Minutes of proceedings 21st June 2006
Boardroom Floor 7 Goodwood House
BT1 4NN
Present
- Mr Sid McDowell (Chairman)
- Mr Jim McCusker
- Mr Desmond Mitchell
- Dr Collim Patton
- Mr Brian Hanna
- Professor Bernard Cullen
In Attendance
- Mr Stephen Graham
- Ms Susan Dornan
- Ms Iris Lovell
- Ms Julie Thompson (present until 12.22hrs)
- Mr Eddie Rooney (Deputy Secretary, DE)
- Mr Chris Stewart (Head of RPA Division, DE)
- Mr Ray Long (DE)
All in attendance for part of the meeting
1. Apologies
Brenda McLaughlin. The Commission meeting opened at 10.35hrs.
2. Minutes of the meeting 5th June 2006
Commissioners agreed the minutes of the meeting of 5th June, with two amendments.
3.Matters Arising
Item 3.1 Chief Executive Posts in the 5 New Trusts
The Chairman reported that the Chief Executive posts in the 5 new Trusts had been advertised in the press on 6th June 2006, with interviews due to start on 10th July.
The Chief Executive had been involved in discussions with David Bingham in relation to the data analysis and the Chairman stated that it was for the employer to satisfy itself on the action taken and to defend it, if challenged. The Commission considered that data was an issue to which it would have to return in the future.
Commissioners felt that a mechanism should be agreed for reporting back on the Commission’s recommendation on filling these posts and this should include early monitoring of applicants by, for example, number of applicants from outside the health sector, age, gender and religion.
Agreed: Chief Executive to raise the issue of feedback on current and future Commission recommendations at his meeting with John McMillen.
The Chairman reported that the Chief Executive Designate of the HSSA had been selected but an announcement had not yet been made.
The Chairman reported that he and the Chief Executive had met informally with Paul Simpson, David Bingham and Dennis McMahon on Monday 19th June 2006. There was no set agenda, but issues discussed had included a draft HR Framework document, and filling posts at Director level.
The Chief Executive reported that Government had confirmed that the proposed Councils, including the new authority for Belfast, would be constituted as new organisations.
Agreed: Chief Executive to acquire copies of the final reports of the Local Government Taskforce Sub Groups who are due to report by the end of June 2006.
Item 3.2 Communications Conference
The Chairman reported that a number of Commissioners had attended the conference hosted by the Local Government Staff Commission on 14th June 2006. The Chief Executive reported the frustration expressed at the conference on the lack of communication. Although Government had taken receipt of the Commission’s recommendation on a Communication’s Strategy it had not yet been promulgated, but Nigel Hamilton had committed to doing this by the end of June 2006.
Item 3.3 Education and Library Board Chief Executives
The Chief Executive, Commissioner Dessie Mitchell and Susan Dornan met with 4 of the 5 Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards on 12th June 2006 at the SELB Headquarters, Armagh. The CE of BELB was not present.
The Chief Executives ELBs raised a number of questions at this meeting including the impact of the ESA, at a personal level, at tier 2 level and for other staff. The Chief Executives ELBs agreed that they would formulate an issues paper for the Commission.
Agreed: Issues raised in the paper from the Association of Chief Executives and Library Boards to be a substantive item on agenda for the next
meeting. Secretariat to draft answers to the questions posed.
Item 3.4 Seminar 12th June 2006
The Chairman reported that he had spoken at the seminar organized by the Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards on 12th June 2006.
Item 3.5 Meeting with Minister Hanson
The Chairman reported that the meeting had gone well. The Minister had also offered future meetings with the Commission.
Item 3.6 Draft Recommendation Managing Vacancies
The Chief Executive reported that he had received feedback from Government on the draft paper and that he would be discussing the matter in more detail at the “wash up” meeting on 22nd June. He stated that they had expressed concern on the concept of the “clearing houses”, over potential legal complications, and the significant administrative burden that the process would entail.
Agreed: The Commission agreed a revised version of the draft recommendation and asked the Secretariat to seek views from employers, the sectoral Commissions and NIC/ICTU by 10th July.
4.Chairman’s Business
Item 4.1 Fees and Expenses
The Chairman reminded Commissioners to leave their completed Fees and Expenses forms with the Secretariat at the end of the meeting.
Item 4.2 Meeting with Equality Commission
The Chairman reported that he, the Chief Executive and Susan Dornan had met with Bob Collins, Evelyn Collins and Jacqui McKee from the Equality Commission on 20th June. He stated that they had had a useful exchange and that the Equality Commission members wished to maintain contact with the Public Service Commission on an informal and regular basis.
Item 4.3 Communications Strategy/Website overview/Progress to date
Commissioners were asked for their comments in relation to the 3 drafts.
Suggestions were made that the Communications Strategy should include a paragraph incorporating reference to the Commission’s practice of meeting and liaising with the sectoral Commissions and various key bodies.
Agreed: The draft should be amended to reflect the Commission’s interaction with the sectoral Commissions and other key bodies.
Commissioners expressed their satisfaction with the Website overview and also with the Progress to date report.
Agreed: Secretariat staff to alert Commissioners of the PSC Website go live date.
5.Submission from Department of Education, Chief Executive, Education and Skills Authority
Mr Rooney, Mr Stewart and Mr Long arrived at 11.35hrs. Mr Rooney addressed the Commission, outlining the major leadership and change management challenge which would be faced by the Chief Executive, both from the existing educational reforms, and those proposed under RPA. Mr Rooney said the ESA would take on significant functions including examinations and assessment (CCEA); sectoral support functions; youth services administration; employer authority; the Children’s Services Directorate; the skills element of the 14-19 agenda; and planning of the schools estate. Mr Rooney made reference to the workstreams in place to deliver RPA and the stakeholders’ group.
He said the JESP score of the post had been assessed independently at 20/21 (Permanent Secretary level) although it still had to be confirmed by the Department. The ESA will have a budget in excess of 1.5 billion and over 30,000 direct staff.
Commissioners questioned the delegation on a number of issues regarding the Chief Executive’s post including: leadership and change challenges; policy role; designing the structure of the ESA; the management of Grade 3 level managers; functions transferring from health (0-4 Surestart and pre-school early years identified to date), and libraries.
The delegation left at 12.22hrs.
6. Deliberations on the Submission from the Department of Education
In light of the revised documentation and oral presentation, the Commission agreed that, without prejudice, in order to safeguard the interests of staff, it was not necessary to restrict the competition to the RPA pool.
On a separate but related issue, Commissioners briefly discussed the location of services as a critical issue requiring further consideration.
Agreed: Location of services to be a substantive item on the agenda for the next meeting. Chairman to signal this as an emerging issue at the next RPA Steering Group meeting. Chief Executive to advise Government of its position on filling the post of CED of the Education and Skills Authority.
7. Meeting Dates September to December
Meeting dates were agreed for the series of meetings up until November 2006 as follows:
Wednesday 30th August 1330 – 1600hrs
Wednesday 20th September 1030 – 1600hrs
Wednesday 11th October 1030 – 1600hrs
Wednesday 1st November 1030 – 1600hrs
Wednesday 22nd November 1030 – 1600hrs
All of the above meetings are to be held at Goodwood House.
8. Legal Tutorial, Jones and Cassidy
Jones and Cassidy made a presentation to Commissioners and it was agreed that an opinion be sought from Senior Counsel on the appropriateness of TUPE in the context of the Review of Public Administration.
9. AOB
None.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 18th July 1030 – 1600hrs.
Chairman’s signature: 
Date of Chairman’s Signature: 18th July 2006