15 December 2022

Attendees

Those present: 

John Benger, Clerk of the House [Chair]
Marianne Cwynarski, Director General (Operations) 
Sarah Davies, Clerk Assistant and Managing Director of the Chamber and Participation Team
Mandy Eddolls, Managing Director of People and Culture
Alison Giles, Director of Security for Parliament [item 3b onwards]
Catherine Hallett, interim Managing Director of Strategic Estates
Grant Hill-Cawthorne, Librarian and Managing Director of Research and Information 
Colin Lee, Managing Director of the Select Committee Team
Vicky Rock, Finance Director and Managing Director of Finance, Portfolio and Performance 
Saira Salimi, Speaker’s Counsel

Apologies:

David Smith, Managing Director of the Parliamentary Digital Service 

In attendance:

Anne Foster, Director of Diversity and Inclusion [item 1a-c]
Clare Jennings, Director of Communications       
Gosia McBride, Head of the Governance Office and Secretary to the House of Commons Commission 
Sarah Petit, Director of Cultural Transformation [item 1a-c]
Richard Shoreland, Human Resources Director
Katharine Williams, Governance Manager and Secretary to the Commons Executive Board  
Caroline Young, Head of Finance Improvement [item 2]

Meeting

1. Quarterly theme: People

a) Working Lives survey: summary of next steps

The CEB noted how the results of the Working Lives All-Staff Survey were being used to inform reporting and decision-making and agreed how the response to the reports would be communicated at corporate and at team level.

b. Cultural transformation: report and proposals

The CEB reviewed the evaluation of progress made during 2022, discussed key findings from the Working Lives survey, and agreed priorities and approach for 2023/24.

c. Hybrid working policy

The CEB:

• noted the hybrid working data report and inclusion analyses that informed the policy.
• approved the policy subject to changes agreed in discussion.
• agreed the approach to communicating the policy.

d. Mandatory actions and training (Essentials)

The CEB:

• agreed the policy on annual mandatory corporate training for House of Commons and Digital Service staff.
• agreed the updated content list for the next iteration of the training.
• agreed in principle that supplementary policies should be developed and proposed regarding key training and messaging for the wider Parliamentary Community, as well as related assurance processes.
• agreed that the current ‘Essentials package’ of high-priority actions would no longer exist as a distinct unit and instead the full list of mandatory actions, including the requirement for annual training, would be published to all staff for reference.
• agreed that messaging for resolving cases of non-compliance should go through BMDs.

2. By exception

a. Independent Review of Financial Management: approach to implementation

The CEB reviewed and endorsed the planned implementation approach, initial draft set of actions and the proposed next steps for the programme. The CEB agreed that the plan should be shared with the Commons Management Group.

3. Monthly updates

a. HR & payroll system

The CEB noted an update from the Managing Director of People and Culture.

b. Director General (Operations)

The CEB noted an update from the Director General (Ops).

The CEB asked for a pre-mortem exercise to be carried out on the resilience arrangements for power and heating when the House returned in January.

c. Parliamentary business

The CEB noted an update from the Managing Directors of the Chamber and Participation Team and the Select Committee Team.

d. Finance

The CEB noted an update from the Managing Director of Finance, Portfolio and Performance.

e. Major projects

The CEB noted an update from the interim Managing Director of Strategic Estates.

f. Security

The CEB noted an update from the Director of Security for Parliament

g. Safety

The CEB noted an update from the Head of the Governance Office.

4. AOB

There was no culture reflection this month because it was part of the main agenda.

5. Take note papers

The following papers were noted:

a) CEB decision and action log / minutes
b) Reports from the Commission and Domestic Committees
c) Sub-board agendas and minutes
d) Internal audit strategy and three-year plan: copy of Committee paper
e) Diversity & Inclusion
a. D&I strategy development
b. Workplace Equality Networks update
f) Working Lives six-month report – summary
g) Estate-based community update
h) Welfare accommodation update to the Clerk, 8 November 2022

6. By correspondence

The following papers were taken by correspondence ahead of this meeting:

a. Safety review

The CEB noted the report.