Minutes of Proceedings - 16 May 2002
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 16 May 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
Present: Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr D McClarty
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson
Apologies: Mrs J Carson
Mr M Murphy
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr F Molloy
In Attendance:Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms C Angelone (Clerical Officer)
Mr J Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Ms C Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced at 10.40 a.m.
1. Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 9 May 2002 were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
(a) Duty of Care Regulations
The Committee agreed to table this matter at the meeting next week, when more Members are present.
Agreed: Committee to consider this matter at next week's meeting
(b) Government Accommodation Review
The Committee considered the Department of the Environment's response regarding the Interim Report of Government Accommodation Review.
Agreed: Draft response to be considered by Committee at next week's meeting.
(c) Taxi Industry Review
The Committee considered the information provided by the Chair and Deputy Chair regarding their attendance at a meeting on 10 May 2002 with the Minister of the Environment and representatives from the Belfast Public Hire Taxi Association. At that meeting the Minister gave a commitment to commence this autumn the long awaited Review of the Taxi Industry in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Letter to be issued to the Minister of the Environment summarising the commitments agreed at the meeting.
Mr B Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.49am
Dr Wm McCrea, Ms Lewsley, Mr McClarty and Mr Poots declared an interest as local councillors before the next item was discussed.
3. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill 2002.
Mr John McConnell, Mr David Barr, Department Officials, Ms Heather Cousins and Mr Michael McGuckin, NIO Officials joined the meeting at 10.49 a.m. The NIO representatives gave a presentation and Officials answered Members' questions on the draft Community Safety Strategy which relates to the Department's proposals within the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to introduce powers for Local Councils to engage in community safety activities within community safety partnerships.
Mr Poots left the meeting at 11.03am
Mr Poots rejoined the meeting at 11.06am
Key issues discussed included the term 'impose' within the Community Safety Clause of the Bill and funding issues for District Councils after the initial two year 100% funding period. Officials agreed to take the Committee's concerns into consideration.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 11.15am
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.19am
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.27am
Proceedings were temporarily suspended at 11.20am, they recommenced at 11.27am.
The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.50 a.m.
Agreed: NIO Officials agreed to write to the Committee to address a number of issues, particularly the funding concerns raised by Members.
4. Statutory Rules
The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1:
(a) Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No.*) Regulations 2002
Agreed: The Committee had no comment on the above Rule.
5. Local Air Quality Management Bill
Ms Helen Anderson and Ms Ann Hall, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 11.52am. They gave a presentation and answered Members questions on the proposed Local Air Quality Management Bill.
Key issues discussed included funding allocated to District Councils, Departmental action on consultation responses and limit values/standards.
The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 12.25pm.
Agreed: The Committee to write to the Department on some outstanding questions and concerns with the proposed Bill.
6. AOB
The Committee noted a number of issues and papers including:
i) A Code of Practice entitled 'Safe School Travel' published by Translink in conjunction with the Education and Library Boards
ii) A Department of the Environment Consultation Paper on a Code of Conduct for Councillors
iii) Revised Annexes of the Department of the Environment's Position Report on the 2002 Budget
iv) The CBI response to the three Sub-Regional Waste Management Plans
v) The Department of the Environment's response on the Committee's queries re OFMDFM Framework for Developing Northern Ireland's participation in the European Union
vi) Reminder for Members, Seminar on Supplementary Estimates 2002/03
Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 23 May 2002 at 10.30a.m in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.27pm
Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)
