Agenda and minutes

Paper 1 – Minutes from 4 July meeting

§    The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

§    The Chair noted recent staffing changes within the secretariat and wider team and shared reflections from her meeting with the Chief Executive.

Decision:

§    The Board agreed the minutes of the meeting on 4 July 2024.

Action:

§    Secretariat to publish the minutes for the meeting held on 4 July 2024.

§    Secretariat to arrange for Simon Hart, Interim Head of Finance, to attend an upcoming Board meeting or to meet with the Chair separately.

Paper 2.1 (PowerPoint) – Approach to Viring in the Determination for the Seventh Senedd

Paper 2.2– Direct support for Members from Commission

§    The Board discussed the approach to virement in the Determination for the Seventh Senedd, considering the current arrangements in place and the approach of other UK Parliaments.

§    The Board also considered the response from the Commission regarding direct support for Members from the Commission. The Board found the response very informative and highlighted the breadth and depth of support provided by the Commission to Members.

Decision:

§    The Board discussed virement within the Determination and possible areas for consideration in its Autumn consultation. The Board agreed to receive further information and consider its approach at a future meeting .

Paper 3 (PowerPoint) – Policy proposals for consideration

§    The Board considered and discussed models for a revised approach to providing Support for Political Parties for the Seventh Senedd, following its recent thematic review work, and its approach for the upcoming autumn consultation.

Decision

§    The Board agreed its key policy proposals for consultation in the autumn.

Paper 4 (PowerPoint) – Revised RAE Proposals (informed by Boundary Commission draft proposals)

§    The Board considered different options and reflected on the Democracy and Boundary Commission’s recent publication of initial proposal for constituencies for the Seventh Senedd.

Decision:

§    The Board agreed its key policy proposals for consultation in the autumn.

Paper 5 – Final consideration for OCLF policy proposals

§    The Board considered policy proposals for the Office and Constituency Liaison Fund (OCLF) and whether any changes were required for the Seventh Senedd.

Decision:

§    The Board agreed its key policy proposals for consultation in the autumn.

§    The Board agreed that Hugh Widdis would act as Board lead for the remainder of this thematic review, following the resignation of Sir David Hanson in July.

Paper 6 – Outline of approach for consultation, including draft consultation chapter on OCLF.

§    The Board considered the proposed approach to the autumn consultation on proposals for the Seventh Senedd. The Board will sign off the consultation in its meeting on 17 October.

Decision:

§    The Board agreed on its proposals for the autumn consultation, focusing on the Office and Constituent Liaison Fund, Support for Political Parties and Residential Accommodation Expenditure.

Paper 7 – Covering paper and advice from legal

§    The Board considered legal advice regarding Members’  employment of family members.

Decision:

§    The Board agreed to receive further advice on this matter.

Paper 8 – Update paper (including Budget report update from Finance and quarterly review of Board budget)

§    The Board noted updates on various matters relevant to its work and its forward work programme.

§    The Board asked for an update on the recruitment for new Board members and requested a copy of the skills matrix.

Action:

§    Secretariat to arrange the current Board’s final meeting on 11 September 2025.