MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - 22nd MAY 2002
Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 22 May 2002 in the Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rules
3. Executive Programme Funds
4. Strategic Planning Bill
5. Water Service Customer Survey Results 2001
6. Water Service Emergency Planning Procedures
7. Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA)
8. Breakdowns of Enterprise Trains
9. Roads Service Grass Cutting Policy Review
10. Any Other Business
11. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr G Savage
Absent:
Mr M Robinson
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss K Davidson (Executive Support)
Miss C Lagan (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
Ms J Betts (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting was called to order at 11.10am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2002 were agreed.
2. Statutory Rules
a) The Committee noted five Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make, but which will not be laid in the Assembly.
b) The Committee considered the Statutory Rules:
Proposed Route B80 Tempo Road, Ratoran (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
Proposed Malone Place, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Department intends to make these rules which are subject to negative resolution.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the rules.
3. Executive Programme Funds
Mrs Linda Brown, Mr Jack McGibbon and Dr Andrew Grieve from the Department joined the meeting at 11.15am. They gave a presentation and answered members' questions on the Executive Programme Funds in relation to the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.42am.
The Committee sought further information on the following:
a) the criteria used by Roads Service when prioritising bids,
b) the criteria for allocating funding resources across the rail network,
c) the level of priority given to achieve greater integration in rail and bus services in relation to Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport.
Agreed: The officials agreed to brief the Committee at a future meeting in relation to the criteria used by Roads Service when prioritising bids.
The officials agreed to provide further information for the Committee in relation to their queries.
The Chairman thanked the officials for their attendance and they left at 12.20pm.
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12.20pm.
The meeting resumed in public session at 2.05pm. The following members were present:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr P McNamee
The Chairman welcomed Joe McKernan, Deputy Mayor of Ballymena Borough Council and Councillor PJ McAvoy of Ballymena Borough Council to the meeting.
The Deputy Mayor welcomed the Committee to Ballymena.
4. Strategic Planning Bill
Mr Billy Gamble and Mr Ian Raphael from the Department joined the meeting at 2.10pm. They briefed the Committee and answered members' questions on the proposed Strategic Planning Bill.
The Chairman thanked the officials for attending the meeting and they left at 2.32pm.
5. Water Service Customer Survey Results 2001
Mr John Kelly from the Department joined the meeting at 2.32pm. He gave a presentation and answered members' questions on the Water Service Customer Survey Results 2001.
The Committee sought clarification on the Water Service policy on addressing the number of properties without mains water.
Agreed: Mr Kelly agreed to provide the Committee with a report on the issue of properties without mains water which is currently being considered by the Department.
The Chairman thanked Mr Kelly for his presentation which ended at 3.12pm.
6. Water Service Emergency Planning Procedures
Mr Kelly gave a presentation and answered members' questions on the Water Service Emergency Planning Procedures. The presentation gave an overview of how Water Service reacts to emergency situations and major incidents, such as drought, flooding and contamination of the water supply.
The Chairman thanked Mr Kelly for his attendance and he left the meeting at 3.54pm.
7. Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA)
The Committee discussed correspondence from the Minister and Mr Bryan Gray, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) which referred to problems faced by traders in Garvagh and elsewhere, as a result of major public works being undertaken by the Department and other utilities.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Finance and Personnel (via the Finance and Personnel Committee) seeking information on the possibility of rates relief for small businesses affected by major roads schemes.
To write to the Minister for Regional Development to seek clarification on the procedures to ensure full and effective consultation with local residents and traders during major roads schemes.
8. Breakdowns of Enterprise Trains
The Committee discussed a response from Mr Ted Hesketh, Managing Director of Translink, on the recent breakdowns of the Enterprise Train.
Agreed: To write back to Mr Hesketh to seek further clarification on some of the points raised in his letter.
9. Roads Service Grass Cutting Policy Review
The Committee discussed a response from the Department on the Roads Service Grass Cutting Policy Review.
Agreed: To write back to the Department to seek further information in relation to this matter.
10. Any Other Business
Proposed Coleraine Harbour Order
The Committee had a brief discussion on the proposed Coleraine Harbour Order.
Agreed: To write to the Department to seek clarification on the differences between the provisions contained in the Coleraine Harbour Order and the recently approved Orders for the other Northern Ireland Trust Ports.
The Committee should consider visiting Coleraine Harbour.
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 29 May 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 4.09pm.
