Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

There were no declarations of interest.

Commissioners were updated on the Commission’s 2022-23 financial position. It highlighted that a supplementary budget decreasing the overall net cash requirement by £0.975 million was recommended. The primary drivers for this supplementary budget were:

·       The reversal in the increase to employer National Insurance Contributions;

·       A reduction in the provision for accrued annual leave;

·       A forecast underspend in the budgets earmarked for i) the Remuneration Board’s Determination, ii) support for the Remuneration Board and iii) support for the office of the Standards Commissioner; and

·       The implementation of the new accounting standard IFRS 16 – Leases.

Commissioners agreed to note and approve the Explanatory Memorandum, in relation to the 2nd Supplementary Budget for 2022-23, to be submitted for inclusion in the Welsh Government’s February 2023 budget motion. This would decrease the 2022-23 laid First Supplementary Budget by £1.075 million, a decrease of £0.975 million in the net cash requirement.

They also approved the letter to the Chair of the Finance Committee to accompany the proposed Supplementary Budget.

Commissioners discussed a proposal to support the lowest-paid Commision employees with a Cost of Living payment, and the reason for the conclusions reached by the Executive Board. The Commission agreed to:

·       support Executive Board’s decision to make a payment of £500 to each Commission employee whose salary is at TS and M3 (EO) grades (staff below full time equivalent £32,000);

·       support Executive Board’s decision to make a full payment to all eligible staff including part time staff on the basis of its EQIA;

·       note the Executive Board’s intention to make this payment in three smaller payments, January to March; and

support Executive Board’s decision not to make this payment to the staff of contractors, and support instead a decision to write to contracted bodies encouraging similar arrangements.

Commissioners sought assurances about safety at the entrances to the estate following an issue with one of the glass panels. They were informed that  temporary repairs had been completed and that both a specialist contractor and our facilities management contractor had assessed the situation before the entrance was reopened. Additional associated actions relating to the safety of the entrance would be undertaken in the coming weeks.