MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - 4th DECEMBER 2000

MINUTES OF THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMISSION HELD ON MONDAY 4 DECEMBER 2000 AT 5.00PM IN ROOM 106

1. Minutes of previous meeting
2. Presidential visit
3. Salaries and allowances
4. Economic appraisal
5. Staffing/ recruitment issues
6. Date of next meeting

PRESENT: The Speaker
Mrs Eileen Bell
Rev Robert Coulter
Dr Dara O'Hagan
Mr John Fee
Mr Jim Wells

IN THE CHAIR: The Speaker

IN ATTENDANCE:Mr T Evans, Mr G Cosgrave, Mr P Waddell
Mr A Black, Mr D Millar, Mrs C McGowan, Ms G Campbell,

Mr N Johnston was in attendance for Agenda item 2.
Mr B McGuigan was in attendance for Agenda item 4.
Mr A Rogers was in attendance for Agenda item 5.

1. The minutes of the thirteenth and fourteenth meetings were accepted.

2. PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

2.1. Mr Johnston reported on the proposed itinerary for the Presidential visit and presented a set of proposals for dealing with accommodation, car parking, press / broadcasting and security arrangements. The Commission endorsed the proposals with some amendments to the car parking arrangements. Mr Cosgrave and Mr Evans to approach the Executive to recover a portion of the additional costs of the Assembly element of the Presidential visit.

3. SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES

3.1. Mr Millar presented two options for bringing forward the salaries determination, either to have immediate effect or to have effect from April 2001. It was agreed that the Salaries Determination should have immediate effect. There was discussion on the proposal to backdate the salary increase. Dr O'Hagan stated that she was opposed, in principle to any backdating of salary increases.

3.2. Mr Fee proposed that:

'the Assembly Commission adheres to the recommendations of SSRB (uprate salaries by 2.9%) and adopts the Salaries Determination, as amended by the Commission, with the increase backdated to 29 May 2000, if legal advice confirms that the Assembly has such powers.'

The proposal was carried by three votes (Mrs Bell, Rev Coulter, Mr Fee) to one (Dr O'Hagan) with Mr Wells abstaining.

3.3 Members agreed that the Salaries Determination should be dealt with within the context of the budget debate scheduled for 18 / 19 December.

3.4 Mr Millar introduced the draft Allowances Determination which links annual uprates to the rise in the Retail Price Index. It was agreed that the Allowances Determination should be brought forward at the same time as the Salaries Determination.

4. ECONOMIC APPRAISAL

4.1 Mr Cosgrave gave a short update on progress with the economic appraisal. The Commission agreed a revised set of objectives for the appraisal and confirmed the costed and non-costed options.

4.2 The Speaker informed Members that the Police Authority had an expectation that the Commission would be able to make a decision on Ormiston House by January 2001. Rev Coulter declared an interest as a member of both the Commission and Police Authority. The Speaker clarified that the declaration of an interest does not, in itself, prevent a member of the Commission from speaking on a particular issue. However it was agreed that Rev Coulter's position should be reviewed during the course of the economic appraisal and disposal procedures with regard to Ormiston House.

4.3 It was agreed that the Economic Appraisal should be completed by the end of January 2001 with a final update scheduled for mid-January. The Speaker agreed to write to the Chief Executive of the Police Authority to apprise him of progress with the economic appraisal.

5. STAFFING / RECRUITMENT ISSUES

5.1 There was lengthy discussion on the draft policy on terms of appointment or secondment through open competition. Members expressed some concerns about the continued dependency on NICS terms and conditions and the absence of terms and conditions customised to meet the needs of the Assembly.

5.2 The Commission discussed the arrangements for the appointments process for Principal Assembly Clerk / Assembly Clerk. Mr Fee proposed that:

. all appointees to Assembly Clerk posts to be offered a premium of 10% on top of their existing salary with no one being offered a salary below the range minimum ;and

. appointees to Principal Assembly Clerk posts will receive a 5% responsibility allowance in addition to the 10% premium.

The proposal was agreed without a division.

5.3 It was agreed that an immediate pay and grading review of the Assembly Clerk and Principal Assembly Clerk posts should be commissioned with an organisation-wide review of terms and conditions to commence early in 2001.