Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Introduction
|
1.1 |
Introduction and apologies
Minutes:
No apologies
had been received.
|
1.2 |
Declarations of interest
Minutes:
There were
no declarations of interest.
|
1.3 |
Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes:
The
minutes of the meeting on 23 September were agreed.
There were
two matters of follow up. Commissioners were informed of feedback received in
relation to proposals for taking Assembly business to a location outside
Cardiff, and on proposed changes to the way Members' Office related costs
funded centrally by Commission are managed. The second was discussed further at
Item 6.
|
2. |
Commission budget 2020-21 - Response to Finance Committee report
Minutes:
Commissioners were updated on the progress of the Assembly
Commission Budget for 2020-21 through its scrutiny process. They accepted
adjustments that had been made to provide information about costs relating to
the Standards Commissioner more clearly. They also agreed that further
adjustment should be made to reflect the recent Annual Survey for
Hours and Earnings (ASHE) estimates published by the Office for National
Statistics, and used in the Determination.
Commissioners
noted the timetable for budget activity during November 2019, and agreed their
response to the recommendations raised in the Finance Committee Report and
their Final Budget for 2020-21, subject to the adjustment above being reflected
in both.
|
3. |
Communication and Engagement
|
3.1 |
Approach to awareness raising for Senedd and Elections Bill and 2021 election
Minutes:
Commissioners considered proposals
for a common communication and engagement approach to support three core areas
of activity until May 2021 - Name Change, Votes at 16 and the Welsh General
Election 2021.
Commissioners
supported the approach in general, acknowledging that specifics would be
influenced further by progress of the Bill through stage 3 and 4. They also
discussed the relationship to work that would be done by the Committee on
Assembly Electoral Reform, and that additional work to understand better the key
audiences and their needs would be of benefit.
|
3.2 |
Citizens' Assembly report
Minutes:
Commissioners
received a presentation outlining the process and results of the citizens’
assembly, which had taken place in July.
They
considered the three overarching recommendations that had resulted from the
event: Citizens’
assemblies; Co-creation; and Specialist Platforms, and their relationship to
existing engagement mechanisms provided by the Commission.
Commissioners
agreed to share the report’s findings with committee chairs, who could best
make use of them; and to seek feedback from them and committee members on
appetite for the recommended mechanisms.
They agreed
to
support in principle broadening the engagement mechanisms available, within the
context of ensuring clarity about their purpose and that there would be
cost and timing implications if the Assembly wishes the Commission to take
forward the recommendations.
Commissioners also agreed to share the report with Business Committee for
information and to feedback to participants in the Citizens’ Assembly, in due
course.
|
4. |
Assembly Reform - Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill update
Minutes:
Commissioners
were brought up to date with several matters relating to the Senedd and
Elections (Wales) Bill, following Stage 2 proceedings and ahead of Stage 3. They
discussed amendments to the timing of the franchise change for 16/17 year olds,
and issues around disqualification for dual mandates, in pursuance of clarity
recommended by the CLA committee of the Fourth Assembly.
Commissioners discussed the nuances of the
amending process, and that the Bill now covered matters which were not within
the Commission’s original design of the Bill due to amendments agreed at Stage
2.
The Llywydd will reflect the discussion in
the Stage 3 debate.
Commissioners
noted the letter sent by the Llywydd to party leaders, Business Managers,
Commissioners, Members who tabled amendments.
|
5. |
Brexit update
Minutes:
Commissioners noted that preparations for various scenarios
relating to Brexit on both the business and the corporate services side of
Commission activity were continuing.
|
6. |
Remuneration Board review of Determination
Minutes:
Commissioners
considered two issues which had been highlighted for their attention by the
Chair of the Remuneration Board in relation to the Board’s consultation arising
from its Review of the Determination for the Sixth Assembly.
Commissioners
noted the letter from the Remuneration Board and agreed that the Llywydd should
respond confirming they would consider Outplacement services as part of the
planning for the 2021 election; and supporting in principle the Remuneration
Board’s proposed approach to clarifying support for Members with disabilities
within the Determination. In doing this, Commissioners wished to highlight the
full scope of the Commission’s Equalities and Access Fund.
In
returning to the matter of Members' Office related costs funded centrally by
Commission, Commissioners noted feedback from groups and agreed to take forward
the proposals considered at their September meeting:
• that
the Remuneration Board be consulted about encompassing the Lyreco stationery
provision/costs within the Determination in future;
• that
the provision of pre-paid stationery, postage & bulk mailing and printing
be retained by the Assembly Commission; that monitoring continue and routine
publication of costs identifiable to individual Members be published from May
2021, to improve transparency; and
• pursuing
alternative approaches to some services, to reduce cost and provide value for
money.
An update
would be provided to the Remuneration Board.
|
7. |
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) for Members
Minutes:
Commissioners
agreed to invite the Remuneration Board to consider the matter of appropriate
provision of Employment Practices Liability Insurance for Assembly Members.
|
8. |
Papers to note:
|
8.1 |
EB update (RAD decisions grid)
Minutes:
Commissioners
noted the routine update of recent RAD decisions by Executive Board.
|
8.2 |
AM Pension scheme - statement of investment principles
Minutes:
Commissioners
noted the changes to the Statement of Investment Principles (SIP) made by the
AM Pension Board, in line with new disclosure requirements.
|
9. |
Any other business
Minutes:
·
The Llywydd informed Commissioners that
they would be provided with information relating to the report of the
Commission on Justice in Wales in due course.
·
Commissioners
were informed that a recent appeal in relation to an employment tribunal had
been dismissed.
The date of
the next meeting is to be confirmed.</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION><TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>
|