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20 May 2003

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 20th May  2003 AT 10.30AM AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST

(CONFIRMED)

01        PRESENT:

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

02        APOLOGIES:

Maggie Bryson, Paul Smith, Maria Miskelly, Colin Craig, Denis Ritchie

03        IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Patricia Armstrong, Meabh Mc Caffrey

04        GENERAL BUSINESS

Meeting commenced at 10.30am.

Eamonn Deane took up position as the new Chair of the EU Committee.

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

Eamonn Deane offered a warm welcome to Cathy Gormley-Heenan.

Jim Dennison introduced Meabh Mc Caffrey and welcomed her to the meeting.

Minutes of previous meeting were checked for accuracy.

Karen Jardine requested that Denis Ritchie and herself be documented as observers in the minutes in the future.

Minutes then agreed by Members.

05        MATTERS ARISING

06        BRIEFING PAPER

Staff Arrangements

Members were informed that Sarah O'Neill would be commencing her new position of Administrative Officer on Tuesday 26 May 2003 and that M Mc Caffrey would be staying with the Department to assist P Armstrong in the claims procedure. Members were informed that applications were currently pending for the two remaining vacancies and that the Job description for the 'Assistant Director' had been amended to that of 'Development Officer' to incorporate the administrative and developmental duties of the position.

Financial Progress Report

Members were informed that Committee had almost reached full commitment of funding and that the review procedure was nearly at an end. K Jardine questioned if money could be taken from the Research budget to facilitate N+2. J Dennison suggested that a reserve list be constructed at the June meeting and money redirected at that time to facilitate funding for outstanding borderline applications – Members agreed.

Training

Members were informed that the training programme 'Capacity Building for Community Relations Initiatives' was currently rolling out involving all Measure 2:1 funded projects.

Reviews

Members were informed that the review panel had upheld the decisions of the EU Committee with regard to all applications to date. The review panel would be meeting within the next few weeks to consider review applications from the Irish School of Ecumenics, Larne YMCA and The Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Spend

Members were informed that although the Programme was running approximately 18 months behind schedule, spending has quickened recently and every effort would be made to meet N+2 spend requirements. In practical terms this means that c250k will have to be spent each month between now and the end of November this year. Karen Jardine added that CRU were satisfied that CRC is doing everything possible to meet spend requirements and clarified that the cut off date cannot be moved.

Statistics

Members were informed that the statistics circulated had identified a few geographical gaps in funding, notably North Antrim and North Armagh. It was also noted that we had currently funded no applications from ethnic minority groups. Members accepted that the lack of applications from these areas was the cause of the problem.

07        APPLICATIONS ASSESSMENTS

BELFAST INTERFACE PROJECT - 02/0232/7526

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 Belfast Interface Project had a proven track record and that this project would represent a valuable contribution and development to work already taking place in Interface areas (in particular in East Belfast). Members questioned the need for a full time Communications Worker and it was agreed that the Admin post could be augmented to incorporate the communications element, and salary uplifted accordingly. Members also agreed that the project should undergo a year 1/mid term evaluation and that Belfast Interface Project could do with some assistance on Monitoring and Evaluation. Amount awarded in principle c£140k towards the costs involved in delivery of a 33mth project subject to the conditions as outlined above and all usual conditions. 

PROTESTANT, UNIONIST, LOYALIST NETWORK - 02/0228/3568

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.  The decision of the European Committee, after review of all relevant documentation, was that this project did not fulfil a number of stipulations to a sufficient extent to warrant grant aid assistance.  These include: insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain the clear, lasting, practical and measurable benefits of proposed activities; insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain how the skills/learning acquired will make an impact in addressing issues of division and diversity; it was unclear, from the information provided, how project activities represented a practical response to the community relations learning, information and support needs of intended beneficiaries; clear mechanisms and indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of project activities were not illustrated from the information provided.

INTERCOMM - 02/0227/6819

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.  The decision of the European Committee, after review of all relevant documentation, was that the project did not fulfil a number of stipulations to a sufficient extent to warrant grant aid assistance.  These include: insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain the clear, lasting, practical and measurable benefits of proposed activities; insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain how the skills/learning acquired will make an impact in addressing issues of division and diversity; it was unclear, from the information provided, how project activities represented a practical response to the community relations learning, information and support needs of intended beneficiaries; clear mechanisms and indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of project activities were not illustrated from the information provided.

CHINESE WELFARE ASSOCIATION -  02/0213/007575

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, the proposal represented a strategic opportunity to widen the remit of community relations work, incorporating Northern Ireland's largest ethnic minority community; Proposed activities and project work plan were detailed and well researched; Members were in agreement that 'Option 3' would be the most cost effective funding option (x2 workers, line managed by the Chief Executive); They requested that in addition CWA detail and account for consultancy and research costs, as they appeared excessive. Amount awarded in principle c£180k towards the costs involved in delivery of a 36mth project subject to the conditions as outlined above and all usual conditions. 

NORTHERN IRELAND COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE - 02/0224/7880

Nominated Member:  David Stevens

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it.  The decision of the European Committee, after review of all relevant documentation, was that the project did not fulfil a number of stipulations to a sufficient extent to warrant grant aid assistance.  These include: insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain the clear, lasting, practical and measurable benefits of proposed activities; insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain how the skills/learning acquired will make an impact in addressing issues of division and diversity; it was unclear, from the information provided, how project activities represented a practical response to the community relations learning, information and support needs of intended beneficiaries; clear mechanisms and indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of project activities were not illustrated from the information provided.

ULSTER SCOTS DEVELOPMENT TRUST  -  02/0283/8167

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it.  The decision of the European Committee, after review of all relevant documentation, was that this project did not fulfil a number of stipulations to a sufficient extent to warrant grant aid assistance.  Members agreed that it was difficult to ascertain, from the information provided, the community relations-specific content of proposed activities and the extent to which they represented a strategic response to the CR learning, information and support needs of intended beneficiaries; insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain whether proposed activities will adequately address issues of division and diversity, and facilitate structured engagement of peace-building work; insufficient evidence was provided to ascertain the clear, lasting, practical and measurable benefits of proposed activities.

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY - 02/0222/6602

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, in principle, that this project be placed on the 'reserve list' for fundable projects should more grant aid become available.  Members agreed that the proposal would bring another constituency into CR work and that it made good commercial sense to be engaged in this type of activity. Members were concerned at the value for money aspect of this application and would welcome further attempts to downsize project costs; in particular members questioned the management fee documented and would ask that BIC provide a clear strategy for writing up their findings. Members agreed that this proposal should be held as a reserve application to be ranked with others at the June committee meeting and a decision regarding funding be made at that time.

MEDIATION NORTHERN IRELAND

Deferred to June Meeting

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Date for the next EU Committee Meeting –   Wednesday, 18 June 2003 @10.30am

Date for the remaining Committee Meetings - Tuesday, 9 September 2003 and Tuesday, 11 November 2003

Members and staff thanked for their contributions

Meeting finished @12.00pm.