Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel. View directions

Contact: Clerk of the Remuneration Board 

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(10.30 - 11.30)

1.

Chair's introduction

Minutes:

1.1 The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting.

 

1.2 Dame Jane Roberts declared on an interest for item 3 as she is a member of the governing body of the Institute for Public Policy for Wales.

 

1.3 The Board agreed the minute of the meeting on 23 January 2017 subject to minor amendments.

 

1.4 The Board noted its work programme for the remainder of 2017 and its meeting dates up to March 2018.

 

1.5 The Board considered a Freedom of Information on the Board’s work and agreed it didn’t hold any information in line with the request.

 

1.6 The Board considered the use of volunteers by Assembly Members and agreed with the advice provided to Assembly Members.

 

1.7 The Board agreed to consider the number of regional and constituency offices an Assembly Members can lease at a later date.

 

1.8 The Board considered the process for advising Assembly Member’s on their office lease contracts and agreed to:

·         write to the Assembly Commission to note its concerns on the matter; and

·         review the process during its discussions on the fifth determination.

 

1.9 The Board considered how best to engage with the Llywydd’s Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform given that any of its recommendations that the Assembly Commission wishes to take forward is likely to impact its work. The Board agreed to write to the Chair of the Panel to ensure it has an opportunity to engage at an appropriate opportunity.

 

1.10 In light of the recent announcement by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority regarding Member’s appointing family members the Board agreed to consider this principle at a later date.

 

1.11 The Board agreed to monitor the number of overtime claims submitted by Assembly Member Support Staff to ensure the hours worked provide a work life balance and a duty of care is demonstrated to all staff.

 

1.12 The Board agreed to allow the remaining budget from the security review to be carried over to the next financial year but stressed the urgency for all Assembly Members to undertake the necessary upgrades as a matter of urgency.

 

1.13 The Board agreed to consider its public engagement strategy at its next meeting.

 

 

 

 


(11.30 - 13.00)

2.

Item for decision: Annual review of Determination 2017-18

Minutes:

Assembly Members Support Staff salaries 2017 – 18

2.1 The Board considered the response it had received to the consultation on the proposed increase in AMSS salaries for 2017-18 by 2.1% in line with the provisional 2016 ASHE median earning in Wales.

 

2.2 The Board agreed to increase AMSS salaries for 2017-18 by 2.1%.

 

2.3 The Board noted that Assembly Member’s salary will automatically increase in line with the ASHE median earning in Wales as stated in the determination

 

Action Points:

·         The Secretariat to formally write to Assembly Members and AMSSs confirming the salary increase for Assembly Members and AMSSs. 

·         The Board agreed to consider the other issues raised in the consultation response at a later date.

 

Office costs for 2017-18

2.4 The Board noted that no responses were received to its consultation on the proposed increase in office cost allowance by 1.2% in line with the CPI estimates as at November 2016.

 

2.5 The Board agreed to increase office cost allowances by 1.2% for 2017-18.

 

Action Points:

·         The Secretariat to formally write to Assembly Members and AMSSs confirming the increase in office cost allowance.

 

Residential Accommodation Expenditure

2.6 The Board noted the consultation to increase the residential accommodation expenditure for outer area Members to £775 per month will end on 13 April. The Board agreed a decision on the outcome of the consultation will be taken outside of the Board’s formal meeting.

 

Action Points:

·         The Secretariat to prepare a summary of the responses received  for the Board’s consideration.

 

 

(14.00 - 15.00)

3.

Item for decision: Next steps of the review into identifying barriers and incentives to running for election to the National Assembly for Wales

Minutes:

3.1 Dame Jane Roberts reiterated her declaration of interest. Board members were content there was no conflict of interest and for Jane to participate in this item.

 

3.2 The Chair provided an update to the Board on the tender process. The Board agreed with the next steps for the piece of work including agreeing the successful tender outside of the formal meeting.

 

3.3 The Board commended the research summary provided to them by the National Assembly’s Research Service.

 

Action Points:

·         The Secretariat to work with the successful tender to ensure their proposals and timeframes complements the Board’s forward work programme.

 

 

(15.00 - 16.00)

4.

Item for decision: Next steps of the review of the underpinning principles and effectiveness of the Determination

Minutes:

4.1 The Board considered the draft questionnaire to Assembly Members and AMSSs and agreed to:

·         Minor changes in both questionnaires;

·         To clearly indicate why elements of the determination have been included or omitted from the questionnaires in line with the Board’s wider forward work programme;

·         Pilot the questionnaire with the Assembly Member Representative Group and AMSS Representative Group as a minimum; and

·         Identify innovative ways to encourage both groups to complete the questionnaires.

 

Action Points:

·         The Secretariat to amend the questionnaires accordingly and re-circulate electronically to the Board for review.

·         The Secretariat to issue a pilot of the questionnaire.

·         The Secretariat to issue the final questionnaire’s electronically and in hard copies once agreed.

5.

Papers to note

Minutes:

5.1 The Board noted the Gorwel’s report ‘Has Wales developed a political elite?’.

Any other business

The Board agreed to write to Claire Clancy, the outgoing Chief Executive and Clerk of the Assembly, to thank her on behalf of this Board and previous Boards for the support she has provided during her tenure. The Board also agreed to write to Manon Antoniazzi to welcome her to her new role.