Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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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
Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers Cleaning and Maintenance of Crawfordsburn Beach Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment what measures are in place to ensure the cleaning and maintenance of Crawfordsburn Beach. (AQW 13253/11-15) Mr Attwood: From 1 April 2012 NIEA used its own Country Park staff to clean and maintain Crawfordsburn Beach and since 18 June 2012 it has availed of an existing generic Property Maintenance contract procured by DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate to lift litter and dog foul and cut grass. Contracts for the Cleaning and Maintenance of Beaches Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment when his Department intends to award contracts for the cleaning and maintenance of beaches. (AQW 13254/11-15) 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 is currently availing of an existing Property Maintenance contract let by DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) to lift litter and dog foul and cut grass, but is working with CPD to retender for maintenance services at the properties it manages. It is expected that new contracts will be in place by 1 April 2013. Contracts for the Cleaning and Maintenance of Beaches Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment, in light of the suspension of contracts for the cleaning and maintenance of beaches, what consideration has been given to extending the existing contracts until the issue can be resolved. (AQW 13255/11-15) Mr Attwood: The previous contract for cleaning and maintenance services expired on 31 March 2012; it was both time-bound and included an expenditure ceiling which had almost been reached. Having been extended twice already, there was no scope for further extending the contract once it had expired. Contracts for the Cleaning and Maintenance of Beaches Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment what interim measures are in place to ensure the cleaning of beaches whilst contracts for cleaning and maintenance are finalised. (AQW 13256/11-15) 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. From 1 April 2012 NIEA used its own staff to clean and maintain its properties and since 18 June 2012 it has been availing of an existing generic Property Maintenance contract previously procured by DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate to lift litter and dog foul and cut grass at the two beaches in Crawfordsburn Country Park. NIEA continues to use its own staff to maintain and keep clean the other beaches in its care. Contracts for the Cleaning and Maintenance of Beaches Mr Hazzard asked the Minister of the Environment whether the South Down coastline will be affected by the suspension of contracts for the cleaning and maintenance of beaches. (AQW 13280/11-15) WA 539
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RWA 4
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Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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