Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Room 4B - Tŷ Hywel. View directions
Contact: Clerk of the Remuneration Board
Expected timing | No. | Item |
---|---|---|
(8:45 - 9.00) |
Chair's Introduction •
Declarations of interest Minutes: 1.1 The Chair welcomed
Board members to the meeting. 1.2 Apologies had been
received from Stuart Castledine. 1.3 Subject to minor
amendments, the Board agreed the minutes of the meeting on 12 December 2014. 1.4 Mary Carter updated the
Board on the meeting with HM Treasury to discuss the AM pension scheme. The
Board agreed to write to the Trustees requesting that GAD be engaged to provide
costs relating to strict compliance with PSPA over and above the board’s
preferred “light touch” approach. |
|
(09:00-09:30) |
Determination for the fifth year of the Fourth Assembly: Consultation 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. |
|
(9:30 – 10:30) |
AM Allowances: Consider responses to consultation Minutes: 3.1 The Board considered
the summary of responses to the consultation on AM Allowances, in particular
they noted the low number of responses. 3.2 Residential
Accommodation: The Board emphasised that flexibility should be applied to
managing business cases for residential accommodation, but that the zones were
helpful in establishing a default position, and expectations. The Board agreed
that guidelines should be provided to Assembly Members clearly stating the
default position and when they would be required to make a business case for an
exception/accommodation support for the Board’s consideration. 3.3 Provision for carers:
The Board considered evidence that AMs and Support staff were being required to
work later in to the evenings. The Board did not want to provide incentives
which might encourage more frequent later working. 3.4 Assembly Member and
AMSS travel: The Board agreed that Assembly Members should continue to follow
rules on travel costs set out by HMRC. The Board agreed that a move to extend
the current 10,000 mile annual limit would not be in line with HMRC rules and
could not be justified. 3.5 Office costs and
virement of funds between budgets: The Board noted that there was broad support
for the proposal in the consultation document. The Board noted that two
responses had suggested allowing viring in the other direction – from office
costs allowances into staffing allowance – as well. After further consideration,
the Board agreed to stick with its proposal. Any requests to vire from the
office costs allowances should be directed to Members’ Business Support in the
first instance. The Board agreed that there should be flexibility where it is
deemed appropriate by the Board and it should not happen automatically. 3.6 Members leaving
office: The Board considered the only response, which had been sent by the
Welsh Liberal Democrat Group. The Board agreed that its proposal should stand
and be included in the consultation on the draft Determination for the Fifth
Assembly. 3.7 Equality Impact
Assessment and other issues: The Board agreed a clear message should be given
to Assembly Members that whilst MBS ensures HMRC tax rules are adhered to, they
are not responsible for setting (or negotiating) these rules. Action
point: ·
Members
leaving office: Members’ Business Support to conduct research on the costs and
what service would be available via an externally provided outplacement
service. |
|
(10:45 – 12:30) |
Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Remaining issues for inclusion in Determination and the Equality Impact Assessment report 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:
|
|
(13:15 – 14:30) |
Determination for the Fifth Assembly: Group Support 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:
|
|
(14:30 – 16:30) |
Assembly Member salaries: Consider responses to consultation Minutes: 6.1
The Board considered all responses to the consultation on AM Salaries for the
Fifth Assembly. 6.2
The Board discussed the responses and agreed to finalise its deliberations at
the meeting on 20 February. 6.3
The Board agreed to publish all responses to the consultation in March, in parallel
with the consultation on the draft Determination for the Fifth Assembly. |