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Council Minutes
March 2003
29th March 2003
MINUTES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH MEETING
OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
HELD ON THURSDAY 27TH MARCH 2003 AT 1.30 P.M.
IN THE COUNCIL BOARDROOM
1343/03 PRESENT:
Mr J Cousins, Mr E Deane, Mr W Erwin, Ms M Hetherington, Mr E McCartan (Chair), Mr N McCausland, Ms M Miskelly, Ms M Muldoon, Mr C Neilands, Mr D O'Loan, Mr M Wardlow, Ms C Wilson, Mr R Wilson.
1344/03 APOLOGIES:
Ms K Johnston, Mr C O'Halloran, Mr D McIlroy, Ms M Pollock, Dr D
Stevens.
1345/03 IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr J Dennison[PD/EU], Mr J Fitzsimons[PD/Finance/Admin & Personnel], Ms M Mackin [PD/Funding & Dev], Ms D McGlade [PD/Policy Dev], Mr R Mullan [PD/Information & Resources], Mr J Morgan[PO/NOF], Ms H Scott [Secretary].
1346/03 OBSERVER:
Mr D Ritchie (CRU)
1347/03 MINUTES:
The Minutes from the previous meetings 29th January and (residential) 20th February 2003 having been circulated were taken as read. Amendments were noted to Mins 1320/03, 1326/03 and 1330/03.
1348/03 PRESENTATION RE “ONE SMALL STEP CAMPAIGN”
Campaign Director Mr Peter Quigley briefed Council Members on the aims and principles of the campaign (a print-out was also tabled for Member's information). The Chief Executive had been part of the Core Team, this presentation was therefore to ascertain whether or not Council, as an organisation, wished to lend its support (in principle) to the initiative.
Support for the campaign was agreed.
1349/03 CHAIR'S BUSINESS:
§ Official opening of Mid-Ulster office: The Chairman reminded members to note their diaries for 10.30 a.m. on Monday 7th April. He said invitations (with map) had been sent to all members.
1349/03 Chair's Business continued: Action:
§ CR week: To be discussed under Agenda Item 6.
§ Grants to Victims Groups: The Chairman stressed confidentiality until review process was complete.
Mr Cousins paid tribute to Council staff and Council Committee Members for the considerable amount of work they undertook in processing grants to Victims/Survivor groups which had been completed by the dead-line date.
1350/03 MATTERS ARISING:
1 Committee structure [Mins 1329/03 refer]: Dr Morrow said that proposed policy was indicated in Appendix No. 1. He said staff would be attempting to identify dates for first meetings.
1.1 Committee membership Appendix No. 2 refers [residential meeting 20 February refers]: Mr McCausland pointed out that he had been absent and asked if Committee membership was set. CEO
Staffing review [Mins 1327/03, Items 03 & 03.1 refer]: Dr Morrow indicated
that his report to Council (Agenda Item 7) detailed progress in this area.
He said that due to a number of internal appointments further advertisements
would be placed in April. Dr Morrow extended congratulations to the
following staff :
J Morgan
J Dennison
C Walls
J Shaw
G Gowdy
J Ellis
The Chairman suggested a letter to Mr Morgan and Ms Gowdy wishing them success in their new areas of work and thanked them for their commitment and hard work. This was agreed. CEO
1351/03 DISCUSSION PAPER “APPROACHING A SHARED FUTURE”:
[Paper CRC/96/03/03/01 refers]
Following a discussion the following was agreed:
§ Any substantive comments or suggestions regarding the above paper (or the “Shared Future” document) should be submitted, as soon as possible, (via e-mail) through Ms McGlade (or directly to the Chief Executive) or brought to the May Council meeting.
§ The next Council meeting (21 May) would start earlier than usual i.e. at 12.30 to allow an hour (12.30 – 1.30 p.m.) to discuss Member's responses.
1351/03 Discussion paper “Approaching a Shared Future” continued: Action:
Mr Wilson said that the Policy Development Committee were meeting on 3rd April (10 a.m.) and 7 May (now 3.30 p.m.) if Members wished to attend and participate in further discussions prior to the Council meeting in May they would be welcome.
1352/03 CR WEEK 7TH TO 11TH APRIL 2003:
Mr Mullan outlined the various events and programmes taking place during the week.
A draft programme was circulated to Members. Members were asked to use the appropriate section within the draft programme to indicate their attendance at the various events.
(Maura Muldoon left the meeting at 5.20 p.m., Mr Deane at 5.30 p.m.)
1353/03 CEO'S REPORT:
[Paper CRC/96/03/03/02 refers]
The above paper outlines main areas of business.
Dr Morrow said that an additional item was the meeting with Mr Browne MP (25 February 2003) which he, Mr McCartan and Mr Wilson had attended.
1354/03 SECTOR REPORTS:
[Papers CRC/96/03/03/03 to 07 refer]
The above papers circulated to members for information.
Funding & Development - Victims/Survivors Grant Scheme [Papers CRC/96/03/03/03, 03.1 & 03.2 refer]: Ms Mackin reported that bids in excess of £9M were received against the £3M allocated.
Members were advised that a review process would be available and a contingency sum had been set aside for this.
Members gave formal endorsement to Papers CRC/96/03/03.1 and 03.2
(Successful and unsuccessful grants).
It was agreed that this information would remain confidential until the review process had been completed.
1355/03 FINANCE:
[Papers CRC/96/03/03/08 & 08.1 refer]
Profile of Expenditure CRC/96/03/03/08
Grant review Papers CRC/96/03/03/08.1
Mr Fitzsimons confirmed an anticipated full spend (within the 2% carry-over parameters) by Financial Year Ending Monday 31st March 2003.
1355/03 Finance continued: Action:
Mr Fitzsimons advised that the required virement (from CRU) had been sought and received.
Papers 08 and 08.1 refer: Mr Fitzsimons advised members that both papers were now out of date due to Financial Year End business.
The Chairman asked for formal assurance that all monies received by Council had been spent in accordance with financial regulations.
Mr Fitzsimons confirmed this was so.
1356/03 AOB:
Probationary Period: The Chairman confirmed that the Chief Executive Officer had come to the end of his Probationary Period. He reported that feedback had been extremely positive from all sectors and recommended Dr Morrow's move into full term employment.
This was unanimously endorsed.
1357/03 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Wednesday 21 May @ * 12.30 p.m. (* Early start to discuss “Approaching A Shared Future/Shared Future” documents)
Thursday 26th June @ 1.30 p.m.
No meetings in July & August unless otherwise advised
Thursday 18th September: * Note later start, 3.00 p.m. for 3.30 p.m.
Monday 27th October: 1.00 p.m. for 1.30 p.m. start
Wednesday 26th November 2003: 1.00 p.m. for 1.30 p.m. start
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