Agenda item

Item for discussion and decision: Annual Review of the Determination (13.00 - 15.15)

·         Annual Review of the Determination: Approach and consultation – Paper 6

·         Annual Review of the Determination: Residential Accommodation Expenditure – Paper 7

·         Annual Review of the Determination: Members’ remuneration, staffing support for Members and support for political parties – Paper 8

·         Annual Review of the Determination: Office and Constituent Liaison Fund – Paper 9

·         Miscellaneous amendments to the Determination – Paper 10

 

Minutes:

Paper 6 – Approach and consultation;

Paper 7 – Residential Accommodation Expenditure;

Paper 8 – Members Remuneration, staffing support and support for political parties;

Paper 9 – Office and Constituent Liaison Fund;

Paper 10 – Miscellaneous amendments to the Determination;

1.1        The Board considered a number of issues related to its Determination for the next financial year (2022-23).

1.2        In relation the Residential Accommodation Expenditure the Board agreed to consult on the following proposals:

-      For “outer area” Members, an uprate in the allowance in accordance with the September 2021 CPI rate (3.1 per cent);

-      For the “carer’s allowance”, an uprate in accordance with the September 2021 CPI rate (3.1 per cent);

-      For the “essential repairs” allowance, to maintain it at its 2021-2022 level;

-      For “intermediate area” Members, an uprate in the allowance in accordance with the September 2021 CPI rate (3.1 per cent);

-      To increase the maximum nightly amount that may be claimed for hotel accommodation by 3.1 per cent, in line with the September 2021 CPI rate.

1.3        In relation to Members’ salaries, the Board noted the latest ASHE figure for Wales, published on 26 October 2021, of 0.4 per cent. The Board further noted that this would result in a 0.4 per cent increase being applied to Members’ and office holders’ salaries for 2022-23, in accordance with the annual indexation mechanism outlined in section 3.2 of the Determination.

1.4        In relation to support staff salaries, the Board agreed that the need to maintain a consistent approach to determining allowances, coupled with the volatility in the relevant indices that exists, makes the continued application of the annual indexation mechanism (including its provision for a minimum and maximum adjustment) appropriate. On that basis, the Board noted that a 0.4 per cent increase (ASHE) will apply to support staff salaries for 2022-23, in accordance with the annual indexation mechanism outlined in sections 7.3 and 8.4 of the Determination.

1.5        In relation to the Support for Political Party Allowance, the Board agreed that it should consult using the same methodology as used in 2021-22 for increasing the total value of the allowance, so that: the proportion of the total amount that is spent on salaries (86.3* per cent of the total allowance) is increased by the ASHE index of 0.4 per cent; and the remainder of the allowance (13.7* per cent) is adjusted by the September 2021 CPI rate of 3.1 per cent, meaning an increase in the total value of the Allowance for 2022-23 of 0.77* per cent.

[*Figures used in the papers considered by the Board were corrected in written correspondence from the Clerk on 17 December 2021 and agreed by the Board via email]

1.6        Reviewing the Office and Constituent Liaison Fund, the Board agreed to consult on a proposal to uprate the Fund by the September 2021 CPI rate (3.1 per cent). The Board further agreed to re-visiting this rate before the Determination for 2022- 23 is finalised and published, in order to take account of the external research it intends to commission about market conditions for office premises in Wales, and to consider whether further adjustments are required in response to utility and energy costs.

1.7        As part of the consultation process, the Board also agreed to seek views on the potential for moving the Policy, Research and Communications Fund into the Office and Constituent Liaison Find and what impact this could have on Members. The Board agreed to give further consideration to this matter at a future meeting and in light of responses received.

1.8        The Board agreed that, for the purpose of transparency, it would publish plans in relation to the following two matters in its consultation document for the purpose of the public record, but that consultation was not appropriate:

-      for partner and children’s travel, to remove the requirement in the third bullet point of paragraph 5.18.3 of the Determination for a Member to nominate in writing a person living with them as their spouse or civil partner, to avoid any concern relating to discrimination in this context following the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Brewster case;

-      for typographical errors and points of linguistic clarification that have been identified but do not impact the context, meaning or interpretation of the Determination (e.g. incorrect cross references), to correct these errors in the revised Determination for 2022-23 and to publish a list of these changes.

1.9        The Board considered a number of pieces of additional correspondence from political parties and the Senedd Commission relating to a number of issues. The Board considered these matters as part of its consultation proposals on the annual review of the Determination where relevant, and agreed to give further consideration to certain matters at its next meeting (January 2022). The Board agreed to respond in writing to each letter.

1.10     The Board noted correspondence relating to the proposed Co-operation Agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru and agreed to consider any impact in relation to areas within the Board’s remit at a future meeting, as necessary. 

1.11     The Board agreed its approach to the consultation and to allow the usual six week consultation period.