Minutes of Proceedings - 25 April 2002

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 25 April 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong 
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty 
Mr F Molloy
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots

Apologies:
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Watson

In Attendance: 
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk) 
Miss J Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Clairita Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Colette Angelone (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 10.40 a.m.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 18 April 2002 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

(i) The Committee considered the response from the Department of the Environment, with regard to the Committee’s concerns about the Planning (Amendment) Bill including issues surrounding enforcement and Third Party Appeals

Agreed: To forward further questions to the Department regarding this matter.

To invite Officials from the Department of the Environment to give a presentation and answer questions on the Bill at next week’s Committee meeting.

Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.43am

3. Proposal to increase PSV inspection fees.

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.47am

The Committee considered the Minster of the Environment’s letter on the Department’s proposals for use of resources raised through an increase in PSV licence fees.

Agreed: To write to the Department of the Environment advising that the additional resources should be directed towards a much needed review of the taxi industry.

Arrangements to be made for Chair and Deputy Chair, along with representatives from the Belfast Public Hire Taxi Association, to meet with the Minister of the Environment.

4. Planning and Telecommunications Development

Ms Cynthia Smith, Mr Ian Maye, Mr David Small and Mr John Linden, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 10.49am, to discuss a Draft Statutory Rule to introduce full planning permission for all telecommunication development.

Key issues discussed included the need for conditions in the proposed legislation to restrict mast height, emission strength and location of temporary equipment. The Officials agreed to keep the Committee informed of the progress of the proposed Development Control Advice Note on the subject.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.10am

Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.43am

Mr Linden gave a presentation and noted Members questions on Planning Policy Statement 10 on Telecommunications Development.

Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.29am

The Chairman thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.53am

Agreed: To await the Department’s response to the Committee’s questions and issues raised and invite Officials to next week’s meeting for further discussions on the Draft Statutory Rule and PPS 10.

5. Pollution Prevention and Control (Northern Ireland) Bill 2002

Mr Norman Simmons and Mr David Bell, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 11.55am. They gave a presentation and answered Member’s questions on the proposals for the introduction of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Northern Ireland) Bill 2002.

The Officials gave details of the provisions contained in the Bill and explained the action taken by the Department as a result of responses to the consultation exercise.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.15pm.

Action: To write to the Department of the Environment seeking clarification on a number of issues.

Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 12.02pm

Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.08pm

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 12.16pm

6. Hare Species Action Plan.

Mr Dermot Hughes, Ulster Wildlife Trust, Dr Howard Platt, Departmental Official and Dr Jane Preston from Queen’s University Belfast joined the meeting at 12.17pm. They gave a presentation on progress on the Species Action Plan for Hares. They answered Members’ questions on the Action Plan and on the Steering Group established to take this forward. The Committee raised a number of issues including the need for further research. The Officials agreed to copy Members key documents on the results of their research as they become available.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.40pm

Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12.44pm

The Chairman thanked the Officials for a very informative presentation and they left the meeting at 12.49pm.

7. AOB

The Committee noted a number of issues and papers including:

- Copies of recent correspondence including a letter from the Minister of the Environment, regarding the need for a review of the taxi industry in Northern Ireland. 

- A copy of the Code of Practice for Taxi Drivers, Meeting the Needs of Disabled Passengers.

- An invitation for Members to attend a Supply Estimate Seminar – now changed to Wednesday 22 May 2002.

- A copy of the Committee’s response to the Department of the Environment, regarding the introduction of Hazard Perception Testing.

- A Press Release issued by the Department of the Environment, regarding the Minister’s announcement regarding new planning laws on Telecommunications.

- A copy of the Department of the Environment’s response on the proposed Ballymoney Power Station and papers from the Assembly Research and Library Service

- Information from the Committee of the Centre, regarding the new inquiries to be undertaken by the House of the Lords European Union Select Committee and Sub Committees.

- A Draft Committee response to a member of the public regarding the future of the Causeway Coast.

Action: To issue the response.

- The Department of the Environment’s response regarding the petition against the proposed telecommunications mast at Ballymena Bowling Club.

- A copy of a letter from the Ulster Angling Federation Ltd to the Minister for Regional Development, regarding sewage discharges to rivers.

- A letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure requesting further information on issues within their Report into Inland Fisheries, from the Department of the Environment.

Action: To write to Department of the Environment to request further information

- A copy of the OFM/DFM New TSN Action Plan 2001-2003.

- The Department of the Environment’s response to concerns regarding the proposed aggregates tax.

Action: To write to Department for clarification on a number of issues.

To copy the Department’s response to the Quarry Producers Association

12. Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2 May 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.51 pm.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)