Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.35am.

1. Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

2. Draft Minutes of Meeting Held on 29 September 2011

The Committee agreed the minutes of 29 September 2011.

3. Matters Arising

The Committee noted the Minister’s response to Committee queries on the Líofa 2015 Initiative.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the correspondence from the Department on the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, after it received the Department’s evaluation report on the fund.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request: information on the acquisition of land for the Ulster Canal project; that the Minister seeks clarification of the financial sustainability of the project at the next NSMC meeting; and that the Committee is kept informed of any developments.

Mrs Karen McKevitt joined the meeting at 10.41am.

The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding its review into a 21 st Century Science Centre.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Sport NI to ascertain whether it applied the Noble Index criterion when considering applications for the Awards for Sport funding.

Mr Michael McGimpsey joined the meeting at 10.43am.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department on the Community’s Festival Fund.

4. Departmental briefing on Arts Annual Support for Organisations Programme (ASOP)

The Committee noted the Clerk’s memo and the briefing paper from the Department on the findings of the evaluation into the Annual Support for Organisations Programme (ASOP).

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.46am:

Head of Arts Branch, Ms Joanna McConway; and 
Economist, Mr Patrick Neeson

A question and answer session followed.

Agreed: The officials agreed to provide details of the applicants who received money through ASOP, and how much each applicant received.

Officials left the meeting at 11.22am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on Departmental targets to secure private finance to support the arts sector.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland on the findings of the Department’s evaluation of ASOP.

Mr Michael McGimpsey left the meeting at 11.24am.

5. Libraries NI briefing on outcome of Stage 2

The Committee noted the Clerk’s memo and the briefing paper from Libraries NI.

Mr William Irwin left the meeting at 11.25am.

The following officials joined the meeting at 11.25am:

Chief Executive, Ms Irene Knox; 
Interim Chairperson, Mr Nigel Maccartney; 
Director of Business Support, Mr Terry Heron; and 
Assistant Director, Ms Muriel Todd.

Mr Michael McGimpsey returned to the meeting at 11.29am. 
Mr William Irwin returned to the meeting at 11.34am.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr Robin Swann made a declaration that he is Co-Chair of the Save the Kells and Connor library campaign.

Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 11.55am. 
Mr Dominic Bradley returned to the meeting at 12.02pm.

The meeting was suspended at 12.24pm.

Mr Michael McGimpsey left the meeting at 12.24pm. 
Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 12.24pm.

The meeting reopened in public session at 12.30pm.

6. Libraries NI briefing regarding opening hours consultation

The Committee noted the Clerk’s memo, Libraries NI correspondence and briefing paper, and letters from members of the public opposed to the reduction in opening hours of Kilkeel library.

The following officials presented to the Committee:

Chief Executive, Ms Irene Knox; 
Interim Chairperson, Mr Nigel Maccartney; 
Director of Business Support, Mr Terry Heron; and 
Assistant Director, Ms Muriel Todd.

Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 12.36pm.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr David Hilditch returned to the meeting at 12.40pm.

Mr William Irwin left the meeting at 12.47pm.

Agreed: Libraries NI agreed to provide the Committee with a link to the Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Services (NINIS), which details the profile of rural communities in Northern Ireland.

The officials left the meeting at 1.03pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue: a press release regarding possible job losses in libraries; and to write to Libraries NI expressing the Committee’s view on the Stage 2 consultation, for consideration by Libraries NI’s Board at its meeting on 20 October.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from Kilkeel Library users to Libraries NI for its consideration.

7. Committee’s inquiry into Creative Industries

The Committee agreed to return to the inquiry at next week’s meeting.

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín left the meeting at 1.08pm.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s invite to attend a seminar on the Public Expenditure System.

The Committee noted the correspondence from Libraries NI regarding the Health in Mind event on 12 October.

The Committee noted the invitation to attend the Arts and Business Breakfast Series on the following dates: 21 October; 11 November; and 25 November.

The Committee noted the letter from the Department confirming the appointment of Mr Nigel Mccartney as Interim Chair of Libraries NI.

The Committee noted that the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2010/11 has been laid in the Business Office.

9. Chairperson’s business

The Committee noted that the performance of the Painkillers, which members are scheduled to attend, is on Tuesday 11 October.

Mr Dominic Bradley returned to the meeting at 1.11pm. 
Mr Oliver McMullan left the meeting at 1.11pm.

The Committee noted that arrangements would be made for the afternoon of Thursday 20 October to visit Maurice Orr’s multi-sensory exhibition in the Braid, Ballymena.

The Committee noted the invitation from the Culture Company 2013 and the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust, to attend the Corporate and Community Engagement Reception on 18 October.

The Committee noted that the Golfing Legends Arts Exhibition would be launched in the Great Hall on Wednesday 26 October.

10. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

11. Any other business

There was no other business.

12. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will take place on Thursday 13 October 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.13pm.

Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA 
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure 
13 October 2011