forum will be held in the Long Gallery after the Committee meeting on Thursday 18 November 2021. They are holding an information session to update members on the work they do across Northern Ireland.
8. Date, time and location of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18 November 2021 in Room 29, Parliament Buildings, at 9.00 am.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30am.
Paula Bradley MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Communities
