(Title Image: Electoral Reform Society)
The Senedd Commission – the body which runs the Senedd itself and provides services to members – has tabled a draft budget (pdf) for 2021-22 which will see an overall 1% increase compared to last year.
The total draft budget stands at just over £62.9million.
£2.6million has been set aside to cover costs associated with next year’s Senedd elections, mainly related to the costs of new members and severance costs associated with members who are standing down or will lose their seats.
The report also suggests a move to partial home-working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic could prompt a rethink of the Senedd estate. The future of the Ty Hywel building is to be discussed over the next two years due to the lease ending in the next ten years.
Some of the options being considered include a straightforward lease renewal, a lease-buy arrangement or a replacement building/extension – though it’s largely dependant on the Welsh Government’s future estates strategy.
