Julie de-Courcey has been appointed as Senior Commissioner to the Planning Appeals Commission.
Mark Watson, Pamela O’Donnell and Brigid McGlinchey have been appointed as Commissioners to the Planning and Water Appeals Commissions.
In addition Albert Allen has been appointed as a Panel Commissioner to the Planning Appeals Commission.
Mr Allen’s appointment is a part-time non-pensionable position and is remunerated on a fee per day or case basis. The other appointments are permanent and pensionable, attracting remuneration within the range £39,524-£56,664.
All of the new appointees are members of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. None of the new appointees is engaged in any political activity and they do not hold any other public appointments.
Notes to Editors:
The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) is an independent appeals body established under the Planning (NI) Order 1991 to decide a wide range of appeals against decisions of the Department of Environment’s Planning Service and to report on various matters under planning and other legislation.
The Water Appeals Commission (WAC) is a separate tribunal NDPB set up under Article 7 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 and continues under the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
PAC and WAC comprise 21 full-time Commissioners, including the Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Commissioner.
Mr Allen has become a member of the call-off Panel following his retirement as a full-time Commissioner. Ms de-Courcey was appointed following an internal selection process and the 3 Commissioner posts were filled by means of an open competition. The suitability of candidates for the Senior and Commissioner posts was considered by selection panels, which included independent assessors, in accordance with the procedures required by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. The final decision on the appointments were made by the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Biographical Details
Ms de-Courcey has a Masters degree in Town and Country Planning. She has been a Commissioner in the Planning Appeals Commission since 2003. Prior to that she held a number of planning-related positions in Donegal County Council, Department of Environment’s Planning Service, Omagh District Council and Mendip District Council in Somerset.
Mr Allen has been a member of the Planning Appeals Commission since 1997, first as Commissioner and then as a Senior Commissioner since 2002. Prior to that he held a number of planning positions in Aberdeen City Council and Angus District Council.
Mr Watson has a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Planning and a postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning. Prior to his appointment he was a planner in the private sector with Turley Associates and formerly held positions in the Department of Environment’s Planning Service.
Miss O’Donnell has a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Planning and a post graduate diploma in Environmental Planning. Prior to her appointment she was a planner in the private sector with Turley Associates and has formerly held positions in the Department of Environment’s Planning Service.
Mrs McGlinchey has a BSc (Hons) degree in Combined Science, a post graduate diploma in Town Planning and an MA in Marketing. Prior to her appointment she held a number of positions including in the Department of Environment’s Planning Service, Craigavon Borough Council and in the private sector.
