Agenda item

·        AMSS Expenditure Allowance – Paper 6

·        AMSS Redundancy Pay, Pension Provision and Death in Service – Paper 7

·        AMSS Continuous Service – Paper 8

·        AMSS standard contract of employment – Paper 9

AMSS – Staffing Expenditure Allowance

Discussion:

2.1        The Board considered papers on AMSS – Staffing Expenditure Allowance AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service, AMSS Continuous Service, and AMSS standard contract of employment, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.2        The Board agreed that Assembly Members should be given the right resources to enable them to do their job effectively and efficiently.

Decision:

2.3        The Board agreed to consult Assembly Members and Assembly Member Support Staff on the following proposals:

·         To introduce the role of Senior Adviser;

·         The introduction of an apprenticeship scheme;

·         Review the use of the policy and research fund, and the support for groups;

·         Support for political groups;

·         The introduction of a death in service benefit for AMSS

 

2.4        The Board agreed to maintain their policy to prevent any difference between actual spending and maximum permitted staffing allowance to be used, in year, to fund additional staffing support.

2.5        The Board agreed to maintain the 111 hours cap on permanently employed staff.

2.6        On the Policy Research Fund, the Board agreed to consult on proposals to increase the size of the fund and for Members to indicate what size they feel would be most helpful. The Board also proposed to broaden the Policy Research Fund to cover the cost of materials and activities that would support Members’ capacity to engage with the public – Members would need to demonstrate accountability with the Fund and it would need to be carefully monitored to ensure that it is not being used for campaigning or explicitly for party political purposes.

2.7        The Board agreed to invite the Standards Commissioner to share his views on the proposals for the Policy Research Fund.

2.8        The Board agreed that, before reaching any conclusions on funding support to political groups in the Fifth Assembly, it would seek Members’ views on the current approach. The Board agreed to give consideration to the potential impact of different party dynamics at the next Assembly when reviewing the final Determination.

2.9        The Board agreed that the policy on the overlapping of pay bands for AMSS should remain.

2.10     The Board stated that the consultation should make reference to the additional support required of an AMSS who supports an office holding AM.

AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service

 

Discussion:

2.11     The Board considered a paper on AMSS redundancy pay, pension provision and Death in Service, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.12     The Board agreed that the main core of the pension arrangements for AMSS should not change. However, it felt that Assembly Members and AMSS should be consulted on proposals to change the Death in Service provision in the scheme.

2.13     After comparing the Assembly’s redundancy arrangements with those of other Legislatures, the Board concluded that the existing arrangements were sufficient and more generous than Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

 

Decision:

2.14     The Board agreed to consult Assembly Members and Assembly Member Support Staff on proposals to introduce a Death in Service benefit at 2x salary, in line with other Public Service Pension Schemes.

2.15     The Board also agreed to consult Members and AMSS on its decision not to change AMSS pension contributions.

AMSS Continuous Service

 

Discussion:

2.16     The Board considered a paper on AMSS Continuous Service, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.17     The Board noted that when a Member stands down, their staff are made redundant and are eligible fo a redundancy payment, set at a statutory redundancy rate plus a fifty per cent enhancement.

2.18     The Board considered an option to automatically transfer AMSS from a retiring Members to a new Member, where both Members are from the same party. The Board noted Section 218 (2) of the Employment Rights Act, which highlights a situation where a change of employer is deemed not to break continuity of employment. The Board noted that, should this approach be subject to a successful legal challenge, it would effect the contractual position of staff in Westminster, Holyrood and Belfast.

Decision:

2.19     The Board agreed to write to Remuneration bodies in other Legislatures requesting their experience of this clause and how they have explored the issue.

2.20     The Board agreed to inform the AM Representative Group of this section of the of the Employment Rights Act at its next meeting.

 

AMSS standard contract of employment

 

Discussion:

2.21     The Board considered a paper on AMSS standard contract of employment, which had been provided by the Assembly Commission.

2.22     The Board noted that there is currently provision for one week’s notice required in the first 12 months of service and four weeks after 12 months for Assembly Member Support Staff.

Decision:

2.23     The Board agreed to consult Assembly Members on proposals to require one week of notice in the first 3 months of service and a 4 week notice period thereafter.

2.24     The Board agreed that the current annual leave entitlement for staff of 31 days plus public holidays was sufficient.

2.25     The Board also agreed to invite questions on the adequacy of the staff code of conduct, job descriptions and the staff handbook.