football licensing authority

Time Commitment
Initially one day per month on average, increasing to around four days per month on becoming the Chair in April 2009.

Location of Meetings
There are normally eight Board Meetings per year, and these will generally be held in London.

Remuneration
Initially the Chair Designate will receive a board member’s fee of £255 per day worked, together with travelling and subsistence expenses. Remuneration will rise to £17,340 plus expenses on becoming Chair. These sums are reviewed annually.

Term of Appointment
Appointments to the FLA are for three years. The Chair Designate is expected to be in post by Autumn 2008, making it possible to organise a smooth handover when Tony Speed retires as Chairman in April 2009. Subject to performance and the continuing relevance of their skills, members of the board may be reappointed, serving a maximum of two terms.

Closing Date
The closing date for applications is Friday 27 June 2008.
It is intended that interviews will be held in central London on Wednesday 30 July 2008.

Background
The Football Licensing Authority was established by the 1989 Football Spectators Act and monitors the oversight by local authorities of spectator safety at international, Premier League and Football League grounds. In December 1998, following a major review, the Government announced that the FLA would in due course become the Sports Ground Safety Authority with responsibility for providing detailed advice on the safety of other sports in addition to football. It presented legislation to this effect to Parliament but the 2001 General Election intervened.

The Government recommitted itself to this objective following a further review and consultation. A Private Member’s Bill to this effect was introduced during the present Parliamentary session but has failed to make progress. Ministers are currently considering how the role of the FLA can best be expanded.

Details of the FLA’s functions and responsibilities will be provided to candidates in the application pack.

Public appointments to the FLA are made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in accordance with the Code of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the appointments process.

The Role
The Chair has particular responsibility for providing effective strategic leadership on the following matters:

reviewing the strategy developed by the Chief Executive and staff for the FLA to fulfil its statutory duties, and for the Board to adopt that strategy once it is agreed
ensuring that the Board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of any applicable guidance or legislation
encouraging high standards of propriety throughout the organisation
representing the FLA in meetings with Ministers, the football authorities and clubs at the highest level

The Person
With the role and structure of the FLA likely to change over the coming years, candidates for Chair Designate should be able to demonstrate proven leadership skills, the ability to focus complex discussion towards agreed ends and to deal sensitively and constructively with organisational change. The mix of skills and experience across the Board currently includes policing, risk management, marketing, finance, sports administration and structural engineering.

The successful candidate will ideally have held a position of high responsibility in either corporate affairs; law, policing or public administration; or sports administration. He or she must also be able to demonstrate:

a commitment to the objectives of the FLA, an interest in spectator sport and an awareness of the principles of spectator safety
some knowledge of the Government’s policies on sports ground safety
an ability to work with other agencies at a strategic level to advance the objectives of the FLA
a commitment to the principles and practices of corporate governance

Supporting Information
The Football Licensing Authority and DCMS aspire to diversity in public appointments and operate an equal opportunities policy. Appointments are made on merit and are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Further information can be found on the FLA website.

Current Membership of the FLA
Tony Speed (Chairman)   Brendon Batson
James Dickie     John Garner
Pamela Carvell (to July 2008)              Julie Summerell
Brian Robertson (to July 2008)             John Woodrow

To apply
For information on how to apply please contact Margaret Lewis, Public Appointments Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.
Email: margaret.lewis@culture.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 020 7211 2306.

Closing Date
The closing date for applications is Friday 27 June 2008.
It is intended that interviews will be held in London on Wednesday 30 July 2008.