Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of Proceedings - 24 November 2021
Minutes of Proceedings 24 November 2021.pdf (197.21 kb)
Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of Proceedings
24 November 2021
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA(Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mr Padraig Delargy MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Ms Liz Kimmins MLA
Mr Andrew Muir MLA
Mr George Robinson MLA
Apologies: None
In Attendance:
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Lawless (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Kinnear (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced at 10:01 am in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Chairpersons Business
The Chairperson drew attention to the Committee’s visit to Wrightbus, Ballymena on 17 November 2021 and thanked Wrightbus for their hospitality and informative tour of their site.
The Committee noted that information had issued to an individual following a request for information regarding the correspondence considered by the Committee in relation to the Planning Advice Notice on Development in the Countryside.
3. Draft Minutes.
Agreed:The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 17 November 2021.
4. Matters Arising
None.
5. Correspondence
Invitation from the Northern Ireland Human Right Commission to the Annual Human Rights Statement Launch.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.
Correspondence from the Clerk to the Youth Assembly regarding the establishment of Youth Assembly Committees.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure advising of its intention to publish a consultation paper containing proposals to make careless driving a fixed penalty offence.
Mr Jonathan Buckley declared an interest as a member of the Policing Board.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on the consultation in the Forward Work Programme.
Copy correspondence from Letter from Baroness Andrews to Chris Heaton-Harris MP - Common Frameworks recommendations on Transport, Driving Licences, Commercial Transport and Operators Licencing, Motor Insurance and Rail Technical Standards.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for Infrastructure for information and comment.
Copy of a Press Release from ESB welcoming the support of the Levelling Up Fund to transform the EV charging network in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from ESB in the Forward Work Programme.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to issues arising from the Committee meeting on 3 November 2021.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send extracts of the response to the relevant organisations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that the Department provide a copy of the report into the roads resurfacing contracts at the earliest convenience.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request information from the Department on the variation in pass rates at testing centres.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing in the Forward Work Programme from the Driver and Vehicle Agency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request information from the Department on legal proceedings that have completed regarding DVA Enforcement.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request clarification from the Department on the numbers of new vehicle and driving examiners that have been appointed and the timeline for the recruitment.
Correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs inviting the Committee to a Webinar on the draft Green Growth Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.
6. Subordinate Legislation – SL1s – Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings
The Committee consideredthe following SL1s not subject to any Assembly proceedings.
- SL1 - The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Rathfriland) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
- SL1 - The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposals for the Statutory Rule.
Mr George Robinson joined the meeting at 10:17 am.
7. SL1 - The Ardmillan Gardens Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
The Committee considered the SL1 - The Ardmillan Gardens Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
The Committee suspended at 10:18 am.
The Committee resumed at 10:27 am.
Ms Liz Kimmins joined the meeting at 10:27 am.
8. Departmental Briefing –Proposals to Extend the Payment of Subsidy to NI Water in Lieu of Domestic Water Charges
The Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:27 am.
Ms Alison Clydesdale, Director of Water & Drainage Policy
Mr Damian Curran, Water and Drainage Policy Division
Ms Julie-Ann Dutton, Water and Drainage Policy Division
The Departmental officials provided the Committee with an oral briefing.
A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that departmental officials shall provide information on the renewable electricity usage by NI Water.
The Chairperson thanked the departmental officials for their attendance.
The departmental officials left the meeting at 10:52 am.
The Committee considered the proposal for Statutory Rule - SL1 - Proposals to Extend the Payment of Subsidy to NI Water in Lieu of Domestic Water Charges.
The rule is subject to draft Affirmative Resolution.
The statutory rule will extend the period, during which the Department will pay a subsidy to NI Water, as the water and sewerage undertaker, in lieu of domestic water charges for a further five years to 31 March 2027.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
9. Briefing from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) - Whole Life Carbon Assessment
The representatives joined the meeting at 10:53 am
Mr Emmet McDonough-Brown, RICS Senior Public Affairs Officer – Northern Ireland, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
Mr Matthew Collins, Senior Specialist – Construction and Infrastructure, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
The representatives provided the Committee with an oral briefing.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:40 am.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Draft Forward Work Programme.
11. Any Other Business
The Committee considered a proposal to write to the Department regarding the quality of road maintenance work being carried out on Northern Ireland roads.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for clarification of its roles and responsibilities regarding the quality of road reinstatement and its engagement with utility companies on their road works.
12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 1 December 2021 at 10:00 am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:51 am.
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
1 December 2021
