Shadow Assembly Commission Minutes of Proceedings

20 April 1999

MINUTES OF THE TWENTIETH MEETING

TUESDAY 20 APRIL 1999 AT 2.00 PM

Present: Initial Presiding Officer

Mr R Coulter

Mr J Fee

Mr F Molloy

Mr P Robinson MP

Mrs E Bell

In the Chair: Initial Presiding Officer

In Attendance: Mr T Evans, Ms G Campbell, Mr Cosgrave

Ms Benson, Mr Rogers, and Mr Waddell attended for part of the meeting.

1. The minutes of the nineteenth meeting were accepted without change.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Stormont Estate

Y Members agreed to two requests to use the Stormont Estate - MacMillan Cancer Relief on 19 May and the Camping and Caravanning Club, 21-23 May.

Y Members noted correspondence from DOE informing the Commission that the refurbishment of the Stormont gates and railings commenced on 12 April.

Y Mr Cosgrave tabled a paper on proposals for the development of the Stormont Estate for consideration and discussion at a future meeting of the Commission.

Y Mr Evans reported on his meeting with the Stormont Area Group on 29 March. The residents have agreed to the Pavorotti proposal as long as there are no further concerts for 12 months from the date of the concert.

Y Mr Evans updated Members on the first meeting of the Simply Red Concert Steering Group.

Y Members approved the proposed location for the 'Reconciliation' sculpture and agreed that DOE could progress this issue.

2.2 Script for Tours 
The Initial Presiding Officer informed Members that a script for tours of Parliament Buildings is being prepared which Hansard can translate into Irish and other required languages. A paper to be prepared setting out the options for conducting tours in Irish.

2.3 Printing and Publishing 
Members were provided with a breakdown of the actual costs for printing. Mr Black to consider options for the development of the Assembly's Website. Business bundle and minutes of committee meetings will be available on the Website from 26 April.

2.4 Head of Security
The Initial Presiding Officer to meet with Mr Cosgrave, Ms Benson and Mr Waddell to finalise the job specification.

2.5 Mount Charles 
Members expressed further concerns about Mount Charles' pricing structure and billing for evening functions. It was agreed that the Refreshments Committee should be established and tasked to consider the options for the future delivery of catering services in Parliament Buildings. There was a general discussion on the use of Members' facilities by Assembly, Party and Executive staff. A paper to be prepared setting out the existing arrangements and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to be informed that Members' facilities are not available to their support staff. Mr Robinson asked why the Members' credit facility in the basement restaurant had been withdrawn

2.6 Refreshments Committee 
Sir John Gorman has agreed to chair the Refreshments Committee. The Refreshments Committee to be invited to the next meeting of the Commission

2.7 NIUP/UKUP 
The Initial Presiding Officer informed Members that he had met Mr McCartney and Mr Wilson and that the accommodation issue had been resolved

2.8 Crown Status 
The Initial Presiding Officer agreed to write to the Lord Chancellor to clarify the extent of Crown immunity under Crown Status.

2.9 Assembly and Business Trust 
Mr Cosgrave to arrange a presentation from the Industry and Parliament Trust.

2.10 Trade Union 
The Initial Presiding Officer updated Members on the recent meeting with NIPSA officials.

2.11 Banking Arrangements 
Ms Benson informed Members that a systems check had now been completed and OCA claims arrangements are in place.

3. STAFFING

Members noted the revised staffing priorities paper and agreed that best practice visits should include the Local Government Staff Commission and boards / councils outside the greater Belfast area. Mr Rogers tabled draft advertisements and job specifications for Assembly Clerk, Researcher, Transcriber, Head of Security and Finance and Finance Officer. Mr Rogers to consider the inclusion of formal academic qualifications. Training for the Commission on recruitment and selection to be arranged for 11 May. The Initial Presiding Officer to consult CPG on the issue of recognising promotions of staff within the Assembly on return to NICS.

4. SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES

4.1 Ms Benson confirmed that there are a number of sections in the Northern Ireland Act which require an Appropriation Bill. Members agreed that an Appropriation Bill, preferably to include the Commission's report as an Annex, should be drafted in readiness for devolution. The Initial Presiding Officer to check on the fast-track approach for progressing legislation.

4.2 Ms Benson tabled a paper on salaries and allowances reflecting the recommendations of SSRB. It was agreed that SSRB should be asked for its view on the Prime Minister's recommendation that the Deputy First Minister receives the same salary as the First Minister. It was also agreed that Members can exercise flexibility across the OCAs sub-heads (£27k / £7k).

4.3 The Commission agreed salary levels for Committee Chairman and Deputy Presiding Officer and a proposal for the payment of Assembly recognised Party Whips, which the Initial Presiding Officer will raise at his meeting with the joint Chairmen of the Standing Orders Committee. Ms Benson to uplift the salaries of other post-holders.

4.4 Mr Cosgrave to write to Paul Sweeney indicating that the Commission is not content to authorise the payment of the ministerial element of Ministers' salaries together with their Assembly Members' salaries. Members considered a proposal to cover travel costs of Members attending the Downing Street talks. It was agreed that no decision could be taken until the Commission had formulated regulations for Members travel and subsistence. 4.5 The Initial Presiding Officer agreed to raise the following issues with Mr Murphy:

Y payment of Party Allowances;

Y payment of OCAs on at least a quarterly basis; and

Y will OCAs be uprated from 1 April or the Appointed Day.

5. PENSIONS

Members approved the outline framework for the Assembly Pension Scheme set out in Ms Benson's paper. A first draft of the Pensions Bill to be available for the next meeting and Ms Benson to arrange a presentation from the Government Actuary Department.

6. TOURS

The Commission agreed the following changes to the Regulations for Tours in Parliament Buildings to allow tours to take place in the evenings and on Saturdays:

Y Monday - Thursday (4.00 - 9.00 pm) requiring only tea and biscuits or high tea to be provided;

Y Friday - existing rules to apply;

Y Saturdays - exception cases only requiring prior approval of the Commission

Mr Waddell to consider how the basement restaurant menu can be made available to Members in the Press bar on busy days. Members agreed to Mr Fee's proposal that the SDLP exchange rooms 224, 225 and 226 for 272 and 273.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It was agreed that the Initial Presiding Officer could deem special meeting days as sitting days when the upper car parks would be available only to Members and designated officers. Mr Coulter tabled a number of issues relating to House Committees. It was agreed that legal responsibility for the business of House Committees rests with the Shadow Commission.

9. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Next full Meeting of the Commission, Tuesday 04 May at 2.00pm in Room 135

TOM EVANS
Clerk to the Shadow Commission