Shadow Assembly Commission Minutes of Proceedings

1 October 1998

Present: Lord Alderdice (Initial Presiding Officer)

Mrs E Bell

Rev R Coulter

Mr P Robinson MP

In the chair: Lord Alderdice

In attendance: Mr M Barnes, Mr T Evans, Ms G Campbell

Apologies: Mr J Fee, Mr F Molloy.

Mr Black and Mr J Hunter, Central Personnel Group, joined the meeting for specific agenda items.

1. Matters Arising The minutes were accepted. Mr Robinson asked for minutes to be chronologically indexed.

2. Matters Arising

- Complaints The Presiding Officer informed members that Ms McKibben, Assembly Information Service, will be the Complaints Officer.

- Childcare A sample questionnaire provided by Playboard was tabled at the meeting. Members to come back to Mr Evans with comments before a final draft is cleared by the Shadow Commission.

- DFP move The up to date timetable was circulated at the meeting. Members asked for rooms to be identified against each phase of the move. A DFP representative to be invited to the next meeting.

- Accommodation Issues Proposed floor plans for the third floor tabled at the meeting. Mr Waddell to produce, for the next meeting, a revised floor plan with proposed block allocations for parties.

- Parliament Buildings The Assembly Information Service to take forward the production of brochures and guides. The Presiding Officer agreed to provide members with a list of the original Parliament Buildings artefacts stored in other locations. Members agreed that the Presiding Officer should ask the Ulster Museum to carry out an environmental assessment. There was discussion on the need for a Parliament Buildings souvenir shop. Mr Waddell to produce a paper to include Post Office arrangements.

- Recording of Assembly Debates/Speakers Members will be able to access at an approximate cost of £10 per hour of footage. Requests should be directed through the Assembly Information Service.

- Library Service A paper is to be prepared on an Assembly research facility,

3. Appointment of Clerk/Depuly Clerks

There was a general discussion on the paper tabled by Mr Hunter.

4. Staffing Options post devolution

Mr Hunter tabled a paper setting out the options for the future staffing of the Assembly Secretariat. Member agreed that Mr Hunter should be invited back to a future meeting once the Shadow Commission has considered the paper.

5. Mount Charles Contract

Mr Evans introduced the paper tabled at the meeting. Members unhappy with the level and quality of service. Mr Assan from Mount Charles to be invited to the next meeting.

6. Shadow Commission Review

The Presiding Officer informed the Commission of a meeting arranged with Mr Murphy for 2 October and invited members to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to advise the Minister of the need to amend clause 75; to better serve the Stormont Estate and to vest in the Commission ownership or, as a minimum, responsibility for determining use of the estate. Mr Barnes referred to the powers under the existing Stormont Estate regulations. Mr Evans to check.

7. Use of Parliament Buildings

Raised by the Presiding Officer. Members agreed that criteria needs to be established to decide which organisations can have access to Parliament Buildings.

8. IT Facilities for members

Mr Black gave a presentation on the current Assembly information technology/information systems facilities and the issues which require decisions - network versus stand-alone, security, standard software packages. The Secretariat intend to upgrade Parties IT facilities. Mr Black to prepare a paper setting out a proposed IT specification for the Assembly.

9. SSRB Study

The Presiding Officer outlined the points he will be making to SSRB. Members asked for a number of issues to be included - salaries of Ministers, Committee Chairs/Deputy Chairs and Whips, high cost of petrol and insurance and severance arrangements to take account of retirement on medical grounds. Set up costs to be taken up with the Minister and Secretary of State.

10. Any Other Business

Decisions on Car Park allocations are for the Shadow Commission. A paper to be prepared clarifying Members subsistence entitlement.

11. Date of next meeting

The next meeting arranged for Wednesday 7 October at 2.00 pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

TOM EVANS

Committee Clerk