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04 March 2005

Minutes of the

 Policy Development Committee Meeting

Friday 4^th March 2005

Present: Robin Wilson (Chair), Roise NI Bhaoill, Ann Anderson Porter, Vivienne Pollock, Neil Jarman

Apologies: Ward Erwin, Nelson McCausland, Declan O'Loan, Edwin Graham, Pat O'Neill, Ali McAlister

In attendance: Chris O'Halloran (BIP), Duncan Morrow, Dympna McGlade, David Russell, Jacqueline Irwin, Peter Thompson

Minutes of the last meeting canards

Agreed as accurate 

Matters arising

None

Update on Shared Future Strategy

The final draft of the Shared Future Strategy is now complete. CRC has been given the opportunity to comment on its proposals.

• CRU have accepted nearly all CRC's recommendations
• Will enable CRC to have a more enhanced and stronger role
• Housing Executive will play a much bigger role as will the Departments
• Interdepartmental Group being set up by government and headed up by head of Civil Service. Triennial Action Plans to be developed by Autumn 2005
• Councils role will be enhanced and CRC will have a support and challenge function implementation of their roles between April 2007 – 2009 in line with RPA

Clarification needed on:

• Budget Issues – Financing of new CRC structures
• Victims
• Integrated Education
• Cultural Diversity
• Good Relations
• Race Relations
• Role of Departments
• Relationship/powers with Councils
• Community Relations/Community Development link

Press statement to be released by CRC.

Overviews of interface research – Neil Jarman, Chris O'Halloran

Neil Jarman, ICR presented CRC commissioned research Demography, Development and Disorder: Changing Patterns of Interface Areas and Chris O'Halloran, BiP presented A Policy Agenda for the Interfaces. The presentations were followed by Committee debate.  After discussion the main points raised by the committee were:

• The Shared Future Strategy identified reducing tension at interface areas as a key area of work which would be led by Councils in collaboration with key agencies and other stakeholders. CRC will have central role, given the new relationships with local councils and the responsibility for overseeing Section 75 (2) implementation plans.
• Need for a comprehensive approach to address interface issues.
• Main aim should be to develop a common sense of place.
• Belfast City Council is critically important to the implementation of the reports.
• To link with other initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
• International relationship building and learning
• Improve networks
• Main support should be to groups on the ground
• Prevent new interfaces becoming traditional
• Also address interfaces in rural and other areas outside Belfast

Reply from CRC to the Youth Justice Agency Corporate Plan

CR mentioned in passing. CRC has drafted a short reply requesting YAJ to develop a good relations strategy and outlining the need for it to be mainstreamed.

Date of next meeting

Friday 13 May 2pm