Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

11 September 2007

Policy Development Committee

Tuesday 11^th September

Present: Robin Wilson (Chair), Ann Anderson Porter, Edwin Graham, Tony McCusker, Vivienne Pollock, Neil Jarman

Apologies: Nelson McCausland, Declan O’Loan, Ward Erwin

In Attendance: Eamonn McCartan, Duncan Morrow, Dympna McGlade, Ali McAllister, Gemma Attwood, Peter Thompson

Minutes of the last meeting

Agreed as accurate

Matters arising

CRC Strategic Plan – Consultation closes end of September

‘ASF’ Work

RCN Proposal - The PD Programme plan to replicate the Sharing over Separation programme through a rural perspective. The business proposal for this work in partnership with RCN is being assessed by CRU. DARD has requested that RCN initiate an expression of interest for a rural programme for possible Peace III funding. It is envisaged that the Rural Enabler Programme will provide a natural follow up to the Sharing over Separation if approved

Springfarm- Launch of youth consultation findings and Next Steps in the programme in two weeks time. Statutory and political representatives will be invited to show support for the project.

Skegoneill/Glandore- The Business Plan for the Social Economy Project is starting to move forward - work will be commissioned next week

Shared Spaces - Ilex are working on pilot projects in L/Derry. Deloitte has got the tender and will be working on defining good practice in terms of shared space for agreed environmental developments. This will include converting the Ebrington military barracks etc into shared spaces for the local communities.

Policy Responses

Strategic review of Parades - Draft paper circulated. Comments welcomed.

Main comments centred on

Open and transparent process. This should also be linked to information available under Freedom of Information e.g. monitoring reports.
Consistency is crucial.
Incorporate international rights/benchmarks/guidelines.
Impact analysis.
Appeal issue.

Ulster-ScotsAcademyProposal – Response circulated. Comments welcomed via email.

Consultative Group on the Past

· How we deal with the past is a core area of work for CRC, it is specifically mentioned in our operational plan.

· Proposal to set up a small internal working group from the various Council committees was agreed. Nominations to be sought at the next Council meeting.

· Request an official meeting with the Consultative Group

Newspaper Reports

Sectarianism: Review of the Year report was distributed to the Committee and discussed. Resource needs to be accessible i.e. made available on CRC website and could be sent out to key stakeholders. It is useful to use as a monitoring tool i.e. evaluating CRC’s core work. Papers to continue being produced for each of the identified themes

PD Programme key policy areas

Shared Neighbourhood Scheme - Working with NIHE and IFI on funding proposals for different pilot areas. CRC has drawn up a paper outlining different types of shared neighbourhoods and is encouraging NIHE to extend the IFI programme to cover a wider interpretation of shared space e.g. Whitewell has two single identity communities with shared shops. The rural divide is another area which needs explored i.e. Stoneyford and Banbridge/Newry.

Paper on interfaces re: Hazelwood and interface seminar

Paul Goggins MP had a meeting with CRC to discuss developments at Hazelwood. The Minister has stated that the peace-wall at Hazelwood Primary school is to be reviewed after a year and asked CRC to develop a programme to help towards the removal of the peace-wall. It is hoped that this programme could be transferable to other areas.

CRC is working in partnership with BIP and ICR on this issue and will will hold aseries of workshops with interface community groups to discuss how the process of removing interfaces could start. Paper being produced to address practical suggestions; the resources needed and a business plan. Political leadership and ownership of this project is needed. Need to have a joint meeting on an interagency level (DSD/NIO/NIHE/PSNI/BCC) to develop a plan. Caroline Wilson from Belfast City Council is keen to take a lead. At the end of the process would like a 3-5 year strategy for removing interfaces.

GR Challenge paper - Tender paper to be presented to the Good Relations Forum tomorrow for discussion and have budget approval to proceed. It was discussed and agreed that the paper should also have a human rights context alongside Good Relations and Equality which will be incorporated into the paper.

‘ASF’ Update

The Committee was given an overview of the developments since devolution vis-à-vis ‘ASF’ and the report by Deloitte on the costs of division in public services. After much discussion the main points that emerged were:

Where is the government on ‘ASF’ now? CRC Strategic Plan 07-10 assumes roll-out of ‘ASF’. How does CRC react to the Cost of Division report? What is our strategy - private/public/lobbying?
No formal response expected from OFMDFM on strategic plan
The Assembly is committed to allowing access and discussion on the Cost of Division and will not walk away from ‘ASF’ but will allow it to stagnate
Cost of Division report should be brought to CRC Council for further discussion
Aims and objectives of ‘ASF’ need to be included in the Programme for Government
Need to build roles with new government – focus on CRC’s core principles. If CRC gets nowhere with the Programme for Government then look at media campaign. Have to convince DFP that CRC’s budget is “value for money”
There appears to be no honest, accountable political process. People may not be aware of ‘ASF’ and Cost of Division but are keen to move forward. Use grassroots to lobby at ministerial level

Recall our media Strategy – Public messages:

CR is the Northern Ireland problem
Sectarianism is morally unacceptable
‘ASF’ is desirable for all

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 13^th November