ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM : INFRASTRUCTURE SUB-GROUP
Meeting held on 10 November at 10.30 am in Cookstown District Council Offices.
Present: Jim McCusker (Chairman)
Michael McGuckin
Richard Sterling
Michael Brennan
Doreen Brown
1. Minutes
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September were agreed.
2. Action arising from last meeting
2.1 A reply had not yet been received from the Planning Service to the points made by EDF at its September meeting. This would be followed up.
2.2 It had not been possible to arrange to
meet with the Construction Employers Federation. This would be carried forward to the
sub-group’s next meeting which would take place after the publication of ISNI,
expected in early/mid December.
3. December Report to EDF
3.1 A substantial report had been made to EDF in September. A further report was required in December. It would not be possible for the group to complete its work before the publication of ISNI.
3.2 The sub-group revisited its September report to pull out the recommendations and to attribute responsibility.
3.3 In addition to these items, the sub-group discussed the process of decision making by government and the need for transparency in relation to consideration of factors such as the RDS. There would also be a need for clarity on how the forthcoming Economic Strategy would dovetail with the RDS.
4. Infrastructure “Driver”
4.1 The sub-group considered the DFP paper.
4.2 The first draft of the Economic Strategy would be available shortly and would in due course be seen by EDF. The Strategy would contain a section of each of the four “drivers”, including Infrastructure.
4.3 The sub-group pointed to the need to ensure that there was a common understanding of the terminology used in the Strategy; if both the Strategy and the RDS used the same terms, the meaning should be the same.
4.4 There was a need for the DFP paper to pay
greater attention to the areas of NI outside
4.5 The issues relating to Ports should be flagged up to EDF.
5. Visit by Sir Rod Eddington
5.1 Sir Rod Eddington would be visiting NI shortly as part of his series of regional meetings to inform his study of the links between transport and economic development.
5.2 It was agreed that there should be involvement by EDF in the discussions being arranged for that visit.
6. Communications Strategy
6.1 The sub-group considered the draft Communications Strategy. It was agreed that Section 3 should acknowledge the existence and use of local newspapers at the sub-regional level.
7. Date of next meeting
7.1 The next meeting was confirmed for 10
January at 10.30 am in