Vacancy: Commissioner (x2)

The Commission is looking to appoint 2 Commissioners as it makes its final preparations for the 2026 Review of Senedd constituencies.

Information on the roles is available below. You can apply for one of the available roles on the Welsh Government website.

Information for Applicants

Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru

(formerly known as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales)

Appointment of Members Closing date: 29 July 2024

Making an Application

Thank you for your interest in the appointment of Member to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. The attached Annexes provide details on the role of the Member and the person specification, the role and responsibilities of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru and the selection process.

To make an application, please visit the Welsh Government vacancies page.

https://cais.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-4/brand-7/xf- 509f77e961d6/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/6/adv/

To apply for this role, click on the vacancy and click on ‘apply’ at the bottom left-hand corner. The first time you apply for a post, you will need to register on the Welsh Government online application system. You will only need to register once, after which you can track the progress of your current application, and any future applications via your online registered account.

https://cais.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-4/brand-7/xf- 4ac5797242e0/candidate/register

When you have completed registration, you will be able to access the application form. To apply, you will need to upload a personal statement and CV with your online application form.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria set out in the person specification. How you choose to present the

information is your choice. You should, however, aim to provide detailed examples demonstrating how your knowledge and experience match each of the criteria, and your role in achieving a specific result.

It will benefit the selection panel if you can be clear in which particular evidence relates to the criteria. Providing separate paragraphs in relation to each criterion is common practice.

Please limit your personal statement to no more than 2 (two) pages. Your application may be rejected if you exceed this limit.

We are recruiting for two roles - 1 Welsh essential and 1 Welsh desirable. Please confirm in your personal statement which role you are interested in.

CV

Please ensure your CV includes brief details of your current or most recent post and the dates you occupied this role. Please identify any past or present Ministerial appointments.

Indicative timetable (to be finalised once date of advertisement is agreed)

Closing date 16:00, 29 July 2024

Shortlisting week commencing 5 August 2024

Interviews week commencing 2 September 2024

Diversity Statement

The Welsh Government believes that public bodies should have board members who reflect Welsh society, people from all walks of life, to help them understand people’s needs and to make better decisions. This is why the Welsh Government encourages applications from a wide and diverse audience.

Applications are particularly welcomed from all under-represented groups, including

• Women
• People under 30 years of age
• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people
• Disabled people
• Members of the LGBTQI+ community

Disability Confident

The Welsh Government accepts the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions, or who use British Sign Language (BSL).

We are committed to removing barriers so all staff can perform at their best. The Equality Act 2010 uses the medical definition of disability “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.

We guarantee to interview anyone who is disabled, whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence for the role and any qualifications, skills or experience defined as ‘essential’.

We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. If you would like a guaranteed interview, please contact Leighton Jones via email at (leighton.jones@gov.wales) or by phone (0300 025 3038) to let them know.

If you have an impairment or health condition or use BSL and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, please contact Leighton Jones as soon as possible to discuss your requirements and any questions you may have.

Contacts

For further information regarding the selection process, please contact Public Appointments Team

Email: publicappointments@gov.wales

For information about the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru you may wish to visit the Commission’s web site: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru or contact the Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, Shereen Williams,

Telephone: 02921 052501

email: shereen.williams@boundaries.wales

Should you need any further assistance with applying for this role, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/public-appointments

Annex A

Appointment of Member to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (formerly known as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales)

Role Description – what you will do

It is important to note commissioners of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru will work across the full range of the body’s functions, but each will have particular focus on a functional area. In the case of this current recruitment the functional responsibility is to co-ordinate the running of devolved elections in Wales, through the provision of advice and guidance to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers. The specific activities and set out in bold type and underlined below.

Strategic Functions

Members will:

• Oversee the delivery of Local Government Electoral Boundary Reviews, including one Member taking a Lead Commissioner role for each review.
• Oversee the delivery of Senedd Boundary Reviews.
• Determine the level of payments to elected and co-opted members of Unitary Councils, Town and Community Councils, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities.
• Co-ordinate the running of devolved elections in Wales, through the provision of advice and guidance to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers (as part of the Electoral Management Board).

Board attendance and participation

• Chair and/or participate in sub-committees contributing to the delivery of programmes of work through the Governance and Audit (DBCC Deputy Chair and two Commissioners), Remuneration (at least four Commissioners) or Electoral Review (at least four Commissioners) sub committees.

Chair and/or participate in the Electoral Management Board (two Commissioners, one as Chair, one as Board Member).

Stakeholder Management

• Ensure strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead Commissioner roles – Take responsibility for engagement and communication with council leaders, officers, and other key stakeholders across local government.
• Electoral Management Board roles – Ensure strong effective relationships with electoral administration staff, returning officers and wider stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission.

Communication and Engagement

• Ensure effective consultation and engagement on proposals in accordance with the Commission’s Communication and Engagement strategy, ensuring feedback is used to support continuous learning and improvement.
• Ensure consultation is fully compliant with statutory legislative framework and used to inform decision making for all electoral reviews and remuneration determinations.
• Ensure Commission decisions are communicated clearly and all communications are accessible.
• Analysis of information / use of research and evidence to support effective decision making
• Analyse and interpret information and make effective use of evidence to support panel decision making on Local Government Electoral and Senedd Boundary Review options and remuneration.
• Identify trends across all aspects of Commission programmes to inform a research and evidence plan that ensures the Commission is contributing to the Democratic health of the nation.
• Use evidence and research in the provision of advice to the Welsh Government on the state of Democratic health in Wales.
• Use research and evidence to support effective decision making of the Electoral Management Board.

Policy Development

• Develop policy, practice and robust methodology to support decision making.
• Provide guidance and advice to key stakeholders on the effective running of devolved elections in Wales, remuneration policy and determinations, and electoral reviews.
• Through shared learning, develop and implement guidance for the effective delivery of elections across Wales.

Legislative Framework

• Understand the legislative framework that impacts decisions and Commission work.
• Ensure the Commission is working within the legislative framework.
• Horizon scan for future changes to legislation that are likely to impact the functions of the Commission.

Corporate Governance

• Ensure the organisation is fit for purpose with effective corporate governance arrangements in place in respect to financial and risk management and organisational development.
• Ensure plans and policies are regularly reviewed.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to the organisation and support the Chief Executive and senior leadership team to delivery corporate objectives and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensure the delivery of outcomes against the Commission strategy and organisational plan, delivery of Welsh Government objectives and that the Minister’s Remit Letter is fulfilled.

Performance Management and Quality Assurance

• Oversee the quality assurance process for the production of draft and final reports.
• Ensure the effective monitoring of the Commission’s performance.

Person Specification – who are we looking for

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 specification

Applicants must be able to demonstrate: -

Welsh context	Understanding of how local government operates in Wales and the importance of democratic health.
Communication	Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to individuals ranging across members of the public, elected representatives and senior leaders. Ability to exercise independent judgement – make decisions and explain how they have been made.
Analytical and Interpretation skills	Ability to evaluate a wide range of information, including geographical data and formulate a reasoned conclusion. Experience of utilising research and analysis to support effective decision making Ability to assess options, identify and formulate solutions using a methodical and analytical approach.
Legislative framework	Understanding of the legislative framework the Commission operates within to ensure effective robust decision making.

Impartiality	Ability to remain impartial and objective in offering constructive advice and observation. Strong track record of delivering outcomes with an ability to reflect on and learn from own lived experiences
Political neutrality	Ability to work on basis of strict political neutrality. Understanding of and commitment to the Nolan Principles of public life
Corporate Governance	Understanding of importance of effective corporate and financial governance Knowledge, skills or experience of financial management, accounting, risk management, audit and accountability structures
Elections	Experience of co-ordinating or running local government, Senedd, parliamentary or Police and Crime Commissioner elections
Desirable Specification
Analytical experience	Experience of working with spatial, geographical or numerical data to support decision making
Research	Experience of commissioning and analysing research

Welsh Language

Welsh language skills are essential for one post and desirable for one post, but not a pre-requisite for appointment. However, all candidates will be expected to display an empathy towards the language.

Essential

Understanding - Can understand all work-related conversations Reading - Full understanding of all work-related material Speaking - Fluent

Writing - Can prepare written material for all work-related matters

Desirable

Understanding - Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics Reading - Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding Speaking - Can converse in simple work-related conversations

Writing - Can write simple work-related correspondence

Key facts about the post

Location: Cardiff or virtually via MS Teams Time Commitment: Minimum of 1-2 days per month Tenure of office: 4 years 6 months, to 31 March 2029. Remuneration: £282 per full day, £141 per half day

Eligibility

Any individual who holds one or more of the positions below is ineligible to apply for this role, due to Section 4(3) of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 stating Welsh Ministers may not appoint an individual who holds any of these positions:

A member may not be -

• a member of Parliament; a member of a UK legislature;
• a member of the National Assembly for Wales;
• a person engaged by a member of the UK legislature under a contract of service or a contract for services, in connection with the carrying out of the member’s functions;
• a person engaged by a registered political party under a contract of service or a contract for services;
• a special advisor;
• a member or member of staff of a local authority;
• a member or member of staff of a National Park authority for a National Park in Wales;
• a member or member of staff of a corporate joint committee established by regulations made under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections

(Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1);

• a member or member of staff of a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies;
• a police and crime Commissioner for a police area in Wales; or
• a member of the Commission's staff.

(those in black are currently excluded, those in red are amendments/additions by the Senedd Cymru (Member and Elections) Bill, those in green are amendments / additions by the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill).

Applicants should also note that being a member of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is a disqualifying post for membership of the Senedd Cymru under the Senedd Cymru (Disqualification) Order 2020.

The Senedd Cymru (Disqualification) Order 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)

Conflict of Interests

You will be asked to declare any private interests which may, or may be perceived to, conflict with the role and responsibilities as Member of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, including any business interests and positions of authority outside of the role in the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

Any conflicts of interest will be explored at interview. If appointed, you will also be required to declare these interests on a register which is available to the public.

Due Diligence

Welsh Government Public Bodies Unit will undertake due diligence checks on all candidates successfully sifted to interview. This will include, but not necessarily be limited to social media and Internet searches. As a result, you may be asked questions at interview in relation to any due diligence findings.

Standards in public life

You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct. All successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, you can access this document at:

Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies (gov.uk)

Civil servants must not misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others.

Conflicts of interest may arise from financial interests, and more broadly from official dealings with, or decisions in respect of, individuals who share a civil servant’s private interests (e.g. freemasonry, memberships of societies, clubs, organisations and family).

Where a conflict of interest arises, civil servants must declare their interest to senior management, for senior management to determine how best to proceed.

Annex B

The role and responsibilities of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (formerly known as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales)

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is an independent Welsh Government Sponsored Body whose statutory duties are set out in the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill and the Senedd Cymru (members and Elections) Bill, currently completing their passage through the Senedd, will expand the functions of the Commission. The range of duties, subject to the successful passage of the legislation will include:

• Ensuring Senedd boundaries are fit for purpose, including the regular review of electoral arrangements.
• Ensuring principal area electoral arrangements are fit for purpose – developing and delivering a twelve -year rolling programme of electoral reviews.
• Making Orders in relation to proposals from principal councils for changes to community areas following their reviews of community boundaries and electoral arrangements.
• As appropriate, ensuring the boundaries of principal council areas are fit for purpose.
• The creation and maintenance of an Electoral Management Board for devolved elections.
• Responsibility for determining the remuneration framework for members of the principal councils, town and community councillors, fire and rescue authorities, national park authorities and corporate joint committees across Wales.
• Maintaining a high level of Corporate Governance for the Commission.

In addition to its statutory duties the Commission may conduct reviews or provide advice and information at the request of local authorities or as directed by the Welsh Ministers.

In respect of principal area arrangements, the Commission makes recommendations to the Welsh Ministers, which it considers are in the interest of effective and convenient local government.

Members will co-ordinate the running of devolved elections in Wales, through the provision of advice and guidance to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers (as part of the Electoral Management Board).

Members will also contribute to the broader set of functions, which include delivery of Local Government Electoral Boundary Reviews and Senedd Boundary Reviews in addition to determining the level of payments to elected and co-opted members of Unitary Councils, Town and Community Councils, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities.

Commission meetings are held monthly. Typically, the role involves one to two days a month but could be three to four days a month during the review programme. Meetings are held in person as well as via video conferencing.

The Welsh Ministers may appoint up to nine members to the Commission, which comprises of a Chair, Deputy Chair and up to seven other members. The quorum for meetings is three.

The secretariat to the Commission is provided by a chief executive and seventeen staff members. The staffing structure changes in line with the Commission's work programmes.

The Commission holds hybrid meetings and members can choose to attend in person at the Commission offices, currently at Hastings House, Cardiff, but will change in the coming months to Cathays Park, Cardiff, or members may attend virtually via MS Teams. All Commissioners are provided with ICT equipment and support to enable them to attend meetings. Due to the nature of the work of the Commission, there may be occasions when in person meetings are required throughout Wales.

The post of members will be remunerated at £282 per full day, £141 per half day.

Members of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru are regarded as holders of an office for tax and National Insurance purposes. Fees payable are chargeable to tax under Schedule E of the Taxes Act and subject to class 1 National Insurance contributions and will be paid through the Commission’s payroll. Fees are not subject to VAT.

Travel and other reasonable expenses that might be incurred in carrying out work on behalf of the Commission can be claimed at rates approved by the Welsh Government. Members may also be eligible to claim reimbursement for costs in relation to childcare/care of the elderly/assistant carer, whilst carrying out work on behalf of the Commission.

Every effort will be made to provide whatever reasonable support members who have a disability need to help them carry out their duties.

The Commission and Welsh Government will provide induction sessions for the successful candidate.

Starting date

TBC

Annex C

The selection process

The interview panel will assess candidates’ CVs and personal statements to

determine who it believes best meet the criteria for the role, and who will be invited to interview. The panel will rely only on the information you provide in your CV and statement to assess whether you have the skills and experience required. Please ensure that you provide evidence to support how you meet all of the essential criteria.

The selection panel will be chaired by Michael Kay, Deputy Director, Elections Division, Welsh Government and will also comprise Beverley Smith, Chair of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. The Independent Panel Member will be confirmed.

Your application may be “long listed”, subject to the volume of applications received, before it is passed to the selection panel for consideration. You should be aware that in this situation, your application may not be considered in full by all of the panel.

We anticipate that during August 2024 the panel will have decided who will be invited for interview in September 2024. It is our intention that interviews will take place via Microsoft teams.

The panel will select for interview only the strongest applicants who it feels have demonstrated that they best meet the criteria set out in the person specification. However, if you have applied under the guaranteed interview scheme and you meet the essential minimum criteria for the post, you will also be invited to attend an interview.

If you are invited to interview, and the date of the interview is not already provided in this information pack, we will aim to provide you with as much notice as possible of the interview date. If you are unable to make the arranged date, we will endeavour to re-arrange it, but it may not be possible due to time constraints within the appointment timetable or selection panel availability.

You will receive email communication from Welsh Government’s application centre to let you know if you have been invited to interview.

If you attend an interview, the panel will question you about your skills and experience, asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post.

Candidates who the panel believe are ‘appointable’ will be recommended to Ministers, who will make the final decision. The Minister may choose to meet with appointable candidates before making their decision. If they do, they will meet all candidates in the presence of the panel chair, or their nominated representative. There will be a time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

If you are successful, you will receive a letter appointing you as Member of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, which will confirm the terms on which the appointment is offered.

If you are unsuccessful at interview, you will be notified through the Welsh Government’s application centre. We appreciate it takes a lot of time and effort to apply for roles and that feedback is a valuable part of the process. As a result, the letter will provide the details of who you may approach for feedback on your application and interview, should you so wish.

Queries

For queries about your application, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales

If you are not completely satisfied

Welsh Government will aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants fairly, and with courtesy. If you have any complaints about the way your application has been handled, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales .

Additionally, you can write to the Office of the Commissioner for Public

Appointments, Ground Floor, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ, or via email at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk