TC/0839

Councillors pay tribute to departing chief executive
By: Olga Bradshaw

GLOWING tributes were been paid this week to the chief executive of Omagh District Council, Mr. John McKinney, who has announced that he is to vacate his position after 12 years, to serve on one of the six cross-border groups set up under the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr. McKinney will take up the post of chief executive and head of the Special European Union Programmes Body. His selection was confirmed at the North/South ministerial meeting held at the end of last month.
The chairman of the council, Mr. Liam McQuaid, said that Mr. McKinney had given immense service to the Omagh community in every sense of the way, and had worked very hard for everyone.
He said that when Mr. McKinney left to take up his new post at the end of January, he would be losing a friend.
He said he knew Mr. McKinney would bring the same qualities to his new post that he had brought to the council, and he said that the chief executive had "certainly left his mark" on the district in terms of his leadership within the council.
"I wish him well in his new post, and I am sure he will be back to this council to tell us how much money he will be able to give us," Mr. McQuaid added.
Mr. Crawford McFarland told his fellow councillors he was in the council when Mr. McKinney took the reins 12 years ago, and said he had always found him very helpful, courteous, and articulate. He said Mr. McKinney was the kind of man who got the job done.
It was a sentiment echoed by Mr. Paddy McGowan, who said he could not say enough of what the chief executive had done in his post and particularly over the past couple of years.
Paying tribute to Mr. McKinney for his leadership and for what he brought to the town and district, Mr. Vincent Campbell said he looked forward to Mr. McKinney returning to the council with news of the remaining £2 million needed to complete the funding for the new Arts Centre.
His party colleague, Mr. Joe Byrne, described Mr. McKinney as a pioneering chief executive, and particularly noted his contribution and drive in relation to community development and the partnership approach to achieving goals. Mr. Seamus Shields said Mr. McKinney's leadership skills were very much respected, and he was particularly proud that the area had someone like him.
"I hope this council will help put him in his new position by helping him to carry out his new duties," he said.
Mr. Francis Mackey also wished Mr. McKinney good health and good luck, and paid tribute to him for all that he had helped the area achieve over the years. "John will be a big loss to this council," he said.
Friend
Congratulating Mr. McKinney on his new post, Mr. Johnny McLaughlin said Mr. McKinney was the type of person who had never shied away from anything, and described him as "a friend."
Tributes were also paid by Mr. Michael McAnespie, who wished him in his new post, and Mr. Sean Clarke, who paid tribute to the just manner in which Mr. McKinney had always conducted himself and gone about his work.
Paying tribute to Mr. McKinney first in Irish and then in English, Mr. Barry McElduff said that he hoped the road would rise before Mr. McKinney as he set out on his new career path.
He said Mr. McKinney was not only widely respected, but he had been a tremendous manager, and had been professional in every sense of the word.
Mr. Allan Rainey said he had always found Mr. McKinney to be very honourable, and someone who stood fast in times of difficulty.
"He has the ability and respect needed to open many doors and to gain the respect of important people," he said.
Mr. Rainey went on to thank and pay tribute to Mr. McKinney for the work that he did at the time of the Omagh bomb and in the years since, and said that Mr. McKinney had represented the community on the world stage. "We will sadly miss your expertise," he said.
His comments were echoed by his party colleague, Mr. Reuben McKelvey, who said the people appreciated everything Mr. McKinney had done for the area.
Responding, Mr. McKinney thanked the councillors for their comments, and said that he had enjoyed working in Omagh, and said the town and its people had been very good to him.
He said he had always tried to do his best and he wished every success to the person who would eventually fill the vacancy that he was leaving behind him.
The Special European Union Programmes Body will immediately undertake the implementation of the remaining aspects of the current Peace and Interreg Programmes, previously managed by the finance departments both North and South. And part of Mr. McKinney's remit will be to take forward the planning of the groups for the next Interreg and Peace Programmes.
This will include public consultations and liaison with the Department of Finance as well as other Departments on both sides of the 'border', in taking forward the common chapter of the two structural funds plans.
In addition, the organisation will have significant managerial and oversight functions in relation to the remaining community initiatives in Northern Ireland, the border counties and, or on an all-Ireland basis as determined by the individual programmes, namely Leader, Equal and Urban.
The headquarters of the body will be in Belfast, with sub-regional offices in Omagh and Monaghan.
Speaking about his appointment this week, Mr. McKinney said he viewed the move with mixed emotions, and recalled some of the most notable achievements in the years that saw him occupy the top seat.
"In all my years as a public servant 1 saw my role as working for and enabling the community to achieve," he said.
"On reflection my focus was always on the community and its development. It is with satisfaction 1 look at the progress made in a large percentage of out towns and villages and rural communities.
Opportunities now exist for community development, training and re-skilling that hitherto were not available," he said.
Mr. McKinney recalled how, during what became known as 'the Troubles', district towns and, indeed, councils, were not favoured with funding opportunities, but that he was glad to reflect on the contribution of the council "in those dark years lo improving Or in many cases, enabling the infrastructure to be improved".
"It is easy to forget that the council's effective use of land made the through pass we take for granted a reality, its use of land at the Market Yard, James Street and the Cookstown Road, made possible the new library, Dunnes Stores, the Technology Centre, the new Boys and Girls Club, the new Youth Sport Omagh complex and a new modern mart complex that will be greatly enhanced when Omagh Show complete their development.
"In addition the council has made provision for future generations through the purchase and retention in open space of over 30 acres Of prime parkland in Omagh town," Mr. McKinney said.
He continued: "Today we hear a lot of talk about partnerships, but the council and myself were involved in many partnerships long before they were fashionable.
"This point came home to me quite vividly when 1 sat down over the Christmas period and found myself preparing to write and offer by resignation to 23 such partnership boards and companies on which I held office positions in the form of chairman, co-secretary or director.
"Our ability to develop these partnerships both internal to our district and beyond has helped to position Omagh as a natural regional centre. This fact is well documented in the government's own plan for 'Shaping the Future'," he said.
Turning to the economic front, Mr. McKinney reflected on the role he played in assisting local authorities to empower themselves in respect of economic development.
He said that flowing from this, it was no accident that Omagh had one of the best developed community and economic development processes and networks in Northern Ireland, and had been the leader in developing county and sub-regional partnerships.
"By way of example we can look at TED1 Ltd., a Tyrone wide organisation; Into the West Ltd., a sub-regional organisation covering Tyrone and Fermanagh, and cross-border partnerships in the form of Tyrone/Donegal Partnership Ltd., and the Sligo/Omagh Partnership," he said.
"Continuing on the economic theme and reflecting on our own district, I cannot fail but mention the contribution to the economy by the Omagh Business Complex, our own Tyrone Training Services, the successful Area Based Strategy in the Sperrins, and Joint Partnership with Dungannon at Tullyvar waste disposal, the Omagh District Partnership, Omagh Knowledgeworks Ltd., Omagh Renewal and Beyond and its son, Omagh 2010 and the Leader Partnership between Omagh and Strabane, managed by West Tyrone Rural 2000 ltd., just to mention a few and in all of which I played a leading role," he said.
Inward investment
"The illusive inward investment has not yet arrived, but the provision of the advance facility lobbied for by the district council is a positive contributor to the increased interest in Omagh as an investment location," he said.
When asked about future changes in local government, Mr. McKinney said that a life-cycle of 27 years for a local authority format was quite a long one, and he said that councils would change and devolved government would ensure change took place.
"Very soon we will hear of a root and branch review of public service. The presence of a devolved government requires new approaches and Omagh in my opinion is well-placed to take advantage of the new and exciting opportunities," he said.
"Our strengths, our community and business sector, out staff and their ability to deliver quality services, out central position, our growth potential as determined by government in Shaping Our Future, our relatively strong infrastructure in terms of access and tourism, our quality leisure services, our shared sense of direction, our commitment to the arts as displayed by the council's commitment to the new arts centre as a catalyst for town centre regeneration, our commitment and support for quality education in our district, our strategic vision for accessible health services for Omagh and the wider south west, our ability to work in partnership and out strength of political representation at council and Assembly level," he said.
When asked about the tragedy which befell Omagh on August 15 two years ago, Mr. McKinney described the bombing as a dale that would never pass.
"It has been with me the days, weeks, months, and now years after the event," he said.
"My heart goes out to all the bereaved and injured. At the lime and since then I've done all within my power and indeed beyond, at times, to assist those affected, and put in place a suitable memorial for the 31 that lost their lives.
"I am pleased to say that phase one in the form of the Community House, is a reality as is the integrated development at the corner of Market Street," he said.
Looking to the future and his new job, he said it was an opportunity to get involved at the heart of the devolution process.
"1 have been involved with the current phase of local government in one form or another since reorganisation in 1973. The shape of local government will change, it is fitting that a new man or woman is given the opportunity at the helm to embrace that change and continue to develop Omagh as the centre of the South West Rural region," he said.
"As for my own challenges," he said, "they are many. The development and staffing of a new body, the closure of the last Peace and Interreg Programmes, the launch of the new Peace Programme, the launch of the new Interreg Programme, the development of the Common Chapter as agreed by the governments North and South, the oversight of the community initiatives and working towards a structure that provides funding for Northern Ireland and the border counties after 2004.
"In essence 1 see this as an opportunity to use my experience and knowledge of government and the European funding mechanisms to ensure that the European funding contributes to Peace and a self-sustaining economy in Northern IReland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland," he said.