Member

Job Description

Role description Review ProgrammeMembers will:

• Develop the Policy and Practice and Council Size Methodology for the next Electoral Review Programme, reflecting learning from the previous programme and commissioning research on specific issues.
• Ensure there is wide ranging consultation with Welsh Government, county and county borough councils, community and town councils, and all other stakeholders as part of this.
• Assess a range of options for the numbers of councillors and the areas they represent, taking into account the complexities, and often contradictions, of the demography and infrastructure of the area under review and a wide range of opinions from consultationfeedback.
• Act collectively in making draft and final decisions on individual electoral reviews.
• Work with principal councils to ensure community boundaries and electoral arrangements are regularly reviewed and coordinated with the programme of electoral reviews.
• Act collectively in making orders on individual community reviews.
• Be aware, at all times, of the risks, reputational and other, associated with the reviews and the potential consequences for the Commission, its members and Welsh Government.
• Provide governance and support to the Commission as it adopts new methodology in carrying out electoral reviews and expands its remit to carry out the work of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

Lead CommissionerEach Member is assigned responsibility for overseeing a number of specific electoral reviews as Lead Commissioner. In carrying out this role a member will:

• Lead presentations and address engagement meetings with county and county borough councils including the leader, cabinet members, ward councillors, political group leaders, and senior council officers; community and town councillors and clerks; the publicand other groups who will be interested in the review.
• Undertake visits to the locality under review.
• Participate in engagement events e.g. workshops, seminars.
• Assess an initial range of options for the numbers of councillors and the areas they represent.
• Propose preferred options and the reasons for those decisions to the Commission.
• Oversee the quality assurance process for the production of draft and final reports.

Corporate GovernanceMembers must also:

• Ensure that the organisation is run well and is accountable.
• Monitor the budget monthly, (£1,205,000 in 2022/23). This includes the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities budget for the Boundary Commission for Wales (relating to parliamentary reviews).
• Ensure that the Commission is working in line with legislation, its plans, procedures and policies and that these are regularly reviewed.
• Be aware of the Welsh Governments aims and objectives and ensure that its principles in respect of sustainable development, equality and diversity and the Welsh language are embedded in the Commissions work.
• Provide leadership and focus for the organisation in the delivery of its objectives and discharging its duties and ensuring the Ministers Remit Letter is fulfilled.
• Support the Chief Executive in respect of HR matters, ensuring that the skills of the staff are developed and maintained.
• Work closely as a team of Commissioners and with the staff.
• Constantly engage with stakeholders to maintain a reputation for excellence.

In addition, a member might join the Audit and Risk Assessment Committee or the Workforce Sub Committee, both of which would involve a further time commitment. Person specification The skills and experiences we are looking for are set out below. When submitting your personal statement you should show how your skills and experiences could be used in this role.Essential specificationApplicants must be able to demonstrate:

• a reasonable knowledge and understanding of how local government operates in Wales;
• strong interpersonal and communication skills - be able to engage with a wide range of people on a one to one basis and collectively;
• the ability to exercise independent judgement - make decisions and explain how you have come to that decision;
• the ability to identify and formulate solutions using a methodical and analytical approach;
• the ability to evaluate a wide range of information, including geographical data, and formulate a reasoned conclusion;
• an understanding of the importance of effective corporate and financial management of an organisation;
• collective corporate responsibility and an understanding of risk; experience of working in organisational change management; and
• experience of utilising research and analysis to support effective decision making.

Interview dates From13 March 2023To17 March 2023