MINUTE OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY CORPORATE BODY (SPCB) MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 2015 AT 10.30AM, IN Q1.03 QH

Present: MSP (Chair) Liam McArthur MSP Linda Fabiani MSP John Pentland MSP Liz Smith MSP

In attendance: Paul Grice Stewart Gilfillan Ken Hughes Lynda Towers Michelle Hegarty David McGill Derek Croll Colin Chisholm Derek Stein Fergus Cochrane Simon Wakefield Callum Thomson Jerry Headley Roy Devon Paul Graham Murray Meikle Billy McLaren Rachel Edwards Judith Proudfoot, Secretary

Ken Kneller, Government Actuary’s Department

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1. The SPCB agreed the minute of the previous meeting held on 4 March 2015.

MATTERS ARISING

2. The SPCB noted an update on work in connection with the drafting of the ‘lobbying bill’.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY PENSION SCHEME VALUATION REPORT – SPCB(2015)Paper 20

3. The Scheme actuary, Ken Kneller from the Government Actuary’s Department, presented the actuarial valuation report as at 31 March 2014.

4. The SPCB, as Scheme sponsor, noted the report and agreed to maintain the current contribution rate of 20.2%.

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SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE PAY– SPCB(2015)Paper 21

5. The SPCB agreed the remit for negotiations with the Parliamentary Staff Trade Union side.

UPRATING OF EXPENSES PROVISION FOR 2015-16 – SPCB(2015)Paper 22

6. The SPCB agreed the indices to be applied to uprate the Members’ Expenses provision for the financial year 2015-16.

OFFICEHOLDERS: CONTINGENCY REQUEST – SPCB(2015)Paper 23

7. The SPCB approved a request for contingency funding from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’S INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY – SPCB(2015)Paper 24

8. The SPCB discussed a number of measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of engagement activites. The SPCB agreed the Parliament’s International Strategy for the remainder of Session 4.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’S PROGRAMME ACTIVITY WITH THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY (WFD) – SPCB(2015)Paper 25

9. The SPCB noted the update on the Parliament’s engagement with the Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans and agreed to the continued involvement with the WFD’s programme in this area.

10. The SPCB also noted potential engagement opportunities through the WFD outwith the Western Balkans.

PARLIAMENTARY TRAVEL – SPCB(2015)Paper 26

11. The SPCB noted the travel and approved the associated costs as set out in the paper.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY – SPCB(2015)Paper 27

12. The SPCB agreed the Public Engagement Strategy.

COMMERCIAL EVENTS PILOT: UPDATE – SPCB(2015)Paper 28

13. The SPCB noted the progress to date and agreed that the pilot would be extended for an additional 18 months, with an interim report to the Corporate Body in March 2016.

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14. The SPCB also agreed that a marketing plan would be brought back to a future meeting for approval.

MAJOR EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS PROGRAMME 2015-16 – SPCB(2015)Paper 29

15. The SPCB agreed the Major Events and Exhibitions Programme for 2015-16 as set out in the paper.

EXHIBITION UPDATE – oral

16. The SPCB noted an update on planning for a First World War exhibition. The SPCB was keen to maximise engagement with, and access to this exhibition by school groups.

MEMBER-SPONSORED EVENT – SPCB(2015)Paper 30

17. The SPCB agreed use of the Parliament’s landscape area for a Member-sponsored exhibition.

FIRE SAFETY POLICY: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY – SPCB(2015)Paper 31

18. The SPCB agreed the stakeholder engagement strategy to support the Scottish Parliament’s Fire Safety Policy.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

19. The next SPCB meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 1 April 2015.

SPCB Secretariat March 2015

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