Joint Forum Panel Minutes 30 October 2004

MINUTES OF THE JOINT GOVERNMENT/VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR FORUM PANEL MEETING

HELD ON 30 NOVEMBER 2004 , NICVA

PRESENT

Chris Ball
Lynn Carvill
Jim Deery
Niall Fitzduff
Patricia Haren
Maurice Leeson
Olwen Lyner
Marcas Mac Ruairi
Elaine McElduff
June Trimble
Zoë Anderson (Secretariat)

1. WELCOME

Niall was asked to act as chair in the absence of Jimmy Kearney and Carol O’Bryan. Niall welcomed everyone to the meeting and everyone quickly introduced themselves as there are some new faces.

2. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Liz Cuddy , Roy Hanna, Jimmy Kearney, Kenny McAdams , Seamus McAleavey , Frances McCandless (Secretariat), Carol O’Bryan and Denis Palmer .

3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.

4. MATTERS ARISING

No matters arising were recorded.

5. FEEDBACK FROM NEW MEMBERS AND FORUM MEETINGS

A major concern was the length and pacing of the last Forum meeting. It was felt that, especially for new members, it was difficult to get to grips with so many separate issues and where they overlap. The size of the meeting makes it difficult to get to know people, and this is compounded by a feeling that some of the departmental members act too defensively.

It was agreed that the Planning Day was particularly confusing as there was no clarity on what outcomes were being sought, and there were too many differing perspectives on what we were trying to achieve. There is a feeling that we need to work through the issues raised by the Taskforce, particularly in terms of Partners for Change and the Compact, and that the Forum seems to be in a kind of suspension until the consequences are clarified. A positive from the day was that the working groups were felt to be well mixed.

It was felt by Panel members that they need a better understanding of the role of Civil Servants eg their role and remit, and their level of influence within their own departments.

It was pointed out that it is very useful for alternates to attend all meetings when possible and this should be encouraged, as it helps them to stay well-informed. The use of name cards at meetings is vital, and there should be an attempt made to alternate seating rather than all sector and all government members sitting together.

Overall we need to be more active in negotiating content for discussions and have an equal input into policy debate. There is scope for better and wider consultation.

6. BUDGET CUTS AND IMPACT ON SERVICES

Zoë gave some background on the work NICVA has been doing on this issue and referred members to the press release and response to the Draft Priorities and Budget which are available on the NICVA website.

Some of the examples raised around the table include Sure Start, the voluntary youth sector, the loss of Executive Programme Funds and in particular the Children’s Fund. In many instances it was felt that there is a real inconsistency between high level policies and strategies and the reality of the budget. For example Sure Start programmes are now being focussed away from those at most risk to those who are more likely to produce a successful outcome. EPFs are the sole funder of many groups working on unemployment whose futures are now at risk and there is no clarity on what will happen to groups left with no funding, which is what the EPFs were intended to address in the first instance. These types of cuts fly in the face of everything we have signed up to in the Compact and Taskforce. Concern was also raised that the £25 million identified in the Taskforce is not evident in the Budget.

We need to get an idea of the bigger picture on this issue, and it was suggested that the Chair should write to the Secretary of State and also to Dave Wall to express our concern at how such cuts could jeopardise the relationship between the sector and government. It was suggested that we need to get a clearer picture of the outcomes this will have for the sector and that there should be some kind of breakdown carried out where we could obtain an indication of how many jobs will be affected, how this will affect Section 75 groups and which Departments are having the biggest impacts. It is felt that government simply has no understanding of the Taskforce and Compact, and that these moves will breed cynicism within the sector and damage the good relationships that the Forum has worked to build.

The consultation closes next week and the Budget is to be announced on 14 December. It was felt that it has been presented with a lot of spin to make it appear to be a good budget for Northern Ireland , whereas in fact what seem to be increases are actually resulting in deficits. It was agreed that we will ask for a special Forum meeting to be held in January to further discuss the issues raised by the Panel, this would be a short meeting to look at the outcomes of budget cuts in terms of relationship issues. Members asked if NICVA could provide a paper giving a broader idea of where the cuts will affect the sector, and if a speaker could be arranged. It would be interesting to measure cuts against government commitments in Partners for Change, but unlikely that this information would be readily available from them. NICVA’s response is available for members to use in their own work, and Zoë also asked members to forward copies of their own responses or any other information they have on how both their own organisations and their members or networks will be affected.

It was finally suggested that if devolution looks set to return, now would be the time to start putting pressure on MLAs and parties. Children in Northern Ireland have already done some lobbying and asked for Parliamentary Questions to be put forward.

7. NEW TSN / PSI WORKING GROUPS

Carol O’Bryan was unable to attend the meeting but had sent an update on the work she and Anne O’Reilly have been doing on this issue. Following the last Forum meeting, they have met and are taking forward the following:

Contact 2 Voluntary/Community Reps from each of the 7 PSI groups to undertake a brief interview of how they have experienced the PSI process, the outcomes of the process etc.

Draft a letter to Dave Wall setting out findings and making commentary on the positives, the negatives, suggestions for the future and how the information informs the Taskforce, especially around issues to do with relationships between government and the sector.

Bring a fuller report to the Panel sometime in the new year, then seek to do a presentation on the issues at a full Forum Meeting some time after April next year.

The reason for this work is to examine the methods of partnership working being used by the PSI groups and how this might inform future partnership work, in light of the Taskforce.

Members asked what has happened to the Anti-Poverty Strategy and were informed that there has been little movement apart from a seminar at the Institute of Governance at Queens . It is hoped that the sector has had some influence and that the strategy is now being seen as a framework for further discussion. It was pointed out that the budget cuts will also be at odds with any anti-poverty strategy/ TSN issues.

Concern was also raised over the new water charges consultation and the contradictions it raises, especially as no TSN analysis has been done.

The broader picture in terms of policy development is that this consultation has not been good and that Section 75, which some Departments are not felt to understand, defines too much consultation work. The issue of consultation practice should be a Forum agenda item, and there is a need for clarity and better joined up thinking between departments both on TSN and wider issues such as the Budget and Taskforce.

8. COMMUNICATIONS

Members briefly detailed any work they had been doing to promote the Forum and their membership of it. All have access to a readership via news sheets and website, with a wide range of circulations. Members have also been informing their own member and network organisations of their involvement in the Forum and how they can bring issues to the table. Some members are busy working to secure a future for their members groups and will try to make the information about the Forum more relevant to them. ACOVO have requested an article on the Forum and this will be progressed by Zoë and Olwen.

It was again highlighted that Alternates should be encouraged to attend meetings and it was clarified that they have the right to attend all meetings, but can only attend the full Forum as an observer if their respective member is in attendance. This is important for continuity of information, and there was also some discussion on whether the alternate should attend the Forum in full capacity if they have attended the Panel meeting in place of their respective member.

Zoë will begin to send out information by email on wider policy issues which may be of interest to members, as many feel they are struggling to keep up with the range of issues involved. Papers for meetings and those which are essential reading will be clearly identified.

9. AOB

Niall updated the meeting on the Terms of Reference of the review of the Forum, which had been discussed by the working group set up on the Planning Day. This is to be circulated to members as soon as it is finalised. It was felt that the Panel should have some opportunity to separately discuss its remit in terms of the Forum and its how it represents the sector. Other key issues for the review will be the membership of the Forum and how our work will be impacted by the Taskforce, Review of Public Administration, the Compact and the ongoing development of Partners for Change.

10. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS

The below were agreed as the dates of future meetings until Summer 2005. A date for the special meeting on the Budget will be arranged with the Joint Chairs and then circulated.

17 February 2005, Panel, 10.00am NICVA

24 February 2005, Forum, all day venue TBC

8 March 2005, Panel, 10.00am NICVA

19 May 2005, Panel, 10.00am NICVA

26 May 2005, Forum, all day NICVA

2 June 2005, Panel, 10.00am NICVA