Civic Forum Review - briefing event

Wednesday 06 August 2008

Wednesday 06 August 2008

10.00am

12.30pm

NICVA- 61 Duncairn Gardens- Belfast

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Event

The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister have announced the beginning of the public consultation on the review of the Civic Forum. Announcing the review the First minister said that

The goal of the review is to propose the most appropriate mechanism and arrangements for engaging with and obtaining the views of civic society on social, economic and cultural matters. The review will take account of existing methods of engagement with civic society here as well as looking at structures in place elsewhere. The review will recommend how the various channels of engagement might be realigned and the review team will address how any future Forum would operate in practice, including governance, legal and financial matters and secretariat arrangements.

Briefing Event

To help facilitate debate and share information amongst voluntary and community organisations NICVA will be hosting a meeting on the review of the Civic Forum on Tuesday 6 August from 10.30 – 12.30 in NICVA , 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.

If you would like to attend please register with Cathy Breslin on 028 90877 777 or cathy.breslin@nicva.org

Getting involved in the review

Voluntary and community organisations can get involved in the review by sending written submissions directly to the review team before the 29 August deadline. The review team have drawn up a questionnaire covering ten key areas they would like to get more information on. However submissions do not have to stick to this format.

Question 1:What do you consider would be the best way for Government to engage with and consult civic society?

Question 2:What do you consider were the main strengths and achievements of the (1999-2002) Civic Forum as originally constituted?

Question 3:What, in your opinion, were the main weaknesses of the original Civic Forum and how might they be remedied?

Question 4:To what extent do you think the sectors included in the original Civic Forum remain representative of civic society? Who do you think should be represented on a new Forum and what should be the balance between different sectors?

Question 5:Do you consider that an alternative model of social partnership might provide a suitable example for a new Forum? If so, what type of model would you propose and why?

Question 6: What should be the role and remit of the new Forum? What types of issues might form the basis of its work programme and how should they be prioritised?

Question 7:What should be the relationship between a new Forum and the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and the Assembly?

Question 8: What suggestions would you make for the organisation of a new Forum in terms of:

• Membership - including numbers, sectoral representation, processes for selecting members and filling vacancies, term of office and expenses/remuneration;
• Chairperson - including appointment process, role and remit, and expenses/ remuneration.
• Structure and operation – including format and frequency of meetings, staffing, accommodation, budget and legal status.

Question 9: How might a new Forum interact with other consultative fora within Northern Ireland to avoid duplication?

Question 10:How should a new Forum interact with bodies representative of civic society outside Northern Ireland?

The review team in OFMDFM are currently planning a range of stakeholder meetings and details of these will be available soon.

You can find out more about the review and follow its progression at www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk. Written submissions should be sent to:

Civic Forum Review Team
5th Floor
Lesley House
25 Wellington Place
Belfast
BT1 6GD

Telephone: 028 9027 7657
Fax: 028 9027 7660

Email: civicforumreview@ofmdfmni.gov.uk