... supporting and enabling Chairs of public bodies to maximise their effectiveness... Annual Report 2010-2011
Officers and Committee Members Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Committee Members Seán Hogan Bob Collins Jim Stewart CBE Brian Rowntree CBE Brian Hanna CBE Professor Peter Matthews OBE Aims and Objectives of the Forum The Chairpersons Forum is the association of chairpersons of public bodies in Northern Ireland. Its purpose is to support and enable chairs of public bodies appointed through the public appointment process to maximise their effectiveness as chairs. The forums aims are to: Develop opportunities for mutual support Share ideas and learning Inform the development of good public governance and best practice Facilitate co-operation between public bodies Secretariat, advisory and event management services are provided to the Chairpersons Forum by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The main contacts at CIPFA are: Steve Mungavin, Head of CIPFA Northern Ireland Una Foy, Principal Consultant Eva Dillon, Business Support Officer - 2 -
Contents Chairperson s Report Page 4 Secretary s Report ` Page 5 Treasurer s Report Page 6 Summary of Accounts Page 7-8 Members as at 31 March 2011 Page 9-10 Programme of Events 2010-2011 Page 11-3 -
Chairperson s Report It is with great pleasure that I present our fifth annual report and accounts for the Chairs Forum Northern Ireland for 2010/11. The Forum is a member led, information sharing and networking resource for chairs of public bodies and it has come a long way since it was established in 2006. The Forum has built a reputation as the principal arena in which chairs can meet and share with each other in an atmosphere of trust, confidentiality and openness to address how we can improve the performance of our own organisations and influence the way Northern Ireland's public services are developed and delivered for the future. The past year has been a very challenging one for organisations across the public sector as they are being asked to do more with less inevitably resulting in significant organisational change. It is within this context of budgets being reduced and reforms taking place, together with much greater emphasis on corporate governance and public accountability that we as Chairs have to operate. We have a unique and important contribution to make to these reforms and our relative independence allows us to look objectively at what could and should change. An impressive programme of events was offered during 2010/11 with many excellent, high profile speakers addressing topical issues affecting public services in Northern Ireland. The feedback from those who attended the events was very positive and many commented that they are delighted to have the opportunity to develop networks and relationships which will benefit them outside the Forum. The following pages set out our report in more detail. I welcome new Chairs into the Forum and I also send my very best wishes to those members who stepped down during 2010/11. Many thanks also to CIPFA for the excellent support provided during the year. Best wishes for the forthcoming year and I look forward to seeing you at some of the events organised for 2011/12. Seán Hogan Chairperson October 2011 Matt Bggott, Chief Constable, PSNI with Sean Hogan at the Chairspersons Forum evening breifing - 4 -
Secretary s Report I am delighted to say that 2010/11 was a very busy but successful year for the Chairs Forum with a wide variety of high quality events being offered. This year s programme provided a wide range of topics and we had a number of speakers coming from outside NI. The events ranged from structured one day seminars and short lunch time presentations to more informal round table evening dinners. The speakers were excellent and included very popular names such as Dr Christopher Stange, the Honorary Consul for St Vincent and the Grenadines in Northern Ireland; the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Matt Baggott CBE; Lembit Opik former liberal democratic MP; to mention but a few. In many ways the success of this organisation is dependant upon your participation. I recognise that as Chairs, we are all very busy with many competing pressures on our time and it is sometimes difficult to attend the events, however, I would encourage you, if possible to come along and join us if your diary commitments allow. This is your Forum and I would urge you to support it. Brian Rowntree CBE Secretary October 2011 Members of the Chairpersons Forum at the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce Event 2010-5 -
Treasurer s Report At the end of 2010/11 the Chairs Forum has carried forward a reasonable healthy balance of 16,512. Income for the period was around 13k in membership contributions. This represents 30 fully paid-up bodies for 2010/11 and an old debt of 1k for membership subscriptions for two previous years was successfully collected. Contributions outstanding as at 31st March were 1.4k in respect of three bodies. Expenditure for the year was 23k. The largest single amount being paid out during the year was to CIPFA for the secretariat role they provide to the Forum. CIPFA organise all of the events and deal with the day to day financial affairs of the forum, the cost of this is in the region of 10k. The remainder of the expenditure of 13k was split between event costs and other costs. 10k is in respect of the costs of running the various events and also paying for chairs to attend seminars etc. 3k is in respect of other expenses such as bank fees, photographer, printing costs etc. The numbers of chairs registered as members fell from 39 to 33 during this year. CIPFA are actively pursuing organisations to encourage the chairs to join the Forum. Accounts for the period are summarised below. They are shown net of VAT. Jim Stewart, CBE Treasurer October 2011 L-R: Peter Matthews, Pat McCarton, Sir Ian Magee, Dr Joe McKee and Dr Alan Lennon at the 2010 Annual Governance Conferenence - 6 - Confe
Summary of Accounts Summary of Accounts Twelve months to 31 March 2011 CHAIRPERSONS' FORUM Note 2010-11 2009-10 Balance c/fwd 26,677.46 26,446.85 Income Chairs' Forum Fees 1 12,903.75 15,511.50 Other Income 0.00 708.96 Total Income 12,903.75 16,220.46 Expenditure Event Expenses 2 9,786.64-4,168.74 Other Expenses 3 13,281.86-11,821.11 Total Expenses 23,068.50-15,989.85 Surplus/(Deficit) for period -10,164.75 230.61 Balance at Year End 16,512.71 26,677.46 Balance Represented by: Bank Balance with Northern Bank at 31/3/11 16,512.71 Report of the Honorary Auditor To the members of the Chairpersons Forum I, Kevin Corr, have reviewed the accounts of the Chairpersons Forum for the year ended 31 March 2011 and confirm that the accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Forum as at 31 March 2011 and that they have been compiled in compliance with financial regulations. Kevin Corr CPFA Honorary Auditor 24 Octorber 2011 rence Programme Day One - 7 -
Summary of Accounts - Notes Note 1 Members subscriptions of 11,950 were collected in respect of the 2010-11 membership year. Three amounts totally 1,420 were outstanding at the year end but we are confident that these payments will be received during 2011-12. One organisation owed membership subscriptions for both 2008/09 and 2009/10 years amounting to 953.75. This was successfully collected during this year. Overall the number of members in the Forum has decreased from previous years. In 2009-10 there was 39 members whereas this year only 33 organisations registered. Work is planned during 2010-11 to encourage new organisations to join the Forum. Note 3 Other Expenses for 2010-11 totalling 13,282 comprise: 10,458 - Secretariat fees to CIPFA ( 8,900 + VAT 17.5%) 1,049 - CIPFA annual conference in Slieve Donard - 23/24 Sept 2010 729 - Printing costs 490 - Visit by Chair, Deputy Chair and S Mungain to Chairs Forum UK - 25 May 2010 352 - Strategy workshop - 2 June 2010 75 - Institute of Directors attendance at event by member 56 - Northern Bank Fees 53 - Photographer - printing picture requested by Sammy Wilson 20 - lunch for auditor Note 2 Event Expenses for 2010-11 comprise: 660 - Round table evening dinner with Confederation of British Industry - 27 April 2010 3,261 - Corporate Governance Seminar 3 June 2010 478 - Lunch time briefing with Chief Constable - 6 Sept 2010 94 - Lunch time event with Community Relations Council - 2 Nov 2010 2,965 - Schools Debate chaired by Lembit Opik MP - 5 Nov 2010 2,328 - Corporate Governance Seminar - 23 Nov 2010 An amount of 554 remains owing to CIPFA NI for members who attended Corporate Governance Seminar on 23 Nov 2010-8 -
Members as at 31 March 2011 Agri-food and Biosciences Institute Arts Council for Northern Ireland Belfast Harbour Commissioners Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Belfast Metropolitan College Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Equality Commission for Northern Ireland General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Historic Buildings Council INVEST NI Labour Relations Agency Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland Middletown Centre for Autism Northern Health and Social Care Trust Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee Northern Ireland Housing Executive Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman Northern Ireland Law Commission Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee Mr Seán Hogan Ms Rosemary Kelly Mr Leonard O'Hagan Mr Pat McCartan CBE Mr Richard O'Rawe Dr Michael Maguire Mr Bob Collins Mr Richard Hill Mr Frank Robinson Mr Stephen Kingon CBE Mr Jim McCusker Mr Mervyn Rankin CBE Mr Donal Flanagan Mr James Stewart Mr Paul Archer Professor Peter Matthews OBE Mr Jim Lennon Mrs Patricia Lewsley Dr Etta Campbell OBE Mr Brian Rowntree CBE Mr Karamjit Singh CBE Honourable Mr Justice McCloskey Mr Trevor Salmon - 9 -
Members as at 31 March 2011 Northern Ireland Policing Board Northern Ireland Social Care Council Police Ombudsman Office Probation Board for NI Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority South Eastern Regional College Southern Regional College The Parades Commission Ulster Supported Employment Ltd Youth Council for Northern Ireland Mr Barry Gilligan Ms Lily Kerr CB Mr Al Hutchinson Mr Ronnie Spence CB Dr Ian Carson Mr Brian Acheson Mr Andrew Saunders Mr Peter Osborne Mr Patrick Bogues Mrs Máire Young OBE - 10 -
Programme of Events 2010/11 Evening Briefing Interface with the Private Sector with representatives from the Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors and Chamber of Commerce Tuesday 27 April 2010 Fitzwilliam Hotel, Belfast Lunchtime Briefing Dr Christopher Stange Hon Consul, Consulate of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Secretariat - Consular Association of Northern Ireland Friday 7 May 2010 Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Boardroom, Belfast Residential Event Strategic Review of Chairs Forum Facilitated by CIPFA and Erga Strategies with keynote speakers Wednesday 2 June 2010 Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick Chairs Forum/CIPFA Governance Conference Effective Governance in Good Times and Bad Thursday 3 June 2010 Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick Lunchtime Briefing Felicity Huston, Public Appointments Commissioner Wednesday 16 June 2010 AFBI Boardroom, Belfast, Belfast Evening Briefing Matt Baggott, Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland Monday 6 September 2010 Fitzwilliam Hotel, Belfast Lunchtime Briefing Tony McCusker, Chairman, Community Relations Council Friday 1 October 2010 AFBI Boardroom, Belfast Annual Schools Debate Public Services Would be Best Provided by the Private Sector Chaired by Lembit Opik Friday 5 November 2010 Queen s University Belfast Annual Corporate Governance Conference Effective Governance in Tough Times Thursday 23 November 2010 Ramada Encore, Belfast Lunchtime Briefing Minister of Jutice, David Ford MLA Friday 24 November 2010 AFBI Boardroom, Belfast - 11 -
The Chairpersons Forum is the association of chairpersons of public bodies in Northern Ireland. Its purpose is to support and enable chairs of public bodies appointed through the public appointment process to maximise their effectiveness as chairs. Chairpersons Forum 3rd Floor Lesley Exchange 2 22 East Bridge Street Belfast BT1 3NR Tel: 028 9026 6770 Fax: 028 9026 6771 E-mail: chairsforum@cipfa.org