The
Commission's Corporate Plan for 2004-05 to 2008-09
13. The Committee considered the Electoral Commission's
Corporate Plan[3] for 2004-05
to 2008-09 at both its March 2004 and July 2004 meetings. As with
the Estimate, the Committee received statutory advice from the
Treasury, in the form of a letter from the Chief Secretary, which
it took into account when reaching its decisions. It also had
regard, as required by PPERA, to the Comptroller and Auditor General's
report referred to in paragraph 4 above.
14. The draft Corporate Plan, as originally submitted,
did not include information required by PPERA on the resources
estimated to be required by the Electoral Commission during the
five year period. In view of this omission, the Committee deferred
consideration of the draft plan to its July meeting, to enable
this deficiency to be remedied.
15. Ahead of the July meeting, the Electoral Commission
submitted a revised version of the Corporate Plan, which included
some basic financial data on the estimated requirement for resources
over the five year period. The Committee noted that the revised
Plan also demonstrated some response to comments made by the Treasury
on the original version in relation to reducing the number of
targets, and focussing them more on the Commission's principal
objectives, and how these are to be achieved, rather than on processes.
The Committee was, however, keen to see further progress in the
next Corporate Plan and, in that context, noted that the Commission
planned a complete review, in the autumn, of its corporate aims
and objectives.
16. The final version of the Commission's Corporate
Plan for 2004-05 to 2008-09 was laid before the House of Commons
by the Committee on 22 July 2004. For the first time, the Corporate
Plan was published as a House of Commons Paper, HC 797 of Session
2003-04.
Other matters
17. The discussion with National Audit Office staff,
referred to at paragraph 9 above, led the Committee, mindful of
the rapid rate of increase in the Electoral Commission's requirement
for resources, to make enquiries of the Electoral Commission's
Accounting Officer as to whether it would be appropriate to strengthen
the Commission's internal financial controls, including appointment
of a Director of Finance. Discussions between the Committee and
the Commission are continuing on this important matter, which
is central to maintaining the Committee's confidence that the
Commission is using its resources economically, efficiently and
effectively.
18. In view of the importance of the Electoral Commission's
public awareness activity, the Committee has asked the Comptroller
and Auditor General to look again at the Commission's expenditure
on this in his report in respect of 2004-05.
19. Following on from its discussions in July about
the general work of the Electoral Commission, the Committee agreed
that it should initiate a review, by officials, of the Commission.
The key factors behind this decision were the rapid increase in
the Commission's requirement for resources and the likely continuance
of this trend; criticisms of the way the Commission was perceived
to discharge some of its functions; and likely future extensions
of the Commission's responsibilities.
20. An underlying purpose of the review will be to
seek to improve the effectiveness with which the Committee discharges
its statutory functions. The Committee expects to finalise the
details, and for work to begin, early in 2005.
21. The first appointments of Electoral Commissioners,
namely those of Commissioners appointed in January 2001 for a
period of four years, expire in January 2005. PPERA lays down
a number of statutory requirements that must be complied with
before a motion can be put before the House for an Address to
Her Majesty seeking appointment or reappointment of an Electoral
Commissioner, but the Act is silent on the procedures to be followed
otherwise.
22. As the Electoral Commission is a body independent
of Government, it would be inappropriate for Ministers to take
the lead in this matter. In view of the statutory requirement
for the Speaker to give his agreement before the appropriate motion
can be moved in the House, he has taken overall charge of the
process, and the Committee has offered him advice as appropriate.
A motion to reappoint the two retiring Electoral Commissioners—Pamela
Gordon and Sir Neil McIntosh—is currently awaiting consideration
by the House.
18 January 2005
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