Minutes of Proceedings - 18 April 2002
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 18 April 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson
Apologies:
Mrs J Carson
In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Miss J Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Clairita Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr J Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced at 10.30 a.m.
1.Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 11 April 2002 were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Department of the Environment seeking clarification on enforcement procedures for spot checks and Crown Immunity with regard to the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations and Code of Practice.
Agreed: To issue the response to the Department of the Environment.
The Committee considered a draft response to the Government's proposals for Regulations to introduce a Vehicle Identity Check Scheme throughout the United Kingdom.
Agreed: To issue the response as agreed.
3. Replies Awaited
Planning (Amendment) Bill - a response is awaited from the Minister of the Environment.
4. Planning and Telecommunication Development
The Committee considered information provided by the Department of the Environment and a paper from the Assembly Secretariat in relation to a draft Statutory Rule to introduce full planning permission for all telecommunication developments. The Committee discussed potential issues and questions for Department Officials following a presentation on this issue later in the meeting.
Agreed: To raise issues and questions to
Officials as agreed.
To defer consideration of the Planning Policy Statement 10 on telecommunication development until next week's Committee meeting to allow urgent and full consideration of the above proposed Statutory Rule.
5. Pollution Prevention and Control (Northern Ireland) Bill 2002
Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.34 a.m.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.
The Committee considered a Policy Memorandum and schedule of consultation responses in relation to proposals for legislation to provide a framework to achieve a high level of protection for the environment through the prevention or reduction of emissions to air, water and land.
Agreed: To invite Officials from the Department of the Environment to give a presentation on the proposals at next week's Committee meeting.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.39 a.m.
6. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following draft Rules that have been laid before the Assembly:
- Draft Local Government Pensions Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
- Draft Local Government Pensions Scheme (Amendment No. 2 and Provisions0 Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
Agreed: To write to the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee seeking comments on the above draft Rules.
7. Introduction of Hazard Perception Testing
Mr David Leeman and Mr Stanley Duncan, Officials from the Department of the Environment, joined the meeting at 10.46 a.m. They gave a presentation and answered Members' questions on proposals for the introduction of a Hazard Perception Testing element to the driving theory test. The proposed test is designed to improve road safety by testing the ability of new drivers to scan the road ahead effectively, to be aware of traffic conditions and to anticipate hazards as they develop. Key issues discussed included the Driver Vehicle and Testing Agency's role in the development of the Hazard Perception Test, the road safety implications of the introduction of a specific HP Test element to the driving test, and proposals for the delivery of the HP Test.
The Chairman thanked the Officials for an informative and interesting presentation and they left the meeting at 11.10 a.m.
Agreed: To write to the Department of the Environment advising that the Committee is content with the proposals
8. Introduction of 3-Year MOT Testing for Private Motor Vehicles and Motor Cycles
Mr Alistair Peoples, Mr Terry Dawson and Mr Trevor McCullough, Officials from the Department of the Environment's Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, joined the meeting at 11.12 a.m. They gave a presentation and answered Members' questions on the Department's proposals to reduce the time for the first MOT Test from 4 years to 3 years. Key issues discussed included the likely cost and road safety benefits of the proposed reduction and the need for an accurate cost/benefit analysis, and the Committee's concerns that the ongoing review of the initial period of MOT Testing in Great Britain should be taken into account before reducing the test period in Northern Ireland.
The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.41 a.m.
Agreed: To write to the Department seeking clarification on a number of outstanding issues surrounding the proposals.
9. Planning and Telecommunication Development: Proposed Statutory Rule
Mrs. Cynthia Smith, Mr Ian Maye, Mr John Linden and Mr David Small, Officials from the Department of the Environment, joined the meeting at 11.44 a.m. to discuss a draft Statutory Rule to introduce full planning permission for all telecommunication developments. Key issues discussed included the purpose and effect of the proposed Rule including an 'emergency' provision, the need for precise definition of terms within the proposed Rule such as, 'emergency', 'unserviceable' and 'replacement', the need for checks to be in place to confirm the nature and extent of any emergency and the need for a time bound condition within the legislation to provide the Department with notification of emergency development.
Mr Poots left the meeting at 12.05 p.m.
Mr Watson left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.
The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
Agreed: To write to the Department regarding the Committee's concerns and specific questions on the proposed Rule.
That Officials would provide an early written response and give a presentation and answer Members' questions at next week's meeting.
10. AOB
- The Committee noted a number of letters and papers including:
- Copies of recent correspondence regarding the need for a review of the taxi industry in Northern Ireland.
- A Press Release issued by the Department of the Environment regarding the launch of 'aNSwer', a North South website of Environmental Research.
- An invitation for the Committee to attend a reception celebrating Europe Day hosted by the Committee of the Centre and the European Commission on Thursday 9 May 2002.
- A draft response to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regarding the proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration.
Agreed: To issue the response to OFM/DFM.
- Copies of the Committee's letter and a response from the Department of the Environment regarding a public petition objecting to the erection of a telecommunications mast at McCracken Memorial Church, Belfast.
- An invitation for the Committee to attend a Green Purchasing Seminar hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature on Wednesday 8 May 2002
- A copy of a response from the Department of the Environment to the Committee's letter urging it to reconsider a decision not to impose a moratorium on telecommunication developments.
- A European Parliament Briefing for UK Members on a proposal for a Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Biofuels for Transport.
- The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Department of the Environment's New TSN Reports.
- A covering letter from the Department of the Environment and a Report on the Implications for Climate Change for Northern Ireland.
- The Committee noted a public petition laid in the Assembly by Mr Ian
Paisley, Jnr, regarding the erection of a telecommunication mast at Ballymena Bowling Club.
Agreed: To forward the petition to the Department of the Environment for comment.
- The Committee noted that an Assembly Debate on mobile phones is scheduled for p.m. Monday 22 April 2002 and a debate on Recycling of Waste is scheduled for p.m. Tuesday 23 April 2002.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 25 April 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.23 pm.
Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)
