Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

10 February 2005

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 10^th February 2005 AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST

(CONFIRMED)

01 PRESENT:

Dr David Stevens (Chair), Cathy Gormley-Heenan (left meeting @12.30pm), Colin Neilands, Eamonn Deane, Colin Craig, Maria Miskelly, Pauline Morgan - Observer (CRU)

02 APOLOGIES:

Paul Smith, Maggie Bryson

03 IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Claudine Walls, Patricia Armstrong (joined meeting @12.20pm), Libby Smit, Vanessa McCrory, Eileen Deacon, Duncan Morrow

04 GENERAL BUSINESS

Meeting commenced at 11.30am.

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

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

05 MATTERS ARISING

None

06 BRIEFING PAPER

PEACE II Extension

Members were advised that the extension to the PEACE II Programme is imminent. A public call for the appointment of Intermediary Funding Bodies (IFBs) will occur with advertisements in the National press on 10/11 February. Closing date for submission of tender bids is Monday 4^th April 05. The appointment of IFB's will be announced at the end of April/early May 2005 with Measures expected to open in mid May/early June.

CRC will be applying to retain its status as an IFB for Measure 2:1 which will have (if successful) an enhanced budget (£6 million plus Technical Assistance) under the Extension. Measure 2:1 will be amalgamated with Measure 4:1 of the Peace II Programme (trans-national learning). The Measure could also make provision for training and learning. Members were advised that in order to consult with Committee on the Extension, further/additional meetings may need to be arranged. Committee to be kept updated.

· 'Learning from PEACE II Seminar' Seminar Programme

Members were informed that the first 2 Seminars in the series had taken place ('Beyond Sectarianism' in October 04 and 'Shaping and Delivering Peace at Local Level' in December 04). An overview of the seminars planned for 2005 was provided. Publications from the seminars held in 2004 are due to be launched in 2005.

Financial Update

Members were provided with an update on the financial status of Measure 2:1. The N+2 target for 2004 was revised as advance payments were no longer deemed eligible towards the N+2 target. Against the revised N+2 2004 figure of £4,736,824, staff managed to process/account for 94.8% of the target - £4,491,991 – a shortfall of only £244,833. The 'N+2 2005' target has now been set at £2,426,034 (this includes the previous £244k shortfall). Since December 2004 staff have processed a further £242,513.17 towards N+2.

Research

Members were provided with an update on the status of the 'Research' element of Measure 2:1 and advised of the plans for dissemination of research. A number of seminars have been planned where different pieces of research supported by Measure 2:1 will be launched. It is hoped that these events will facilitate discussion of the research and dissemination of the findings. Planning for a final publication incorporating all funded research has begun.

07 SLIPPAGE REALLOCATOINS

The subject of under-spends/slippage and the reallocation of grant aid was discussed at previous EU Committee meetings. As requested by Committee, staff prepared a briefing paper with regard to 'Reallocations of Slippage Grant Aid'. Members were advised of the projects which currently have budget under-spends and the possible value of a de-commitment figure (c£120k). Staff provided an overview (see below) on the options available for the management of slippage funds.

OPTION 1

Open to all Measure 2:1 funded groups via a short application. Staff advised that this would be difficult to administer.

OPTION 2

To administer slippage funds in tranches e.g. Tranche 1 (June-Sept 05), Tranche 2 (Oct-Dec 05) and Tranche 3 (Jan-Mar 06). The first tranche would be open to those projects who are due to finish first. On the basis of funding available after completion of this tranche, the second tranche would be opened and so on. Staff advised that this was a feasible option.

OPTION 3

Similar to Option 2 but would involve a review of project spend to determine if projects could be naturally extended within their current award offer.

OPTION 4

Do nothing – await the outcome of the Peace II Extension.

A question and answer session followed the discussion on the options presented. Members advised staff to seek guidance on the issue from SEUPB. For the purposes of housekeeping and after discussion of the options, Members agreed that option 3 was the preferred option. Members also agreed that awards should be made for a maximum of 6 months and if groups could be extended naturally they would automatically be ruled out of applying. It was agreed that this was the most fair and equitable method of allocating money at any given time and an assessment should be carried out on the basis of need. Members discussed the implications for the administration of slippage funding (only 1 tranche) should the Peace II Extension be implemented.

08 REALLOCATION REQUESTS FROM FUNDED GROUPS

INCORE – 01/0389/004621

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. They were advised that the circumstances within the project had changed and therefore the reallocation request previously granted to the group by Committee needed to be revised. Members agreed to the request to reduce the Project Assistant's hours to 25h/p/w for the Secretary of the project to act up as Project Assistant 1 day per week. Members advised that when claiming the costs for the Secretary the project must demonstrate additionality with regard to the work undertaken (duties/responsibilities) in the acting up position. Committee also agreed that where appropriate/when necessary additional secretarial support could be bought in. Upon clarification of the travel element of the project Members agreed to uplift the travel budget in line with the project's request. Committee requested that the group continue to demonstrate/observe value-for-money with regard to travel costs.

THE CORRYMEELA COMMUNITY – 02/0054/001304

Dr David Stevens and Colin Craig declared conflicts of interest and left the meeting.

Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. Members agreed in principle to the reallocation request pending clarification and receipt of budget information. As Committee were not quorate in making a decision, it was decided that the request would be emailed to those Committee Members not present at the meeting for agreement/approval.

IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION – 01/0331/002387

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. Members agreed in principle that the project could be extended naturally within the original award offer but requested additional information/clarifiction on 'what' activities would be undertaken in the extension (maximum of 6 months).

BALLYNAFEIGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (BCDA) – 01/0402/001350

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid.

Members discussed the proposal and agreed to defer a decision regarding the extension of the project pending the outcome of match funding applications (for Programme costs). Members agreed that if necessary, the organisation could apply for slippage funding to support an extension to the project.

YOUTH INITIATIVES - 02/0056/005018

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. Members discussed the proposal and agreed that a proper proposal for the extension of the project should be submitted before a decision could be made.

YOUTH ACTION – 02/0055/002210

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. Members discussed the proposal and agreed to the reallocation of grant aid as requested to allow the project to be extended by 3 months. Committee also agreed to an uplift of the Administration budget by £1,911.35, an uplift of the Evaluation budget by £600 and an uplift in the Recruitment budget by £1,320.00.

INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT RESEARCH – YOUTH ALIENATION – 01/0405/002338

No conflicts of interest were declared.
Members were given a synopsis of the request for a reallocation of grant aid. Due to an under-spend in the group's Measure 2:1 award offer for the 'Youth Alienation and Communal Disorder' research project, a reallocation of grant aid was requested to undertake 2 small pieces of research which were linked to the main focus of the project. Members discussed both proposals from the group ('Young People and ASBO's' and 'Young Women and Violence') and agreed in principle to supporting the proposals but requested clarification on the community relations content of both pieces of work.

09 ANY OTHER BUSINEESS

LOWER NORTH BELFAST COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Staff provided an update on the status of Measure 2:1 funded Lower North Belfast Community Council and advised that a forward plan of work had been submitted but that some of the content was unclear. Members were advised that the withdrawal of grant aid from the group would result in serious implications for work/progress in the area. Staff advised that a meeting with DSD was being arranged so that a strategic approach to the problem could be discussed. Members to be kept updated.

Members and staff were thanked for their contributions.

Dates for the next EU Committee meetings were agreed – Wednesday 23 March at 11.30pm in CRC Office's Belfast, Tuesday 26 April 2005 at 11.30am in CRC Office's Belfast CRC office and Tuesday 26 May at 11.00am in CRC's Dungannon Office.

SIGNED:_____________________________________ DATE:________________________

(Chairperson)