Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

29 September 2010

Confirmed Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-THIRD MEETING AND AGM OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2010 @ 1.30 p.m. IN THE BOARDROOM IN CRC’S OFFICES (2^nd FLOOR) 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST BT1 6DN

2111/10 PRESENT: Action:

Mr J Byrne, Ms E Gallagher, Mr T Kennedy, Mr T McCusker. (Chair), Ms S McDermott, Mr S Farry, Ms K Hanlon, Ms M Hetherington, Dr L Litvack, Mr E Oakes, Ms S McShane, Dr D Russell, Mr R Morton, Ms J Witherow

2112/10 APOLOGIES:

Ms H Francey, Mr W Gamble, Ms S Gordon, Mr H Mansour, Mr D Porter, Ms R McCorley.

2113/10 IN ATTENDANCE:

Dr D Morrow [CEO], Ms I Irwin [D/CEO], Mr R Mullan [P/D Information & Resources Prog], Mr P Jordan [P/D F&D Prog]; Ms D McGlade [PD/Policy Dev Prof]; Ms B McKinley [Policy Dev Prog], Mr P Nolan [JRT Researcher], Ms H Scott [P/Secretary].

Mr C Dolan and Mr P Dolan [Finegan Gibson Accountants]

2114/10 OBSERVERS:

Mr J McKenna, Ms R Dalton, Mr C Jack (OFMDFM).

2115/10 MINUTES:

The minutes from the previous meeting (30 June 2010) having been circulated was taken as read. A minor amendment was noted Minutes 2106/10, para 3 refers. Minutes were agreed subject to amendment.

2116/10 MATTERS ARISING:

(i) Mins 2102/10, Item 2 page 3 refers: The Chair enquired whether there had been any update on the delay in receiving the new 2010-2011 budget.

The CEO said that, despite many attempts to obtain this, no written confirmation had been received and CRC was currently drawing down monies based on last year’s figures.

The Chair pointed out that it was now six months into the new year and pointed out that the organisation was “trading at risk”. He said that he would write to OFMDFM and copy this to the NI Audit Office as this risk not only affected the organisation but all funded groups.

2117/10 CHAIR’S BUSINESS: Action:

1 (a) Standard checks:

The Chair reminded Members that they had to declare any conflict of interests in any discussions where decisions were required.

(b) The Chair reminded members of the necessity to register any offers of gifts or hospitality since the last Council meeting.

2 The Chair told members that most of the meetings he and the CEO had attended had been in connection with the CSI consultations and related matters these had included a meetings with political representatives. They had met with DUP representatives (today) and Sinn Fein advisors (yesterday). The Chair said they had also met Ulster Unionist Party, SDLP and Alliance representatives

3 The Chair suggested that yesterday’s Assembly sessions were worth reading. There were contributions from some MLAs, one suggesting that good relations were merely desirable but not essential.

2118/10 FINANCE:

[Papers CRC/143/09/10/01(a) tabled at meeting, 01(b) & 01(c) refer ].

1 Draft Financial Statement for the year ended 31 March 2010 – 01(a)

The Chair informed members that there had been some uncertainty around whether the NICRC Accounts would be unqualified by NIAO given the outstanding audit issues with two funded groups. However he said that he understood that, subject to some final modest amendments to the wording, the draft Accounts were being presented for approval by members as being “a clean bill of health”. The Chair pointed out that these amendments were anticipated to be quite modest.

The Chair welcomed Mr Paul Dolan and Mr Conor Dolan (Messrs Finegan Gibson) to the meeting.

Mr Paul Dolan summarised the main points of the Accounts (pages 2 to 25 respectively)

General information: Chairman’s report and Chief Executive’s comment pages 2 to 7 refer.

Director’s report and history (pg 8) and list of Directors (Council members) page 9

Standard Statements of Responsibility (pg 13)

Statement of Corporate Governance (pgs 14 - 15) outlines committees and number of times the Board meets per year

2118/10 FINANCE (DRAFT Audit Report) continued: Action:

Remuneration Report (pgs 16 -17) outlines remuneration of senior members and pension benefits.

Statement of Internal Control (pgs 18-19) – Mr Dolan said that later on there would be references to two funded groups and that the NI Audit Office will be considering how much disclosure is appropriate.

Standard clean audit report - Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the NI Assembly and to Members of the NICRC (pgs 22 – 22).

Mr Conor Dolan indicated that the NI Audit Office would include an “emphasis of matter” in the report (regarding financial irregularities in two funded groups) but that it would not qualify this report.

Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 31 March 2010 – (similar to Profit and Loss account - pg 23)

Mr Paul Dolan outlined increases (income was reduced e.g. interest in bank accounts); resources expended had increased due to (Victims) grants payments. He said there had been a realignment of salaries and back-pay had also affected an increase. Mr Dolan said that there had also been Programme cost increases, the main reason had been government reviews and audit.

Mr Paul Dolan pointed out that there had not been a significant change in other costs, the Chair’s remuneration had been separated and now treated differently. Other increases had been down to recruitment of e.g. Messrs Finegan Gibson where there had been staffing gaps.

Balance Sheet (pg 25) – self explanatory

Notes to Financial Statements for year ended 31 March 2010 (pgs 27 – 42 refer)

Irregularities: Mr Dolan advised that the they key issue regarding financial irregularities in relation to two groups (page 41). He understood that the NI Audit Office was content with this (amendments) but this needed to be ratified.

Mr Dolan asked Board Members if they would approve the draft Accounts on the basis of discussions and proposed amendments by the NI Audit Office.

Members approved the draft Accounts and agreed that the Chair and CEO could sign them once a full report had been agreed by the C&AG.

(Mr Paul Dolan left the boardroom at 2.20 p.m.)

2118/10 FINANCE (Irregularities) continued: Action:

Mr Conor Dolan (Messrs Finegan Gibson) proceeded to update Members with regard to the background of one of the groups concerned. He pointed out that allegations of irregularities would remain “alleged” until proven.

Mr Dolan told members that CRC had instructed Messrs Finegan Gibson to investigate allegations made. Material removed from offices had now been passed on to PSNI to continue and the matter was in their hands.

There followed a general (closed) discussion.

It was pointed out that CRC had had two reviews this year, a second systemic review of governance and nothing had come to light at this time. He said however that it had now been agreed that a more thorough spot check investigations would be undertaken in the near future.

ASM Horwath will be doing a full audit of this area of CRC Victims work possibly in January 2011?

Another group was named and said that SEUPB had notified ASM Horwath and the view was that there had been systemic failures. He said that the situation was slightly different because the nature of the failure was currently unclear and he expressed the view that it was not incumbent on CRC judge or to close down as the investigation was complete. The CEO said that no money had been paid out since July.

Ms Irwin said that in both cases CRC was looking at how former service users could get access to other services.

(Mr Conor Dolan left the boardroom at 2.45 p.m.)

2 Management Accounts for 4 months ended 31 July 20190

[Paper CRC/143/09/10/01(b) refers]

3 Departmental Profit & Loss (to July 2010)

[Paper CRC/143/09/10/01(c) refers]

The Chair enquired if members were satisfied with the above Accounts and Profit and Loss.

Members indicated their approval.

2119/10 JOSEPH ROWNTREE TRUST:

[Paper CRC/143/09/10/04 refers]

The Chair said this paper was being taken earlier than indicated on the Agenda. He reminded Members that Mr Nolan had joined the Council as Research Director (on this project) during the summer

The Chair said that Mr Nolan had provided a short report and would be happy to share with Members if they wished.

Mr Nolan outlined the main points and said the simple question was “how is the peace process in Northern Ireland going?”

The Chair told members that this was probably the first seriously independent piece of work CRC had undertaken for a long time. He said that a small advisory panel comprising of Mike Morrissey, Gillian Robinson (Incore, University of Ulster) and Jennifer Todd (University College Dublin) had been proposed and would be invited to join.

2120/10 COHESION SHARING & INTEGRATION & CRC: Presentation by CEO

[plus paper entitled “Cohesion, Sharing and Integration” Agenda No. 6 refers]

The CEO outlined the background to the consultation and summarised the proposed mechanisms for the implementation of CSI and the various options under the following headings.

Ø Optional one – establishment of an advisory panel on CSI

Ø Option Two – services provided by organisations

Ø Option three (a) – NDPB with advice and funding delivery

Ø Option three (b) – NDPB without funding

Ø Issues

Ø Issues 2

Ø Recommendations

Ø Critical issues for CRC

Ø What if?

The CEO said that Council was critical of the CSI consultation document and the CSI paper (Agenda No. 6) would form the basis of its response. He asked that board members continue to attend CSI meetings and consultations and let him have any comments.

The CEO said that tabled for member’s information and interest was a paper entitled “The Community Relations Council and the options for CSI”.

There then followed a general discussion, the following point were made:

· Council should reduce reference to “Shared Future” and concentrate on CSI

· Functions (suitably adapted) could be utilised and listed as “these are what a regional body should do”.

(Ms Gallagher left the boardroom at 4.30 p.m.)

2120/10 CSI & CC: continued: Action:

The Chair summarised the structure of CRC’s response

1. What is the issue?

2. What is the problem?

3. What should the policy be?

4. What needs to be done to gain substance to the policy?

5. What is the best way to deliver?

6. Show “this is how we are fit for purpose”

7. Drop “Shared Future” references and language.

The CEO said that there needed to be one final meeting of the CSI subgroup and members would be notified.

2121/10 POLICY PAPER:

[Paper CRC/143/09/02 refers]

DCAL: Museums Policy for Northern Ireland

Ms McDermott said she thought the paper was good and had given feedback to Ms Attwood.

Mr Kennedy suggested that copies be sent to the Museums Council and DCAL.

(Mr Jack left the boardroom 4.45 p.m.)

2122/10 OPERATIONAL PLANNING:

[Papers CRC/143/09/03 (a), 03a(ii), 03b(i) and 03b(ii) refer]

Equality Scheme update (cover page) - 03(a)

ECNI 2010 Annual Progress Report – 03a(ii)

Performance Indicators 2010-11 (cover page) – 03b(i)

Performance Indicators 2010-11 – 03b(ii)

Ms Irwin indicated that the only requirement was to sign off the Section 75 Annual Progress Report.

The Chair confirmed that all these papers had already gone through the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

These papers were approved.

2123/10 CEO’S REPORT:

[Paper CRC/143/09/05 refers]

The above paper outlines the main areas of work.

The CEO said he wanted to record his appreciation and thanks to:

2123/10 CEO’S report continued: Action

· To the auditors (Messrs Finegan Gibson) and to CRC’s finance staff and any staff who had assisted with the recent audits.

· The Policy Development Programme staff for their hard work during the many CSI meetings and consultations and for the papers (and minutes) they had prepared.

· To the victims team who were working under considerable pressure.

· To the Deputy CEO who had helped co-ordinate the detail.

The CEO said that the bulk of the work addressed under CSI was contained on pages 4 & 5 of his report.

2124/10 SECTOR REPORTS:

[Papers CRC/143/09/06, 07(a) & 07(b), Appendix 6 - 07(c), 08, 09, 10,11 refer]

Communications & Learning Resources Programme – 06

Funding & Development Programme – 07(a) + Executive Summaries 07(b) Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. Grant awards Appendix 6 – 07(c)

Victims Programme (part of Funding & Development) – 08

Policy Programme – 09

Community Bridges Programme – 10

EU Programme – 11

The Chair said these reports were taken as read and asked if there were any questions.

There were no questions.

2145/10 AOB:

(1) The Chair suggested on final meeting of the CSI steering group (all members invited) to sign off Council’s final consultation submission .

19 November was agreed. This is the same day as the Live Issues (CSI) conference at the Stormont Hotel. (start time likely to be 2 p.m. but would be confirmed by the Policy Committee at a later date).

(2) November Council meeting on 25 November would take place in the new Dungannon premises. It was hoped that this would be a public opening and visitors would be invited.