Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

11 February 2003

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 11TH FEBRUARY 2003 AT 10.30AM AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST

(CONFIRMED)

01 PRESENT:

Dr David Stevens, Maggie Bryson, Colin Craig, George Patterson, Colin Neilands, Karen Jardine, Liz Anne Dowds

02 APOLOGIES:

Eamon Deane, Mike Morrissey, Tanya Gallagher (permanent apology)

03 IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Patricia Armstrong, Claudine Walls, Cathy Gormley Heenan (ex-staff)

04 GENERAL BUSINESS

Meeting commenced at 10.30am.

Maggie Bryson chaired the meeting.

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

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

Members informed of Tanya Gallagher's resignation from the EU Committee. Members agreed that staff should write to Tanya and thank her for work on the Committee.

05 MATTERS ARISING

Members informed that staff are still awaiting guidance on the situation regarding equipment (repossession and redistribution) from SEUPB.

Members were informed of an inquiry from NIAC on the operation of the Peace II Programme. Response to same due for return by Friday 14th February.

Members informed of the date of the next Review meeting – 27th February 2003 and the applications under consideration – Parkside, Falls Community Council and Lisburn Community Relations Network.

06 BRIEFING PAPER

Staffing Arrangements

Members were informed that interviews for the positions of Director and Development Support Officer took place on 24.01.03 and that Jim Dennison had been appointed Director and Claudine Walls had been appointed Development Support Officer for the EU Programme. Members were also informed that Cathy Gormley Heenan would be leaving on 07.02.03 to take up a lectureship position at UUJ.

Members were informed that despite two new staff appointments, the EU Programme would still only be operating with a team of 3 full-time staff (and 1 temporary administrator). Advertising and recruitment process underway to attempt to fill vacant positions.

Committee Re-Structuring

Members were informed of a staffing/committee restructuring plan for Council proposed by the CEO and agreed by Council. Further terms of reference for each CRC Committee to be circulated for information in due course.

Financial Update

Members were provided with a financial update on Measure spend (including information on gap payments, advances paid to date, payments in the system and projected spend).

07 APPLICATIONS ASSESSMENTS

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER - LUNDY (Research) – 010428

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 the proposed methodology was well detailed and thorough and represented good value-for-money. Members agreed that project activities would be transferable and are mindful of the need to have a similar piece of work introduced for the neighbouring Protestant community. Costs to be revised downwards.

ECONI (Research) – 02/0194/007213

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. This application was agreed in principle in December and applicants were asked to revise costs and demonstrate what activities could be taken forward with a reduced budget. Responses from the organisation suggested that the proposal would change dramatically but after discussions with staff the organisation proposed a request of funding for £46,000 over an 18 mth period. On the basis of the information submitted Members again agreed in principle that Measure 2:1 funding should be made available for this proposal. Members agreed that the methodology of the proposal needs further work and this should be submitted before funding is released. Amount awarded in principle c£46,000 over 18mths subject to the submission of an agreed methodology, the conditions as previously outlined, those stated above and all usual conditions.

INCORE – CREP (Community Relations Evaluation in Practice) (Research) – 02/0135/003650

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 sufficiently demonstrate that it was distinctive from, additional to or complementary of ASEP; that it lacked clarity regarding project outputs and outcomes; and that it was not value-for-money.

INCORE – POLITIANS IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS (Research) – 02/0377/010370

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 the proposal was distinctive and offered a well-focused and timely methodology. Members agreed that the costs should be revised and as a condition of grant aid and that the organisation should consult widely with other District Councillors and CROs. Amount awarded c£41,000 subject to the conditions as previously outlined, those stated above and all usual conditions.

Date agreed for the next EU Committee Meeting – 04/03/03.

Members and staff thanked for their contributions

Meeting finished @11.30am.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Members informed that the 'Shared City Project' application had been withdrawn by the applicants.