Meetings

Commissioners noted the changes made to the Commission staff Dignity and Respect policy, following a recent review, as well as the background context leading to the review. The policy will be published on the staff intranet.

Commissioners noted the letter from the Standards of Conduct Committee in response to the Dignity & Respect Survey results. A draft response would be prepared for agreement at a future Commission meeting.

Commissioners were provided with updates on dignity and respect related activity.

Commissioners noted the 2024 Senedd Dignity and Respect survey results; and agreed that the survey report be shared with the Standards of Conduct Committee, the Commissioner for Standards and the Independent Remuneration Board, with an anticipation that the report will be published by the Committee, accompanied by appropriate internal and external communications.

In sharing the report, the Commission expressed concern about the low response rate from Members and their support staff and agreed to highlight this and ask the Committee to consider any further action that might improve this.

Commissioners also noted the progress update on activity undertaken since June 2023; and the implications of the Worker Protection Act (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) 2023 and resulting action plan. They agreed that the new suit of information documents and templates for Members should be accompanied, when launched, by an offer of a senior Commission official to attend group meetings to outline the implications for employers of the Act.

Commissioners received an update on the work that had taken place since the Commission considered a review of the Dignity and Respect framework and agreed a number of recommendations, in June ‘23.

Commissioners noted the progress update on activity undertaken since then and the results of the recent dignity and respect survey of third party building users.

They agreed the actions set out in the report, and that the survey report be shared with the Standards of Conduct Committee, the Commissioner for Standards and the Independent Remuneration Board, with an anticipation that the report will be published by the Committee, accompanied by appropriate internal and external communications.

Commissioners noted the updates on the work of the Standards of Conduct Committee and the Independent Remuneration Board. They agreed to adopt the anonymous data collection and monitoring mechanism for Dignity and Respect issues and noted that there are implications of the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. In particular they stated the importance of MS being aware of their responsibilities as employers.

Commissioners received an update on the work that has since taken place since the Commission considered a review of the Dignity and Respect framework in June 2023, and agreed a number of recommendations, and the findings of the Dignity and Respect surveys recently undertaken of Members, Member support staff and Commission staff.

Commissioners noted the progress update on activity undertaken since June 2023 and the 2023 Senedd Dignity and Respect survey results report. They requested some benchmarking be undertaken and thought that an understanding of good practice from other parliamentary environments would be useful.

Commissioners agreed that the findings of the Dignity and Respect survey be shared with Independent Remuneration Board and the Standards of Conduct Committee, and that the report should be published accompanied by appropriate internal and external communications.

Commissioners considered the findings and recommendations of the report on the outcome of the dignity and respect review.

Commissioners heard about the plans of some groups to mandate participation in dignity and respect training and agreed the value of advocating that the training offered by the Commission be taken up by all Members and their staff without exception.

They suggested that consideration be given to dignity and respect related interaction at employment entry and exit points for staff. They also discussed the significance of providing information about support services available to all those impacted by dignity and respect related issues, and highlighted that it had been useful when information was physically displayed on the estate.

Commissioners agreed the report, its eight recommendations and next steps; in particular:

·       to restate its commitment to supporting and developing a culture of dignity and respect across the Senedd;

·       to invite the Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee to consider the review findings, including that the Senedd should replace the current tri-partite policy with a joint overarching ‘Declaration on Dignity and Respect’;

·       agreeing a draft joint over-arching declaration for consideration by Standards Committee;

·       steps to be undertaken within the Commission with clear responsibilities for leadership and activities; and

·       to advocate to their groups, and independent Members, that the dignity and respect training offered by the Commission is taken up by all Members and their staff without exception.

Commissioners agreed the report would be shared with the Standards of Conduct Committee, who would publish the report as part of their work on this matter, the Standards Commissioner, the Remuneration Board and the Political Contact Group.

Commissioners were provided with information on work started to undertake the year three review of the Senedd Dignity and Respect Policy, in line with the commitment in the policy.

Commissioners agreed that a wider consultation exercise be undertaken early in 2022, seeking views on the current policy and process from Members, Support Staff and Commission Staff.

They also agreed to defer the annual Dignity and Respect survey by 12 months to May/June 2022 once a refreshed policy is agreed.

Commissioners considered the content of the third Senedd Dignity and Respect performance review report, following an online survey undertaken in June 2020. In doing so Commissioners agreed that it would be timely to review the policy as a whole, particularly in readiness for the Sixth Senedd, and alongside the Standards Committee’s work reviewing the Code of Conduct. Commissioners also confirmed their support for the future areas of work contained within the report.

The finalised report will be published.

Commissioners were provided with a update on the recently published Dignity and Respect survey results. They discussed the positive direction of travel and were supportive of the plans to launch a ‘call it out’ campaign, signing up to pledge their personal support. They discussed the importance of giving people at all levels confidence to understand where behaviours are inappropriate.

Commissioners were updated on the progress implementing the recommendations of the Standards of Conduct Committee’s report ‘Creating the Right Culture’.

Commissioners also noted that the next annual Dignity and Respect Survey will be issued to AMs, their staff and Commission staff after the Easter recess.   

Commissioners deliberated how they wished to reply to the Standards Committee on its recommendation for anonymous reporting. They agreed that they wished to return to the matter following the upcoming Dignity and Respect survey.

They also considered the outcome of the mystery shopper exercise conducted at the end of 2018 and noted the information.

Commissioners agreed to respond to the Committee to identify the decision to return to the issue of anonymous reporting, and share the update table and mystery shopper report, with an expectation that this response will be published.

The Standards Committee have published their report relating to issues around dignity and respect. The report makes a number of recommendations to the Commission.

The Commission’s working group on Dignity and Respect had considered the Committee’s recommendations, to inform the Commission’s considerations of them. Commissioners agreed that the recommendations dovetail with the Commission’s intentions to improve accessibility to a range of complaint processes, raise awareness, provide support, monitor incidents and to create a more inclusive culture free from harassment. 

Commissioners agreed a response to the Committee about the recommendations that had been made.

NDM6724 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Approves the National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy.

2. Notes the guidance of the National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy.

National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy

National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy – Accompanying guidance on inappropriate behaviour

The item started at 15.34

In accordance with Standing Order 11.15(ii), voting on the motion under this item was taken at Voting Time.

NDM6724 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Approves the National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy.

2. Notes the guidance of the National Assembly for Wales's Dignity and Respect Policy.

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

Oral item

At the November meeting, Commissioners agreed that this serious issue should be addressed, and received an update on progress to date as well as plans for further work.         

Since the Llywydd, party leaders and Chair of Standards Committee made their statement on 15 November, work has been underway on a Dignity and Respect policy, which will be shared with ‘owners’ shortly in draft form.

The purpose of the draft is to set out the standards of conduct expected from everyone and improve the clarity and accessibility of the reporting routes for complaints against anyone (including contractors).  Following discussion with the Llywydd and Chair of Standards Committee, information on the support available to individuals making a complaint and those who have an allegation against them will be included in the policy.

Complaints pages on the website will also be refreshed so that access to these arrangements is clear to anyone who wishes to use them. A new dedicated freephone number will be available from this week, talking to people and referring them to the relevant complaints route. 

The Standards of Conduct Committee is undertaking a review of the Code of Conduct for Assembly Members. The Remuneration Board is reviewing the AMSS Code of Conduct and considering whether other policies need to be reviewed. The Llywydd had also written to the Standards Commissioner to ask him to review party procedures. Commission staff are working with ACAS (external and non-profit) to provide awareness training for party groups.

The timeline being working to is for significant progress to be made by Christmas, aiming for a Plenary debate in Spring, which would seek the Assembly’s agreement to build the Respect and Dignity policy into the Code of Conduct for Members. Commissioners agreed to consider the draft policy before the next Commission meeting.