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11 November 2003

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 11TH NOVEMBER 2003 AT 10.00AM AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST (COMFIRMED)

01 PRESENT:

Dr David Stevens, Kathleen McKernan, Maria Miskelly, Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Paul Smyth, Eamonn Deane, Colin Craig, Colin Neilands.

02 APOLOGIES:

Maggie Bryson

03 IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Patricia Armstrong, Libby Smit, Claudine Walls, Vanessa McCrory, Sarah O'Neill.

04 GENERAL BUSINESS

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

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

Committee welcomed Vanessa McCrory to the post of Finance Officer and formally wished Sarah O'Neill luck in her new career.

MATTERS ARISING

Financial Update – N+2

It was announced that staff thought the N+2 target had been met on Friday 7 November, however CRC was informed by SEUPB on Monday 10 November that this is not the case as certain advance payments were deemed to be ineligible due to dates. Committee expressed their concerns and remarked that fulfilling the expenditure requirements was the priority at present. It was also announced that CRU will receive any correspondence between CRC and SEUPB on the matter.

06 BRIEFING PAPER

Staff Arrangements

Members were informed that Vanessa McCrory has been appointed as Finance Officer within the European Programme. Committee were also informed that Sarah O'Neill will be leaving her post as Administrative Officer.

Research Update

Members were informed that ten commissioned research proposals have been received and that the deadline has since passed. Committee also discussed whether mainstream research applicants who were rejected for funding previously by the Committee could reapply to Measure 2.1 for funding. Concerns were raised that rejected applicants may use feedback from the subsequent review meetings to alter the proposal in such a way that it would score more highly in the scoring matrix and therefore may prove eligible for funding. Committee expressed concerns that this may prove to be disadvantageous for new research applicants. Members agreed that a decision will be made at the next committee meeting on whether or not to close Measure 2.1 research funding to avoid this occurring.

Reviews

Members were informed that the Committee's decision to reject The Presbyterian Church of Irelands application was upheld at the Second Stage Review held by the SEUPB.

Peace II Seminars

Members were informed that, given the SEUPB's pre-occupation on achieving N+2 targets, no further progress has been made on organising Peace II Seminars.

07 APPLICATIONS ASSESSMENTS

CRAIGAVON BOROUGH COUNCIL – 03/0270/16429

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, as there would only be a small number of direct beneficiaries and the lack of direct consultation with the local community which the application is aimed at. Further concerns were raised by Committee members about the costs of the project, given the small number of people involved, as well as the amount of emphasis on community development relative to that on community relations.

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER – PROF. OWEN HARGIE – 02/0133/01400

Cathy Gormley-Heenan declared an interest as she is an employee of the University of Ulster, although she does not directly work with the applicant or know him personally. However the Committee agreed that this does not constitute a conflict.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. It was agreed in principle that, on the basis of the information provided, Measure 2:1 assistance could be made available, but only if the applicant revises the time scale involved from 36 months to 24 months, with a possibility of a 30 month time frame, and the aims of the proposal are restructured to more accurately reflect the objectives of the output. Committee members suggested that the applicant make contact with and involve the funded project 'Opportunity Youth' as it would be of benefit to the development and work carried out by the applicant. Concerns were raised over one aim of the application, that of addressing the reasons of unemployment of young people in terms of identifying possible skills deficits, as it was felt this would detract from the sectarianism in the workplace element of the project. A further concern of Committee was over the salary costs. It was advised that these should be revised downwards to reflect CRC salary caps. Committee gave approval for staff to renegotiate and agree project costs.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Date for the next EU Committee Meeting Tuesday 16 December 2003 at 10.00am.

Members and staff thanked for their contributions.