Agenda item

            (Mrs. S. Toland, Environmental Health Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 8th October, it had deferred consideration of a report seeking the nomination of a Member to the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum to enable clarification to be obtained in relation to the procedure for the appointment of the Forum’s Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

            The Head of Environmental Health informed the Members that the Airport Forum, which had been in existence since 1993, was comprised of representatives from residents’ groups, the Northern Ireland General Consumer Council, the Department for Regional Development, airline operators and an Elected Member each from Belfast City Council and North Down Borough Council.  The Council was represented on the Forum by Councillor Newton, whilst the Environmental Health Manager acted in an observer capacity.

            She reported that, in 2006, the publication by the Department for Regional Development of guidelines for use by airport consultative committees in determining the future role, composition and proceedings of forums, together with recommendations of the Examination in Public Panel, had led to an overall review of the Airport Forum.  She explained that the Examination in Public had supported the need for a stronger relationship to be developed between the Forum and the aforementioned Councils, with an enhanced role being envisaged for each Council.  In addition, the Forum Review Group, which had been established to review the membership of the Forum and its terms of reference, had, along with agreeing changes in community representation, recommended that the number of Elected Members from each Council be increased to two and that an additional officer be nominated to act as observer to the Forum.  As a result, the Chairman of the Airport Forum had written to the Council seeking nominees.

            The Head of Environmental Health informed the Committee that the George Best Belfast City Airport Forum’s constitution required that its Chairman and Deputy Chairman be independent of any organisation represented on the Forum.  She outlined the process for the selection of the candidates and pointed out that they should possess:

·         previous experience of membership or chairmanship of public bodies;

·         an awareness of matters relating to the economic importance to Northern Ireland; and

·         a public profile within Northern Ireland which attracts a high level of respect across the community.

            During discussion, a Member expressed the view that the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman should be appointed using a public appointments process and that expressions of interest should be sought by way of public advertisement.  Clarification was sought also as to whether it was appropriate for nominations to be made through the Health and Environmental Services and Development Committees, as was being recommended, rather than using the established process for appointments to Outside Bodies.

            In response, the Environmental Health Manager explained that the Forum had, during discussions, indicated that it wished the Elected Members to be appointed from the Development and the Health and Environmental Services Committees, given their relevance to the work of the Airport.  She undertook to make the Airport Forum aware of the Committee’s views that the appointments of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman should be made by way of a public appointments process.

            After further discussion, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the matter to enable clarification to be obtained in relation to the process for the appointment of Members to the Airport Forum.