MINUTES OF THE TWENTY THIRD MEETING OF
THE ASSEMBLY COMMISSION
HELD ON MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2001 AT 6.30PM
IN ROOM 106

1. Minutes of previous meeting
2. Agenda Items
3. Procurement Report
4. Economic Appraisal
5. Staffing
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of next meeting

PRESENT: The Speaker
Mrs E Bell
Mr J Wells
Dr D O'Hagan
Rev R Coulter
Mr J Fee

IN ATTENDANCE: Mr T Evans, Mr G Cosgrave, Mr P Carlisle, Ms G Campbell.
Ms L Garvie (Scottish Parliament) was in attendance for Agenda item 2.
Mr A Rogers in attendance for Agenda item 4.

3.1 The Speaker welcomed Ms Lynn Garvie, Head of Procurement for the Scottish Parliament, who presented the findings of her review of the Assembly's current procurement processes.

3.2 Members put questions to Ms Garvie in the following areas:

. roles and responsibilities of the Commission, the procurement specialist, directorates and GPA;

. ethical purchasing practices;

. e-procurement;

. the cost of the procurement process; and

. the distinction between the various stages of the procurement process.

3.3 The Speaker thanked Ms Garvie for assistance with this matter and for the offer to support the implementation of the recommendations of her report. The Commission then discussed the way forward and agreed that a list should be compiled of the existing contracts let by the Assembly and an assessment of the current procurement arrangements by the Assembly's internal auditor.

4. Economic Appraisal

Members discussed issues arising from the Commission's decision that Ormiston House is the preferred economic appraisal option and agreed the following actions:

. the Speaker to write to the Police Authority and the Minister for Finance and Personnel;

. the Clerk to the Commission to inform the Valuation and Lands Agency of the outcome of the Economic Appraisal;

. Officials to finalise the Economic Appraisal report and develop a critical path setting out the processes required to acquire Ormiston House; and

. the Speaker to meet with the Minister for Finance and Personnel to discuss the financial arrangements relating to the transfer of Ormiston House.

4.2 Members agreed to come back to the issue of how and when the Commission informs the Assembly of its accommodation plans.

5. Staffing

5.1 The Commission noted papers on:

. the grading evaluation of the Principal Assembly Clerks and Assembly Clerks due to commence on Monday 19 February 2001;

. the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the Assembly's external recruitment provider; and

. the latest position regarding the Ulster Scots employment complaint.

5.2 Members also agreed the Commission's involvement in the following recruitment competitions:

. Deputy Clerk - Assembly Commission and the Clerk to the Assembly;

. Clerk Assistant - the Speaker, Dr O'Hagan and the Clerk to the Assembly;

. Keeper of the House - Rev Coulter;

. Information Officer - Mr Wells; and

. Head of Legal Services - Mr Fee, Mrs Bell and the Clerk to the Assembly.

5.3 The Speaker advised members that a paper would be tabled in 4-6 weeks by the Head of Security detailing his assessment of the security requirements for Parliament Buildings and its immediate environs.

6. Any Other Business

6.1 Members voiced concern about the numbers of visitors and Officers using the Members' Bar and agreed that the Commission may need to revisit this issue at a future meeting.

7. Date of Next Meeting

. Meeting with Bill Gallagher to discuss draft guidance for OCAs, Tuesday 13 February at 1.00 pm in room 103.

. Members agreed that Commission meetings will now take place on Tuesdays at 5.00 pm. The next meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 20 February 2001 at 5. 00 pm in room 106

Tom Evans
Room: 103

6 February 2001 / Menu