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Council Minutes
6 & 7 March 2003
6th March 2003
Core Funding Committee (Victims + Survivors) Groups
6 March 2003
Present: Jim Campbell, John Cousins (Chair), Sheena Funston, Marie Hélène Knox, Maureen Hetherington, Sheila-Jayne Malley, Chris O'Halloran, Caroline Wilson
Observers: Fergus Devitt, Sarah Todd
In attendance: Joan Clements, Derrick Mathews, Brian Mullan, Micháela Mackin, Carol Taylor
Apologies: None
1. Introductions
Mr Cousins welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming along to the residential. John thanked the staff for their hard work.
2. Terms of Reference for Committee [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/01 refers]
Ms Mackin spoke to this paper and gave a brief outline. She informed members that Ms Fiona Cassidy (Legal advisor) would be attending on the 7 March.
Mr Devitt raised the issue of confidentiality and it was agreed by all that the process outlined in the paper be strictly followed.
3. Minutes of last meeting (6 February) [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/02 refers]
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Mr Campbell and Ms Malley noted that they were both present at this meeting. The minutes would be amended accordingly to note their attendance.
4. Minutes of Sub Committee meeting - 19 February [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/03 refers]
The minutes of this meeting were read and approved.
5. Minutes of Sub Committee meeting - 28 February 2003 (mailed and tabled)
Ms Mackin reported that a meeting of the sub committee had been arranged. She asked members if they had all received notification of changes in advance of the meeting. All members indicated that they had.
6. Matters arising:
Ms Todd and Mr Devitt announced that they had put in a request to the Private Office for further additional funding. They informed members that up to a further £500,000 would be made available. This will be announced at a later date by the NIO.
7. Grant Application Process [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/04 refers]
Ms Mackin said that this paper was for information purposes.
8. Review Process and Procedure [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/05 refers]
Ms Mackin spoke to this paper. Members were informed that the review panel would include Dr Duncan Morrow CRC Chief Executive Officer and 2 other CRC council members.
9. Proposals
Contingency Reserve [Paper CRCV/06/03/03/06 refers]
Ms Mackin spoke to this paper. This paper was approved by all. Discussion took place and members advocated that it would be beneficial if there was a substantial contingency reserve.
10. Reserve funds for possible reviews
Ms Mackin indicated that this item was for Committee discussion. She explained that with the review process the Council would be required to set aside funding for possible reviews. This has now been alleviated somewhat due to extra funding that has become available (See 6: Matters Arising).
11. Contribution towards Salary costs [Paper CRCV/06/03/07 refers]
Ms Mackin spoke to this paper and explained that this paper outlined the contribution towards salaries that the Assessment Officers had been working from. Members approved this proposal.
12. Grant Applications [Paper CRCV/06/03/08 refers]
Ms Mackin spoke to this paper. She said that this paper had been updated since the NIC rate has recently been increased to 12.8%. The revised recommended amount (from Assessment Officer's recommendations) has increased to £3,213,120.07 million to £3.217,173.63 million.
For information purposes, Ms Mackin showed a map which outlined the location and type of groups that have applied for funding from the Scheme in NI.
13. Economic Appraisals, Interim Funding and Multiple Applications
Ms Mackin indicated to members that there are a number of issues that require some consideration prior to addressing the grant applications and this paper was tabled. [Paper CRCV/06/03/09 refers].
Ms Mackin advised that it was CRC's policy to carry out an independent economic appraisal where a groups' application exceeded in excess of £250,000, and this had been outlined to each group at the Information Seminars and individual assessment meetings. She further advised other Council Programme's have a policy to commission economic appraisals where a group is in receipt of public monies in excess of £250,000. Mr Devitt indicated that if any group was required to undergo an economic appraisal then funding for the independent economic appraisal would be forthcoming from his Department, and not the Scheme's fund. Legal advice from Fiona Cassidy would be sought.
Ms Mackin advised the committee that one group had requested the committee to consider a revised application which splits their original application into two. The committee agreed that they would only consider the first application as the second would have been received after the closing date. This is in keeping with a policy established already by the committee on the acceptance of late applications.
14. GRANT APPLICATIONS
Applications to the Core Funding Scheme:
Committee members went through all grant applications over the 6th and 7th March 2004.
15. Members left for the evening and would resume at 9am on 7 March 2003.
Core Funding Committee (Victims + Survivors) Groups
7 March 2003
Present: Jim Campbell, John Cousins (Chair), Sheena Funston, Marie Hélène Knox, Maureen Hetherington, Sheila-Jayne Malley, Chris O'Halloran, Caroline Wilson
Observers: Fiona Cassidy, Fergus Devitt, Sarah Todd
In attendance: Joan Clements, Derrick Mathews, Brian Mullan, Micháela Mackin, Carol Taylor
Continued from 6 March 2003
1. Welcome
Mr Cousins welcomed members back and went through the process of decisions on grant applications.
It was discussed that due to time constraints another meeting would be set up. It was suggested Monday 10 March at 2pm to be held at Castle Buildings.
2. Review of Economic Appraisals
Members informed Fiona Cassidy of their policy on late applications. Ms Cassidy confirmed that this was an appropriate policy.
Members discussed the issue of economic appraisals and Ms Cassidy was briefed on CRC's policy. Members were reminded that Independent Economic Appraisals are used for public accountability and equity. Ms Cassidy said that further clarity would be helpful on Economic Appraisals. Mr Devitt said that he would explore OFMDFM's policy in relation to economic appraisals.
The committee agreed that groups who would be required to go to independent economic appraisal would receive their initial payment in advance, pending the result of the appraisal.
3. Consideration of grant applications continued.
4. Mr Cousins thanked everyone for their active participation and contribution to the proceedings.
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