Temporary Appointments to the Board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Date published: 01 June 2015

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, has announced the temporary appointment of four Housing Council members to the Board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

The four members appointed are Alderman Bill Keery MBE, Councillor Hazel Legge, Councillor Philip Brett and Councillor Catherine Elattar. The members have been appointed on a temporary basis whilst a competition is held to fill the four vacancies in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is a Non-Departmental Public Body, established by the Housing Executive Act (Northern Ireland) 1971. Under this Act, the Housing Executive took over the housing responsibilities of 65 separate authorities and became Northern Ireland’s overall housing authority. The Housing Executive is also one of Northern Ireland’s largest public sector organisations. With a net expenditure of £841million in 2013/14 and a staff of approximately 3,000, the Housing Executive makes a substantial contribution to better health, education and wellbeing through housing.

Minister Storey said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the four Housing Council members to the Board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as nominated by the Housing Council on 23 April 2015.

“I know that the members will find the work both challenging and rewarding during these short term temporary appointments and their contribution will ensure that the Board continues its valuable work.”

The appointment term will be from 1 June 2015 until 31 October 2015 and remuneration is £6,740 per annum.

Notes to editors: 

  1. The Northern Ireland Housing Council currently hold four places on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) Board as defined in Schedule 1 of the Housing (NI) Order 1981.
  2. The Commissioner for Public Appointments granted an exception to the Code of Practice to make four emergency temporary appointments for a period of up to six months, whilst a competition is held to fill the four vacancies in line with the Code of Practice for a term of up to four years.
  3. 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.
  4. Appointees:
    Alderman Bill Keery MBE is involved in youth work for which he was awarded the MBE in 1993. He is a Democratic Unionist Party member on Ards and North Down Borough Council. He holds no other public appointments.
    Councillor Hazel Legge is Chair of the Board of Governors of Dundonald High School and also on the Board of Governors of Dundonald Primary School. She is an Ulster Unionist Party member on Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and serves on the Governance & Audit and Leisure & Community Development Committees. She holds no other public appointments.
    Councillor Philip Brett is a Democratic Unionist Party member on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. He serves as Chairman on the Council’s Community Planning Committee. He holds no other public appointments.
    Councillor Catherine Elattar is a midwife with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. She is a Sinn Fein member on Mid Ulster District Council and also a member of the Policy & Resources Committee and the Development Committee. She holds no other public appointments.
  5. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9233. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.

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