Mervyn Storey
North Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It will be noted that there are those who cry much about the environment and purport to be the champions of the environment who did not have the courtesy to come to the House and be present when the statement was being made.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Clearly, there are some in the House who want to continue with the same old, same old and get the same outcomes at a huge cost to the public purse and to farms in Northern Ireland. The Minister is absolutely right: it is a scourge.”
“I am sure that the Minister will be aware, having listened to the Member who spoke before me, that the farmers of North Antrim will make an informed choice about who best supported farmers during this mandate of the Assembly.”
“A pilot scheme has been operating with the Education Authority, the PSNI and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust across 60 schools in the south Down area since September 2021 and was extended to a further 77 schools in the Newry and south Armagh areas at the start of February 2022.”
“As Chair of the Justice Committee, I am pleased to welcome the motion. It implements the provisions taken forward by the Committee in the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 to establish an Operation Encompass model in Northern Ireland, which is, as the Minister has outlined, a police and early intervention pa…”
“We had our final meeting of that Committee this morning, and I want to place on the public record our appreciation and thanks to our Committee staff of for all the work that they have done.”
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“That would be an issue for DRD that is covered by the Roads Order. There has been an ongoing debate, and, as a society, we will have to look at the issue of speed ramps in a different way. However, that falls within the remit of DRD. In the past, when it has been an issue in relation to public realm works, there has been consultation between my Department and Roads Service. I would think that there is an ongoing issue that has to be resolved around what we view as the benefits or otherwise of speed ramps. <BR /> <BR />The power to direct councils —”
“The clause that Mr Wilson referred to relates to work that has been done in town centres as part of public realm schemes. We have seen many examples of good public realm schemes right across Northern Ireland and some examples of where they could have been done better. Issues have been raised and concerns have been expressed, but I believe that many of our towns have benefited from such schemes in recent years. The kind of structure covered by the clause might be best explained by way of an example, such as the kiosk at Castle Place in Belfast or the bandstand in one of the most important strategic towns in Northern Ireland, and I refer to Broadway in Ballymena. Plenty of safeguards will govern how the schemes will be delivered by councils, not least the need to ensure that DRD is consulted and that no highway is obstructed.”
“Therefore, although the comments about the Bill are not surprising coming from that particular party, it is disappointing that, on a day like this, we cannot even get some recognition that there has been work done and progress made on the issue. <BR /> <BR />Let me come to some of the other comments that were made. I may not cover them in order, so apologies if that is the case. My colleague from East Antrim made a number of observations. He is worried about roads being blocked. Well, I want to see obstructions removed from certain roads that are being blocked at the moment. I can give the assurance that the purpose of the Bill is not to assist, aid or abet any further obstructions being placed on the Queen's highway, as far as free passage is concerned.”
“I am surely not going to be in a place where I want to transfer powers to councils and then not trust them to do the job. It will be a case of collaboration between us both, and that is something that we should welcome and encourage. <BR /> <BR />I have to say that I am disappointed by comments made by Sandra Overend. Phrases were used such as a "state of limbo" and "poorly handled". We are now at the point at which we have the legislation. The legislation will be transferred to the Committee, which will do its statutory duty, and issues have already been raised about certain clauses in the Bill. That is the purpose of the House, that is the work of the House and that is what the House should be about. I gladly look forward to working with the Committee as it works its way through that process.”
“The other 55 people work on issues that will not transfer, such as social policy and EU funding. The plan is that no more posts will be created to manage the retained functions after the transfer, and we will seek to make sure that things remain as efficient as possible. <BR /> <BR />I want to give an assurance to my colleague from East Antrim that this is not about some of the powers and functions that we retain, and I may come back to that, or about staffing. It is not about the Department wanting to have a secret, small number of staff who retain power in the heart of my Department so that I can send them out on sorties around the 11 councils to find out what they are doing or not doing because I do not want the transfer to be happening.”
“All of those posts will be gone from the Department after 2016.”
“Those enhancements and schemes that were carried out could not have been done, I believe, by small councils on their own. <BR /> <BR />It has been a case of enhancing those powers and giving to local councils something that they have been asking for and that they want to have. This is a positive step forward, and I look forward to seeing how councils will use that power in the weeks and months ahead. <BR /> <BR />I now come to some of the issues that were raised. I want to address the issue of staffing, and I thank Dolores Kelly for the concern that she raised about it. Let me give some context in relation to that. It was raised by Mr McCrea, I think, and also by Sammy Wilson. There are 235 people working in DSD on regeneration and community development,180 of whom work on areas that will transfer to councils.”
“So, it is not the case that I as Minister or the Department want to be in any way obstructive; we want to be helpful. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Paula Bradley made a point about improving civic engagement. Speaking as someone who was in local government, I am very proud of the fact that I was first elected to Ballymoney Borough Council, which is the second smallest council of the existing 26. It was extremely difficult in many respects, in a council of that size, with a very small budget and overall financial capabilities, to do many of the things that we wanted to do. That is why, for my part — and, I think, for my council's part in the time that I was on it — it was of merit and value that there was an intervention by the Department in relation to public realm schemes.”
“In some cases, that is because those councils are possibly in a more advanced stage and are more capable of dealing with those issues because they have the resource and the capability, and they have been very proactive in the past in working with neighbourhood renewal and regeneration projects and the like. I think that it has been a combination of both, rather than falling down one way or the other. <BR /> <BR />I would like to reassure Members and, I trust, councils — as I will do over the next few weeks when I meet those whom I plan to meet — that we are working, and will endeavour to work, with councils where they raise genuine issues and matters of specific concern. In fact, we have even addressed some of those already by some conversations that we have had with councils.”
“Before I get into other issues, I want to deal with the issue of whether it was preferable to have it on 1 April 2015 or 1 April 2016. I have been privy to some conversations with councils. In fact, I went to the partnership panel, as I think I mentioned in my opening remarks, and it was abundantly clear that some councils were glad that there was not going to be the introduction of those powers or conferral of those powers to them as of 1 April 2015. They welcomed the fact that there was now some certainty around the issue and that we would work in conjunction with them over time. Equally, however, some councils were concerned because they would have preferred to have the power.”
“Let me say and place on record that I would have preferred it had the Bill been brought to the Assembly and councils had the powers as of 1 April this year. However, as most Members will be aware, there is an issue about the frustration as to how this House operates. It is a five-party mandatory coalition, and it does bring about issues of concern when you have to get an agreement. It was clear when I came in to office that, on four separate occasions, there had been a failure to get an agreement around this Bill. I endeavoured, with the best efforts of my capabilities, to see how we could move the situation forward. That resulted in us getting to this point today.”
“I thank the Members who have made a contribution to the debate. We have seen the commencement of a Bill through the processes of the House, and I look forward to the engagement with the Committee. It will now give the Committee some work of substance to get involved in and something of merit to be engaged with. I trust that there will be no behaviour by Members in the Committee that will lead to any further investigations of Members by Mr Bain. I am told that we have had some thuggish behaviour, but I have to say that we will await to see that. Given the track record of one of the Members involved, I will leave it to see what will happen in that regard. <BR /> <BR />Let me try to make my way through some of the comments that were made. I thank the Chair, in his absence, for his comments on endeavouring to move this process forward.”
“<BR /> <BR />From the consultation responses and meetings with the councils, it is clear that there is significant support for the principles of the Bill, the transfer of these responsibilities to the new councils and the conferral of these powers on local government. On that basis, I hope that all parties can give the proposals their full support.”
“<BR /> <BR />In relation to the concerns about the integration of urban and rural programmes, it is important to note that community planning will also place a duty on key Departments and agencies to be engaged in the community planning process and to have regard to the community plan when considering how best to deliver services locally. Community planning will have the form of achieving the proper integration of urban and rural support programmes. So, given the strong link between the community investment fund, community planning and the subregional nature of the programme, there would need to be a strong reason not to proceed with its transfer to the new councils.”
“<BR /> <BR />While I understand the points raised in the correspondence, in my consideration of the issue I have been mindful that the agreed position of the Executive is that responsibility for regeneration and community development at a local level should rest with local government. The transfer of the community investment fund to councils fits well within the overall ethos of local government reform, which, as I have said, will allow local people to make decisions on the priorities for their area at a local level.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members will also have received correspondence in the last 24 hours about the community investment fund. I want to take a minute to say something about that correspondence, as it is worthwhile placing these comments on record in the House. In that correspondence, concerns centred on the fact that, as a result of the transfer of the programme to councils in 2016, an opportunity may be lost to integrate the community investment fund with the rural development programmes managed by DARD. I will write to Members about that issue shortly, but perhaps I should make a few initial comments.”
“It should be clear, however, that councils will be left free to decide how best to deploy these in the context of departmental guidance. It is important to underscore and underline that. If there is a document that should become one of ownership for the new councils, it should be the 'Urban Regeneration and Community Development Policy Framework', because it gives much of the context and detail of how we see these things rolling out over the years ahead. <BR /> <BR />Some Members may ask why we do not proceed to say when and where councils should decide to support schemes or projects. However, in my view, that would be contrary to the whole ethos of local government reform. The Executive have decided that decisions affecting local people should, where possible, be made by local people at a local level.”
“There is another concern about when we transfer the powers: that this will happen somehow and the Department will walk away from all its responsibilities. However, it is right to say that this will not be without support from my Department. The Bill will give the Department power to publish strategic guidance to which councils must have regard in exercising their functions, under the 'Urban Regeneration and Community Development Policy Framework', which was published in July 2014. It provides the strategic direction for regeneration and community development policy. The Department will also support councils by publishing guidance on related issues, such as the evidence base and best-practice interventions in respect of regeneration and community development.”
“Yes, the budget will be devolved. It would not be in keeping with good practice to decide to give councils the power but not give them the wherewithal to do it. Obviously, there will always be an issue about the amount of money. We have heard it in the House already today. In some cases, it seems as though there is never enough. I am well aware of concerns about finance. However, I am endeavouring, even in my discussions with the Finance Minister in the pre-consultation for the Budget, to make sure that we give this the concern and priority that it deserves so that the budget will transfer. <BR /> <BR />I will continue. All of this, of course, will happen. This is an important point to make.”
“<BR /> <BR />What current DSD powers and responsibilities will go to local government as a result of the Regeneration Bill? The new councils will have the power to carry out regeneration schemes and projects, public realm and environment improvement schemes and they will take the lead in tackling deprivation and delivering community development in their area. In a number of areas, some of that work is already being undertaken in partnership with my Department and existing councils, but, in the future, all councils will have the lead role. They will be able to decide on priorities and where the budget should be expended. All of that will be within the wider context of the new duty of councils to develop community plans for their area.”
“Those responsibilities and powers rest with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the housing associations, and that situation will not change as a result of the Bill. Since coming into office, I have been well aware of the concerns that there are about housing and of Members' fears, worries and suspicions around the issue. I trust that Members will reflect on the work that we have done to bring the Bill to this stage. I have worked to ensure that those concerns, fears, worries — whatever they are — are allayed, but that needs to be repeated and rehearsed because, sometimes, that is necessary for some Members to understand that what we are saying is exactly the case. So, we have made progress on that matter, and those powers will stay as they are.”
“While those functions were of a relatively minor nature relating to unfitness and housing in multiple occupation, I want to make it clear that the intention was never to transfer to councils any responsibilities for determining housing need or providing social housing.”
“I gave a commitment on that occasion that I would endeavour to ensure that there was consultation and collaboration with local councils and that, despite the perceived difficulty with the transfer of functions and powers as of 1 April 2016, we would do all in our power to make that transition as seamless and uneventful as possible so that we have a good working relationship. That is what I am committed to, and that is the reason why I have been in consultation and in contact with the local councils over the last number of days. <BR /> <BR />I mentioned that it was decided, after some discussions, to remove from the Bill the housing functions that were earmarked for transfer.”
“These include planning, local economic development and tourism, which fit well with the responsibility for regeneration. Although DSD powers will not be conferred until 2016, I am committed to working closely with the new councils to make sure that our regeneration and community development activity fits with the plans, which will be developed locally, and that we are fully engaged in the community planning process that councils will take the lead on. As part of that process of engagement, I intend to embark on a series of meetings with each of the new councils shortly. <BR /> <BR />The issue has been raised by a number of Members. Members will also be aware that a panel was established some weeks ago. I attended that panel along with other Ministers and representatives from local government.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have had some useful discussions about the content of the Bill with a number of Executive colleagues over the last number of months since taking up office. This has resulted in the Executive agreeing to remove the housing provisions in the Bill and retitling it the Regeneration Bill. However, the timescales around these discussions meant that it was not possible to secure the Executive's agreement in time to allow me to have this legislation in place for 1 April 2015, as originally planned. Therefore, with Executive agreement, it is now planned that these responsibilities will be conferred on local government a year later, from 1 April 2016. <BR /> <BR />DSD's powers and functions will not transfer in April 2015, but, as Members will be aware, a number of key functions from other Departments will transfer.”
“The Regeneration Bill will allow the conferral of powers to tackle deprivation and undertake regeneration and community development in local government and the transfer of functions relating to Laganside to the new Belfast City Council. The Bill sits in the context of the framework provided for local government reform by the DOE's Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, which received Royal Assent last year. I believe that these new responsibilities will contribute significantly to the aims of local government reform, which are to provide a stronger and more efficient local government that delivers more effective services to its communities. It will give councils the opportunity to really shape service provision for their citizens, whom they have been elected to serve, and to adapt to the local needs of those communities.”
“That is something that we all need to work towards. That is why I also plan to bring a paper to the Executive that I trust will be supported by my Executive colleagues on how we can, collectively, continue to enhance Portrush for the local tourist industry and wider tourist improvement, on which I believe it will be well placed to deliver.”
“On the issue of the Open, I believe that Portrush needs to continue the progress that has been made. Anyone who has visited Portrush recently will, I think, undoubtedly be impressed by the public realm works that have been carried out, particularly those in front of Barry's and on the east and west strands. Also, anyone who has been in Portrush over the holiday period and in recent days will have seen what I have described as "a restaurant revolution". The number of people who now see Portrush as a night economy location for restaurants is, I think, a credit to those involved. <BR /> <BR />The Portrush regeneration strategy, Coleraine Borough Council and my Department will carry out further work to ensure that every step possible is taken to have Portrush in its best shape when the Open comes to Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member. The Member has raised with me the concerns of some local hoteliers about even the scoping exercise that we are currently carrying out, as has his councillor colleague Mr Trevor Clarke. The Member will know that we have agreed to meet those local hoteliers who have raised some practical issues and we intend to do that pretty soon.”
“I thank the Member for the question on Portrush. The Portrush regeneration strategy, which was produced a number of years ago, indicated that the development of a large four-star hotel could have a major regenerational impact on the resort. My Department is responsible for urban regeneration, so we have been working closely with Coleraine Borough Council to bring forward the project identified in the strategy, including the hotel. The scoping study is an important piece of work, because it will, I trust, be used to determine what the next steps should be in the development of a new hotel for Portrush.”
“Yes, and a business case for the new scheme was examined by the Department's economists and submitted for approval from DFP.”
“There are undoubtedly challenges around any implementation, but I have endeavoured to make sure that comments made to me in correspondence from the Member are listened to and addressed and that we roll out the scheme in a most efficient and effective way so that people who have been targeted in a particular way, differently from how they were targeted under the previous scheme, will be addressed. I trust that that will give a greater sense of urgency to addressing their needs.”
“I thank the Member for her question, which follows on from her writing to me. I thank her for taking the time to give a very comprehensive assessment of practical issues that she has heard being raised on the ground. I trust that she will receive the response soon, if she has not already done so, as it was signed off on. The Member raised issues around the capacity of councils and said that there is a risk that a targeted approach is not equitable. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the scheme will be valuable. It will add to the previous scheme.”
“— and will have a financial impact on the councils.”
“— there is no doubt that it will be challenging —”
“<BR /> <BR />I will say this, however: I have had discussions. The Minister of the Environment set up a panel to look at transition for a range of issues. I attended its first meeting just before Christmas, at which I gave an undertaking to the councils to go out to them, sit down with the new authorities and, as far as is possible within the power that I have in the Department, work with them to mitigate the elements of the reduction in the budget and ensure that, in the transition, my Department and the councils give priority to the schemes that the councils would like to progress in their area. In fact, the dates for those visits have almost been secured in my diary. Be under no illusion —”
“The Member gives an overview of the current position. The budgetary implications will be determined when we conclude the current process with regard to the draft Budget and when I know exactly the financial position of the Department. However, I think that the Member is right and that it will lead to a situation where the amount of money to be transferred along with the powers will be smaller than previously envisaged. Obviously, it is convenient for some Members that that will happen under a particular Department other than their own so that the blame can rest with the current Minister as the person unable to deliver the full package. <BR /> <BR />However, I remind Members that, as far as I am aware, there was still a five-party mandatory coalition when I came to the House today. The issue is an Executive responsibility.”
“<BR /> <BR />By the time all that had been done, it became apparent that we were not able to get the Bill through the processes of the House and get Royal Assent before the summer of this year. Therefore, agreement on accelerated passage was not possible. That is why, next week, I will introduce the Regeneration Bill, not the Regeneration and Housing Bill. The name of the Bill has now been changed, and I trust that I have addressed the issues and concerns that have been raised with me. I am disappointed in the delay; however, the legislative process of the Bill will commence in the House next week.”
“When I took up office, or, rather, when I was informed that I was taking up office, it was clear to me that, on a number of issues, we needed to have a conversation as to why we were still in a state of delay. One of the issues was regeneration. The Bill was then known as the Regeneration and Housing Bill. Members on the opposite side of the House will, I trust, bear testimony that I endeavoured to address the issues seen and raised. Previously, there had been correspondence with my predecessor particularly around concerns that, in the context of the Bill, there were issues with regard to housing. I quickly moved to have those elements taken out so that we could, if possible, ensure a speedy progress for the legislation.”
“The Member is right that the scheme's deadline is 25 February. I am sure that the Member has seen that we have begun a television advertising campaign; we also have advertisements on the sides of buses and on streetliners to get the message across. However, I have to say that we are not trying to be in any way draconian in imposing this. I genuinely want to get the message across. There is a benefit here for the landlord and also for the people who live in the properties. Therefore, I trust that it will be our experience that as we get closer to 25 February, it is more likely that the large number of those who still have to register will comply and those registrations will take place. You will probably find that.”
“I thank the Member for the question. Obviously, some landlords have come to me to express concern. There are those who believe that sometimes you can have over-regulation in that particular area. However, the current position is that, to date, over 12,000 landlords have registered and provided details of over 26,000 properties in Northern Ireland. Landlords have until 25 February to register under the scheme.”
“We took on board comments that it made on the scheme in particular. So, it is in the in tray, but I may need to have further conversation with the Finance Minister to make sure that funds are available so that we can progress accordingly.”
“Obviously, I have had a number of requests to extend the scheme. I am giving consideration to that. One of the other additional benefits of the scheme is that somewhere in the region of 2,000 different installers have carried out work as part of it. That obviously had a particular benefit to the local economy. Just in case some Members of the Ulster Unionist Party are listening, let me say that none of those contractors had anything to do with my party or me as an individual, so I can declare that no pecuniary benefit came to me as a result of that. Extending the scheme is something that we are giving serious consideration to. I had a meeting with Phoenix gas at the end of last week, and it has been very complimentary of the way that the boiler replacement scheme was introduced and implemented.”
“I thank the Member for the question. The boiler replacement scheme was launched back in 2012. It provided grant funding of up to £1,000 to households with an income of less than £40,000. There was also grant funding for the replacement of inefficient boilers over 15 years of age. The latest available figures show that, since the launch of the scheme, to date, over 22,000 applications for the grant have been approved and over 17,000 households have had work completed. The replacing of an old, inefficient boiler will, on average, save households something like £400 a year and will improve the thermal comfort of the home. I think that this is obviously a good news story and something that people have benefited from, as they have seen very tangible benefits as a result of the scheme.”
“I think that that is something that we need to continue to work at, particularly in the light of the questions that were asked earlier on the roll-out of welfare reform. If there is going to be considerable change to the system, as undoubtedly we will see over the next weeks and months, it needs to be done in a way that ensures that people have all the relevant advice available to hand. This will play a key part in that.”
“I thank the Member for his question. On completion of the pilot, the decision was taken not to proceed with a roll-out of a further test of the financial support service. That decision was taken on the basis that the pilot did not demonstrate that a roll-out would be cost-effective at present, given concerns raised at the very beginning of Question Time about its cost. However, the elements of the pilot that were successful — I have tried to give some outline to those previously, such as the benefit entitlement check and the provision of the leaflet detailing the organisations that offer advice and support — will be taken forward and introduced into existing service provision across the network of offices.”
“Yes, I can. We all need to appreciate that the benefit uptake campaign has been very successful, and those organisations were involved in that. I think that we all have seen how that particular scheme has brought huge benefit to many families who would neither have had access to nor benefited from it had the campaign not been in place. I am keen to ensure that it continues and that we build on the success and learn from the process, which, in this pilot, was not perfect by any means. However, I think that the collaboration, as I said in response to a previous question, has given us an indication of how we need to continue to work to make sure that people have access to appropriate information and, as a result of that information, become the beneficiaries of access to benefits.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition to Citizens Advice NI and Advice NI, there was engagement with other support organisations such as Lifeline, Women's Aid and Mencap to inform them of the scheme and to gain their agreement and cooperation to provide their contact details in a signposting leaflet. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate greatly the commitment, time and effort afforded by my departmental staff, agency staff and the advice sector in helping to support the financial support service trials to inform an integrated joined-up service that provides a more positive claimant experience and ensures that claimants can easily access the advice that they require.”
“My Department worked in close partnership with Citizens Advice and Advice NI on the development, implementation and delivery of the financial support service pilot. The key representatives with whom the Department liaised and engaged were Mr Bob Stronge, chief executive, and Kevin Higgins, head of policy, at Advice NI, and Pól Callaghan, head of services at Citizens Advice. They were instrumental in the design of the service, including the training of front-line advisers, and in designing a mechanism for measuring the outcomes for budgeting and debt support. There were a number of very successful engagement events with front-line advisers in the advice sector and the Social Security Agency. All organisations included in the design were also involved in the evaluation of the scheme.”
“If anything has been learned from the way in which universal credit in particular has been rolled out in the rest of the United Kingdom, it is more about its implementation than the overall policy intent. I want to ensure that this is rolled out on a practical day-to-day basis across jobs and benefit offices in such a way that people are not disadvantaged and can genuinely have confidence that, if a problem arises, it will be addressed and dealt with in a fair and effective way.”