Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.32am.

1. Apologies

 The apologies are noted above.

2. Draft Minutes of Meeting Held on 23 June 2011

The Committee agreed the minutes of 23 June 2011.

3. Matters Arising

The Committee noted that all of the correspondence agreed at last week’s meeting had been issued.

The Committee noted correspondence received by the previous Committee regarding the accounts of the North South Language Bodies.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the 2012 Olympics.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the Northern Ireland Events Company, and agreed to request a further update next year.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the process for reinstating town land names.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel in support of its representations to the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding funding for the Northern Ireland Place Names project.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to request that it is kept informed of progress on the Budget Exchange scheme.

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister regarding risk associated with the development of national stadiums.

4. Briefing from Arts Council of Northern Ireland regarding Overview of Remit

The Committee noted the Assembly Research and Information Service background paper on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; and the Art Council’s Annual Review paper.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.42am:

Chief Executive, Ms Roisín McDonough;

Director of Strategic Investment, Mr Nick Livingstone;

Director of Arts Development, Ms Nórín McKinney; and

Director of Operations, Ms Lorraine McDowell.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 11.24am.

Mr Dominic Bradley rejoined the meeting at 11.26am.

The briefing concluded at 11.42am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the timescale for bringing forward legislation on the Arts Council’s role as the provider of official statistics; an update on the UK City of Culture project regarding infrastructure; and the creative industries innovation fund.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Arts Council regarding the distribution of arts funding across Northern Ireland; the Council’s Start- Up Programme; its Review of Community Arts; and any other current or planned strategies underway.

5. Briefing from Libraries NI regarding Overview of Remit

The Committee noted the Clerk’s briefing paper and the Research and Information Service background paper on Libraries NI.

The Clerk spoke to her paper.

Ms Karen McKevitt left the meeting at 11.51am.

Ms Karen McKevitt rejoined the meeting at 11.53am.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Save Gilford Library campaign.

The Committee noted the briefing paper from Libraries NI.

The following officials joined the meeting at 11.54am:

Chairperson, Dr David Elliott; 
Chief Executive, Ms Irene Knox; 
Chairperson of Services Committee, Mr Nigel McCartney; and 
Director of Library Services, Ms Helen Osborn.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

Agreed: Libraries NI agreed to keep the Committee informed about the progress of plans to cluster the library services in Armagh.

Mr Robin Swann made a declaration that he is Co-Chair of the Kells and Connor Library’s campaign against closure.

Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 12.41pm.

Mr Dominic Bradley rejoined the meeting at 12.43pm.

The briefing concluded at 12.46pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a response from Libraries NI on any questions that were not addressed in the briefing.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department about their policy document ‘Delivering Tomorrow’s Libraries’.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the process and timescale for the appointment of elected representatives onto Libraries NI Board.

6. DCAL Briefing Paper on Departmental Priorities

The Committee noted the Department’s paper on Departmental Priorities.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Minister to deliver an oral brief to the Committee early in the new session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to ascertain the work she intends to bring to the Committee in the new session.

7. Consideration of Priorities and Options for Inquiries and Reviews

The Committee agreed to hold this agenda item in closed session.

The Committee moved into closed session at 12.49pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission research on the creative industries over summer recess.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to adopt a thematic approach to its consideration of sports issues in the next session.

The Committee moved into open session at 1.17pm.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted an email from a member of the public regarding the closure of 10 rural libraries.

The Committee noted a memo from the Public Accounts Committee on their Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule the Executive’s Review of Financial Processes onto the Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a brief from the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council onto the Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding the closure of Queen’s University Bookshop.

The Committee noted correspondence from Down District Council

The Committee noted the Equality Scheme for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence regarding Cine Magic to the Department.

9. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted that the Chairperson attended an In Camera session on culture and commerce on 23 June 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from Arts in Business onto the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee noted that the Chairperson attended a performance at the Lyric Theatre on 28 June 2011.

The Committee noted the invitation received by the Chairperson.

10. Draft Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold its first meeting after summer recess on Thursday 8 September 2011.

The Committee agreed the draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for a synopsis of her creative industries strategy.

11. Any Other Business

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the letter from the OFMDFM Committee on the review of Arm’s Length Bodies to Sport NI.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson over summer recess, to submit views on the releasing or withholding of information in any non-routine / contentious FOI requests.

12. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will take place on Thursday 8 September 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.25pm.

Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA 
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure 
8 September 2011