Derry City and Strabane District Council Open Minutes Of

Derry City and Strabane District Council Open Minutes of Environment and Regeneration Committee held in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, Derry on Wednesday 13 January 2016 at 4.00 pm. ______________________ Present:- Councillor Tierney (in the Chair); Aldermen Bresland, Devenney, Hussey, Warke; Councillors Dobbins, Duffy, Hassan, Hastings, Jackson, C Kelly, D Kelly and McKeever. In Attendance:- Director of Environment and Regeneration (Mrs K Phillips), Head of Environment (Mr C Canning), Head of Capital Development and Building Control (Mr F Morrison) and Committee Clerk (Ms D Melaugh). ______________________________ ER1/16 Notice and Summons for Meeting The Director of Environment and Regeneration read the Notice and Summons for the Meeting. ER2/16 Apologies An apology for absence was received from Councillor Campbell. ER3/16 Declarations of Members’ Interests Agenda Item 11- Tievenny Road Bridge Ardstraw Alderman Hussey declared an interest in the above item Open for Decision Deputations ER4/16 Presentation - Work of Boomhall Trust The Director of Environment and Regeneration advised that Mr. Eamon Dean of Boomhall Trust had contacted her late last week requesting the above deputation be deferred to a subsequent meeting of the Committee. The Committee Recommended that the presentation on the work of Boomhall Trust be rescheduled to a subsequent meeting of the Committee. Chairperson’s Business ER5/16 Broadband Connectivity A Member of the DUP grouping stated that he wished to express concern regarding the limitations of broadband connectivity in the rural area with many users reporting delays of over 20 minutes with regards to login. He proposed that representatives of BT be invited to Committee for the purposes of addressing such issues. The Director of Environment and Regeneration advised that the limitations of broadband connectivity in the rural area had been the subject of discussion at the Business and Culture Committee meeting the previous Tuesday and such matters were currently being dealt with by the Director of Business and Culture who was leading on this issue. She advised that the above comments of the aforementioned Member would be fed into this process and advanced within the appropriate corporate mechanisms. A Member of the SDLP grouping referred to the failures in the delivery of recent higher speed broadband developed by BT to many areas with specific reference to the rural community. He stated that it was important to clarify the rationale surrounding the variations in such connectivity. The Member stated that it was also important to acknowledge the absence of coverage by mobile network operators in such areas as it may not be deemed economically viable. A Member of the UUP in indicating his support for all of the above comments referred to the discussion which had taken place at the Business and Culture Committee the previous Tuesday. He stated that whilst existing delays in broadband connectivity were extremely frustrating for all users such failures were impacting adversely on businesses in the rural areas which were striving to grow and develop. A Member of the SF grouping referred to the collapse of the Mobile structure in the Strabane Sperrin area which had no fibre optic connectivity and referred to the importance of addressing such issues within the Directorates of Council. The Member stated that it was important to acknowledge the important role of OFCOM in relation to such matters and in this regard he proposed that Mr. Jonathan Rose, Director of OFCOM be invited to meet with Committee. The Committee Recommended that representatives of British Telecom and Mr. Jonathan Rose, Director of OFCOM be invited into the relevant Committee to discuss issues of limited broadband and mobile connectivity within the Council area with particular reference to the rural communities. ER6/16 Deputation – NI Water The Chairperson welcomed Mr. Terry Quinn, Head of M&E Services, Mr Martin Malley, Networks Water Area Manager and Mr Nigel McKee, EP Senior Project Manager to the meeting. The deputation then presented an overhead presentation which had previously been circulated, covering the following areas:- NI Water Background NI Water Service Delivery Key Priorities Regulatory Price Reviews Closing the Efficiency Gap Customer Service NI Water Capital Investment Local Capital Projects Current Public Initiatives Winter Campaign Preparations Customer Care Register Stakeholder Campaign Members made a range of comments with regards to the following:- The progressive work undertaken by NI Water from 2007-2015. The efficiency and promptness in which NI Water responded to local constituent issues. The increased level of capital investment in the treatment and delivery of water systems. NI Water’s continuing improvement in customer focus was noted. Current odours emanating from the Treatment Plant in Campsie. Continuing strong odours in the vicinity of Craigavon Bridge notwithstanding recent significant upgrades in water treatment infrastructure. Reference was made to proposed works in and around the Foyle Street area and the impact of the scheme on odour reduction. The proposed resolution of sewage spill onto Artigarvan Football pitch. The importance of addressing the severe potholing in and around the construction of a Pumping Station in the location of the existing station alongside the Upper Galliagh Road. Reference was made to the high number of public complaints from residents in areas of Woodbrook and Pinetrees regarding the impact of existing extensive levels of potholing on roads which were creating unsafe roads. The status of sewage works and connections in the areas of Ballymagorry and Artigarvan. The immediate need for an upgrade of the Water Treatment plant at Donemana. Clarification was sought on the difficulties encountered by the Fire Service in accessing sufficient water supply in response to the major fire the previous weekend at Gillilands, Culmore Road. The continuing reduced water pressure being experienced by residents in Culmore with particular reference to Donovan Road. The noise pollution emanating from the operation of the Water Treatment Plant at Culmore and its adverse impact on residents. Reference was made to the service delivery as outlined in the presentation and further clarification sought on the 155,000 premises without wastewater services. Clarification was sought on how many of 818,000 quoted customers were business customers and paying Water Charges. Clarification was sought if Government budgets were sufficiently recompensing the monies foregone as a result of nil water charges. The absence of any information on the number of connections undertaken by NI over the past 12 months. Reference was made to the number of rural properties which remained unconnected to main water supply and clarification sought as to NI Water’s proposals to address such a situation. Reference was made to the extended rural area of the new Council and clarification sought if NI Water had sufficient spend to ensure the required levels of expenditure. The proposed new Waste Water Pumping Station and Sewer Rehabilitation at Castlederg was welcomed. Clarification was sought if the new facilities would have the ability to increase current levels of capacity and meet further demand arising from expanding new build. Reference was made to the difficulties emanating from unadopted streets and clarification sought on any controls/enforcement mechanisms which NI Water may have in place to challenge infrastructure which does not meet the required standards. Clarification was sought on the cost computation used by NI Water which dictated new sewer/main water infrastructure based on property unit connections. Clarification was sought on the circumstances surrounding the Fire Service’s non access to main water supply when attending a fire in Glenmornan. Reference was made to the importance of NI Water’s engagement with the farming community. Reference was made to the proposed upgrade works at Carmoney Plant and clarification sought as to its proposed ability to extend access to main water supply for adjacent rural communities. Reference was made to overflows which required immediate attention with particular reference of the area of Oakland in Strabane. NI Water representatives in response to the above made a range of comments which included reference to the following:- Clarification would be sought from the Networks Sewage Division regarding odours at the Campsie Treatment Plant following which a response would be issued to Members. Significant upgrade amounting to approximately £4 million investment had been undertaken at the Duke Street Pumping Station which had resulted in major improvements to odours in and around the Craigavon Bridge. Further investigatory works would take place at Dunfield Terrace. There would be a sewage scheme undertaken in the vicinity of the main Road leading to Artigarvan but there was no proposed works in relation to the Artigarvan Pitch. It was indicated however that the comments in terms of the sewage slippage at Artigavan Pitch would be fed back following which a response would be issued to Members. It was further advised that a `Pump Away’ scheme would be undertaken at the existing Treatment Plant at Artigarvan resulting in the transfer of sewage to Ballymagorry. It was indicated that whilst potholing had existed in the areas of the Buncrana, Culmore and Galliagh roads prior to commencement of NI Water schemes discussions were ongoing with Roads

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