Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS)

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson today announced the appointment of a Convener and six new Members to the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS).

The new convener is:

Anne MacLean is currently the Vice Chair of RNIB Scotland and is a board member of the Cairngorm National Park Authority, which attracts an annual rate of £6,936. She was previously an assessor for the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments in Scotland, and was a former National Officer with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants.

The new members are:

John Ballantine is a retired solicitor and member of the Equalities Law Sub-committee of the Law Society of Scotland. He is the Treasurer of the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance and a member of the Edinburgh Access Panel. He is a member of the Communities of Interest Support Network and of the Edinburgh Disability Equality Forum. These posts do not attract remuneration.

Steven Boyd has recently taken up an appointment as HR Partner for Scotland for the WRVS. He previously held various HR & Resourcing Management appointments for different blue chip Hospitality, Media and Engineering companies. His initial management career was as Recruitment Director for a small niche People Consultancy.

James Cohen currently works as a Social Policy Analyst specialising in disability. He is a Member of the BBC Trust Audience Council Scotland, and was previously Queen Margaret University's Equal Opportunities Officer as well as being a former Member of the NUS Disability Campaign

James Glover is Head of Equality and Diversity at NHS Lothian. He led on the Disability Equality Duty at the Equality & Human Rights Commission, and its predecessor, the Disability Rights Commission. He has set up and been a committee member for community transport projects and organisations. He originally trained as a research chemist.

Andrew Holmes trained and worked as a civil engineer before becoming involved in the wider area of planning, economic development and transport. Prior to retiring in April 2008 he was Director of City Development for the City of Edinburgh Council. He has served on a number of transport related groups and committees at both a Scottish and UK level.

Susan Wood was previously employed as an Educational Development and Support Officer improving quality in pre-school education in Argyll and Bute. She is Chairperson of the Glasgow Access Panel.

These appointments will be for three years and will run from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011.

The posts are part-time. The post of Convener attracts remuneration of £150 per day for a time commitment of two days per month. The Member posts attract remuneration of £100 per day for a time commitment of one day per month,

None of the newly appointed members currently hold appointments with other Public Bodies.

MACS was established by Scottish Ministers under the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Regulations Order 2002. It is responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on the transport needs of people with disabilities in Scotland. It shall consider and make recommendations about other matters if asked to do so. MACS will, for the main part, hold its meetings in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government will be undertaking a further appointment round in the New Year to fill the eight remaining member posts.

These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Anne MacLean has declared that she was an executive committee member of the Scottish Labour Party until March 2004, and is currently the Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Branch of the Party.