IRB(07-23)
Attendance
|
Category
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Names
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Board members:
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Dr Elizabeth Haywood
(Chair)
Sir David Hanson
Michael Redhouse
Dame Jane Roberts
Hugh Widdis
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Secretariat:
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Daniel Hurford,
Clerk
Huw Gapper, Second
Clerk
Martha Da Gama Howells, Second
Clerk
Natasha Davies, Senior
Researcher
Beth Hales, Deputy
Clerk
Ruth Hatton, Deputy
Clerk
Megan Jones, Support to the
Board
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Officials present:
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Anna Daniel, Senior Adviser to
the Board, Head of Strategic Transformation Service
Matthew Richards, Head of the
Legal Service
Kate Rabaiotti, Legal Adviser
to the Board
Craig Griffiths, Head of
Members’ Business Support
Martin Jennings, Research Team
Leader, Financial Scrutiny Unit
Kate Innes, Chief Finance
Officer
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<AI1>
1
Chair's Introduction (13.30 -
13.40)
§
The Chair
welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Mike Redhouse joined virtually.
§
The Chair
introduced Kate Innes, the Senedd Commission’s Chief Finance
Officer, to the Board.
§ The minutes of the
meeting on 12 October were agreed.
Action:
§
The
Board’s Secretariat will publish the minutes for the meeting
held on 12 October.
</AI1>
<AI2>
2
Economic Update (13.40 -
14.00)
- The Board received an update from Martin
Jennings (the Research Team’s Head of Financial Scrutiny) on
the current economic climate and forecasts.
- The Board considered the potential
implications of the ongoing high interest rates and food inflation
ahead of their discussions regarding financial support for Support
Staff, including salary adjustments for 2024-25.
- The Board also considered the potential
implications for the current Determination.
Decision:
- The Board agreed to share the Economic Update
which was prepared by the Senedd Commission Research Service with
the attendees of the Representative Group meetings.
</AI2>
<AI3>
3
PPSA Thematic Review Update (14.00 -
14.15)
- Jane Roberts, the thematic review Board lead,
provided an update on the Political Party Support Allowance
thematic review which is being undertaken as part of the
Board’s Strategic Work Programme.
Decision:
- The Board considered and agreed to the
proposed approach for the next phases of this thematic
review.
Action:
- The Board agreed to write to the Chief
Executive and Accounting Officer to raise feedback received from
Members regarding travel and policy development.
</AI3>
<AI4>
4
Staffing Review Update (14.15 -
14.30)
- The Board were provided with a brief summary
of the work undertaken as part of the Staffing Review to
date.
- It was confirmed that interviews and focus
groups will be held with staff over the next few months as part of
the next phase of the review, followed by a survey in early
2024.
- Michael Redhouse, the thematic review Board
lead, advised that the Staffing Review relates to changes that may
be needed for the Seventh Senedd.
- The Board will be provided with a further
update next year once the next phase of work has been
completed.
</AI4>
<AI5>
5
Real Living Wage (10.30 -
10.45)
- The Board noted the increase in the Real
Living Wage rate to £12 per hour, as calculated by the
Resolution Foundation and published annually by the Living Wage
Foundation.
- The Board considered options available to
them to address the increase of the Real Living
Wage.
Decision:
- The Board agreed to address this issue as
follows:
-
Provide for a
temporary uplift of Band 3 Pay Point 1 to the level of the Real
Living Wage from 1 December 2023 to 31 March 2024. This raises Band
3 Pay Point 1 to £23,088. This change will be reflected in
December salary payments to those affected.
-
Provide for a
one-off payment to Support Staff who received the Band 3 Pay Point
1 salary in November 2023, calculated individually for each member
of staff, equal to the difference between the salary received for
November 2023 and the salary that would have been received if the
Real Living Wage had been applied from 1 November 2023. This will
be included in December’s salary payments. The effect is that
staff will receive payments as though they were paid at the Real
Living Wage level from 1 November.
- The Board noted that this would be a
temporary arrangement until 1 April 2024, when Band 3 Pay Point 1
will move to the proposed new 2024-25 pay levels (subject to the
annual review consultation and decision for
2024-25).
- The Board agreed that any additional costs
relating to the Real Living Wage will be met in 2023-24 through
central funds, rather than Members’ current staffing
budgets.
- In accordance with section 14(3) of the 2010
Measure, the Board agreed that there are exceptional circumstances
which make it just and reasonable for the restrictions imposed by
section 14(2) of the 2010 Measure not to apply. The Board
considered the current economic circumstances and in particular
that the UK has experienced a period of exceptionally rapid
inflation which continues to have a significant impact on the cost
of living. The Explanatory Notes to the 2010 Measure
expressly provide that a period of exceptionally rapid inflation is
an example of exceptional circumstances.
- The Board noted that this is the first
occasion on which the Real Living Wage has exceeded some support
staff salaries, meaning that those on Band 3 Pay Point 1 are
receiving a salary below the Real Living Wage. It was the
Board’s opinion that these are exceptional circumstances and
a paragraph will be inserted allowing any future Real Living Wage
annual increase above the lowest pay point to automatically adjust
any salary lower than this in line with the Real Living
Wage
- Following recent engagement with staff and
union representatives on related matters and the need to ensure
timely payments were made in response to the current financial
circumstances, the Board agreed that it would not be appropriate to
consult with those affected by the decision.
- The Board agreed to consult with the Chief
Executive and Accounting Officer as required by the National
Assembly for Wales (Remuneration) Measure 2010.
Action:
- The Board agreed to write to the Chief
Executive and Accounting Officer to consult on the above mentioned
decisions.
- Subject to the Accounting Officer’s
response, the Board will write to the Llywydd to inform the
Commission of the Board’s decision to make an Exceptional
Determination and to communicate it to Members and Support Staff
before mid-December.
- The Board’s Secretariat will liaise
with the Commission’s Legal Service to confirm the
exceptional Determination wording and the wording to be included as
part of the Annual Review consultation for future years.
</AI5>
<AI6>
6
Cost of Living (10.45 -
11.15)
- The Board considered options in order to
provide staff with financial support during the ongoing Cost of
Living crisis.
Decision:
- The Board agreed to increase Members’
staffing allowance and amend the Determination to provide for the
payment of £600 in January 2024, pro-rated in accordance with
contracted hours of work, to help meet increased living costs. The
payment will be made in January’s pay (or may be spread
across January, February and/or March pay if requested), and will
not be consolidated into salaries.
- The Board agreed that any additional costs
relating to the Cost of Living will be met in 2023-24 through
central funds, rather than Members’ current staffing
budgets.
- In accordance with section 14(3) of the 2010
Measure, the Board agreed that there are exceptional circumstances
which make it just and reasonable for the restrictions imposed by
section 14(2) of the 2010 Measure not to apply. The Board
considered the current economic circumstances and in particular
that the UK has experienced a period of exceptionally rapid
inflation which continues to have a significant impact on the cost
of living. The Explanatory Notes to the 2010 Measure
expressly provide that a period of exceptionally rapid inflation is
an example of exceptional circumstances.
- The Board agreed that these exceptional
circumstances make it just and reasonable for them to determine
that an additional payment be made to all support staff. The Board
also noted that both this and the decision made regarding the Real
Living Wage will be dealt with through the same exceptional
Determination.
- Following recent engagement with staff and
union representatives on related matters and the need to ensure
timely payments were made in response to the current financial
circumstances, the Board agreed that it would not be appropriate to
consult with those affected by the decision.
- The Board agreed to consult with the Chief
Executive and Accounting Officer as required by the National
Assembly for Wales (Remuneration) Measure 2010.
Action:
- The Board agreed to write to the Chief
Executive and Accounting Officer to consult on the above mentioned
decisions.
- Subject to the Accounting Officer’s
response, the Board will write to the Llywydd to inform the
Commission of the Board’s decision to make an Exceptional
Determination and to communicate it to Members and Support Staff
before mid-December.
- The Board’s Secretariat will liaise
with the Commission’s Legal Service to confirm the
exceptional Determination wording.
</AI6>
<AI7>
7
Annual Review of the Determination for
2024/25 (11.15 - 12.30)
§
The
Board considered the draft
proposals on the Annual Review of the Determination
2024/25.
§
The Board
considered the proposed increases to seven of the allowances in the
Determination relating to the costs incurred by Members in the
performance of their duties.
§ The Board agreed
to consult on the proposal to increase those allowances by the CPI
rate in January. They also agreed to a proposal to
maintain the level of the
essential repairs allowance at its current level.
§
The Board noted
that Members’ salaries will increase by 3% in line with the
application of ASHE Wales, subject to the cap and collar mechanism
at paragraph 3.2.2. in the Determination on Members’ Pay and
Allowances 2023/24.
§
The Board
considered a proposal to disapply the cap on staff salaries at
paragraph 7.2.2. in the Determination and to increase salaries by
the ASHE Wales figure of 5.7%.
§ The Board noted
that the cost of living payment awarded in this financial year of
£600 will be consolidated into each pay point from 1 April
2024.
§ The Board
considered a number of proposals for
changes to the Determination that arose from evidence gathering
during the simplification thematic review, are a direct response to
feedback from Members and staff and suggestions from the Chief
Executive and Clerk to the Senedd in her
correspondence.
Decision:
§
The Board agreed to
include those proposals in the Annual Review.
§
The Board agreed
that the Annual Review of the Determination 2024/25 will be
published for consultation on 15 December.
Action:
§
Secretariat to
produce the consultation document,
and the associated correspondence.
§
Members and their
staff will be alerted to the publication and
also advised of the closing date for the consultation of 26
January.
</AI7>
<AI8>
8
Members' Remuneration (13.30 -
14.15)
§
The
Chair, the thematic review Board
lead, provided the background to the Members’
Remuneration and Personal Support thematic review and the Board
considered its approach, scope and draft terms of reference for the
review.
Decision:
§
The
Board agreed to the proposed scope,
key topics, engagement and timeline for this thematic
review.
§
The Board
agreed to consult Members and the
Chief Executive on the draft Terms of Reference.
Action:
§
Secretariat to
include the Terms of Reference for consultation as part of the
Update paper.
</AI8>
<AI9>
9
Senedd Commission Update regarding
Dignity & Respect Policy Review (including Mandated Policies)
(14.15 - 14.45)
§
The Board
considered the findings of the Commission’s review of the
Senedd’s Dignity and Respect Policy. Board
members noted the significant progress
made to promote dignity and respect within the Senedd since the
policy was agreed in 2018.
§
The Board gave
initial consideration to whether the grievance and disciplinary
procedures it has put in place for Members’ offices should be
reviewed in light of the findings of the Commission’s
review.
§ The Board noted
that the Standards of
Conduct Committee is undertaking an inquiry into dignity and
respect and that its consultation was open until 8 January
2024.
Decision:
§
Given the Standards
of Conduct Committee’s ongoing consultation, the Board agreed
to write to the Committee to seek further engagement
before determining the next steps
regarding any review of the grievance and disciplinary procedures
for Members’ Support Staff.
</AI9>
<AI10>
10
Update Paper (14.45 - 14.50)
§
The Board noted
updates on various matters relevant to its work
and also its forward work
programme.
§
The Board
noted correspondence received since
the last meeting.
§ The Board
noted it was intended that a further
meeting between the Chair and the Llywydd would be organised before
Christmas.
§
The Board received
an update on the constituency office visits that
have been held with Members and
their Support Staff since the last meeting. They also confirmed
which visits are still to be undertaken.
§ The Board Members
confirmed attendance for the next meeting which is to be held on
Thursday 22 February 2024.
</AI10>
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