HC Deb 20 February 1990 vol 167 cc651-2W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to select members to serve on the Local Government Staff Commission.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The Local Government Staff Commission is established under the Local Government Act (NI) 1972for the purposes of exercising general oversight of matters connected with the recruitment, training and terms and conditions of employment of officers of councils and of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and of making recommendations to councils and to the Executive on such matters".

Membership of the commission is comprised of a chairman and up to 12 other members appointed by the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland after consultation with associations representative of councils or their staffs and any other appropriate association or public body.

The members of the commission are appointed on the basis that they reflect the interests of local government and that they can contribute to the work of the commission. In view of its wide remit it is also essential to appoint members who can assist the commission because of their skills and knowledge in particular areas. The criteria for selection are members who will represent employee interests, drawn from nominations from trade unions, staff associations etc.; employer interests, drawn from nominations from district councils; and other interests i.e. those who have a knowledge of local government or whose expertise on such matters as training, personnel, finance etc. will be of help to the commission.

Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current composition of the Local Government Staff Commission by name, address and interests represented.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The information is as follows:

Chairman

Professor D. Rea MSc (Econ) MBA PLD, Dip. Soc. Studies—Belfast

Members representing employee interests

  • Mr. W. E. Andrews ACIS—Coleraine:
  • —nominated by SOLACE.
  • Mr. J. Cooper—Bangor:
  • nominated by NIC/ICTU
  • Mr. J. Donaghy—Ballymoney
  • nominated by NIC/ICTU

Members representing employer interests

  • Councillor J. H. Allen OBE—Antrim
  • nominated by Antrim BC
  • Councillor P. Brannigan—Armagh
  • nominated by Armagh DC
  • Councillor F. Cobain—Belfast
  • nominated by Belfast CC
  • Councillor W. J. Thompson—Beragh
  • nominated by Omagh DC

Members with knowledge/expertise on employment matters

  • Mr. D. Clement—Antrim
  • financial background
  • Mr. T. H. N. Jackson—Belfast
  • member of Public Service Training Council with personnel experience
  • Councillor Mrs. M. McSorley MBE—Draperstown local government background
  • Mr. P. O. Neill OBE—Belfast
  • Assistant Director of Personnel in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Mrs. M. S. V. Young BA Hons.—Holywood
  • Lecturer with management, industrial relations and personnel background.