Meetings

The Determination for the Fifth Assembly

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

Meeting: 28/01/2016 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 6)

Policy, Research and Communications Fund: Consideration of draft guidance for Assembly Members

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 2

Minutes:

6.1        The Board discussed the draft guidance on the Policy, Research and Communications Fund, which would come into effect from the start of the Fifth Assembly.

6.2        The Board noted that, when the former Board came to consider the use of the Fund as part of its review of the Determination for the Fifth Assembly, it agreed on two principal changes:

·         that the level of funding available to each Member would be increased from £2,000 per annum to £2,500 per annum; and  

·         that the fund be expanded to permit Members to engage with their constituents, hence the change of the title from ‘Policy & Research Fund’ to the ‘Policy, Research & Communications Fund’

6.3        The Board noted that the Commissioner for Standards had been consulted on the draft rules and guidance and his feedback had been incorporated into the latest draft of the guidance.

 

6.4        The latest draft includes points to note:

·         the communications element is not available to political parties; there will be a moratorium on the use of the fund from January in the year of a National Assembly for Wales election until that election.

 

6.5        The Board agreed that there should be an explicit prohibition on Members being able to award contracts to family members through the fund.

 

6.6        The Board noted there will be a formal review period after 12 months to ensure that the Fund is being used appropriately and achieving its aims.

 

6.7        Members’ Business Support agreed to provide information on all applications during this period.

 


Meeting: 24/04/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 4)

Draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Responses to consultation

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 5
  • Restricted enclosure 6
  • Restricted enclosure 7

Minutes:

4.1        The Board considered the responses on the Draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly Including a letter from the Chair of the Petitions Committee. The Chair stated that he had replied to each of the respondents.

4.2        The Board considered the Draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly and the accompanying report and agreed its final position, taking account of decisions reached earlier in the meeting.

4.3        The Board considered the Equality Impact Assessment as part of the Report. It noted that Diverse Cymru had appointed a new Chief Executive and agreed that the Chair should write to congratulate him and give him the opportunity to make any final comments Equality Impact Assessment.

4.4        The Board agreed to consider new passages containing the new decisions, and any other amendments to the Draft Determination and the accompanying report via email.

4.5        The Board agreed its approach to publishing and communicating the Determination and Report on 22 May.

 

 

Action points:

·         Write to the new Chief Executive of Diverse Cymru

·         Write to Chair of the Petitions Committee regarding the petition on the Board’s proposals for Assembly Members’ salaries in the Fifth Assembly (Ref: P-04-613).

 


Meeting: 24/04/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

Group Support: Responses to consultation

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 10

Minutes:

2.1 The Board considered all responses to the consultation on the Group Funding.

2.2 The Board agreed a revised model for Group Funding in the Fifth Assembly, details of which would be published with the final Determination for the Fifth Assembly on 22 May 2015.

2.3 The Board agreed that the rationale of the Board’s decision on Group Funding should be included in the report on the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 


Meeting: 20/02/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 5)

Determination for Fifth Assembly: Group Support

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 13

Minutes:

3.1 The Board considered a paper on Group Support for the Fifth Assembly, which outlined the current system of financial support for political groups and sought the Board’s decision to include in the consultation on the Determination.

3.2 The Board discussed feedback received from Party Groups, which had been gathered through informal discussions with the Chair and the Clerk.

3.3 The Board agreed to consider further models for Group Support before agreeing a proposal for inclusion in the Draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

Action points:

·         Monojit to provide a variety of different models for Group Support by Monday 23 February.

 


Meeting: 20/02/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 7)

Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Consideration of Determination for consultation

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 16
  • Restricted enclosure 17
  • Restricted enclosure 18

Minutes:

6.1 The Board noted progress in preparing the Draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly and the accompanying report, pending the decisions reached earlier in the meeting.

6.2 The Board agreed to consider new passages containing the new decisions, and any other amendments to the Draft Determination and the accompanying report via email.

 

Action point:

·         The Secretariat to complete and amend the draft Determination and accompanying report accordingly and circulate the Board for comment.

 

6.3        The Board noted the draft Communications Plan for the consultation on the Determination for the Fifth Assembly, and discussed the key messages it wished to convey.

 


Meeting: 16/01/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 4)

Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Remaining issues for inclusion in Determination and the Equality Impact Assessment report

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 21
  • Restricted enclosure 22

Minutes:

4.1 The Chair invited Charles Willie and Adele Goodwin from Diverse Cymru to the meeting.

 

4.2 The Chair thanked Diverse Cymru for awarding the Board runner up in the ‘Excellence in Equality – public sector’ category.

 

4.3 The Board considered in discussion with Diverse Cymru, a paper on the overview of the Determination for the Fifth Assembly and a ‘work-in-progress’ Equality Impact Assessment report.

 

4.4 The Board noted that the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment report would be mainstreamed throughout the Determination and the follow-up to ‘Fit for Purpose’.

 

4.5 The Board discussed issues for inclusion in the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

 

Action points:

  • MBS to provide more data on the numbers of Assembly Members Support Staff attending party political conferences and the benefits of them attending the conferences.

 


Meeting: 16/01/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 5)

Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Group Support

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 25

Minutes:

5.1 The Board considered a paper on Group Support for the Fifth Assembly.

 

5.2 The Board agreed that it should make a decision which ensures that all groups have sufficient support to effectively operate in the Assembly.

 

5.3 The Board agreed to state that it is considering the issue and will run an informal consultation shortly.

 

Action points:

  • The Secretariat to arrange informal drop-in sessions with parties before the meeting on 20 February to receive soundings on initial thoughts.

 


Meeting: 16/01/2015 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

Determination for the fifth year of the Fourth Assembly: Consultation

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 28

Minutes:

2.1 The Board noted and discussed the paper setting out the changes to the Determination for the final year of the Fourth Assembly.

2.2 The Board discussed the proposal to increase AMs office costs allowances by 25% by viring funds from their staffing costs allowance.

2.3 The Board emphasised that viring should not be permitted in the other direction – from office costs to staffing allowance costs.

 

Action point:

·         Consult on the proposed changes to the Determination for fifth year of Fourth Assembly via the letter to Assembly Members & AMSS.

 


Meeting: 12/12/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 4)

Determination for Fifth Assembly: Group Support

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 31

Minutes:

4.1 The Board noted the paper highlighting the current system of financial support for political groups.

4.2 The Board looked in greater detail at the support available to groups, focusing on the principles of why the board offers support to groups.

4.3 The Board agreed there were two fundamental aspects of the support for groups:

  • to enable and encourage effective scrutiny of the government;
  • to ensure that groups have sufficient administrative support to operate in a co-ordinated and efficient manner.

4.4 The Board will consider this matter further at its next meeting and consult in the spring term.

 


Meeting: 28/11/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 4)

Determination: Equality Assessment Group on proposals for Assembly Member Pension Arrangements, Allowances and Support

• Comments from Diverse Cymru Equality Assessment Group on proposals for AM Pensions, AM Allowances and AM Support – Paper 5

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 34

Minutes:

4.1 The Board noted the paper provided by Diverse Cymru, which highlighted their observations on consultations on AM pensions, AM Allowances and level of support available to AMs.

4.2 The Board agreed its considerations on pension arrangements, allowances and support for Assembly Members to feed into the final Equality Impact Assessment for the Determination.

 


Meeting: 16/10/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 5)

Assembly Member staffing and Assembly Members Support Staff pay

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 37

Minutes:

Senior Advisor

5.1 After careful consideration of the responses to the consultation, the Board agreed that it would proceed with its proposal to introduce a Senior Advisor role into the staffing structure.

Policy and Research Fund

5.2 The Board agreed that provison for the Policy and Research Fund was critical for engagement purposes.

5.3 The Board agreed that they would use the first year of the PRF as a pilot, with the possibility of increasing the fund after reviewing the first year.

Apprentice scheme

 

5.4 The Board agreed to discuss practical points of proceeding with the Apprenticeships Scheme with the Assembly Commission.

Level of support for political groups

5.5 The Board agreed to consider the level of support for political groups at a later date.

Pensions and Death in Service benefit

5.6 The Board agreed that this benefit would be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity rather than wait for the Fifth Assembly.

AMSS Salaries

5.7 The Board agreed that it would make proposals on AMSS pay following careful consideration of the responses to proposals for AM salaries. Proposals for AMSS pay could be included in a consultation on the total remuneration package.

Redundancy arrangements

5.8 It was noted that AMSS indicated that they would prefer double statutory redundancy payments, as offered by IPSA in Westminster, and that this should replace the current 1.5* statutory redundancy offered to Support Staff in the Assembly.

 

5.9 The Board agreed that a period of notice 1.5* statutory is sufficient. However, the Board acknowledged that where support staff lose a job as a result of their Member suffering an election defeat – for example – redundancy can come out of the blue. The Board acknowledged that this can be a traumatic experience. Consequently the Board agreed to propose to pay 2*statutory for those AMSS who lose their jobs in this way. The Board agreed that this would be introduced in advance of the forthcoming election in May 2016 so support staff whose Member is defeated would receive payment at the higher level.

 

Support staff standard contract and notice period

5.10 The Board agreed that extending the initial longer notice period for employee and employer to one month would be beneficial.

5.11 The Board agreed that there should be a review of the handbook and code of conduct prior to the beginning of the Fifth Assembly.

 

Action: Secretariat to arrange an AMSS Representative Group meeting in early November.

 


Meeting: 19/06/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

AMSS - Staffing Expenditure Allowance

·        AMSS Expenditure Allowance – Paper 6

·        AMSS Redundancy Pay, Pension Provision and Death in Service – Paper 7

·        AMSS Continuous Service – Paper 8

·        AMSS standard contract of employment – Paper 9

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 40
  • Restricted enclosure 41
  • Restricted enclosure 42
  • Restricted enclosure 43

Minutes:

AMSS – Staffing Expenditure Allowance

Discussion:

2.1        The Board considered papers on AMSS – Staffing Expenditure Allowance AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service, AMSS Continuous Service, and AMSS standard contract of employment, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.2        The Board agreed that Assembly Members should be given the right resources to enable them to do their job effectively and efficiently.

Decision:

2.3        The Board agreed to consult Assembly Members and Assembly Member Support Staff on the following proposals:

·         To introduce the role of Senior Adviser;

·         The introduction of an apprenticeship scheme;

·         Review the use of the policy and research fund, and the support for groups;

·         Support for political groups;

·         The introduction of a death in service benefit for AMSS

 

2.4        The Board agreed to maintain their policy to prevent any difference between actual spending and maximum permitted staffing allowance to be used, in year, to fund additional staffing support.

2.5        The Board agreed to maintain the 111 hours cap on permanently employed staff.

2.6        On the Policy Research Fund, the Board agreed to consult on proposals to increase the size of the fund and for Members to indicate what size they feel would be most helpful. The Board also proposed to broaden the Policy Research Fund to cover the cost of materials and activities that would support Members’ capacity to engage with the public – Members would need to demonstrate accountability with the Fund and it would need to be carefully monitored to ensure that it is not being used for campaigning or explicitly for party political purposes.

2.7        The Board agreed to invite the Standards Commissioner to share his views on the proposals for the Policy Research Fund.

2.8        The Board agreed that, before reaching any conclusions on funding support to political groups in the Fifth Assembly, it would seek Members’ views on the current approach. The Board agreed to give consideration to the potential impact of different party dynamics at the next Assembly when reviewing the final Determination.

2.9        The Board agreed that the policy on the overlapping of pay bands for AMSS should remain.

2.10     The Board stated that the consultation should make reference to the additional support required of an AMSS who supports an office holding AM.

AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service

 

Discussion:

2.11     The Board considered a paper on AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.12     The Board agreed that the main core of the pension arrangements for AMSS should not change. However, it felt that Assembly Members and AMSS should be consulted on proposals to change the Death in Service provision in the scheme.

2.13     After comparing the Assembly’s redundancy arrangements with those of other Legislatures, the Board concluded that the existing arrangements were sufficient and more generous than Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

 

Decision:

2.14     The Board agreed to consult Assembly Members and Assembly Member Support Staff on proposals to introduce a Death  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2


Meeting: 21/03/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

Possible changes to transitional provisions - resettlement grant post 2016, mortgaged properties

Minutes:

2.4     The Board considered submissions from AMs and agreed to increase the maximum reimbursement for residential accommodation for those Members living in the Outer Area from £700 to £735pcm. Office costs will rise in line with the OBR’s forecast of CPI (1.9 per cent).

2.5     The Board agreed to remove the resettlement grant for Members elected prior to 2011who elect to stand down in two stages.


Meeting: 21/03/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 6)

Equality Impact Assessment

·         Charles Willie, Chief Executive, Diverse Cymru

Minutes:

6.1     The Board welcomed Charles Willie, Director of Diverse Cymru.

 

6.2     The Board agreed that an Equality Impact Assessment should be conducted for the full Determination package for the fifth Assembly and it looked forward to reviewing the contribution made by Diverse Cymru.

 

Action:

 

·         Secretariat to write to all Assembly members updating them on the issues discussed and decisions made by the Board at this meeting and requesting a response to issues raised in the note.


Meeting: 20/03/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 1)

Building a Strategic approach to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Chatham House discussion sessions

Assembly Commission (9:00 – 9:45)

Sandy Mewies AM, Assembly Commissioner

Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, Assembly Commissioner

 

Party Leaders

Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader, Welsh Conservatives (9:45 – 10:30)

Leanne Wood AM, Leader, Plaid Cymru (10:30– 11:15)

 

Break

 

Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer (11:30 – 12:30)

Dame Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer, National Assembly for Wales

David Melding AM, Deputy Presiding Officer, National Assembly for Wales

 

Lunch

 

Independent expert advice on whole Determination (13:30 – 14:30)

Professor Laura McAllister, Liverpool University

Professor Richard Wyn Jones, Wales Governance Centre

 

Chief Executive (14:30 – 15:00)

Claire Clancy, Chief Executive, National Assembly for Wales

 

Break

Minutes:

Assembly Commissioners

 

1.1     The Chair welcomed Sandy Mewies and Rhodri Glyn Thomas to the meeting.

 

1.2     The Board discussed issues relating to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

Party Leaders

 

1.3     The Chair welcomed Andrew RT Davies to the meeting.

 

1.4     The Chair welcomed Leanne Wood to the meeting.

 

1.5     The Board discussed issues relating to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer

 

1.6     The Chair welcomed Dame Rosemary Butler and David Melding to the meeting.

 

1.7     The Board discussed issues relating to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

External advice

 

1.8     The Chair welcomed Laura McAllister and Professor Richard Wyn Jones to the meeting.

 

1.9     The Board discussed issues relating to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

Chief Executive of the National Assembly for Wales

 

1.10   The Chair welcomed Claire Clancy, Chief Executive of the National Assembly for Wales, to the meeting.

 

1.11   The Board discussed issues relating to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.


Meeting: 20/03/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

Strategic approach to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly - Conclusions and actions

·         Review the meeting with Party Leaders; the Presiding Officer; the Deputy Presiding Officer; Assembly Commissioners and the Chief Executive and agree a way forward – Paper 1

·         Discussion on the implications of Silk Commission 2 – Paper 2

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 52
  • Restricted enclosure 53

Minutes:

2.1     The Board considered the issues raised during the meeting and discussed its strategic approach to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly.

 

2.2     The Board agreed its strategic approach to the Determination for the Fifth Assembly, including how and when it would consult stakeholders.


Meeting: 31/01/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 2)

Possible changes to transitional provisions

·         Resettlement grant, mortgaged properties (oral item)

Minutes:

2.11   The Board discussed the transitional provisions for Assembly Members elected prior to 2011, including resettlement Grants and mortgaged properties.

 

2.12   The Board agreed to consider transitional provisions including the resettlement grant and mortgaged properties throughout its review of the full Determination.


Meeting: 31/01/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 5)

Equality Impact Assessment

·         Equality Impact Assessment - Paper 5a

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 58

Minutes:

5.1     The Board considered a paper setting out options for conducting an Equality Impact Assessment, which had been provided by Holly Pembridge and Hannah Johnson.

 

5.2     The Board agreed that an Equality Impact Assessment should be conducted for the full Determination package for the fifth Assembly.

 

5.3     The Board also agreed that the Equality Impact Assessment should be conducted by Assembly Commission staff. However, it agreed that an external body should be commissioned to review the Equality Impact Assessment and provide advice.


Meeting: 31/01/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 3)

Pay & Determination for the Fifth Assembly


Meeting: 31/01/2014 - Remuneration Board (2010 - 2020) (Item 3)

The Determination for the Fifth Assembly

·         Consideration of the fundamental approach to remuneration and allowances after the next election – Paper 3a

Supporting documents:

  • Restricted enclosure 63

Minutes:

3.1     The Board considered a paper prepared by the Members’ Business Support on the Determination for Assembly Members for the fifth Assembly and discussed its strategic approach.

 

3.2     The Board agreed to invite key stakeholders, including party leaders, to its meeting on 20 March to take evidence on aspects of the current determination and the development of the Determination for the fifth Assembly.