MEETING MINUTES
Date / time: Wednesday April 18th 2018, 9:00am-12:00am
Venue: State Services Commission
Expert Advisory Panel attendees: Te Rau Kupenga, Scott Miller, Phil Newman, Rachel Roberts and Suzanne Snively
State Services Commission Chair: Catherine Williams, Acting Deputy Commissioner Integrity, Ethics & Standards
Agenda & Topics
1. Welcome Expert Advisory Panel (EAP)
Phil, Rachel, Scott and Te Rau were welcomed to the Panel and briefly described their experience, aspirations and expectations for membership of the Panel.
2. Update on OGP 2016-18 National Action Plan Committments
Amy provided an update on progress with Commitments under the current National Action Plan. All commitments are expected to complete their milestones on time.
Preparation for the Final Self-Assessment is underway.
The IRM Mid –Term Report recommends that additional actions be undertaken in terms of the current Plan, the SSC and commitment leads are considering the implications of this.
Diane Owenga from the DPMC spoke about the Policy Toolkit (Commitment 7 in the current Plan) andin line with recommendation from the IRM Reviewer, sought feedback on the process and tool kit from a citizen’s perspective. She will follow up with an e-mail to EAP members. Key questions were:
- Will the content about tools and methods included so far in the Policy Project’s online Policy Methods Toolbox help improve policy practitioner understanding of why, how and when to apply those tools?
- For the current four focus areas, could the way the current content is presented be improved, or added to, so that policy practitioner understanding, and the practice of more open and user-led policy, improve? If so, what changes do you recommend?
- What would you suggest as priorities for extending the Policy Methods Toolbox in future (to include what tools and methods, why)?
- What process for engagement beyond government would you advise, in developing the Policy Methods Toolbox in those areas?
- In what ways could you see the information available in the Policy Methods Toolbox being brought to the attention of people and organisations beyond central government?
3. OGP 2018-20 National Action Plan Engagement Process
By way of background Catherine referred to the SSC’s commitment to continuous improvement in the NAP development process. She described the input sought and provided into the development process by the EAP, civil society organisations and surveyed subscribers.
An A3 describing the proposed process was tabled and discussed. This process supports a longer, broader conversation with a greater range of participants. To support this the ogp.org.nz website has been revamped and there is an active social media presence.
A key element of the process is to use the networks of others to spread awareness and encourage participation. The support of the EAP was sought (SSC to provide draft supporting materials for comment).
4. Stakeholder Briefing
The meeting was followed by a Stakeholder Briefing at which the members of the EAP were introduced. Catherine, Suzanne, Keitha Booth (the IRM Reviewer for the 2016-18 Plan) and Jonathan Robertson from the Parliament Counsel Office made short presentations on the significance of the development of a National Action Plan in the New Zealand context.
The process for the development of the next National Action Plan was outlined. Attendees were encouraged to participate personally and through their organisations.