Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
offences. The guidance should also help to improve the payment rates for fixed penalty notices and
ultimately maximise their contribution to improving local environmental quality.
The use of fixed penalty notices is just one element of enforcement of environmental law in an effort
to tackle environmental crime such as littering. It follows that there are other ways in which a district
council can improve local environmental quality and reduce environmental crime: education, campaigns
and improvements to street-scene services are just three examples of things that can play a part.
Over the coming years the Department will be monitoring the impact of the new anti-litter laws and the
extent to which they are being enforced by councils and also in terms of improvements in local environmental
cleanliness. Councils asked for the stronger new anti-litter powers and I fully expect councils to
implement them in order to deter people from littering and to improve local environmental quality.
Grant Aid for Listed Buildings
Mr Elliott asked the Minister of the Environment whether he will allocate additional grant aid for listed
buildings of significant importance that require urgent repairs, where, for ethical reasons, Lottery grants
cannot be accepted.
(AQW 13238/11-15)
Mr Attwood: The Department’s listed buildings grant-aid scheme - for the repair and maintenance of
historic fabric - is targeted at the listed building itself; historically (ie pre 2008) the higher grades of
listed buildings received a higher level of grant-aid. The rate of grant-aid has now been standardised
at 35%, ensuring a consistency of approach. However, in taking account of the needs of some owners,
a higher level of grant-aid is available for those on certain qualifying benefits, and also to owners of
thatched buildings for repair work to thatch roofs.
A review of the grant-aid policy is underway. This question has been raised in the past, and the Department
has responded that it cannot vary consistency of approach in relation to the ethical stand of some
owners. I will think further on the issue but need to ensure consistency and equality of approach.
There are other funding streams available, for example, the Funds for Historic Buildings (FFHB) website
is a comprehensive guide to funding for anyone seeking to repair, restore or convert (for a new use)
any historic building in the United Kingdom (excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) which
is listed, scheduled or in a conservation area and of acknowledged historic merit. It includes details of
virtually all substantive funding sources which specialise in historic buildings.
It also contains extended notes on selected topics and a variety of other more detailed information.
You may find the attached link helpful http://www.ffhb.org.uk/
Contracts for the Upkeep and Cleaning of Beaches
Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment why contracts for the upkeep and cleaning of beaches
by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, that were due to commence in April 2012, have been
suspended.
(AQW 13252/11-15)
Mr Attwood: The only beaches for which the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is responsible
are those at Crawfordsburn Country Park (including Helen’s Bay) and at Killard National Nature Reserve
and Magilligan Point Nature Reserve.
NIEA sought to tender for site maintenance services so that a new contract would commence at the
expiry on 31 March 2012 of the previous one. Tenders for these services were invited but, following the
evaluation of the tenders and DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) publishing the intention to
award the contract, several legal challenges were made to the processes employed by CPD in procuring
the contract on behalf of NIEA. This resulted in CPD advising NIEA against awarding the contract to
avoid facing subsequent legal writs and court cases and NIEA did not award the contract.
WA 538