Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

18 June 2003

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 18TH JUNE 2003 AT 10.00AM AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST (CONFIRMED)

01 PRESENT:

Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Colin Craig, Dr David Stevens, Eamonn Deane, Karen Jardine (observer)

02 APOLOGIES:

Colin Neilands, Paul Smyth, Maria Miskelly, Maggie Bryson, Denis Ritchie

03 IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Patricia Armstrong, Claudine Walls, Sarah O'Neill

04 GENERAL BUSINESS

Meeting commenced at 10.40am.

Eamonn Deane chaired the meeting.

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

Minutes of previous meeting were checked for accuracy and agreed by Members.

Committee welcomed Sarah O'Neill to the post of Administrative Officer.

Congratulations were extended to Patricia Armstrong on becoming the Development Officer for the EU Programme.

Sympathies were extended to Denis Ritchie and family on the death of his mother.

MATTERS ARISING

N+2

Members were informed that advance payments may now be included towards N+2 spend regulations if Measures closed before the end of February 2003. Measure 2:1 closed in July 2002, meaning all advance payments would be included against N+2. (SEUPB to provide written confirmation). If this is the case, c£100,000 per month needs to be spent. It was noted that more advances are to be released.

06 BRIEFING PAPER

Staff Arrangements

Members were informed that Patricia Armstrong was offered the post of Development Officer within the European Programme. In the interim, and until a new Finance Officer is appointed, temporary cover will be arranged (as and when required).

Reviews

Members were informed that the review panel met to consider review requests from the Irish School of Ecumenics, Larne YMCA and Presbyterian Church of Ireland. The Review Panel upheld Committee decisions on all 3 applications. No further review requests are pending.

Spend

Members were informed that there was a Measure 2:1 balance of c£280k left to spend with 4 applications still to be considered.

07 APPLICATIONS ASSESSMENTS

OPPORTUNITY YOUTH - 02/0231/002067

No conflicts of interest were declared.

It was agreed that, on the basis of the information provided, Measure 2.1 assistance could be made available. Members noted that the project was working with a named Measure 2.1 target audience and would be addressing issues of employability and labour mobility of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Measure 2.1 funding will be made available for a 2 year project (c£55k) with an offer to uplift funding for a 3rd year should the project fulfil its aims and objectives for the initial 2 years of project activity and should additional funding become available. Applicants must clarify how many individuals will participate on each course and the time commitment required for the course from each participant. Applicants must also, as a condition of grant aid, clearly show how they will account for the time spent by the Community Relations Officer in peace-building/community relations activities. Amount awarded c£55k with offer to uplift funding for a 3rd year, subject to conditions as outlined above and all usual conditions.

MEDIATION NORTHERN IRELAND - 02/0226/008148

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. Members expressed concerns over the costs of some elements of the project. It was felt that the East Belfast element of the proposal was an important aspect as much work has already been achieved. Support of this was expressed by all. Members agreed in principle to an interim award for the East Belfast element of the proposal with the possibility of uplifting this to fund the remaining 2 elements. Members requested that as conditions of grant aid, applicants must put in place formal partnership agreement with BIP and clarify the nature of all partnership arrangements for project activity. Costs to be revised, pending discussions with the Director and MNI Representatives.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS LIAISON GROUP – 02/0215/006865

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. It was agreed that, on the basis of the information provided, Measure 2:1 assistance could not be made available. Members agreed that the project did not clearly demonstrate that it met the reconciliation criteria. It was agreed that while there is merit in providing a training/support package for CROs, Measure 2.1 was not the appropriate funding mechanism through which to support this. From the information provided it was difficult to ascertain the measurable and lasting benefit of project activity for the wider community in the longer term.

MAYDOWN EBRINGTON - 02/0286/008186

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. Members agreed that on the basis of all of the information provided, and whilst there was merit in working with the target audience, Measure 2.1 assistance could not be made available. Applicants did not fully demonstrate how they would monitor / evaluate project aims and objectives. The information provided did not clearly demonstrate that grant aid to the level requested would represent a value-for-money 2.1 investment.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Members were informed that 4 applications were still outstanding. The Committee agreed that a conference call should be organised in July/August in order to consider the remaining applications.

Date for the next EU Committee Meeting – 9 September 2003.

Members and staff thanked for their contributions.

Meeting finished @11.50am.