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21 May 2009

MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-FIFTH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 21st MAY 2009 @ 1.30 p.m. IN CRC’S BOARDROOM, 1ST FLOOR, GLENDINNING HOUSE, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST, BT1 6DN

1981/09           PRESENT:                                                                                      Action:
Mr J Deery, Mr S Farry, Ms H Francey, Ms E Gallagher, Mr T Kennedy, Mr T McCusker. (Chair), Ms M Muldoon, Mr D Porter.  

1982/09          APOLOGIES:

Ms M Hetherington. Ms S Gordon, Ms R McCorley, Ms S McDermott, Mr E Oakes, Ms C Wilson

Mr D Haire and Ms R Dalton (CRU/OFMDFM)

1983/09          IN ATTENDANCE:

Dr D Morrow [CEO], Ms J Irwin {Deputy CEO], Mr R Mullan [P/D Communication & Resources], Ms D McGlade [P/D Policy Dev] Mr J Dennison [PO/EU Prog], Ms H Scott [P/Secretary].

Paul Dolan (Finegan Gibson Accountants)

1984/09          OBSERVER:

                        Mr C Jack (OFMDFM)

1985/09          MINUTES:

The minutes from the previous meeting (26 March 2009) having been circulated was taken as read.  There were no amendments.  Acceptance was proposed by Mr Kennedy seconded by Mr Porter.

1986/09          FINANCE:

[draft Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2009 were tabled at the meeting CRC/135/05/09/03]

This item was moved up the Agenda as Mr Farry had to leave early.

Mr Dolan (Finegan Gibson) told members that these draft accounts had been presented to the Audit Committee earlier in the day.  He informed members that although Finegan Gibson had prepared draft unaudited financial statements the NI Audit Office would be taking over the audit of CRC in the future.

1986/09          Finances continued:                                                                        Action:

Mr Dolan (Finegan Gibson) said the Accounts showed an 18% increase in incoming resources for the year, with expenditure of over £8M, giving rise to a  net deficit of around £100,000 (page 13). He said was not concerned with the level of the deficit as it represented approximately 1.2% of incoming resources, indicating effective management of money in and money out.

Mr Dolan reported that the pension fund had incurred a significant deficit in the year (reflective on the state of pension funds worldwide).  He commented on the net pension liability of £600,00 (page 15 refers).  He said that there had been an increase in tangible assets as a result of CRC’s expansion to other floors in the building (Glendinning House).  Mr Dolan reported that the was an increase in creditors, which was up this year, because of the change in grant verification processes as a result verification hadn’t happened until post 31 March 09.

Mr Dolan said whilst overall net assets showed a deficit of £116,090, this was a result of the movement in the pension liability and he pointed out that the net assets before the pension liability were £483,910.  Mr Dolan said this might change slightly because of early closure.

Mr Farry (Chair of Audit Committee) thanked Mr Dolan and Finegan Gibson for their assistance to CRC and for all their work which had been to a very tight deadline.  He informed members that a Statement of Internal Control would come from the CEO in due course.                                        CEO

Mr Farry informed members that the Internal Audit had given CRC a limited assurance on most of their reports and the CEO had accepted this, but staff were confident that the items raised for attention had been and were being addressed as a matter of urgency.   He told members that the key issue at the moment was how the NI Government Auditors were going to proceed and what their letter will report.  Mr Farry emphasised that nothing untoward had been found despite the limited assurances.

Mr Kennedy enquired about member’s conflict of interests saying that he the Chair of the John Hewitt which was funded by CRC.

Mr McCusker (Chair) pointed out that where members were not involved in decisions there was no conflict of interest.  He reminded members that they  were sent forms which recorded any conflict of interests, additionally members were expected to absent themselves from any decision-making group where a conflict of interest occurred.

The CEO said he would re-issue the conflict of interest forms to members.

                                                                                                         CEO

Mr McCusker (Chair) enquired if the Council needed to appoint a Secretary under the current legislation.

Mr Dolan indicated Council could appoint a Secretary anyway. 

1986/09          Finances continued:                                                                        Action:

The CEO indicated this would be done (appointment of a Secretary) at the July meeting.

CEO thanked Messrs Finegan Gibson who had produced the Accounts earlier than in previous years.  He reminded members these were draft Accounts to comply with early closure which meant that CRC was not being asked to adopt them.  He said the current time table suggested that they would be available in July, which was a holiday month.  The CEO indicated that the Council would probably have to have a single-item AGM on 21 July but it would need to ensure the meeting was quorate.  He said he would circulate members regarding this date.                                                                                    CEO

The Chairman echoed the Council’s appreciation to Messrs Finegan Gibson who he said had gone well beyond the scope of auditors.

(Mr Colin Jack OFMDFM entered the boardroom 1.50 p.m.)

The Chairman asked staff to leave the room for a closed session.

(Staff left the boardroom @ approximately 1.52 p.m. – returning around 2 p.m.

Closed Session: The Council met in close session to discuss a staffing matter.

1987/09          MATTERS ARISING: 

1           Shared Services [Mins 1972/09, Item 1 refers]: Ms Irwin told members that the G P Committee’s suggestion was that the Secretariat be contacted to say that we felt the project no longer seemed to have a clear purpose.  She said that the Secretariat had apparently drawn the same conclusion and the following was under consideration.  (1) what was the purpose of continuing (2) if the project continued they would have to apply for funding  (3) a clear focus for the project would be needed (4) should the issue of accommodation be included.

2          Members Recruitment [Mins 1969/09, Item 2 and paper CRC/135/05/09/01 refers]  The CEO confirmed that the selection group had met to establish and agree the criteria. He said that papers and the advertisement had been approved by the independent OCPANI representative and the positions had been advertised in local newspapers this month.

The CEO said he would encourage any member who knew people who could make a significant contribution to the work of Council to suggest to them that they apply.  He said interviews would happen 15/16 June and new members would come on board in September.

1987/09          Matters Arising continued:                                                             Action:

3          Peace III update [Mins 1977/09 , para 5 and paper CRC/135/05/09/02 refers]:  The CEO informed members that potential issues arising from a request from SEUPB to incorporate additional grant aid (originally made by OFMDFM) within Priority 1.2 of Peace III appeared to have been resolved.  The CEO assured members that CRC would not undertake any accountability that would put the organisation as risk.

1988/09          CHAIR’S BUSINESS:

1                    Meeting with Sinn Fein(6 May):  The Chair reported that this had been an interesting meeting and there was a debate was around equality versus good relations. The Chair pointed out that if A Shared Future been implemented and tri-annual action plans completed it would have been clear what had been achieved.

2                   Meeting Richard Bullick (DUP advisor) 10 April: The Chair said this (Good Friday Agreement anniversary) meeting had been useful even if to reiterate what CRC was about and log its concerns.

3                   Presentation to OFMDFM Committee re Victims Services 13 May): The Chair informed members that the Council had had an opportunity to present to an OFMDFM Committee regarding Victims services. He said that a paper had been sent in advance.

4                   Discussion with NI Housing Executive (20 May): The Chair reported that he and the CEO had another meeting with the Housing Executive and had discussed housing policy.

5                   Meeting with Margaret Richie :  The Chair told members that at Ms Richie’s request he had met to discuss housing and possible reviews.

6                   Meeting with Town Clerk of Derry City Council (22 April):  The Chair told members that he and the CEO had had a good conversation with Ms Valerie Watts who had an excellent grasp of CR issues and that it was hoped to do some work with them in conjunction with Ilex.

7                   Letter to Ministers/PSNI after murders of soldiers:  The Chair confirmed that letters had been sent the various Departments and that a reply had been received (read at meeting) from the First and Deputy First Ministers.

8                   Department of Foreign Affairs:  the Chair reported that this conference was very well attended

9                   Police Community Awards @ Slieve Donnard Hotel:  The Chair said he was impressed by the nature of the work that was being recognised.

10                Army reception @ Thiepval Barracks:  The Chair attended an event which paid tribute to the three soldiers killed.

1989/09          PRESENTATION – Interface Working Group

(Ms Dympna McGlade –Policy Development Programme Director)

The aims of the Interface Working Group community Partnership is to support the IWGroup’s strategic approach to benefit communities through the social, physical and economic regeneration of interface areas and to develop a co-ordinated process, and to assist in the creation of sustainable communities in Belfast which will be influential in supporting peace-building through short, medium and long terms actions.

Breakdown of headings:

Background – fence agreed in 2007 at Hazelwood Integrated Primary school

Pilot Progress – Hazelwood Community Partnership

Potential new interfaces

Long terms view on interfaces

Buy-in

Key needs identified by consultation

Next steps for Belfast initiative

Local area plans

Beyond belfast

Key issues – process, responsibility and resources

Opportunities

CRC role

Future role of IWGroup

Draft Structure for delivery

There followed a general discussion which considered issues e.g.

Lack of a budget for interface work

Lack of planning strategy around interfaces and the removal of barriers and possible regeneration possibilities

Absence of a co-ordinated strategy

Was the missing link the shear economic size of such a project?

Any regeneration/renewal proposals would require the interest/involvement of local communities

Mr Jack (OFMDFM) confirmed that the Junior Ministers were interested in this issue.  He said that Atlantic Philantrophies had also expressed an interest.  Mr Jack suggested that bringing about the climate and conditions where interfaces could start coming down would be crucial.

Mr Kennedy said that were instances where local people wanted to move on but had been blocked by government e.g. Madrid Street where money was found to divert the road.

Mr Jack told members that DSD was supposed to have the strategic lead on

regeneration but that planning appeared to stop at interface barriers rather than

include them.

1989/09          Interfaces working group continued:                                                        Action:

Ms Francey said that there was a University of Ulster project helping local people to imagine what it would be like to live without walls.

The CEO said that structure mattered and that any regeneration plans need to include facilities for local people.

The Chair stated that the Interface report had been disseminated and reached all the right desks.  He suggested it should not be difficult to prepare a short paper on the key aims and anticipated costs and what the delivery structure would be.

(Short proposal to be prepared for the Policy Development Committee then passed to Council?)                            .                                              CEO/Chair

1990/09          OPERATIONAL PLANNING:

                       [Papers CRC/135/05/09/04(a), 04(b), 04.1 & 04.2 refer]

(i)        Operational Plan - 04(a)& 04(b). Ms Irwin told members that the Operational Plan was intimately related to the budget discussion.

The Chair suggested that the Plan be approved and if any issue arose these could be monitored on a quarterly basis and adjustments made.

Approval was proposed by Mr Deery, and seconded by Ms Francey.

(ii)             Equality up-date– 04.1  Ms Irwin said that this up-date was for member’s information.

(iii)           Absence statistics– 04.2  The CEO reminded members that these were annual statistics (not adjusted).  He said that Civil Service practice was not to record absence after 20 days.  He said the staff absence was at 5% if an adjustment had been made the percentage would have been reduced to 3%.

1991/09           CR WEEK:

[Paper CRC/135/05/09/05 refers]

The above paper summarises the main issues as well as highlighting the media coverage (e.g. TV and radio broadcasts)

Mr Mullan told members that specimens of the newspaper cuttings were available at the meetings.  He said it had been a successful week and recommended that it continued next year.  Mr Mullan confirmed that there had been 140 events;  that all district Council areas had been covered and a highlight had been the CR award to Jean Brown and Rene Crawford of Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group for their contribution to community relations.

1992/09          POLICY PAPERS:

[Papers CRC/135/05/09/06, 06.1, 06,2, 06.3 refer] 

The Chair confirmed that all papers had been gone through the Policy Development Committee.

1)     Education – position paper 3– 06

2)     Language position paper 4 -  06.1 

3)     EQIA Social Inclusion & Anti Poverty framework – 06.2

4)     EQIA Transfer 210 Guidance (post Primary School admissions) 06.3 

The above papers were passed by Council.

1993/09           CEO’S REPORT:

[Paper CRC/135/05/09/07 refers]

The above report outlines the main areas of work.

Young people and sectarian violence:  The CEO told members that there was only one youth club in North Belfast.  He said there was no formal statutory youth service provision in the summer and the intervention programmes run never get tied to longer term provision. 

The CEO said that CRC had been unsuccessful in engaging NICCY or the Department of Education in direct consideration of these issues.  He said filling the gap was perpetually on the agenda.

The Chair said in the short term CRC was youth service liaison.  He suggested CRC contact Youth Net. He wondered if this discussion could be resurrected to look at key issues such as a neutral and shared space – could this link up with Youth Action.

Ms Francey said that Belfast City Council was collating what it was doing (re summer intervention programmes) this summer and she offered to send this to Council for information.

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust:  The CEO told members Council had received confirmation that the Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation were willing to support a research project designed to monitor evidence and support progress towards a shared society. He said, if done properly it could be extremely important as the outcome would be evidence based.

1994/09           SECTOR REPORTS:                                                                                                          [Papers CRC/135/05/09/08 – 12 refer]

These reports are for member’s information and outline main areas of work.

European Programme                                                                           (Paper CRC/135/05/09/08 to be tabled at meeting)

Communication & Learning Resources                                     

Funding & Development Programme

(Paper CRC/135/05/09/10 refers)

Policy Development Programme  

(Paper CRC/135/05/09/11 refers)

IFI Community Bridges Programme  

(Paper CRC/135/05/09/12 refers)

1995/09           DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:

Ø     Fri 19^th June (AGM) @ 10 a.m. in Linen Green Centre, Moygashel, Dungannon

Ø     21 July @ 1 for 1.30 p.m. (possible) extra ordinary one-Agenda meeting (to adopt Audited Accounts) this to be held in the seminar room at 6 Murray Street, Belfast.

Ø     Thurs 24^th Sept 2009 – FULL DAY – venue to be advised

Ø     Wed 25^th Nov 2009 @ 1 for 1.30 p.m. – this venue might change from Moygashel to The Junction, Derry.