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Council Minutes
January 2007
26th April 2007
MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & TWENTIETH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 31st JANUARY 2007 & 1.30 p.m.
IN THE BOARDROOM, 6 MURRAY STREET. BELFAST
1729/07 PRESENT: Action:
Dr D Stevens (Acting Chair), Mr W Erwin, Mr C O’Halloran, Ms M Hetherington Mr D O’Loan, Ms E Gallagher Dr D Stevens, Mr T McCusker, Mr M Wardlow, Ms C Wilson, Mr R Wilson.
1730/07 APOLOGIES:
Mr E McCartan (Chair), Mr J Cousins, Ms M Muldoon.
1731/07 IN ATTENDANCE:
Dr D Morrow [CEO], Ms J Irwin [Deputy CEO], Mr J Fitzsimons [P/D DFAP]Ms D McGlade[P/D Policy Dev], Mr R Mullan [P/D Communication & Resources], Ms M Mackin [P/D Funding & Development], Ms H Scott [P/Secretary].
1732/07 OBSERVER:
MR Drew Haire (CRU)
1733/07 MINUTES:
The Minutes from the previous meeting (29 Nov 2006) having been circulated, were taken as read. There were no amendments.
1734/07 CHAIRS BUSINESS:
None
1735/07 MATTERS ARISING
(1) Membership Recruitment [Mins 1717/06 refer]
The CEO thanked those members who had responded to his e-mail and stated that a full set of recruitment and selection documentation had been considered and approved by those members who had been able to attend the General Purposes Committee meeting at La Mon House Hotel on 9th January 2007. He confirmed that the recruitment process was underway and advertisements had appeared in local papers and funded groups and key stake holders had been notified and applicants invited to apply.
Dr Morrow said there were four categories: Knowledge and Expertise; Corporate Governance and Accountability; Judgement and Creativity; Strategic Thinking and Planning.
1735/07 Matters Arising Cont.
After a general discussion on the weighting of each category, a “weighting” of 30/30/20/20 with minimum thresholds was agreed. It was also agreed that consideration should be given to particular gaps in board membership, not necessarily to the highest score (though scoring should be a factor).
The CEO said that the closing date was 16th February 2007, a week after that short-listing would be completed and two weeks later, i.e. week commencing 5th March an interview process would take place. He said the outcome of the process would be taken to CRU.
The CEO advised that CRU would not participate on the selection panel. He said it was proposed that there would be an independent person, two Council members with the Chair overseeing the process.
This was agreed.
Mr Wardlow suggested consideration be given to a gender balance if possible.
1736/07 CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN:
[Papers CRC/1220/01/07/01(a) & 01(b) refer]
The CEO thanks members who had attended the planning day on 9th January. He also thanked Mr McCusker for his assistance and Ms Irwin for her hard work in preparing the Plan for consultation.
There followed a general debate.
The CEO said that any further specific comments or questions Council members might have should now be taken to consultation process via written or verbal communication to him or to Ms Irwin.
Dr Stevens (Acting Chair) informed members that there would be a 12 week consultation period after which the document would be signed off by full Council.
The CEO said that he thought the Plan set out clearly what the Council was about. He suggested that after the consultation process (and taking into account forthcoming elections) that the Plan could be ratified at the June meeting.
Members approved the document for consultation.
1737/07 OPERATIONAL PLAN UPDATE
[Papers CRC/120/01/07/02 & 02.1 refer]
(i) Operational Plan Third Quarter Review Update (02 refers).
(ii) Equality Update (02.1 refers)
Operational Plan:
Ms Irwin apologised for the fact that a full document had not been made available at the meeting but said that copies could be obtained if requested. She said that CRC’s bid to run the Community Bridges Programme on behalf of IFI had been successful but pointed out that it had also been a time of uncertainty for staff directly affected by the changes. Ms Irwin thanked the DFAP team for their invaluable support and guidance throughout the process.
Ms Irwin thanked CRU for its in-year financial allocation which would allow the Small Grant Scheme to re-open.
Equality Update:
Ms Irwin reminded members that procedures had been suspended while the Council was under review and was involved with the corporate strategic planning process. She said that Dr John Kremer (QUB) was being consulted with a view to training staff and refining processes in preparation for EQIA.
Ms Irwin said that Council might carry out a screening process with some focus groups including ethnic minorities.
Ms Irwin informed members that another programme of Good Relations Training for CRC staff would be initiated shortly.
Mr Haire said that, should the current OFMDFM bid to the spending review be successful, there would be a possibility of some additional funding after 2008 for this.
1738/07 IFI/COMMUNITY BRIDGES UPDATE:
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/03 refers]
The above paper outlines relevant issues.
The CEO informed members that, in terms of accommodation, it was hoped to integrate Community Bridges staff with CRC staff by March/April. He said two new posts for the Community Bridges Programme would be advertised next week to bring the Programme to full staff compliment.
The CEO said that the success in winning this tender represented a major cross-border funding programme which increased CRC’s portfolio.
1738/07 IFI/Community Bridges Update
The CEO said he hoped that the IFI Community Bridges Programme, and CRC’s EU and other funding programmes would be able to work in synergy and that there was potential coherent support for A Shared Future programme.
Mr McCusker said he wanted to record thanks and appreciation to the Council staff who had been involved in solving the wider issues involved with this contract.
The CEO said that, if possible, he would arrange for Council members to have a presentation from the Programme Director of the IFI Community Bridges Programme on the work of the programme. CEO
1739/07 A SHARED FUTURE verbal UP-DATE:
The CEO informed members that he had attended the first meeting of the Good Relations Steering Panel at Stormont (chaired by Nigel Hamilton). He indicated that the primary goal was to start a process and that a specific agenda would follow. The CEO advised that six key Departments would be involved, Dept of Education, Dept of Social Development, OFMDFM, Dept Culture Arts & Leisure, Dept of the Environment and Dept Finance & Personnel, CRC plus 3 representatives of District Councils, the Equality Commission, NIHE and PSNI. He said that a strategic driving function needed to be identified and that the policy was driven forward.
The CEO said that he had invited Mr Nigel Hamilton to speak to Council and he hoped this would be at the May meeting, CEO
1740/07 POLICY PAPER – MANIFESTO POLICY PRIORITIES:
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/04(a) and 04(b) refers]
The CEO pointed out that this was not a new paper in terms of content and that it had gone before the Policy Development Committee before coming to Council.
A general discussion followed.
Mr O’Halloran said that if the paper was going to political parties he would like to see “interfaces” included.
The CEO said member’s suggestions would be incorporate suggestions prior to circulation. CEO
The paper was approved subject to the above.
(Mr O’Halloran left the Boardroom at 3:04 pm and returning 3:10 pm. Ms Mackin left the Boardroom at 3:10 p.m.)
1741/07 MEDIA FUND PROPOSAL – Working title “My Day”
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/05 refers]
The above paper outlines the rationale and background.
The CEO advised members that this proposal had been supported by the Communications Committee and was now before Council for consideration.
He said that the proposal, for a second series of short films could be seen as a logical sequence to the C2K initiative for early years education (commissioned last year) and was deemed to be a good use of CRC’s media budget.
Amount Recommended: £40,000.00
Amount Approved by Council: £40,000.00
1742/07 COMMUNITY RELATIONS AWARD:
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/06 refers]
Mr Mullan informed members that, if approved, a letter would be circulated next week inviting nominations for the CR 2007 award. He said that information would also appear on the CRC website, in CR news and letters would be sent our to all the CRC funded groups.
Mr Mullan said that last year Mr Eamon Deane had been the recipient of the award and since then a formal process has been established which included a set of criteria.
After general discussion it was suggested that as well as commitment, evidence of contribution over a long term might be desirable.
Mr McCusker pointed out that there might be two people involved in the same work and perhaps “person” should be amended to read persons.
The proposal was agreed (subject to suggested amendments to the criteria).
(Mr O’Loan left the Boardroom @ 3:33 p.m..)
1743/07 PATHFINDER PROPOSAL: Forth Spring support
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/07 tabled at meeting refers]
The above paper details the proposal, relevant points and recommendsone-off support of up to £20,000.00 for Forth Spring to cover operational costs until April 2007.
The CEO advised members that Belfast Regeneration Office would take over costs from May 2007. He said that this funding short term and would bridge a shortfall which had emerged. The CEO confirmed that CRU had indicated their support and he felt that, because of the location (on an interface) the loss of this resource had potentially serious implications.
1743/07 Pathfinder Proposal cont.
Amount proposed: £20,000.00
Amount approved by Council: £20,000.00
1744/07 FINANCE:
[Papers CRC/120/01/07/08(a) & 08(b), 08.1 (a-d), 08.2 refer]
- Profile of Expenditure & notes : 08(a) & 08(b) refer
- Small Grant Review : 08.1 (a to d) refer
- Report from General Purposes Committee : 08.2 refers
- Profile of Expenditure: Mr Fitzsimons reported that Council was on course for full spend at the end of Financial Year 31st March 2007. He said that additional funding had been confirmed by CRU and this would enable the reopening of the small grant scheme before financial year end.
- Small Grant Review: Mr Fitzsimons said that this was a snap shot of groups funded and grants paid up to November 2007
- General Purposes Committee: Mr Fitzsimons summarised the main issues discussed at the last meeting. Regarding staff sickness levels, he reported that sickness days lost in the last quarter of 2006 = 1.46% and suggested that this figure was acceptable.
There were no questions.
1745/07 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT:
[Paper CRC/120/01/07/09 refers]
The above paper outlines the main areas of business.
(i) Recruitment: The CEO said that following the successful tender for the IFI Community Bridges Programme staffing recruitment for a number of posts could now be progressed and advertisements would appear in local newspapers in February.
(ii) Peace III: The CEO advised that CRC had been identified as one of the two remaining Intermediary Funding Bodies, the other organisation was Border Action. He said that structures and policy would have to be developed and that after a meeting with Border Action (in February) it was hoped to have an outline for planning to enable the development of a meaningful programme by the autumn.
(Ms McGlade left the Boardroom @ 3.45 p.m.) 1745/07 CEO’s Report cont.
(iii) CRC seminars: The CEO thanked Policy Development programme staff for the work around the events they had arranged around Youth Policy, and the Sir George Bain event around education and A Shared Future.
(iv)Facilitation: The CEO reported that he had resumed involvement with an interface group.
1746/07 SECTOR REPORTS for information:
[Papers CRC/120/01/07/10 to 14 refer]
The above papers outline the main areas of Programme work)
European Programme
(Paper CRC/120/01/07/10 refers)
Funding & Development Programme
(Paper CRC/120/01/06/11 refers)
Mr Wardlow suggested that the Small Grant Scheme would need to be managed so that early closure was prevented. He also expressed the view that there should, where possible be a common grant process with a common grant application form.
Communication & Learning Resources
(Paper CRC/120/01/07/12 refers)
Mr Mullan reminded members about Community Relations Week runs from 30th April to 6th May. He asked people to contact him about any events they wished to have included in the programme.
(Mr Erwin left the Boardroom @ 4.00 p.m.)
Policy Development Programme
(Paper CRC/120/01/07/13 refers)
IFI Community Bridges Programme
(Paper CRC/120/01/07/14 refers)
1747/07 AOB : None.
1748/07 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Wednesday 28th March 2007
*Wednesday 30th May 2007 (Linen Green Centre, Moygashel)
Thursday 28th June 2007 (possibly an AGM)
Thursday 27th Sept 2007
*Wednesday 28th Nov 2007 (Linen Green Centre, Moygashel)
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