Extension of appointments to the Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland (LGSCNI)

The term of appointment of the Chair of the LGSCNI (the Commission), Mr Brian Hanna CBE, and the Commission members, has been extended from 1 April 2017 until such times as the Commission is officially dissolved.

Mr Hanna has been Chair of the Commission from 1 November 2005 to 30 November 2010, from 1 November 2013 to 30 November 2014 and from 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017. 

The following Commission Members have also had their terms of appointment extended for the same period:

• Miss Lindsay Boal (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Ms Monica Burns (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mrs Deborah Colville (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mr Paul Corrigan (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mr William Francey MBE (two previous terms – 1 December 2010 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mr Bumper Graham (one previous term – 15 February 2013 to 31 March 2017) 
• Professor Robert Hutchinson (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Ms Bernie Kelly (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mr Charlie Mack (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Ms Roisin McDonough (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017) 
• Mrs Hilary Singleton (one previous term – 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017)

Notes to editors: 

1. The LGSCNI is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.  Its powers were later extended under the Housing Orders 1976 and 1981, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1992.

2. In general, the terms of reference for the Commission are to exercise: ‘general oversight of matters connected with the recruitment, training and terms and conditions of employment of officers of councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and of making recommendations to councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on such matters.'

3. Its powers were subsequently extended to monitor the fair employment practices of councils and their compliance with statutory requirements in relation to fair employment.

4. The Commission consists of a chair and not more than fourteen or fewer than six other members.

5. The Chairman’s post attracts a salary of approximately £14,398, plus expenses, which is reviewed annually. Members do not receive a salary but are paid expenses in respect of attendance.

6. The extensions to the terms of appointment have been made in accordance with the ‘Code of Practice for Ministerial Public Appointments in Northern Ireland’ issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.

7. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.

8. Biographical details:

Mr Brian Hanna CBE

Mr Hanna was formerly the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council and is the current Chair of the LGSC having been appointed in July 2014 by the Minister of the Environment to serve from 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2017.  He formerly served as Chair of the LGSC from 1 November 2005 to 30 November 2010 and also, following an emergency appointment, from 1 November 2013 to 30 November 2014.  He was a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC) by virtue of his role as Chair of the LGSC.  The PSC was dissolved in March 2016.  He was a non-executive director of Titanic Quarter Limited from 2005 to 2016 and the deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Science Park from 2008 to 2014  He also chaired the governing body of Dublin Institute of Technology’s Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute from 2011 to 2016.  Mr Hanna brings a range of leadership skills and experience to the body.  He has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Miss Lindsay Boal

Miss Boal is a practising barrister having previously worked as a part time lecturer in law for the Open University and has provided legal training to a wide range of groups. As a self-employed barrister, she has taken a highly strategic approach to the development of her practice demonstrating a well-developed ability to analyse the business environment, anticipate future trends and plan accordingly. Miss Boal’s professional legal knowledge and skills have benefitted the Commission particularly in the areas of equality, diversity, employment law, and learning and development. She has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Ms Monica Burns

Ms Burns has spent the majority of her career working as an international health development consultant. She has worked for organisations including the United Nations, the European Commission and the Department for International Development. Through her work, she has demonstrated the ability to influence strategic direction, build strategic alliances and manage change, working in transitional and challenging situations. Ms Burns is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK.  She has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mrs Deborah Colville

Mrs Colville is a Digital Portfolio Manager within Belfast City Council. She is currently managing a cross-sector innovation programme to develop and implement 'smart' technologies and data analytics to address a range of challenges within the city. She has a wealth of experience in Local Government, policy development, the management and delivery of ICT services and transformational technologies as well as the development of Belfast City Council’s Digital Strategy. As a current Governor and previous Chair of the Board of Governors at Rathmore Primary School and Nursery, Bangor, she has demonstrated her experience of recruitment and selection, disciplinary processes and training and development. She has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Paul Corrigan

Mr Corrigan is a former Director of Logistics for the Royal Mail. He has relevant experience of employee/industrial relations issues and is also an independent arbitrator for the Labour Relations Agency. He is currently a Director of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (remuneration £7,960 per annum).  Mr Corrigan has not declared any political activity in the last five years.

Mr William Francey MBE

Mr Francey is a former Director of Health and Environmental Services in Belfast City Council.  He has a detailed knowledge of local government at all levels and brings a range of skills to the Staff Commission, including strategic, financial and business planning skills, as well as experience in managing complex industrial relations environments and leading programmes of staff development, customer care and business efficiency.  He is a current specialist member of the Health and Safety Appeals Tribunal and has been a member of the Workplace Health Strategy Implementation Group, a member of the Occupational Health Forum and a member of the Waste Management Advisory Board. He has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Bumper (Stanley) Graham

Mr Graham is the Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA and has been a full-time NIPSA Official for 35 years.  He is the current Vice Chair of NILGOSC (for which he receives a daily allowance of £117 plus expenses), Chairperson NIC-ICTU Public Service Pensions Group and Joint Chairperson of the Department of Finance and Personnel Public Service Pensions Central Consultative Group.  He is a member of the NICS Pensions Board and a member of the NICS Pension Scheme Advisory Board, likewise he is a member of the LGPS (NI) Pension Scheme Advisory Board.  He has previously been a member of the Education Library Boards Staff Commission, Northern Ireland Partnership Board, Belfast Harbour Commission, COMET and Lisburn Peace and Reconciliation Partnership.  He was also a member of the Manpower Council YTP Committee and Chairperson of the South and East Belfast YTP Committee.  He has not declared any political activity in the last five years.

Professor Robert Hutchinson

Prof Hutchinson has held senior management roles at the University of Ulster, including Dean of the Ulster Business School and Provost of the Coleraine Campus. Through these roles, he has gained experience in managing risks, finance, employee relationships and change management and as Provost, worked closely with Coleraine Borough Council. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Dalriada School, Ballymoney, which he receives travel expenses for and is Chair of the Board of Management of Triangle Housing Association.  He has not declared any political activity in the last five years.

Ms Bernie Kelly

Ms Kelly is a former Belfast City Councillor.  As Assistant Director of Physical and Sensory Disability Services at the Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, she has experience of applying corporate government principles effectively and working tenaciously to identify and mitigate risks. She has been engaged in political activity for the Social Democratic and Labour Party in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mr Charlie Mack

Mr Mack has worked as a Director in a number of large voluntary sector organisations and is currently Chief Executive of the Extern Group.  Previously he worked as Group Director of the Royal National Institute of Blind People in London, applying his experience in strategic thinking, to influence strategic direction and build strategic alliances.  He also has experience of working at a senior level in local government and the private sector in England. Through his senior roles, Mr Mack has gained relevant experience of financial and stakeholder management. He has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Ms Roisin McDonough

Ms McDonough has been Chief Executive of the Arts Council since 2000 where she has been involved in the delivery of major capital projects for the arts, such as the Lyric and the MAC and inaugurated the Reimaging Communities Programme.  She is Chair of the Women CEX’s forum which has developed the Women’s Leadership Development Programme. Through these roles, she has developed strategic thinking and planning skills, has experience of applying the principles of effective corporate governance and risk management and has implemented successful change programmes. She is currently the Northern Ireland member of the Creative and Cultural Skills UK Board, the recognised sectoral skills body for the creative and cultural sector. She has not declared any political activity in the last five years and holds no other public appointments.

Mrs Hilary Singleton

Mrs Singleton, formerly a solicitor in private practice, currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI) (remuneration £3,700 pa), and as Chair of HSENI’s Audit Committee.  She is a Director of Mid-Armagh Community Network and a Board member of the International Fund for Ireland.  As chair of the Southern Zone Steering Group of the Social Investment fund, she led a multi-disciplinary team in the development of a strategic plan for the Zone, for which £8.5m was subsequently allocated.  She has recently been appointed to the Compact Civic advisory Panel.  She has relevant legal knowledge, particularly in the area of employment law and has experience in recruitment and selection. She has not declared any political activity in the last five years.

9. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office on 028 9082 3505 or email: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk.  Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383.

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