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Council Minutes
September 2004
23rd September 2004
MINUTES OF THE ONE HUNDRED & FIFTH MEETING
OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
HELD ON THURSDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2004 @ 1.30 P.M.
IN CRC BOARDROOM, MURRAY STREET, BELFAST
1487/04 PRESENT: Action:
Mr J Cousins (Acting Chair), Mr W Erwin, Mr C O'Halloran, Mr N McCausland, Ms M Muldoon, Mr D O'Loan, Dr D Stevens, Mr M Wardlow, Ms C Wilson, Mr R Wilson.
1488/04 APOLOGIES:
Mr E McCartan, Ms M Hetherington, Ms M Miskelly, Mr E McCartan, Mr C Neilands
1489/04 IN ATTENDANCE:
Dr D Morrow (CEO), Ms J Irwin [Director of Ops], Mr J Fitzsimons [PD/HR and Administration], Ms D McGlade [PD/Policy Dev], Mr D Russel [PO Pol Dev], Ms A Montgomery [AO Core Funding], Mr R Mullan [PD/Communication, Learning Resources], Mr J Dennison [PD/EU Prog], Ms H Scott [Secretary].
1490/04 OBSERVERS:
Ms R Dalton and Ms K Jardine (CRU)
1491/04 MINUTES:
The Minutes from the previous meeting (30 June 2004) having been circulated were taken as read. There were no amendments.
1492/04 CHAIR'S BUSINESS:
Condolences: The Chairman extended condolences on behalf of the Council to Dr Duncan Morrow on the death of his Mother in July and Ms Jo Adamson on the death of her Father last week. Condolences were also offered to the Chairman Mr Eamonn McCartan on the death of his Mother in August.
Congratulations: Congratulations were extended to Ms Micháela Mackin and her family on the birth of their son, Jacob in August.
1493/04 MATTERS ARISING:
No matters arising from previous minutes (not on Agenda)
(i) IMC Report: Dr Morrow informed members that he had met with Mr John Grieve to discuss aspects of the report. He said there was an
acknowledgement that the wording of the document had had caused some alarm and uncertainty. Dr Morrow indicated that, if members wished, arrangements could be made to meet with Mr Grieve or members of the IMC.
IFI [Papers CRC/105/09/01 refer]: Dr Morrow reminded members that these papers were the third “notice of motion” in regard to this matter.
Agreement was proposed by Mr O'Loan and seconded by Ms Wilson
Notice of motion was agreed
1494/04 STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING:
Quarterly Operational Plan review 2004 – 2005:
[Paper CRC/105/09/04/02]
Some Members expressed the view that the detailed information is not required on quarterly basis while others felt detail was useful. The following options were therefore suggested:
A more extensive summary for those members who did not want all the detail of the large document.
Copies of the detailed Review would be brought meetings for those members who were interested in the detail.
Staff would look at the possibility of providing an access point on the CRC website so that members (only) could access certain information using a password.
Ms Irwin, IT Staff
Equality update:
[Papers CRC/105/09/04/03, 03.1, 03.2 & 03.3 refer]
(a) Staff Training [Papers CRC/105/09/04/03, 03.1 refer]
Ms Irwin up-dated members on the staff awareness training and development programme.
Mr Erwin expressed an interest in the programme and asked if a timetable could be sent to him so that he could attend some of the sessions.
Ms Irwin
(b) Section 75 NI – Progress Report:
[Papers CRC/105/09/04/03.2 & 03.3 refer]
Ms Irwin said that if members had no amendments to the draft Progress Report it could be signed off.
There were no amendments.
Ms Irwin
1495/04 ONE SMALL STEP CAMPAIGN:
[Paper CRC/105/09/04/04 refers]
Dr Morrow outlined the background and the current proposal. He informed members that Government had agreed to assist the Campaign but that 25% of costs had to be raised by those running the Campaign. Dr Morrow said that Council involvement would be subject to the recommendations and considerations as stated in the above-mentioned document.
Members agreed to this proposal but wished the following concerns to be noted:
The resource implications for CRC, these should be identified and possibly reclaimed.
As “intermediate agents” CRC should ensure that the Campaign's activities are compatible with its work
As the Council will be connected with the Campaign (overseeing of financial responsibilities) it is important the focus should is sharp and the messages unambiguous.
1496/04 POLICY PAPERS:
[Papers CRC/105/09/04/05, & 05.1 refer]
Draft Response to the draft Code of Practice on the Appointment of Independent Members to District Policing Boards (05)
Dr Morrow provided an overview.
After a general discussion it was agreed that this paper would be withdrawn pending amendment.
Ms McGlade
It was also agreed that Dr Morrow (with assistance from Mr Wilson) would prepare a Policy Development proposal for the next Council meeting in November.
CEO
Mr Wilson
Draft Response to the Functions of the NI Policing Board (05.1)
Dr Morrow provided an overview and said he thought that this inquiry raised some potentially controversial issues.
After a general discussion it was agreed that this paper would be amended in accordance with Member's suggestions and submitted before the deadline date.
Ms McGlade
1497/04 CEO'S REPORT:
[Paper CRC/105/09/04/06 refers]
The above paper outlines the main areas of work.
Separation and Sharing: Dr Morrow said that shared space continued to be a major problem. He expressed the view that without political agreements the cycle of inter-community antagonism and intimidation would continue. Dr Morrow suggested that where people were protected by legislation (workplaces); schools (institutional protection) and in partnerships (incentivised by funding) there were clear improvements in those shared spaces.
Shared Future: Dr Morrow informed members that there would be no consultation but rather “focussed conversations with key stakeholders”. Assurances had been given for an autumn completion date. He outlined the various difficulties the continued delay presented for the Council (day to day operational matters notwithstanding) these were:
- Chairman
- new members
- new premises
After a lengthy debate it was agreed that Dr Morrow write to the Minister, Mr John Spellar (copied to CRU) detailing the difficulties and concerns in the event of further delay. CEO
Arts Council/Cultural Diversity: Dr Morrow outlined the findings of a draft report which suggested that Council and ACNI work together to ensure that sufficient support is given to ethnic minorities through CRC's existing Cultural Diversity scheme.
Recommendations (a) and (b) as detailed in CEO's report were agreed.
draft INCORE report: Dr Morrow said copies of this draft were tabled for members' information but it should be noted that until published this was confidential.
Staffing: DR Morrow welcomed new staff to Council:
Marianne Laird (Admin Assistant, F& D Programme)
Jude Hoben (Assist Manager, Resource Centre)
Sean Pettis (Project Officer, Events, EU Programme)
Dates for diaries: Dr Morrow reminded members to take note of the dates (as listed). In particular the next Core/EU Funded groups meeting on 12th November (in the Dungannon office); also the SEUBP conference (15 October at the Seagoe Hotel Portadown) and the “Live Issues” conference at the Europa Hotel (17th November)
Dr Morrow said that all members had a generic invitation to events but should let staff know which events they were attending.
(Ms Muldoon and Ms Wilson left at 3.30 p.m.)
1498/04 FINANCE:
[CRC/105/09/04/07 & 07.1]
Profile of Expenditure 07 - Mr Fitzsimons told members that expenditure against budget was on target for the 5 month period to 31st August.
Grant Review 07.1 – Mr Fitzsimons confirmed that payment details up to the end of August.
Ms Jardine (CRU) requested that any perceived under spend should be notified to CRU as soon as possible.
Mr Wardlow suggested that it might be an idea to present this review in an amended form rather than the annual report as it clearly showed the range of work the Council was currently assisting.
(Mr O'Loan left at 3.35 p.m.)
1499/04 SECTOR REPORTS:
The under-mentioned Report for Members' information
(1) Funding & Development Programme
(Paper CRC/105/09/04/08 refer)
(2) European Programme
(Paper CRC/105/09/04/09 & 09.1 refers)
(3) Communication & Learning Resources
(Papers CRC/105/09/04/10 refer)
(4) Policy Development Programme
(Paper CRC/105/09/04/11 refers)
Ms McGlade reminded members of the launch of the launch of Good Relations Framework document on Wednesday 29th September at the City Hall.
1500/04 AOB:
None
1501/04 CLOSED BUSINESS:
GO_BACK