ABOUT COMMUNITY
RELATIONS COUNCIL
- Background
- Jobs
- Press Releases
- News
- Links
- Speeches
- Contact Us
- Council Minutes
- Recognition
OUR
SERVICES

Council Minutes

15 December 2005
15th December 2005

Minutes of the Community Initiatives Committee

Thursday 15^th December 2005

Present: Mr Michael Wardlow (Chair), Ms Maura Muldoon, Mr Barney Devine, Ms Eileen Gallagher, Ms Libby Keys, Ms Jane Leonard, Mr David Stevens

Observer: Mr Drew Haire

In Attendance: Ms Micháela Mackin, Mr Paul Jordan, Ms Alison Keenan, Ms Jacqueline Irwin, Mr Duncan Morrow, Ms Marianne Laird (Minute Taker)

Minutes of Last Meetings:

9^th September 2005 – It was noted that a sentence had changed in F&D Officers Reports

10^th November 2005 – Minutes were agreed

Matters Arising:

Core Funding In-Contract Savings:

At the September meeting, members agreed to CFP groups applying for additional support for running costs. Ms Keenan explained to members that she had received applications from groups who didn't originally apply for running costs and those who did but didn't receive funding for running costs. The total underspend available is £52,000 and bids received total £117,000, of which £32,000 is for running costs. Ms Keenan asked for guidance as to how to deal with the issue of awarding additional support for running costs to groups who didn't originally apply for it.

Members discussed the issue and agreed to award running costs to those groups who had applied although their current award may not make provision for this. Remaining funding should be rolled over into the next priority. Committee asked staff to ensure that the letters reflect that this award is one-off funding and should not be considered as an increase to future core funding awards.

Evaluation Practice:

Due to the detailed discussion required, members agreed to look at this matter at the extraordinary meeting in January as a full item on the agenda.

Core Funding Renewal Applications:

Declaration of Interests:

Michael Wardlow declared an interest as treasurer of Mediation NI. No other declarations of interest were noted.

Mr Wardlow informed committee that the purpose of today's meeting was to make decisions in principle as to the eligibility of groups for funding and to confirm those groups that have been recommended for decline.

Democratic Dialogue:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation. Clarification was sought as to the DD's relationship with QUB and whether any funding might be forthcoming from this source. Discussion followed as to the funding which could (potentially) be accessed from other sources.

Committee agreed with the Officers recommendation that the application be considered in February along with all other eligible applications.

Women's Information Group:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation. Clarification was sought on the issue of where the groups sits in the CR sector and where is it unique in the CR sector.

Committee agreed to consider this application further in February alongside all other eligible applications including other applications from the women's sector if applicable.

LINC Resource Centre:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that the group have made significant progress since funding was agreed in February 2005.

Committee agreed to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applications including those based in North Belfast.

Holywell Trust:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation It was noted that the group's Wall City Neighbourhood Initiative is unique and that the group are seeking to develop a merger with PRG and The Junction. It was agreed that this group is doing good work and that the proposed merger may be a key model for the CFP and approaches to sustainability and should be encouraged.

Committee agreed with the Officers recommendation and the application will be considered in February along with all other eligible applications.

Somme Heritage Centre:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that the application did not pass the minimum qualifying threshold.

Members agreed with the Officers recommendation as the group are not doing CR work or engaging with other communities. Members further discussed the application and agreed to decline the application with an exit strategy of 6 months During which time alternative funding sources such as DCAL or local government should be explored.

Community Dialogue:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and asked members to note that the group's application to the Peace 2 Extension programme was declined and as the decisions were taken only recently on the Peace 2 Extension programme, Ms Keenan is unsure of how dependent the group were on this application.

It was suggested that the application is good value for money but raised the issue of the group's viability and sustainability in light of the Peace application. Queries were also raised about the extent of the groups' work with the public sector. Committee agreed to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applicants. Ms Keenan to follow up on issues raised by committee and report further.

Ulster People's College:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation. Clarity was sought as to the output and delivery of the course and whether QUB or UU offer any CR courses.

Members discussed the issue further and suggested that it may be more appropriate to subsidise a course and offer bursaries rather than core fund a training provider. The issue was also raised as to whether the organisation would be more appropriately funded by DEL. Members also discussed funding to further develop the course. Committee agreed to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applicants.

Mediation NI:

Mr Wardlow left the room whilst this discussion took place due to conflict of interest noted above.

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted the groups' request for an additional post. Members discussed the need to identify how best to support the group to become income generating. Committee agreed to consider the application in February alongside all other eligible applicants.

St Columb's Park House:

Ms Keenan gave a summary of her recommendation and noted committee's decision in 2004 to a two year exit strategy. Ms Keenan informed committee that the group were successful in their bid to the Peace 2 Extension programme for work on the implementation of actions arising from research on Protestant alienation in the city. It was also noted that this is the only group funded by the CFP in the Waterside in Derry Committee agreed to consider the application in February alongside all other eligible applicants.

NIMMA:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that the group did not pass the qualifying threshold. She noted that the evaluation focused on what the group could do in the future to progress their CR work.

Members agreed with the Officer's recommendation but noted that there will be a gap if NIMMA go as they are the only organisation doing their type of work. Members further discussed the issue and suggested that NIMMA could perhaps merge within another organisation and use the small grant scheme to fund events.

Committee agree to decline this application and that staff should discuss their suggested alternative approaches with the organisation.

Forthspring:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that the groups bid for Peace 2 Extension was unsuccessful. The issue of a possible exit strategy over a two to three year period was raised as in the long term the organisation does not fit with a strategic emphasis.

Committee agreed with the officer's recommendation to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applicants.

Ashton Community Trust:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that the group have made significant progress over the past year.

Committee agreed with the officer's recommendation to consider in February alongside all other eligible applicants including those based in North Belfast

Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and informed committee that the group's bid for Peace 2 Extension had been successful. Members raised the issue of the organisation's dependency on public funding and that a reduction in funding might be appropriate at this time.

Committee agreed to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applicants.

The Beat Initiative:

Ms Keenan gave a brief summary of her recommendation and noted that whilst the evaluation report from Future Ways was very positive, the group only just passed the qualifying threshold. Members suggested that the arts are very underused by the CR sector but agreed that the organisation would be more appropriately funded by DCAL, the Arts Council and/or Belfast City Council.

Committee agreed to consider the application further in February alongside all other eligible applicants with a view to a possible one year exit strategy and brokering of the organisation to the agencies noted above.

Programme Reports:

Funding and Development Officer's Report:

Mr Jordan spoke to this paper and noted the following points:

CR/CD grant scheme is on target to reach full spend by end of January/start of February.
The verification process of 25 grants is now complete, with groups keeping good financial records.
Ms McClelland and Ms McGuire have already passed the target of attending/organising 6 information seminars this year. They will have attended 12 by the end of the financial year.
Ms Mackin reported on the third Live Issues conference in November which went well and feedback from attendees has been very positive.
The usage of Dungannon centre has increased. It is used as a regional outreach office and CRC hold an event each month which focus on CR issues. Ms Mackin informed committee of the new ownership of the site and the implications for the lease which is being co-ordinated through Administration, Finance and Personnel Dept. She also reminded members of the financing for the outreach centre: the Victims Unit (OFMDFM) provides funding for half of the lease fees and the Council income generates through hiring the premises for meetings, conferences and events to make up the shortfall.

Core Funding Officer's Report:

Ms Keenan spoke to this paper and informed committee that there have been 27 applications to CFP this year – 14 renewals and 13 new.

Mr Morrow updated committee on the review of the core funding programme. An updated report was received this week and will be made available to committee.

Mr Wardlow thanked all staff for their preparation of papers and work carried out over the past few months. The great volume of work hasn't gone unnoticed.

Review of Summer Diversionary Interface Work:

Mr Jordan spoke to this paper and the following points were noted:

Mr Jordan and Ms McClelland met with 15 groups who were supported over the summer for diversionary work and issues coming out of the meetings were about rewarding anti-social behaviour and forward planning.
Challenges were found in getting groups who were involved in single identity work supported over the summer to involve a member of other communities to lead sessions.
Difficulty in getting interface groups to record learning and volunteer's hours. Mr Jordan informed committee that Ms McClelland is working with PIN to help them develop a way to record/monitor incidents.

Review of the CR/CD Grant Scheme

Ms Mackin spoke to this paper and informed committee that Mr Jordan, Ms McClelland, Ms McGuire and Ms Laird are working on a mapping exercise to review the grant scheme over the past five years, on the basis of themes and geographical areas supported through the Scheme. The results of the exercise should be available at the May meeting.

Research Awards Proposals:

Dara Training Consultancy:

Mr Jordan informed committee that this application did not meet the criteria of the scheme and is therefore not eligible for funding.