Commission Board minutes of items of electronic business: 1 June 2020
Meeting overview
Noted by email: Monday 1 June 2020
Present
John Holmes, Chair
Alasdair Morgan
Anna Carragher
Elan Closs Stephens
Joan Walley
Sarah Chambers
Stephen Gilbert
Sue Bruce
Q4 2019/20 Quarterly Performance Report (eEC 42/20)
The Board fed back on the report. Issues raised included the deferral of the launch of Political Finance Online. It was also noted that performance standards for Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers only applied in Great Britain.
It was noted that Quarterly Performance Reports will be taken as business in Commission Board meetings from now on.
Resolved: That the paper be noted.
First review of the Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 (eEC 43/20)
A query was raised about aspects of underspend, including postponement of the May 2020 elections. A question was raised on the target for checking financial returns. The number of returns checked annually varies and has been higher in years with electoral events.
Amendments were requested to include reference to litigation in the foreword, clarity on when the online portal for party finance and registration would come into use, and to update the table of Commissioner terms to add a clarifying footnote.
Resolved: That the paper be agreed, subject to these points.
Commission Board minutes (eEC 44/20)
Commissioners were updated that the National Audit Office were still completing their audit. To date there have been no major issues highlighted with the accounts.
Resolved: That the paper be noted.
Commission Board forward plan (eEC 45/20)
Resolved: That the paper be noted.
Commission Board action tracker (eEC 46/20)
Resolved: That the paper be noted.
Chief Executive’s Update May 2020 (eEC 47/20)
The Board was reassured that we did not currently foresee a problem keeping on track with Commission work during the coronavirus pandemic, whilst recognising that the Coronavirus impacted members of staff and the Commission as a whole and needed pro-active management.
It was noted that individual Commissioners were welcome to be involved in developing appropriate strands of the Corporate Plan and meetings would be scheduled and organised. Stakeholder engagement in the plan would seek to involve young adult and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups.
A query was raised about the outcome of long-standing legal challenges. The Chief Executive updated the Board on working arrangements with the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. It was noted that the Committee for Standards in Public Life would commence review work which was welcomed by the Commission.
Resolved: That the paper be noted.