Appendix A: Minutes of the Speaker's Committee
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 24 FEBRUARY 2014
AT 5.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex
officio), in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Naomi Long MP
Bridget Phillipson MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meeting on 26 November 2013
The minutes of the meeting on 26 November 2013 were
considered and agreed.
2. Consideration of board report for the appointment
of an Electoral Commissioner: nominees from the Leader of the
Labour Party
The Committee agreed the Speaker would put forward
Bridget Prentice as a Commissioner nominated by the Leader of
the Labour Party, for the reasons given in the report, in particular
her experience as a Minister with responsibility for electoral
matters.
3. Consideration of board report for the appointment
of an Electoral Commissioner: minority party nominee
The Committee agreed to let the name of Alasdair
Morgan go forward, on the recommendation of the panel.
The Committee agreed that Mr Morgan be appointed
for a two year term, as had been the case with minor party nominated
commissioners in the past, and that Ms Prentice be appointed for
four years. In both cases, the term should end on 30 September,
to bring it into line with that of existing nominated Commissioners.
The Speaker would consult the leaders of the political
parties, asking for responses by 10 March.
4. Statutory designation of posts at the Electoral
Commission
The Committee agreed with the proposal from Peter
Wardle, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission to designate
12 posts at the Electoral Commission under the provisions of paragraph
11B of Schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums
Act 2000.
[The Committee adjourned at 5.42 pm until a day and
time to be proposed by the Chair.
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 25 MARCH 2014
AT 3.00 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Brandon Lewis MP (ex officio)
Naomi Long MP
Bridget Phillipson MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meeting on 24 February 2014
The minutes of the meeting on 24 February 2014 were
considered and agreed.
2. Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party campaigning
and Trade Union Administration Act: briefing from the Leader of
the House
The Leader of the House briefed the Committee on
the aspects of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party campaigning
and Trade Union Administration Act as they affected the work of
the Electoral Commission and the way in which that was reflected
in the draft Estimate and Corporate Plan.
3. Consideration of draft Report on the Work
of the Committee in 2013
The Committee agreed a small drafting amendment to
paragraph 16 of the draft report.
The Committee agreed the report.
4. Any other business
Brandon Lewis gave his apologies for the next meeting
and said that he was content with the estimates of the Electoral
Commission and LGBCE.
[The Committee adjourned at 3.15 pm until 2 April
at 3.30pm.
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 2 APRIL 2014
at 3.30 PM
COMMITTEE ROOM 21
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meeting on 25 March 2014
The minutes of the meeting on 25 March 2014 were
considered and agreed.
2. Consideration of LGBCE draft corporate
plan and estimate 2014-15
The Committee considered the LGBCE draft corporate
plan and estimate for 2014-15.
The Committee agreed the LGBCE draft corporate plan
and estimate for 2014-15 without modification.
3. Consideration of Electoral Commission's
draft corporate plan and estimate 2014-15
The Committee considered the Electoral Commission's
draft corporate plan and estimate for 2014-15.
Jenny Watson, Chair, and Carolyn Hughes, Deputy Chair,
Electoral Commission, gave evidence and then withdrew.
The Committee agreed the Electoral Commission's draft
corporate plan and estimate for 2014-15 without modification.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 4.15 pm.
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 29 APRIL 2014
at 6.05 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Brandon Lewis MP (ex officio)
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Ballot paper description for Britain
First
Mr Speaker informed the Committee that that an independent
report into the circumstances in which the ballot paper description
of "Remember Lee Rigby" had been commissioned and would
report as soon as possible. Nonetheless, Jenny Watson, the Chair
of the Electoral Commission, wished to tender her resignation
since the Electoral Commission had been responsible for this error.
The Committee agreed that the Chair of the Commission
should not resign before the independent inquiry had reported,
and it was known whether such a resignation was appropriate. It
agreed that Mr Speaker should convey the Committee's views to
Jenny Watson.
[The Committee adjourned until Tuesday 6 May at 5.30
pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 6 MAY 2014 AT
5.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Brandon Lewis MP (ex officio)
Bridget Phillipson MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meetings on 2 and 29 April 2014
The Minutes were agreed without modification.
2. Nomination of Electoral Commissioner by
the Leader of the Conservative Party
The Chair informed the Committee that the Leader
of the Conservative Party had rewritten to the Committee seeking
the reappointment of Lord Horam as a nominated Electoral Commissioner
and that he had written to the Chair of the Electoral Commission
to ask for an assessment of Lord Horam's performance.
3. Consideration of the report from Elizabeth
Butler
The Committee considered the report and discussed
it with Jenny Watson and Elizabeth Butler. The Committee agreed
that there were no grounds for the Chair to resign and that it
would require further reports on lessons learnt.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 6.08 pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 2 SEPTEMBER 2014
at 3.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Brandon Lewis MP (ex officio)
Naomi Long MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meetings on 6 May 2014
The Minutes were agreed without modification.
2. Electoral Commission update
The Committee received an update from Jenny Watson,
Chair, Peter Wardle, Chief Executive and Bob Posner, Director
of Party and Election Finance and Legal Counsel, Electoral Commission.
3. Consideration of the Electoral Commission's
Governance and amendments to the Deregulation Bill
The Committee agreed not to press for further legislative
change.
4. Consideration of the appointment process
for Electoral Commissioners
The Committee agreed that the reappointment process
for Anna Carragher should start before the 2015 General Election.
The Committee agreed that recruitment process for
a new Electoral Commissioner should start before the 2015 General
Election.
5. Consideration of PHSO report on a complaint
about the Electoral Commission
The Committee agreed that ombudsman's report fell
within the remit of the Public Administration Select Committee.
6. Party registration update
The Committee agreed that it should be kept informed
of the reviews and monitoring of party registration and party
descriptions.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 4.38 pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 4 NOVEMBER 2014
at 3.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meetings on 2 September 2014
The Minutes were agreed without modification.
2. LGBCE update
The Committee received an update from Max Caller,
Chair, Alan Cogbill, Chief Executive and Jolyon Jackson, Chief
Executive designate
The Committee noted the concern about the appointment
of Commissioners.
The Committee noted the letters relating to the Accounting
Officer and relocation.
3. Appointment process for the Chair of LGBCE
The Committee agreed to start the process for the
appointment of chair of the LGBCE before the Election.
4. Appointment process for Electoral Commissioners
The Committee agreed the procedure for the appointment
of Electoral Commissioners.
5. Any other business
The Committee agreed the proposed NAO value for money
report.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 4.10 pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 16 DECEMBER 2014
at 2.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meeting on 4 November 2014
The Minutes were agreed without modification.
2. Supplementary Estimate
The Committee agreed the draft Supplementary Estimates
for 2014-15.
3. Timetable for Main Estimate 2015-16
The Committee agreed the proposed timetable for consideration
of the Electoral Commission's and LGBCE's Main Estimates and corporate
plans for 2015-16.
4. Reappointment of Anna Carragher
The Committee considered the correspondence relating
to the reappointment of Anna Carragher as an Electoral Commissioner.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 3.10 pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 16 DECEMBER 2014
at 2.30 PM
SPEAKER'S STUDY
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
1. Consideration of formal and informal minutes
of the meeting on 4 November 2014
The Minutes were agreed without modification.
2. Supplementary Estimate
The Committee agreed the draft Supplementary Estimates
for 2014-15.
3. Timetable for Main Estimate 2015-16
The Committee agreed the proposed timetable for consideration
of the Electoral Commission's and LGBCE's Main Estimates and corporate
plans for 2015-16.
4. Reappointment of Anna Carragher
The Committee considered the correspondence relating
to the reappointment of Anna Carragher as an Electoral Commissioner.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 3.10 pm
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
FORMAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON 4 MARCH 2015
at 3.00 PM
COMMITTEE ROOM 21
Present:
Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker (ex officio),
in the Chair
Tracey Crouch MP
Rt. Hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Brandon Lewis MP (ex officio)
Bridget Phillipson MP
Mr Gary Streeter MP
1. Consideration of the Electoral Commission
and LGBCE Main Estimates 2015/16 and Corporate Plans.
The Committee considered the Electoral Commission
and LGBCE Main Estimates 2015/16 and Corporate Plans.
The Committee took evidence from Max Caller, Chair,
and Jolyon Jackson, Chief Executive, LGBCE and from Carolyn Hughes,
Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Alex Robertson, Director
of Communications, Peter Wardle, Chief Executive, and Jenny Watson,
Chair, Electoral Commission.
The Committee considered the Electoral Commission
and LGBCE Main Estimates 2015/16 and Corporate Plans.
[The Committee adjourned until a time and date to
be set by the Chair at 3.55 pm
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