‘Visible tension’ at Strathfoyle meeting prompted closed tender

A spokeperson for DSD said “visible tensions” were on display at the meeting.

Last week the Sentinel reported how McCreedy Donnelly Lowry Ltd. were awarded the closed tender - at a cost of £556.80 to the taxpayer - to facilitate conflict resolution in Strathfoyle last November.

The firm was brought in due to community tensions in the Londonderry suburb that were apparently jeopardising a state programme to identify and intervene areas at risk of slipping into a spiral of decline.

Now it emerges the tensions first came to light at a public meeting last October to discuss an Areas at Risk Pilot programme which was established in 2006 to help support communities, which perhaps feel neglected or isolated in order to help build confidence and a sense of belonging.

A DSD spokesperson told the Sentinel: “As part of the Areas at Risk process there is a requirement to commission an independent and current needs assessment of the area to identify key issues and priorities.

“The findings from the audit are then developed into an action plan which is agreed by the local community and which then forms the basis of a 2 year project.

“Unless this work is endorsed by the local community and priorities agreed the process cannot be progressed.”

According to the spokesperson it became apparent that issues needed to be addressed to achieve this community endorsement at the public meeting last October.

“Issues and tensions manifested themselves at a public meeting in October 2010 organised by DSD’s Voluntary & Community Unit (VCU) staff and with Strathfoyle community representatives.

“As a result VCU staff brought in independent facilitation to mediate between the participating groups, resolve the visible tensions and aid decision-making on the Areas at Risk priorities.

“Two discussion opportunities were held to facilitate groups and organisations in the Strathfoyle area. The discussions resulted in agreement on 3 areas of funding under the Areas at Risk programme with additional outcomes around re-establishing a partnership approach between all of the groups and organisations working in the community,” the spokesperson stated.

According to the Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland McCreedy Donnelly Lowry Ltd. were awarded the Single Tender in November 2010.

The Minister recently revealed the move in response to an Assembly Question from Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister.

Mr McCausland stated: “Since May 2007 there has been one occasion when a supplier was secured through a single tender action in advance of authorisation by the Accounting Officer.

“This contract was awarded in November 2010 to facilitate mediation/conflict resolution with groups in Strathfoyle, Londonderry due to the need for immediate resolution to community tensions which were posing a threat to the Areas at Risk process.

“The Areas at Risk Pilot Programme was established in 2006 to identify and intervene in areas at risk of slipping into a spiral of decline.”

According to the Minister the expenditure in the case was £556.80 and the suppliers were McCreedy Donnelly Lowry Ltd.

He advised that approval was being sought but had not yet been granted.