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Council Minutes
March 2004
25th March 2004
MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & SECOND MEETING
OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
HELD ON THURSDAY 25TH MARCH 2004 @ 2.00 P.M.
@ THE EVERGLADES HOTEL, DERRY/LONDONDERRY
1437/04 PRESENT:
Mr E Deane, Mr E McCartan (Chair), Mr N McCausland, Ms M Muldoon, Mr C O'Halloran, Dr D Stevens, Mr M Wardlow, Ms C Wilson, Mr R Wilson.
1438/04 APOLOGIES:
Mr J Cousins, Mr W Erwin, Ms M Hetherington, Ms M Miskelly, Mr D McIlroy, Mr C Neilands, Mr D O'Loan.
1439/04 IN ATTENDANCE:
Dr D Morrow (CEO), Ms J Irwin [Director of Ops], Ms H Scott [Secretary].
1440/04 OBSERVERS:
Mr D Ritchie (CRU)
1441/04 MINUTES:
The Minutes from the previous meeting (29th January 2004) having been circulated were taken as read. There were no amendments. Acceptance of the minutes was proposed by Ms Muldoon and seconded by Mr O'Halloran.
1442/04 MATTERS ARISING:
(i) Shared Future [Mins 1427, Item 1 refer]: Mr Wilson summarised the previous evening's discussion during which Ms Bunting had discussed proposals for government, vision and the strategic framework. The theme had been from segregation to sharing. Mr Wilson said there were shared concerns in relation to government's capacity to take ideas from “outside” on board.
Dr Stevens suggested the June Council meeting should be dedicated to carrying this forward CEO
This was agreed.
It was also agreed that Dr Morrow would prepare a strategic framework “briefing” document (without operational details) for this discussion.
CEO
(ii) Strategic Plan: Item No. 6 of Agenda refers (see Min 1445/04)
1443/04 CHAIRMAN'S BUSINESS: Action:
1 CEO's participation in AMBIT programme 15-21 March: Dr Morrow said that in terms of NI networks, learning in relation to practical projects, and having the opportunity for wider political lobbying, the trip had been extremely useful.
2 Events:
- “CR week” : The Chairman reminded members that a full programme of events would be taking place between 2 & 8th April and that further printed programmes were available with updates on the CRC website.
- “Shared Responsibility for a Shared Space” 6th April : The Chairman informed members that a morning seminar would be held at McCauslands Hotel, Victoria Street, Belfast. He said members were welcome.
1444/04 FINANCE:
[Papers CRC/102/03/04/01 to 01.3 refer]
Budget profile of expenditure : CRC/102/01/04/01
Grant Review : CRC/102/01/04/01.1
Budget Profile (01): Mr Fitzsimons indicated that this paper detailed expenditure to date. He confirmed that Financial-Year-End grant payments were in line for a full spend outcome.
Grant review (01.1): Mr Fitzsimons stated that this paper outlined payments made under the various grant-scheme headings to end February 2004.
Audit Committee : CRC/102/01/04/01.2
Mr Fitzsimons pointed out that the Council was currently without an Audit Committee and he recommended one be established.
This was agreed. It was also agreed that the Chief Executive would approach two members with a view to appointment onto the Audit Committee.
CEO
The Chairman asked if members endorsed the terms of reference.
These were approved.
Declaration of Interests 2004 : CRC/102/03/04/01. 3 (marked with blue tab)
Mr Fitzsimons asked all members to complete the pro-forma declaration returning them, as soon as possible, to Ms Jo Adamson (Council's Administrator).
Mr Fitzsimons thanked Mr Ritchie (CRU) for the additional funding received.
1445/04 STRATEGIC PLANNING:
[Papers CRC/102/03/04/02 and 03 refer]
draft Strategic Plan (02): Ms Irwin confirmed that the draft had gone out for consultation and that she would be going over the “outputs” as discussed earlier.
There was further discussion around “intra” and “inter”. The Chairman pointed out that as this was still a working document, members should continue to pass any further suggestions to Ms Irwin.
It was agreed that Ms Irwin would present a final draft, after consultation, at the June meeting.
This was agreed.
Dr Morrow confirmed that he would prepare a separate draft statement of values for the June meeting.
CEO
Equality Consultation panel (03): Ms Irwin pointed out that Council needed to establish a panel comprising of relevant staff and Council Members to progress Equality issues and Section 75 group categories. She said that the paper did not include structure or permanence and these matters would need to be discussed/agreed soon as possible. Ms Irwin indicated that CRC staff membership would be likely to include, Mr Fitzsimons, Ms McGlade, Ms Adamson and herself.
The establishment of an Equality Panel was agreed.
It was also agreed that Ms Muldoon should sit on the panel and that Mr Ward Erwin invited.
Ms Irwin
1446/04 IFI UP-DATE:
[Paper tabled at meeting CRC/102/03/04/04 refers]
Dr Morrow indicated that negotiations with IFI not yet complete. He said that the General Purposes Committee had met on the 22nd April and indicated that Council member's permission was required in order to proceed with negotiations and outstanding matters e.g:
Contractual issues
Financial considerations
Organisational issues
Mr Ritchie (CRU) clarified some of the issues at hand.
Dr Morrow pointed out that the Council's Articles of Association would need to be amended to take the changed (funding) situation into consideration. He said that he now required approval from Council to proceed with the above, giving the General Purposes Committee authority to “sign off” if/when agreement was reached.
This (as above) was approved.
1447/04 PATHFINDER PROJECTS: Action
[Papers CRC/102/03/04/05, 06, 07 & 08 refer]
(i) PLACE proposal [CRC/102/03/04/05] :. Acceptance was proposed by Mr Deane and seconded by Dr Stevens.
(ii) MNI proposal [CRC/102/03/04/06] : Acceptance was proposed by Dr Stevens and seconded by Mr McCausland. (Mr Wardlow, Ms Wilson and Mr O'Halloran left the room)
(iii) ICTU proposal [CRC/102/03/04/07] : Acceptance was proposed by Mr McCausland seconded by R Wilson.
(iv) Lower North Belfast [CRC/102/03/04/08] : Acceptance was proposed by Mr Wardlow and seconded by Dr Stevens. (Mr McCausland left the room)
1448/04 CEO'S REPORT:
[Paper CRC/102/03/04/09 refers]
The above paper outlines the main areas of work.
Newtownabbey: Dr Morrow told members about a discussion document on sectarianism and racism in the Newtownabbey area. He said that it was an interim report not for general publication, and would be progressed with relevant bodies and authorities.
Mr Wilson suggested that Council write to government with regard to Race strategy.
This was agreed. CEO
Angela Smith MP: Dr Morrow informed members that, as the Minister's request, he had made a presentation on the work with Victims and Survivors and this was likely to inform future policy in this area. He said that the Minister would be attending CRC's Victim's Conference on 7th April in Limavady.
Staffing: Dr Morrow told members that there had been further recruitment:
Ms Frances McClelland as Project Officer, (Community Initiatives Programme)
Internal staff changes were as follows:
Ms Eileen Deacon had moved to Administrative Officer (EU Programme)
Ms Jenny Shaw has moved to Administrative Assistant (Community Initiatives Programme).
Core Funding: Dr Morrow stated that this year there had been an unprecedented number of bids of an increasingly high standard, but demand had out-stripped supply. He said, for this reason, the annual meeting had proved to be the most difficult yet recorded. Dr Morrow suggested that Council needed to lobby for an increase in the level of core funding to cover on-going need, particularly when funding of Peace II ended in 2005/6.
(Mr O'Halloran left the meeting at 3.30 p.m.)
CR Week (208 April): Dr Morrow pointed out that programmes had been sent to members and further copies (with posters) were available.
1449/04 NOMINATION OF CHAIR:
(Community Initiatives Committee, Core Funding):
Dr Morrow thanked Dr David Stevens (former Chairman of the Core Funding Committee) for his huge contribution to the development of Core Funding Programme since its inception.
Dr Morrow told members that Mr Michael Wardlow had been nominated, and accepted the Chairmanship. He thanked him and welcomed him on behalf of Council.
1450/04 STAFFING – closed business:
[Paper tabled at meeting reference CRC/102/03/04/11 refers]
(Ms H Scott, and Mr J Fitzsimons left the meeting. Director of Operations, Ms J Iriwn took the minute)
Internal review of the post of Programme Director – Community (Paper No. 11 refers).
The above paper was presented by the CEO. Council sort assurance that the proposal was legal and had Departmental approval. This assurance was given by the CEO and the proposal was accepted.
(Due to strategic decisions taken earlier, this renders CRC one over its complement of Programme Directors. CRU agreed that this position could continue until the retirement or departure of the Programme Director for Cultural Diversity.)
1451/04 SECTOR REPORTS:
The following reports had been circulated for member's information.
(1) Funding & Development Programme
(Paper CRC/102/03/04/12 refer)
(2) European Programme
(Paper CRC/102/03/04/13 refers)
(3) Communication & Learning Resources
(Papers CRC/102/03/04/14 refer)
(4) Policy Development Programme
(Paper CRC/102/03/04/15 refers)
There were no questions.
1452/04 AOB:
None
1453/04 DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS:
Dr Morrow told members that the late start would be reviewed in 2005.
* 20th May (Wed) @ Dungannon 3 p.m. for 3.30 p.m. start
30th June (Wed) Murray Street 1p.m. for 1.30 p.m. start
23rd Sept (Thurs) Murray Street 1 p.m. for 1.30 p.m. start
* 25th Nov (Thurs) @ Dungannon 3 p.m. for3.30 p.m. start
* = late start
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