The 11 Assistant Commissioners will serve as inspectors during public hearings into the provisional recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commissioner, Dick Mackenzie and preside over separate public hearings.
The Minister confirmed: “The Assistant Commissioners will assist the Local Government Boundary Commissioner Dick Mackenzie in carrying out public hearings into his provisional recommendations of the eleven new districts.
“The appointments are for three months with effect from 4 November 2008.”
A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the Central Appointments Unit’s Best Practice Guide, considered the suitability of all candidates and the names of all those who achieved the pass mark were passed to the Environment Minister.
The Minister made the final decision on the appointments.
Notes To Editors:
1. The Local Government Boundaries Commissioner was appointed on 1 July 2008. His role is to make recommendations to the Department regarding the boundaries and names of the eleven new districts, and the number, boundaries and names of the wards into which each district is to be divided. The boundaries of the districts should be based on the amalgamation of existing councils, with the exception of Belfast, for which the development of a more natural boundary for the population living within the city area should be defined.
2. Each Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioner will receive £259 per day.
3. None of the appointees have carried out political activity in the last ten years.
4. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
APPOINTMENTS
Alastair Adair lives in Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim. He is a retired Strategic Plan Manager (including Belfast Metropolitan Plan) for DOE Planning Service.
Zayd Al-Jawad lives in London, England. He is Head of S106 Planning Obligations and Assistant Leader for the Regeneration & Design Team, London Borough of Brent.
Margaret Barnes lives in Halifax, England. She is a retired Principal Planning Officer (Conservation & Renewal), Calderdale Metropolitan Council, Regeneration & Development Directorate. She is an Executive Group Member for Halifax Town Centre Management Limited for which she receives no remuneration.
Patrick Good lives in Belfast. He is a practising Barrister at Law and a part-time tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.
Sarah Havlin lives in Bangor, Co Down. She is a senior solicitor and is currently a part-time tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. She is a Board Member of the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland for which she receives £99 per day. She is a Member of the Independent Review Panel for DARD (Single Farm Payments and Disease Claims Payments) for which she receives £169 per day plus preparation fees. She is also a school Governor and SEELB Representative to Glenlola Collegiate School and St. Columbanus College, Bangor for which she receives no remuneration.
Kathleen Healy lives in Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal. She is a Policy, Research and Evaluation Officer at Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. She was appointed as an Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioner in 2006/07.
Ian McCafferty lives in Ballymoney, Co Antrim. He is a Compliance Manager with H M Revenue and Customs.
Philip McDonagh lives in Belfast. He is a part-time Economist and Director in Advisory Practice (PricewaterhouseCoopers). He is a Member of the Statistics Advisory Committee for which he receives no remuneration.
Garrett O’Reilly lives in Holywood, Co Down. He is a Barrister at Law. He is also Chairman of the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal for which he is paid a daily rate. He is also a Notary Public.
Mark Orr lives in Dromore, Co Down. He is a self-employed Queen’s Counsel. He is Director of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors, Banbridge Academy and a Member of the Board of Governors, Dromore Central Primary School for which he receives no remuneration.
William Smith lives in Belfast. He is a Senior Research Fellow at Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for which he receives £300 per day. He is an Independent Member of Belfast City Council, Audit and Risk Management Committee for which he receives £2,000 per year. He was appointed as an Assistant Local Government Boundaries Commissioner in 2006/07.
