Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

06 April 2004

MINUTES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL ON 6^th APRIL 2004 AT CRC OFFICES, 6 MURRAY STREET, BELFAST

(CONFIRMED)

01 PRESENT:

Eamon Deane (Chair), Cathy Gormley Heenan, Paul Smith, Maria Miskelly, Dr David Stevens, CRU Observers - Vincent Gribben and Pauline Donnan

02 APOLOGIES:

Colin Neilands, Colin Craig, Maggie Bryson, Pauline Morgan (CRU)

03 IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Dennison, Patricia Armstrong, Claudine Walls, Vanessa McCrory, Libby Smit, Eileen Deacon (present for part of the meeting)

04 GENERAL BUSINESS

Meeting commenced at 10.30am.

Members were welcomed and apologies noted.

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

05 MATTERS ARISING

None that would not be covered in the agenda.

06 BRIEFING PAPER

Staffing

Eileen Deacon was congratulated on her successful appointment as Administrative Officer within the European Programme and welcomed to the team.

Financial Arrangements

Spending is on target for N+2 2004.

Extra Spend

Members were informed that no decision has yet been made yet on the possibility of additional money being allocated to Measure 2:1/CRC. Decisions regarding the movement of money within Measures will be made by the Managing Authority in June. It was noted that delays in making a decision had an impact on the amount of funding which could be accepted and administered.

Project Activity

Members were informed that the majority of projects are progressing well and spending on target. However, there are a number of projects which are under-performing/achieving, with the main reason being staffing difficulties. Committee approval was sought for the possible clawback/withdrawal and reallocation of grant aid from these groups. Members advised that the projects in question should be written to, met with and the specifics of the problems they have encountered discussed in order to agree a solution/way forward. The outcomes of these meetings/discussions will be presented to Committee at the next meeting for comment and approval sought for the clawback/withdrawal and reallocation of grant aid.

Research

Members were reminded that £150k of the remaining research allocation of Measure 2:1 had been set aside for possible reviews. Members were also asked to be aware during the assessment of the applications being presented at the meeting, of the need to retain money for the remaining 2 years of the funding period in which a number of research-related activities are planned.

With the above in mind, Members agreed the order in which the applications would be assessed. The one unsolicited bid would be presented first as it was received prior to the commissioned bids. Members were asked to consider all the applications and challenge any questionable scores.

The applications for consideration were presented by Libby Smit and Jim Dennison.

Members thanked Libby for her hard work throughout the assessment of all the applications.

07 APPLICATION ASSESSMENTS

QUEENS UNIVERSTIY OF BELFAST (QUB) - DR SALLY SHORTALL – 02/0346/010922

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
No conflicts of interest were declared
Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. Members agreed on the basis of the information provided, that Measure 2.1 assistance could not be made available. Members expressed concerns regarding the distinctiveness of the project from existing research. Concern was also expressed that insufficient information was provided on the actual content of the issues that would be explored with research participants and their direct relevance to community relations and peace building.

INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT RESEARCH – Degrees of Separation - 03/0432/019862

Nominated Member: Dr David Stevens
No conflicts of interest were declared

Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. Members agreed on the basis of the information provided that Measure 2.1 assistance could not be made available. The Committee's decision was based, in part, on concerns about the low level of consultations that had been held with possible research participants in the possible case study cities. Concern was also expressed that while the proposal was topical, costs for the research were relatively high given that the exact subject matter which would be addressed with research participants in the case study cities was not fully explained.

INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT RESEARCH – Mixed Residential Communities – 03/0434/019861

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
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 in order to reach a decision on this application, further information was required. Members expressed that research into issues surrounding mixed residential areas could represent a strategic response to community relations and provide a contribution to the current debate on shared spaces. Members advised that the overall costs of the proposal were relatively high and should be reduced to c£75k. Members felt that consultations with Brendan Murtagh (on previous research in this area) and the Ballynafeigh Community Development Association may be necessary to ensure the distinctiveness of each phase of the research. Decision deferred pending receipt of further information.

INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT RESEARCH – Interface Violence in East Belfast – 03/0433/019857

Nominated Member: Dr David Stevens
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 in order to reach a decision on this application, further information was required. Concern was expressed about some of the costs of the proposal and the possible risk factors that could present should there be a further outbreak of violence in the proposed case study area. Members highlighted the need to ensure that the research design and process would adequately address any possible risks. Members questioned the peace building impact of the research and the transferability of the learning from the research given that its focus is on a particular local case study area. Decision deferred pending receipt of further information.

MS RUTH MOORE – 03/0431/19894

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
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 that assistance could not be made available. Members discussed the fact that previous work of a similar nature had already been carried out regarding documenting best practice in single identity community development organisations.

QUB – INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE – 03/437/19925

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
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 expressed concerns about the high costs of the proposal. Members felt that while the proposal was topical, it fell more appropriately within the remit of the Equality Commission and that consultations with the Commission would avoid possible duplication of research being conducted currently in the area.

TRAINING FOR WOMEN NETWORK – 03/438/19759

Nominated Member: Maggie Bryson
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 felt that while there is merit in evaluating the impact of Peace II funded projects and that in order to receive Peace II funding, projects funded by the TWN had to pass the Peace II Distinctiveness Criteria, their actual focus/work is not necessarily of a peace-building emphasis). For this reason Members felt that the proposal did not fit within the criteria of Measure 2:1.

THE TRAINING TRUST – 03/0596/18579

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
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 expressed concerns regarding insufficient information on the possible subject matter or topics which would be addressed with research participants. Without this information it is difficult to determine the distinctiveness of the proposal. Concern was also expressed regarding the high costs of the proposal.

UNIVERISITY OF ULSTER – DR PATRICIA LUNDY – 03/0436/19655

Nominated Member: Cathy Gormley Heenan
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 be made available to fund part of the proposal (up to a maximum of £50k). Members agreed that there were 2 strands to the research proposal and that funding for the NILT aspect of the project be awarded in principle, subject to a number of conditions and a revision of costs. Members requested that applicants be advised to revise the budget and methodology for the NILT aspect of the proposal and resubmit for approval. Members advised that applicants must work in consultation with Brandon Hamber, and link closely with the relevant Government Department dealing with research of a similar nature. Agreed in principle up to £50 k subject to the revision of the methodology and costs, and in line with the advice outlined above. Amount awarded to be agreed subject to the receipt of requested information.

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER – DR WILLIAMSON 03/0435/19832

Nominated Member: Paul Smyth
Cathy Gormley Heenan declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting (She informed Members that she is part of the same school within the University, although she does not know or work with Dr Williamson)
Members discussed this application and reviewed all materials which had been submitted in relation to it. It was agreed in principle that on the basis of the information provided, Measure 2.1 assistance could be made available subject to receiving a revised/scaled down proposal (costs and methodology). Members felt that the proposal would be more cost effective and have a greater impact, if the research was taken forward as a pilot project or case study involving a smaller selection of community organisations. Agreed in principle (up to £80k) subject to the revision of the methodology and costs, and in line with the advice outlined above. Amount awarded to be agreed subject to the receipt of requested information.

CROSS BORDER CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – 03/0526/19974

Nominated Member: Paul Smyth
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 expressed concerns that research with a similar subject matter is currently being undertaken by the Community Relations Unit at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (findings due to be published shortly). Members agreed that the proposal may be more appropriate under another Measure/Funder.

UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER – DR MORELAND – 03/422/19609

Nominated Member: Paul Smyth
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 acknowledged that while there may be a need to create and promote standards for community work that are applicable in the Northern Ireland context, it was felt that the community relations aspect of the research did not appear to be a fully integrated theme throughout the research (only two of the research objectives had direct relevance to community relations). Concerns were also expressed about the uptake of research results.

THE JUNCTION - 03/423/19659

Nominated Member: Dr David Stevens
Eamon Deane declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting.
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 acknowledged that research of a similar subject matter (regarding Protestant alienation and migration) is currently being undertaken by the Community Relations Unit of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Members pointed out that the project had many similarities with work already being undertaken by the Church of Ireland, Diocese of Down and Dromore “ Think Again” project, and that lessons from this project may be transferable to the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.

08 Any Other Business

Date for the next EU Committee Meeting – 22 June 2004 at 11am.
Members and staff thanked for their contributions.
CRU Observers asked if they could attend the next meeting. Members agreed to this.
Meeting finished at approximately 12.48pm

SIGNED:_____________________________________ DATE:________________________

(Chairperson)