MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - 27th FEBRUARY 2002
Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in public session on Wednesday, 27th February 2002 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
4. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
5. Harbour Orders
6. Railway Safety Bill
7. Possible meeting with DoE and DETI
8. Pedestrian Access to Woodfield Development Jordanstown
9. Proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration
10. Quinquennial Review
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
Mr M Robinson
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs S Young (Executive Support)
Miss J Massey (Administrative Support)
The meeting was called to order at 10.40 am
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th February 2002 were agreed.
2. Matters arising:
(a) Antrim to Knockmore Railway Line
Following the presentations at last week's meeting on the proposed discontinuance of the Antrim to Knockmore Railway line, the Committee discussed how the issue should be taken forward.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 10.50 am
Agreed: a) To invite representatives from Belfast International Airport to the Committee to discuss funding of a railway halt at the airport.
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.54 am
b) The Chairman will reply to the letter received from Mr Ford, MLA, advising him that the Committee has agreed it could not assume responsibility for the cost of commissioning the work by the Railway Engineers' Association. The Committee will, however, write to the Department to urge it to lend its support to the preparation of a report on the condition of the Knockmore line.
c) To await the updated figures being prepared by the Department in relation to the AD Little and the ERM Economic Appraisal reports.
(b) Telecommunications Towers
The Committee welcomed the reply from the Department which confirmed that the review of Water Service's practice of allowing its land to be used for telecommunications masts has now been extended to include Roads Service property.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 11.15 am
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 11.15 am
3. Statutory Rules the Department intends to make
a) The Committee noted three 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 Musgrave Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
Proposed Victoria Street, Belfast (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Department intends to make these Rules, which are subject to
negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rules.
4. Statutory Rules laid in the Assembly
The Committee considered two Statutory Rules, subject to negative resolution, which have been made and laid in the Assembly.
Question Put and Agreed: That the Regional Development Committee has considered the Statutory Rule 17/2002 -
Upper Knockbreda Road, Castlereagh (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule.
Question Put and Agreed: That the Regional Development Committee has considered the Statutory Rule 18/2002 -
Park Street, Ballyclare (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
and has no objection to the Rule.
5. Harbour Orders
Mr Hay declared an interest as a member of Londonderry Port and Harbour Authority.
Agreed: To consider the Harbour Orders further once the Examiner of Statutory Rules has examined them.
The Committee noted the concerns raised in a letter to the Minister from Dr Billy Leonard, Coleraine Borough Council regarding proposed development at Coleraine Harbour.
Agreed: The Clerk will request a copy of the Minister's reply to Dr Leonard and also seek clarification on the status of Coleraine Harbour.
6. Railway Safety Bill
Agreed: a) The Committee agreed that due to the number of witnesses expected, an extension of the Committee stage would be required and that the Chairman would put down the following motion once the Bill had been referred to the Committee:
"Proposed: That in accordance with Standing Order 31(5) the period referred to in Standing Order 31(3) be extended to 24 May 2002 in relation to the Committee Stage of the Railway Safety Bill (NIA 3/01)"
b) The Committee should invite NITHCO/Translink, Transport 2000 and the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland to give oral evidence.
c) To invite written submissions from a number of interested groups.
7. Possible meeting with Department of the Environment and Department of Enterprise in the Republic of Ireland and possible visit to Welsh Assembly
The Chairman advised the Committee on the arrangements that had been made to date. An update will be provided at next week's meeting.
8. Pedestrian Access to Woodfield Development Jordanstown
Mr Hutchinson declared an interest as a member of Newtownabbey Borough Council.
The Committee considered correspondence from Mr Miller which the Environment Committee had agreed should be referred to the Regional Development Committee. Mr Miller, a resident of the Woodfield development in Jordanstown, had written requesting that safe pedestrian access is provided from the development towards Jordanstown Train Station and Whiteabbey Primary School.
Agreed: The Clerk should reply to Mr Miller advising him of the Committee's policy of not getting involved with individual cases, and suggesting that he takes the matter up with the Planning Service, Newtownabbey Borough Council, or with local MLAs.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.58 am.
9. Proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration
The Committee considered a letter from the First and Deputy First Ministers asking for views of the Committee on the proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration.
Agreed: The Committee had no comment on the Terms of Reference, but wished to revisit the issue as the review progresses.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.05 pm
10. Quinquennial Review of the Planning Appeals Commission and the Water Appeals Commission
The Committee considered a letter from OFMDFM inviting comments on the review.
Agreed: The Committee had no comment to make on the review.
11. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee - Tourism Inquiry
The Committee considered the Department's submission on the Inquiry.
Mr McNamee left the meeting at 12.10 pm
Agreed: To endorse the Department's submission and add one further comment when responding to the ETI Committee as follows: To highlight the need for co- ordination in taking forward some of the measures contained in the Regional Development Strategy.
12. AOB
Newtownstewart Bypass
Some Members raised concerns about road safety aspects of the Newtownstewart Bypass roads scheme.
Agreed: To write to the Department for an update on the scheme, particularly in relation to the road safety aspects.
13. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 6th March 2002 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12.24 pm.
