Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

27 January 2005

MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTH MEETING

OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL

HELD ON THURSDAY 27TH JANUARY 2005 @ 4.30 P.M.

IN THE CRC BOARDROOM (MURRAY STREET)

1519/05 PRESENT:

Mr C O'Halloran, Mr E McCartan (Chairman), Mr N McCausland. Ms M Muldoon, Mr D O'Loan, Dr D Stevens, Mr M Wardlow, Ms C Wilson, Mr R Wilson.

1520/05 APOLOGIES:

Mr J Cousins, Mr C Neilands, Ms M Hetherington, Ms M Miskelly.

1521/05 IN ATTENDANCE:

Dr D Morrow (CEO), Ms J Irwin [Director of Ops], Ms M Crozier [PD Cultural Diversity Prog], Mr J Dennison (PD EU Prog], Mr J Fitzsimons [PD/HR and Administration], Mr J Hinds [IFI, Community Bridges Prog], Ms D McGlade [PD/Policy Dev], Mr D Russell [PO Pol Dev], Mr R Mullan [PD/Communication, Learning Resources], Ms L Smit [SO EU Prog – Research] Ms H Scott [Secretary].

1522/05 OBSERVERS:

Mr D Ritchie and Ms J Corderoy (CRU)

1523/05 MINUTES:

The Minutes from the previous meeting (25 Nov 2004) having been circulated were taken as read. Two minor (typographical) amendments were noted. Acceptance was proposed by Mr Wilson.

1524/05 CHAIR'S BUSINESS:

The Chairman wished members a happy New Year and welcomed Mr Hinds (IFI, Community Bridges Programme) and Ms Jane Corderoy CRU) to the meeting.

Condolences: The Chairman extended condolences on behalf of members and staff to Mr Wardlow on the death of his father.

Letter from Secretary of State: A letter thanking Council for its sustained commitment to the promotion of good relations.

Letter from Private Secretary: Letter advising of an imminent announcement regarding the next phase of victim's strategies.

Letter to Ms K Johnston: Council member resignation

1526/05 MATTERS ARISING:

Shared Future (Mins 1506/04, Agenda No 4 and Papers CRC/107/01/05/01 & 01.1 refer)

After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the Chief Executive would prepare a discussion paper outlining his initial comments and members comments for his meeting with OFMDFM and key stakeholders on 10th February.

The Chairman asked that his appreciation be recorded to the CEO, staff and members of the Policy Development Committee, in particular Mr Robin Wilson, for their commitment to the process and the supplementary paper which had added to the general debate.

One Small Step : Members had a preview of the TV advertisement.

Mr Mullan said this would be a “one off campaign” and that the Council's role, besides being supportive of it, was as broker to channel finances. (Also see Minute 1527/05 below)

IFI : The Chief Executive told members that the Council was still tidying-up details with IFI some of which required legal advice. He said members would continue to be up-dated.

1527/05 COMMUNITY RELATIONS WEEK

[Verbal update - Agenda No. 9 brought forward to correspond with the above, e.g. Matters Arising (ii) refers]

Dr Morrow pointed out that the TV advertisement campaign “life without barriers” would lead in to Community Relations week which would take place earlier this year (e.g.7th to 11th March) and would promote the concept of “one small step” in CR work.

Mr Mullan tabled a draft copy of the CR week programme. He said that 22 out of the 26 District Councils were planning events and that, so far, 72 events were planned and there was a high level of public sector involvement.

(Ms Smit left the meeting at 4.45 p.m.)

1528/05 FINANCE:

[Papers CRC/107/01/05/02, 02.1 refer]
Budget Profile – 02 refers

Mr Fitzsimons indicated that the budget was on target for full spend by the end of the Financial Year.

Grant Review – 02.1 (A – F refers]

Mr Fitzsimons said the grant review represented a 'snapshot' of grants paid up to December 2004

1529/05 STRATEGIC & OPERATIONAL PLANNING:

[Papers CRC/107/01/03, 03.1 & 03.2 refer]

Operational Plan (3rd Quarter update) 03 refers (full version available)

Risk Assessment 03.1 refers

It was agreed (subject to approval by CRU) that the document would be reviewed twice yearly in accordance with normal planning arrangements.

Equality up-date 03.2 refers.

(Ms J Irwin left the meeting at 6.10 p.m.)

1530/05 MEMBERSHIP:

[Paper CRC/107/01/05/10 tabled at meeting refers]

Dr Morrow outlined his proposals.

It was agreed that in the context of the current uncertainty his recommendations (as follows) should be accepted:

Automatic extension of existing Council terms due to end before 31 March 2006 (for 1 year)

The recruitment of 4 new members to serve for 1 year only from 1st April 2005. Selections (CEO and Chair) will attempt to redress existing imbalances and improve the broad representative ness of the Council.

CEO & Chair

1531/05 MEDIA APPLICATION:

(Paper for decision CRC/107/-1/05/04 refers)

Dr Crozier said that this recommendation had been passed by the Communications Committee and had come to Council for ratification. She said that the applicants had also attracted funding from other sources.

Recommendation : £40,000.00

Approval : £40,000.00

(Mr Fitzsimons and Dr Crozier left the meeting at 6.20 p.m.)

1532/05 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT:
[Paper CRC/107/01/05/05 refers]

The above report outlines the main areas of work.

Mr O'Halloran asked if anything was going to change for core funding as it has again exceeded available resources. Dr Morrow thought that core funding would be a big issue in the future because of lack of financial allocation. He said that many good projects were being generated and the Council, because of lack of funds, was unable to support them.

Mr Ritchie (CRU) told members that the Department proposed an evaluation of the core funding programme, and that issues such as resourcing would be part of this evaluation.

1533/05 SECTOR REPORTS:

The under-mentioned Report for Members' information

(1) Funding & Development Programme - (Paper CRC/107/01/05/06 refers)

(2) European Programme - (Paper CRC/107/01/05/07 refers)

Dr Morrow told members that there was a possibility that the Peace II Programme would be extended.

(3) Communication & Learning Resources - (Paper CRC/107/01/05/08 refers)

Mr O'Halloran (re CR week) suggested a heading on Interfaces.

Mr Mullan

(4) Policy Development Programme - (Paper CRC/107/01/05/09 refers)

Mr O'Loan enquired if a decision was required with regard to the CRC's role in Good Relations Framework. Ms McGlade said no decision was required at the moment and that there were two elements to the Good Relations debate;

(i) what CRC's role actually is in terms of the Good Relations Framework and,

(ii) it's working arrangement with the Equality Commission.

Dr Morrow said that he hoped to have clarification for the next meeting.

CEO/Ms McGlade

1534/05 AOB:

None.

1535/05 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:

(Wed) 23rd March (1.00 for 1.30 p.m. start Murray Street)

(Thurs) 26th May (1.00 for 1.30 p.m. start Linen Green Centre, Moygashel)

(Wed) 29th June (3.00 for 3.30 p.m. start Murray Street)

(Wed) 28th Sept (1.00 for 1.30 p.m. start Murray Street)

(Wed) 30th November (1.00 for 1.30 start Linen Green Centre, Moygashel)