Meetings

Oral item

Manon Antoniazzi updated Management Board on the outcomes from the Commission away day that took place on 12 September where Commissioners discussed, among other things, their priorities and approach to the budget strategy. The Board were informed that Commissioners had agreed to continue with the budget strategy outlined this time last year, subject to further discussion and sign-off at the 25 September Commission meeting.

In discussing the budget strategy, Commissioners wished to have a clearer understanding of current staffing numbers. The Llywydd had asked Manon to carry out a capacity review between now and the end of the year, to ensure that the Assembly is able to continue to support the Commission’s priorities in the face of increasing external pressures.

The review would also assist Commissioners with understanding how resources are currently allocated within the organisation and evaluate whether this provides the most effective and efficient deployment of resources to deliver the Commission’s objectives for the Fifth Assembly and beyond.

Manon indicated that the delivery of the review would be led by the Business Analysts team, with support from colleagues within HR, STS and the Trade Unions. Emerging recommendations would be periodically discussed at Management Board, where all services are represented.

The review would be short and focussed, with an intention that any recommendations be put to the Commission by the end of the year.

The Management Board considered the staffing and resource pressures that the organisation was currently facing, including constitutional changes, the impact of Brexit, strategic priorities and goals. The Board discussed the list of identified resources in detail and challenged the arguments for each one.

ACTIONS:

·                Heads to reconcile the Directorate summaries with the resources list to show what is accounted for in budgets already, and update the list ahead of the Investment and Resources Board discussion on 17 August.

·                Heads to provide a ‘needs’ list to HR, outlining how a proposed partnership arrangement with the Northern Ireland Assembly might work in relation to projects or specific tasks in their areas.

·                Manon Antoniazzi to prepare terms of reference for the staff review to reflect the discussion and circulate to Management Board for input.

·                Non Gwilym to prepare a plan for communication with staff and Assembly Members in September.