Meeting Venue: Hybrid – Microsoft Teams/Conference Room C and D
Hybrid - Digital
Meeting date: Thursday, 4 July 2024
Meeting time: 9.00 – 15.00
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Category |
Names |
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Board Members: |
Dr Elizabeth Haywood (Chair) Sir David Hanson Michael Redhouse Dame Jane Roberts Hugh Widdis |
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Secretariat: |
Daniel Hurford, 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: |
Anna Daniel, Senior Adviser to the Board, Head of Strategic Transformation Service Matthew Richards, Head of the Legal Service Craig Griffiths, Head of Members’ Business Support Martin Jennings, Research Team Leader, Financial Scrutiny Unit (Item 6) |
§ The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mike Redhouse, David Hanson, Hugh Widdis and Jane Roberts joined virtually.
§ The Chair asked Daniel Hurford to provide an update on the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill amendment, which was tabled by Adam Price MS for Stage 3 consideration on 2 July 2024. The amendment was withdrawn.
Decision:
§ The Board agreed the minutes of the meeting on 16 May 2024.
Action:
§ Secretariat to publish the minutes for the meeting held on 16 May 2024.
§ The Board discussed the Staffing Support Phase 2 consultation responses and considered the options for next steps. They also noted the helpful discussions that had taken place during both the Member and the Support Staff Representative Group meetings held on Wednesday 3 July.
§ The Board also considered the issues that need to be addressed as part of Phase 3 of the Staffing Support thematic review.
Decision:
§ The Board agreed to proceed to Phase 2 of the Staffing Support thematic review with the option of job families.
§ The Board agreed to publish an anonymised summary of the Staffing Support Phase 2 consultation responses.
§ The Board agreed the outline approach to Phase 3 of the staffing review.
§ The Board agreed to write to the Chief Executive to request further information regarding the level of support for Members which is provided by the Commission.
Action:
§ Secretariat to draft correspondence to all Staffing Support Phase 2 consultation responders.
§ Secretariat to arrange publication of the anonymised summary of the Staffing Support Phase 2 consultation responses.
§ Secretariat to draft correspondence to the Chief Executive regarding Commission support provided to Members.
§ Secretariat to prepare a paper on virement provisions related to all relevant thematic reviews.
§ The Board noted the information in the paper regarding the Board’s draft budget for 2025/26.
Decision
§ The Board confirmed that they were content with the proposed budget.
Action:
§ Secretariat to draft correspondence to the Senedd Commission submitting the Independent Remuneration Board’s budget for 2025/26.
§ The Board noted the different options that were set out in the paper and provided opinions on these.
§ The Board considered the impact and unintended consequences related to the different options and requested further work was done into this for the September Board meeting.
Action:
§ Secretariat to request advice from Legal Services regarding relevant wording of the Determination for the Seventh Senedd.
§ The Board noted the options set out in the paper regarding the possible changes to Residential Accommodation Expenditure and confirmed plans for consultation.
Action:
§ Secretariat to write to the Chief Executive regarding the Senedd Commission’s Sustainability Strategy.
§ The Board received an update from Martin Jennings on the current economic climate and forecasts.
§ The Board considered the proposals set out regarding the Office and Constituent Liaison Fund.
§ Sir David Hanson, the Board lead for this thematic review, noted the current unknowns regarding the Seventh Senedd – the Commission support for Members and the new constituency boundaries.
§ The Board noted the elements of the Ways of Working thematic review that were to be considered alongside the Simplification thematic review.
Decision:
§ The Board agreed on the proposed areas to be included in their Autumn consultation and agreed to consider further matters at its September meeting.
§ The Board noted updates on various matters relevant to its work and also its forward work programme.
§ The Board noted correspondence received and issued since the last meeting.
Action:
§ Secretariat to liaise with the Senedd Commission regarding a date in the early Autumn for the next meeting to progress Board/Commission dialogue.
Any Other Business
§ The Board Members confirmed attendance for the next meeting to be held on Thursday 26 September 2024.