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North West Regional Development Group Minutes of the North West Regional Development Group held in CoLab, LYIT, on Friday 28th February 2020 at 11.00am

PRESENT: City & District Council: Mr John Kelpie (Chief Executive) Alderman Darren Guy Councillor Sandra Duffy Councillor Anne McCloskey Councillor Dan Kelly Councillor Mary Durkan Councillor Jim Mc Keever Ms Karen McFarland Ms Karen Phillips Mrs Rachael Craig

Donegal County Council: Mr Seamus Neely (Chief Executive) Councillor Albert Doherty Councillor Paul Canning Councillor Gerry McMonagle Mr Michael McGarvey Mr Liam Ward Mr John McLaughlin Mr Garry Martin Mr Joe Peoples

In attendance: NWRDG Secretariat: Ms Maureen Doherty

1. Welcome and apologies

In the absence of the Chair, Councillor Durkan was nominated to Chair the meeting on the proposal of Councillor McKeever and seconded by Councillor McCloskey.

Councillor Durkan welcomed members to the meeting and noted apologies as follows:

APOLOGIES

Councillor Bernard McGuinness Councillor Martin Farren Donegal County Council Councillor Ciaran Brogan Donegal County Council Mr Richard Gibson Donegal County Council Mr Stephen Gillespie Derry City & Strabane District Council Ms Dara Doherty NWRDG Secretariat

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Members offered condolences to Councillor Gerry Mc Monagle on the recent death of his mother.

2. Minutes and Matters Arising

Minutes of the meeting of 27th November 2019 were agreed as an accurate reflection of the meeting. AGREED PROPOSED: Councillor Doherty SECONDED: Councillor Canning

3. Strategic North West Partnership Governance Issues

a) Future of North West Partnership Funding Scoping Ms Caitriona Mullan, Associate Consultant with the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and facilitator of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership delivered a detailed presentation on the ‘Future Growth of the North West City Region – Priorities and Resourcing’. She provided an overview of the progress and achievement to date of the North West City Region joint working arrangements; the funding context for the North West City Regional Development and Growth; provided an overview of the North West Development Fund to date and suggested emerging regional funding priorities. Ms Mullen outlined a three strand approach with Strand A including the €5m NWRDF; Strand B including a bid for €250m to facilitate the full implementation of the North West Strategic Growth Plan; including Brexit Integration Funds; PEACE Plus and targeted National Development Plan funds and Strand C (unquantified) to include all the investment planned in regional connectivity and infrastructure in the City Region Deal / New Decade New Approach and commitments across the three administrations (Dublin/London and Belfast) to the region. Ms Mullan advised Members that new commitments are required from both Governments and there was a need for active programming at regional level to complement and support work currently ongoing by Councils. Both Chief Executives thanked Ms Mullan for the detailed presentation. The Chief Executives outlined that the North West Region has been elevated in the National Planning Framework, the New Decade New Approach agreement and the partnership is fully supported by the North South Ministerial Council. They stressed the need to continually lobby both Governments to further support balanced regional development.

The Chief Executives added that the initial €5m funding supported the development of the North West Regional Development Group, the North West Strategic Growth Partnership, the development and part implementation of the North West Strategic Growth Plan. They stressed the need for sustained, future investment to encourage population growth and

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Agenda Item 4 address the employment needs of the region. Referring to the new administrations in Westminister, the Northern Ireland Executive and within the Republic of Ireland – the Chief Executives highlighted a timely opportunity to showcase the progress within the region and argue for further investment to enable the sustainable development of the region on an invest-to-save basis. Councillor Paul Canning thanked the Chief Executives and the Associate Consultant from ICLRD for their input. He added that there were funding opportunities within the EU Regional Development Fund, INTERREG and with potential future Brexit funding. He added that there was a need for the Partnership to position itself within the EU context and suggested that a meeting with the MEPs should be arranged. Councillor McMonagle supported this proposal. He added that the Partnership has delivered clear outcomes in the region and that there was a need for further EU support of the border region. He suggested that the Partnership engage with MEPs and meet with the new Government. AGREED Chief Executives to engage with local MEPs and MPs ACTION: b) NW01/20 Financial Monitoring Report – for approval The Financial Monitoring Report was presented for approval by the Senior Project Officer. APPROVED: PROPOSED: Councillor Canning SECONDED: Councillor Mc Monagle

c) NW02/20 NW Partnership Risk Register – for approval

The North West Partnership Risk Register was presented for Members consideration. APPROVED PROPOSED: Councillor Canning SECONDED: Councillor Doherty

d) NW03/20 NW Secretariat Costs for 2020/2021 – for approval

The Members considered and approved the report NW03/20 outlining the NW Secretariat Costs for 2020/21 as presented by the Strategic Business Manager. APPROVED PROPOSED: Councillor Mc Monagle SECONDED: Councillor Duffy

e) Correspondence from both Governments Members noted the correspondence issued to and from both Governments following the last North West Regional Development Group in relation to progress in achieving outcomes and seeking further financial support. Councillor Albert Doherty welcomed the correspondence. He stressed the need for progress in the Graduate Entry Medical School;

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commended the strong partnership developed between LYIT and Ulster University and referred to progress in Galway, Cork and Belfast. Councillor Doherty referred to housing issues, the need for the region to reduce its carbon footprint and the need to close the gap in performance of the region in relation to other areas. The Chief Executives outlined that both Invest NI and the IDEA have a role and remit in addressing any imbalances at a sub-regional level.

4. Physical and Environmental Development

a) Presentation – The Case for Rail in the North West City Region Mr Steve Bradley from ‘Into the West Lobby Group’ attended the meeting and provided a detailed presentation on the case for rail in the North West City Region. A copy of the presentation was distributed to members. Councillor Mary Durkan thanked Mr Bradley for a very informative and detailed presentation. She outlined that this presentation was also considered at Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee and Members give their full support to the case. The interim Chair added that a similar, supportive motion was considered by Derry City and Strabane District Council the previous evening and was passed. Councillor Sandra Duffy outlined her party support for the case and the work of Into the West. Councillor Duffy added that the MP for the region was also currently engaging with the Infrastructure Minister to advance this case and address the regional disparity in rail provision.

Councillor Paul Canning outlined that there was a need for further engagement with Donegal County Council. He outlined that Donegal County Council are firmly supportive of the A5 Western Transport Corridor and that Council was progressing the Greenways Feasibility Study at present. Councillor Gerry McMonagle added that there were many proposals for enhanced transport provision between Derry, Belfast and Dublin and there was a need to discuss this case with Donegal County Council and Donegal Chamber.

Councillor Dan Kelly outlined that some citizens of the Derry City and Strabane District live closer to the Sligo Train Station than the one in the Waterside. He added that a feasibility study of this scale would need to be funded by central government. Mr Bradley left the meeting after being thanked by the Chair for the work of the lobby group and the advocacy for enhanced rail connectivity in the North West.

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5. Economic Growth and Development~ a) NW04/20 Outputs from 2019 Trade Mission

Mr Garry Martin Director of Economic Development, Emergency Services & Information Systems provided members with a detailed update from the 2019 Trade Mission. The report was distributed to members and it outlined activity aligned to the following key outputs:  To raise the profile of the NW City Region  To target US companies  Trade Relationship Development  NW Diaspora Engagement  Strengthening Relationships, Education, Political and Civic Following consideration, Members thanked Mr Martin for the update.

6. Social and Community Cohesion and Wellbeing Matters a) NW05/20 Update on the North West Sports Development Programme – for information The Director of Health and Community provided Members with an update on the North West Sports Development Programme. Councillor Duffy and Councillor Doherty congratulated the officers for the programme activity to date, commended the wide spectrum of groups and individuals engaged and outlined the significant social and wellbeing benefits of the programme. They advised that the positive outputs of this programme should be publicised and communicated on a wider scale. Ms McFarland advised that further media and communications would be issued and added that members had been invited to the Ulster Rugby ladies launch on 8th March. 7. A.O.B

There being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting closed at 13.45.

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