Agenda and minutes

1.1        The Chair welcomed Members to the first meeting of the Llywydd’s Committee.

1.2        There were no apologies or declarations of interest.

1.3        Standing Orders do not enable the Llywydd’s Committee to elect a temporary Chair, therefore the Committee agreed that, should the Chair experience technical difficulties during the meeting, Llyr Gruffydd would lead discussions in her absence.

Paper 1 – Financial Estimate of the Electoral Commission

Paper 1, Annex A – Financial Estimate of the Electoral Commission

Paper 2 – Electoral Commission five-year plan

Paper 3 – Advice from the Welsh Ministers on the Electoral Commission’s financial estimates and five year plan

Paper 4 – Report from The Comptroller and Auditor General on the Electoral Commission’s estimates 21/22

Paper 5 – Additional information from the Electoral Commission

Dame Elan Closs Stephens CBE – Electoral Commissioner, Wales

Bob Posner – Chief Executive, Electoral Commission

Kieran Rix – Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Electoral Commission

Rhydian Thomas – Head of Electoral Commission, Wales, Electoral Commission

2.1        The Chair welcomed the Electoral Commission to the meeting and thanked them for submitting their financial estimate for the financial year 2021-22 and five-year plan on 1 October.

2.2        The Committee scrutinised the Electoral Commission on their financial estimate for 2021-22 and their five-year Corporate plan.

2.3        The Committee noted the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with paragraph 16C(2)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

2.4        The Committee noted the letter from the First Minister on the estimate and plan as part of the consultation required under paragraph 16A(8)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Action:

-       The Electoral Commission agreed to provide further evidence on their rationale for including depreciation in the estimate.

3.1 The motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting under Standing Order 17.42(ix) was agreed.

4.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Paper 5 – Letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee

5.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitutional Committee.