Meetings

Commissioners were updated on the progress of the 2026-27 Senedd Commission Budget through its scrutiny process, since the draft had been agreed by the Commission on 22 September.

The Finance Committee had held a scrutiny session on 1 October 2025 and Commissioners noted the Committee’s Report, which had been published on 21 October 2025, and which supported the overall request for resource in 2026-27, recommending the Senedd support the Commission budget.

Commissioners discussed their response to the recommendations raised in the Finance Committee Report, and agreed that additional work be undertaken in relation to IFRS and additional detail being included before the response was sent to the Committee.

Commissioners also considered the future support needs of the Senedd, agreeing that additional financial information should be provided to the Seventh Senedd Business Committee so that decisions that committee made about Senedd business activity could be informed by cost information.

They approved the Final Budget for 2026-27 noting that, following approval by the Commission, the Final Budget document for 2026-27 would be laid on 12 November 2025 with the Budget Motion expected to be debated in plenary on 19 November 2025.

Commissioners considered the proposed 2026-27 Draft Budget.

The Draft Budget had been further developed since the Commission considered the Medium-Term Resourcing Framework in the meeting of 2 June.

Commissioners discussed the proposals and agreed:

a)          the pay award for Commission staff in 2026-27;

b)         a Project Fund (including £500k of capital) of £2million;

c)          To reduce the budget for Members’ Pension Finance costs from £1million to £400k; and

d)         To replace reference to the ‘Ways of Working’ Programme to the ‘Bay 32’ project.

Commissioners considered aspects of the budgetary provision for costs resulting from the election. They approved the draft Explanatory Memorandum as attached at Annex A, subject to changes to be finalised; and noted the letter from the Finance Minister.

The agreed Draft Budget would be laid before the Senedd and provided to the Finance Committee.

Commissioners received an update on the latest position on the formal negotiations between Commission Management Side (CMS) and TUS on the pay framework for Commission staff from April 2026.

They also considered feedback on the engagement undertaken with two party Groups to date (with one Group declining the offer) on the preparations for the Commission’s draft 2026-27 budget.

Commissioners asked Commission officials to ensure that the Draft Budget presented in September was as taut as it could possibly be, taking into account the need to ensure the proper profiling of Senedd requirements and the associated budgetary provision for the first year of the Seventh Senedd, whilst taking account of capacity and wellbeing considerations.

They also received further information to inform discussion on options to ensure that the necessary resourcing for the preferred option is built into the draft budget for 2026/27.

Commissioners

a.        noted the progressed position on the negotiations with TUS for Commission staff pay;

b.        considered the further options presented and agreed the desired next steps in the pay negotiations process, being to:

-           move to annual pay negotiations;

-           self-fund the additional 0.5% of the pay award;

-           targeted and tapered uplifts are made at 3.75% to TS to SEO grade, 3.25% to G7 to G6 and 3% to Directors/CEO; and

-           agreed a position on further dialogue with TUS, concluding in August.

Commissioners considered the main assumptions within the draft budget for 2026-27 with financial consequence, and what should be reflected within the budget submission to Finance Committee in October.

Commissioners gave their initial views on the basis on which the detailed Draft 2026/27 budget will be prepared; and confirmed that the working assumptions were appropriate.

The Draft Budget would be prepared for the Commission meeting in September, ahead of being laid.