Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Room A - Ty_Hywel
Contact: Lleu Williams
Expected timing | No. | Item |
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(09.00 - 10.00) |
Chair's introduction Minutes: 1.1 The Chair welcomed Board members to
the meeting. 1.2 The Board agreed the minutes of the
meeting on 25 January. 1.3 The Board noted the statement made by
the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee during Plenary on 7 March
regarding its work on developing a dignity and respect policy. The Board agreed
to review the relevant policies in place for support staff once the policies
for Members is agreed to ensure both policies are consistent. 1.4 The Board agreed to review how it
engages with the Representative Groups. 1.5 The Board considered the provisional
meeting dates and draft forward work programme up to July 2020 and agreed to
return to the issue at a future meeting. |
|
(10.00 - 11.00) |
Item for decision: Annual review of the Determination 2018-19 Minutes: Assembly Member support staff
salaries 2018-19 2.1. The Board considered the consultation
responses received on the proposals to increase support staff salaries for
2018-19 by 2.3 per cent in line with the provisional 2017 figures for ASHE
median earnings in Wales. 2.2. In light of the consultation
responses received, the Board agreed to increase support staff salaries for
2018-19 by 2.3 per cent. Office cost allowance for 2018-19 2.3. The Board considered the consultation
responses received on the proposals to: - increase the office cost allowance by
5 per cent in line with the CPI rate for September 2017 and to address the
additional cost demands which Members are expected to fund from their budget; -
offer
an uncapped allowance which will be confined to the criteria which is currently
used to allow Members to implement security recommendations. 2.4. In light of the consultation
responses received, the Board agreed to increase the office cost allowance by 5
per cent for 2018-19 and the new provisions for implementing security
recommendations. Residential Accommodation Expenditure
for 2018-19 2.5. The Board considered the consultation
response on its decision that the current allowance for outer area Members of
£9,200 per annum/£775 per calendar month, the maximum amount for essential
repairs of £882 per annum and the maximum amount of rental costs for Members
with dependents of £120 per month should be maintained. 2.6. The Board agreed to maintain the
provisions within the Determination for this allowance but to consider the issues
raised in the consultation response as part of its review of the Determination
for the Sixth Assembly. Action points: The
Board agreed to consider the other issues raised in the consultation responses
during relevant pieces of work. The
secretariat to: - publish the amended Determination; - formally write to Assembly Members
and support staff confirming the changes to the Determination for 2018-19. |
|
(11.15 - 12.15) |
Item for discussion: The report by the Welsh Governance Centre on the barriers to and incentives for running for election to the Assembly Minutes: 3.1.
The
Board noted, that in light of the recent industrial action and the adverse
weather conditions, representatives from the Wales Governance Centre were
unable to attend the meeting to discuss the report. 3.2.
The
Board considered the report and agreed to invite representatives from the Wales
Governance Centre to its meeting in May to discuss the next steps of the
review. Action
point: The
secretariat to invite representatives from the Wales Governance Centre to its
meeting in May. |
|
(13.15 - 14.15) |
Item for discussion: Reviewing the Board's strategy one year on Minutes: 4.1.
The
Board reviewed its past, current and future work programme against the four
strategic priorities it agreed in its January 2017 report. Action point: The Board to
publish a summary of its discussion in its annual report for 2017-18. |
|
(14.30 - 16.30) |
Item for decision: Review of staffing support for Members: Consideration of evidence received Minutes: 5.1. The Board considered the evidence it had received to date for its review of staffing support for Members. The Board discussed what matters may warrant further consideration and what matters could be addressed sooner. 5.2. The Board agreed to consult on the following issues immediately: -
budgeting
Staffing Allowance at actual pay points; -
publishing
the expenditure each individual Member makes on their Staffing Allowance; -
removing
the 111 hour cap on permanently employed support staff; -
increasing
the flexibility of viring between budgets. 5.3.
The
closing date for the consultation would be Friday 11 May 2018. 5.4.
The
Board agreed to re-consider the other issues raised during the review at its
May meeting. Action
points The secretariat to: -
issue
and promote the consultation; -
prepare
a summary of the responses for the Board’s consideration. |