Senedd Commission

Role of the commission

The Government of Wales Act 2006 provided the National Assembly for Wales with significant new powers to legislate, and strengthens its scrutiny role. It also creates a legally separate Welsh Government and a corporate body, known as the National Assembly for Wales Commission (Assembly Commission) which has responsibility for the provision of property, staff and services to support the assembly members. The commission consists of the presiding officer and four other members nominated by the main political parties. The staff of the commission are employees of the commission and are headed by the chief executive and clerk of the Senedd.

The commission's duty, as defined in the Government of Wales Act 2006, is to provide the “property, staff and services required for the Senedd's purposes”. In practice, this means that it is the commission's responsibility to:

• acquire, hold or dispose of any property on behalf of the Senedd;
• make arrangements to pay Members and provide their pensions and allowances and to employ Senedd staff; and
• act in an appropriate and necessary way to provide the services required for the Senedd to do its work.

Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 allows the commission to promote public awareness of the current or future electoral system for the Senedd. It also empowers the commission to promote public awareness of the current or any pending system of devolved government in Wales. The act allows this to take place via the use of education or information programmes and by making grants available to other bodies or persons to carry out such programmes.

After each financial year, the Senedd Commission must publish an annual report. This report must outline how the commission has fulfilled its role and exercised its functions during the financial year, and must be laid before the Senedd. The commission is also required to produce annual accounts for audit by the auditor general for Wales.

The commission

The Senedd Commission consists of the Llywydd, plus four other members of the Senedd, one nominated by each of the four party groups represented by the Senedd. The commissioners are Suzy Davies MS, Joyce Watson MS, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS and David J Rowlands MS.

The role of the commission is to set strategic aims and objectives and consider performance, agree standards and values, oversee change, encourage innovation and enterprise for the National Senedd.

To help achieve these aims, the commissioners have special responsibility for certain aspects of the Senedd's work. This allows a great deal of work to take place outside of formal commission meetings and positive working relationships to be developed with staff.

Their role is to ensure that the Senedd has enough resources (both in terms of staff and infrastructure) to work effectively. The commissioners are also responsible for overseeing Senedd Members’ pay and allowances.

The Senedd Commission has further responsibilities to promote public awareness of the devolved government in Wales as well as the current and future electoral system.

Commission for the Third Assembly (2007–2011)

Commission for the Fourth Assembly (2011–2016)

Commission for the Fifth Assembly / Senedd (2016–2021)

Commission for the Sixth Senedd (since 2021)

aDate he joined the Welsh Government

bDate he became leader of Plaid Cymru

Membership

The Government of Wales Act 2006 maintains that membership of the Senedd Commission will include the presiding officer and four other Senedd members. Standing Order 3.3 sets out the arrangement for the appointment of the four other Senedd Members, and states that there will not be more than one member (other than the presiding officer) from the same political group.

Policies

A number of documents were approved by the Shadow Commission with the intention that they should be implemented as soon as is possible after the establishment of the Assembly Commission following the May 2007 elections.

The policies, which are currently under development, are:

• Statement of Practices and Procedures for the Assembly Commission
• Equality of Opportunity
• Sustainable Development Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Welsh Language Scheme
• Corporate Governance Framework
• Financial Standards
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Public Interest Disclosure Policy
• Records Management policy
• Freedom of Information Publication Scheme
• Procurement Policy
• Risk Management Strategy
• IT Security Policy
• Business Continuity Plan

Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd

Main article: Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd

The post was created to reflect the growing powers of the Assembly following the Government of Wales Act 2006. From May 2007, the chief executive and clerk will lead an organisation independent of the Welsh Assembly Government. They are responsible for ensuring that the Assembly is provided with the property, staff and services that it requires and to help develop an Assembly that inspires confidence and has a reputation within Wales and beyond for accessible and efficient democracy.

• John Lloyd, (1999 to 2001)
• Paul Silk, (2001 to April 2007)
• Claire Clancy, (February 2007 – April 2017).
• Manon Antoniazzi, (April 2017 – present)

References

References

1. "Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020".
2. "The Commissioners and their role".
3. (8 June 2016). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 13.30".
4. (8 June 2016). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 13.30".
5. (8 June 2016). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 13.30".
6. (21 September 2016). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 21 September 2016, 13.30".
7. (21 November 2018). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 21 November 2018, 13.30".
8. (June 2020). "Annual Report and Accounts: 2019-20".
9. (8 June 2016). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 13.30".
10. (14 November 2018). "Agenda for Plenary - Fifth Senedd on Wednesday, 14 November 2018, 13.30".
11. (2021-06-23). "Agenda for Plenary on Wednesday, 23 June 2021, 13.30".