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North West Region Cross Border Group Annual Report July 2013 – 2014

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North West Region Cross Border Group Annual Report July 2013 – 2014 North West Region Cross Border Group Annual Report July 2013 – 2014 COLLABORATION LOBBYING FUNDING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1 CONTENTS WELCOME Councillor Michael Coyle, Chairperson of NWRCGB 5 NWRCBG Membership 6 About the NWRCBG 7 How the NWRCBG Works 8 Priority Areas 1.0 Funding 10 1.1 - INTERREG IVA 11 1.2 - SEUPB 12 1.3 - Funded Projects 13 2.0 Strategic Regional Development 21 3.0 Lobbying 26 Contact Us 31 3 WELCOME Alderman Michael Coyle Chairperson of the North West Region Cross Border Group It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of the North West Region Cross Border Group over the past year. I have been able to see at first hand the positive impacts of cross border collaboration within our region and within our communities as we work together to grow a strong, vibrant and equal society. My duties have involved attending and in some cases helping to launch our ongoing cross border INTERREG IVA funded projects. These are a positive and tangible expression of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes with fellow elected members, through the staff of the NWRCBG and in partnership with member councils and partnering stakeholders. This annual Report will give a flavour of the successes and work of the Group over the past year. The NWRCBG is currently Lead Partner on 8 projects with a total value of €21,063,929. There are challenging targets to meet in order to ensure that all are completed before their 2015 deadlines. However we have a strong track record of delivery and I am confident of success. All of the projects will provide both direct and indirect employment and enhance the capacity of our region’s councils and stakeholders to work effectively cross border. Our exciting flagship project, being delivered in partnership with Northern Ireland Science Park and Letterkenny Institute of Technology will see the development of the first cross border Science Park on the Island. This project will be a game changer for our region and represents a resounding affirmation of belief in the North West by both Governments and the European Commission. For this they have our sincere gratitude. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my NWRCBG colleagues and of course the staff of the Group for their support at all times during the course of the last year. I would also like to commend our member Councils and the regional stakeholders that have worked with us over the last years and indeed decades to ensure that collaboration is at the heart of our region’s development and future. Grateful thanks also go to SEUPB, the Programme Managing Authority, for all of their advice and guidance over the last year and since the commencement of the INTERREG IVA Programme. 5 NWRCBG Membership Elected Member Representation is Cross Party and Cross Border, the 2012 - 2013 Committee Members and Chief Executives are: Derry City Council: Alderman M Hamilton, Councillor Barney O Hagan, Councillor Martin Reilly, Councillor Hugh Hastings, Ms Sharon O’Connor Chief Executive Donegal County Council: Councillor Patrick McGowan, Councillor Jack Murray, Councillor John Ryan, Councillor Paul Canning, Councillor Bernard McGuinness, Councillor Martin Farren, Mr Seamus Neely County Manager 6 Limavady Borough Council: Alderman Michael Coyle (Chairman), Councillor Tony Mc Caul, Councillor Cathal Mc Laughlin, Aldermen Jack Rankin, Mr Liam Flanigan Chief Executive Magherafelt District Council: Councillor Sean Kerr (Vice Chairman), Councillor Patricia Smith, Councillor Sean Mc Peake, Councillor Peter Bateson, Mr John McLaughlin Chief Executive Strabane District Council: Councillor Derek Hussey, Councillor Dan Kelly, Councillor Kieran McGuire, Councillor Maoliosa Mc Hugh, Mr Danny Mc Sorley Chief Executive 7 About the NWRCBG The North West Region Cross Border Group has been in existence since 1976, first formed when a like minded group of Elected Members from both sides of the Border came together to work in collaboration for the good of the region. Currently it comprises the five administrative areas of Derry City, Donegal County, Limavady Borough, Magherafelt District and Strabane District Councils. Elected Member representation is cross party and cross border with six members from Donegal and four each from the northern Councils. The Group was established purely for public benefit and works with communities and stakeholders to encourage partnership and co-ordination of effort. The Group also works with agencies and Departments of Government as well as with the North South Ministerial Council to promote the North West and ensure the strategic needs of the region are advanced. The Group: • Fulfils the role of a lead organisation in facilitating partnership between the various organisations in the Region. • Co-ordinates relationships with relevant parties in the Region and provides guidance and information on a range of regional and funding issues. • Works to improve the quality of life and well being of all inhabitants of the Region through tackling, in partnership with statutory, private and community groupings, those issues which create barriers to economic growth. • Provides a targeted response to the needs of the Region by exploiting the regions strengths in pursuit of economic development, by promoting business development, inward investment, tourist, community, human resource and infrastructure development. • Enhances the potential for socio-economic development Our Mission: within the Region, for example by assisting partnerships to “ To strengthen and create sustainable projects and by raising awareness about develop the regional options and potential for socio-economic activity. economy through • Secures and works to attract funding under the INTERREG programmes, Special Support Programme for Peace and Collaboration and to Reconciliation and other relevant funding sources. enhance the socio- • Speaks to Government and outside agencies to promote the economic position North West and ensure the strategic needs of the region are of the North West.” understood and promoted. 8 How the NWRCBG Works Meetings of the Group are held bi-monthly with the Annual General Meeting held in July of each year at which the Office Bearers, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, are chosen for the incoming year. These posts are rotated between the member Councils. Members Councils are responsible for nominating representatives to the Group who in turn can attend all meetings. Only members nominated by their Councils can participate in voting on decisions. The Council’s Chief Executive Officers and the County Manager have rights of attendance at meetings and work together along with the NWRCBG Manager as an Advisory to the Group. Observers from the region are invited to meetings including members of the N.I. Assembly, the Oireachtas, Westminster and the European Parliament. They are issued with all Group papers in the interests of creating a wider awareness of the activities of the Group and the issues facing the region. Minutes of the meetings of the Group are also distributed to member Councils. The Group delivers through focusing on three Priority Areas: • Funding • Strategic Regional Development • Lobbying. The activities of the Group are supported by a Secretariat of six staff. Carol Margey is the NWRCBG Manager, Maureen Doherty is the Senior Project Officer and INTERREG Programme Manager, Linda White and Anne Mc Naught are Project Officers. Dara Doherty and Eilish Gallagher provide administrative support across all of the Group’s activities. As Lead Partner on funded projects the Group is responsible for the financial monitoring and verification of all claims and ensuring that projects meet all conditions of funding. The Group produce a bi-monthly newsletter. All information on the Group’s activities including updates on news and events can be seen at the group website www. nwrcbg.org. Those who wish to do so can also follow the Group on Facebook. 9 Priority Area 1 Funding Special European Union Programmes Body SEUPB The SEUPB is the Managing Authority for the cross-border European Union Structural Funds programmes in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and parts of Western Scotland. SEUPB is one of the six cross-border Bodies set up under the “Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland establishing implementing bodies” signed on 8 March 1999 (the British-Irish Agreement of 8 March 1999). The Agreement was given domestic effect, North and South, by means of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 respectively. They have three offices, headquarters in Belfast and offices in Omagh and Monaghan, there is also an INTERREG IVA Programme National Contact Point based in Glasgow. Current programmes are the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (otherwise known as the PEACE III Programme) and the European Union’s Cross- border Programme for Territorial Co-operation, Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland (otherwise known as the INTERREG IVA Programme). SEUPB also facilitates project participation in the INTERREG IVB Transnational Programmes which are relevant to Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and also the INTERREG IVC Programme, which is open to projects across the European Union. As the Managing Authority, Joint Technical Secretariat and Certifying Authority for the INTERREG IVA and PEACE III Programmes, SEUPB are responsible to the European Commission, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government for the delivery and management of the programmes. Both the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA programmes are now in the process of closure with all current projects ending in 2015. New programmes are being developed for the next funding period and information is available on this at www.nwrcbg.org or www.seupb.eu . 11 INTERREG IVA The NWRCBG is currently delivering eight INTERREG IVA funded projects at a total value of €21,063,929. INTERREG IVA has sought to address the economic and social problems which result from the existence of borders and support strategic cross- border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.
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