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Deputy R. Labey
Chairman, Privileges and Procedures Committee
By email
24th April 2019 Dear Chairman,
Government Plan: Scrutiny Funding
I am pleased to submit to you the Scrutiny funding requirement, as recently agreed by the Chairmen's Committee, for the forthcoming Government Plan. I understand this will be incorporated into the full submission your Committee will be making in respect of all aspects of the work and responsibilities of the States Assembly.
I trust that you will find the requirements we have identified below to be clear and comprehensive, and of course I will be happy to answer any points of clarification should they arise.
Funding Requirement
PS0001 - Scrutiny General- Budget 2020 |
| |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 411000 - Civil Service Perm Basic | 716,436.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 411000 - Civil Service Perm Pension | 114,629.76 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 411000 - Civil Service Perm Soc Sec | 42,629.28 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 540111 - Facilities Hire | 4,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 548010 - Other Fees | 210,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 548361 - Transcription Costs | 18,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 627100 - Advertising & Publicity | 4,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 640100 - Meals & Entertainment | 2,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 641100 - Other Travel | 6,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 642100 - Hotel Accommodation | 5,000.00 |
PS0001 - Scrutiny General | 643100 - Conference & Course Fees | 4,000.00 |
| TOTAL | £1,126,695.04 |
Additional Context Panel/Review expenditure
The Committee is clear that non-staff related financial resources available to support Panel/Committee work must be re-set at a level that is at least comparable to actual historic spend, ensuring the amount available is adequate whilst also demonstrating value for money. We have seen the vital budget available for expert advisors and specialised methods of evidence gathering beyond the technical expertise of the Greffe (for example focus groups and technical surveys) reduce form £300,000 in 2016 to approximately £44,000 at the beginning of 2019. This is entirely inadequate and inappropriate. All requested relevant budget lines proposed for 2020 have been benchmarked against actual spend in comparable years, whilst also taking into account current and anticipated trends in the volume of and approach to Scrutiny work.
Staff Resources
Supported Panels/Committees
Corporate Services
Economic & Sub-Panels International Affairs
Review Panels Chairmen's
(typgiicavelnly ti2m+e a) t a Committee HomEducae Atioffna i&rs
Environment, PAC Housing &
Infrastructure
Health & Social Security
We have welcomed the work of the States Greffe Leadership Team, in close liaison with the Committee, to identify an updated model of staff support to serve Scrutiny Panels which better reflects the present-day approach and requirements of Panels and delivers a more effective, flexible and resilient service than the current model allows. It requires limited additional funding/headcount to correct this situation. Part of the Committee's decision to agree to cap other fees' significantly below pre 2016 budget levels recognises the value of the in-house' support we receive, which will be enhanced by putting in place a more effective staff structure. The relevant budget lines are based on the following headcount' framework (grades ranging between 10 and 14):
1 x fte Assistant Greffier
• Head of Service, line-manager to all posts, clerk Chairmen's Committee
7 x fte Clerk'
• 1 per standing Panel and PAC (including their respective Sub-Panels)
• 1 to cover all Review Panels (if practical, cover from any capacity within standing Panels/PAC
• Line manage support officers
4 x fte Support Officer'
• Report directly to clerks
• 3 officers allocated equally to support 2 Panels/PAC each
• 1 officer dedicated to support the Review Panels
• Cover for relevant clerk (sickness and annual leave etc)
• Provide additional capacity to wider research function) if not fully occupied with Scrutiny work
Additional resources
Although outside the direct scope of the Scrutiny funding requirement for the Government Plan, it may be helpful to share with you additional services identified by the Committee that could be of significant value to Scrutiny (and the wider Assembly) should it be possible to use the opportunity to help enhance them via this process. Not least, these include:
Research service:
- The provision of enhanced research support for States Members, with extended capacity to Scrutiny Panels/PAC, could significantly improve the ability of Panels to make effective and informative contributions to assist the Assembly's debating and decision-making.
Public Engagement:
- The Committee is mindful of its contribution to implementing commitments made in respect of Scrutiny in PPC's report R.5/2017, to make Scrutiny work more transparent, more digital and more interactive with the public. Based on our experience, additional support provided through enhanced public engagement/communications resources dedicated to the work of the Assembly and its Committees/Panels is essential.
Yours sincerely,
Senator Kristina Moore President, Chairmen's Committee