Concise Minutes - Public Accounts Committee


Meeting Venue:

Committee Room 3 - Senedd

Meeting date: Monday, 25 September 2017

Meeting time: 12.00 - 16.41
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/4347


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Attendance

Category

Names

Assembly Members:

Nick Ramsay AM (Chair)

Mohammad Asghar (Oscar) AM

Neil Hamilton AM

Vikki Howells AM

Lee Waters AM

Witnesses:

Maria Battle, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Owen Evans, Welsh Government

Len Richards, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Wales Audit Office:

Huw Vaughan Thomas – Auditor General for Wales

Matthew Mortlock

Mike Usher

Dave Rees

John Herniman

Committee Staff:

Fay Bowen (Clerk)

Meriel Singleton (Second Clerk)

Claire Griffiths (Deputy Clerk)

Katie Wyatt (Legal Adviser)

 

 

<AI1>

1       Scrutiny of Accounts 2016-17: Committee Strategy

1.1 Committee Members participated in training as part of their preparation for the forthcoming work on accounts scrutiny.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2       Audit of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Contractual Relationships with RKC Associates Ltd and its Owner: Auditor General for Wales Briefing

2.1 The Auditor General for Wales provided an oral briefing on the findings of his Audit of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Contractual Relationships with RKC Associates Ltd and its Owner, which was published on 17 July 2017.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3       The Welsh Government’s funding of Carmarthenshire Energy Limited: Auditor General for Wales Briefing

3.1 The Auditor General for Wales provided an oral briefing on the findings of his Report on the Welsh Government’s funding of Carmarthenshire Energy Limited, which was published on 20 July.

3.2 Members agreed that the Chair should write to the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee advising them of the Report.

</AI3>

<AI4>

4       The Welsh Government’s Supporting People Programme: Auditor General for Wales Briefing

4.1 The Auditor General for Wales provided an oral briefing on the findings of his report on the Welsh Government’s Supporting People Programme, which was published on 31 August 2017.

4.2 Members agreed to undertake an inquiry into this issue.

</AI4>

<AI5>

Transcript

View the meeting transcript (PDF 999KB) View as HTML (999KB)

</AI5>

<AI6>

5       Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

5.1 The Chair welcomed the Members to Committee.

5.2 Apologies were received from Rhianon Passmore AM. There was no substitute.

</AI6>

<AI7>

6       Paper(s) to note

6.1 The papers were noted.

6.2 The Chair agreed to send a copy of the Welsh Government’s response to the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

6.3 In relation to Item 6.7, NHS Waiting Times for Elective Care in Wales and Orthopaedic Services, Members noted the progress being made and agreed to receive a further update on progress in spring 2018.

6.1   Welsh Government oversight of further education colleges 'finances and delivery': Additional Information from the Welsh Government (18 July 2017)

</AI8>

<AI9>

6.2   The Welsh Government’s Funding of Kancoat Ltd: Additional information from the Welsh Government (21 July 2017)

</AI9>

<AI10>

6.3   NHS Wales Health Board’s Governance: Letter from Dr Kate Chamberlain, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (19 July 2017)

</AI10>

<AI11>

6.4   Implementation of the NHS Finance (Wales) Act 2014: Letter from the Welsh Government (25 July 2017)

</AI11>

<AI12>

6.5   Community Safety in Wales: Letter from the Welsh Government (26 July 2017)

</AI12>

<AI13>

6.6   Implementation of the NHS Finance (Wales) Act 2014: Welsh Government response to the Auditor General for Wales Report

</AI13>

<AI14>

6.7   NHS Waiting Times for Elective Care in Wales and Orthopaedic Services: Update from the Welsh Government (7 August 2017)

</AI14>

<AI15>

6.8   Implementation of the Wales Act 2017: Letter from the Llywydd (18 August 2017) and letter from the Secretary of State for Wales (17 September 2017)

</AI15>

<AI16>

6.9   The 21st Century Schools and Education Programme: Welsh Government's response to the Auditor General for Wales' Report

</AI16>

<AI17>

7       Coastal flood and erosion risk management in Wales: Consideration of the Welsh Government's response to the Committee's Report

7.1 Committee Members considered the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations contained in the Committee report and noted that the Chair will be sending a copy of the response to the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.

7.2 Members agreed to have an update on progress in spring 2018 but in the interim, the Chair will write to the Welsh Government seeking clarification on a number of points raised.

</AI17>

<AI18>

8       Inquiry into Regulatory oversight of Housing Associations: Consideration of the Welsh Government's response to the Committee's Report

8.1 Committee Members considered the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations contained in the Committee report and noted the positive reaction from the housing sector.

8.2 Members agreed to have an update on progress in spring and November 2018.

</AI18>

<AI19>

9       The Welsh Government's initial funding of the Circuit of Wales Project: Oral Update

9.1 The Chair advised Committee that a detailed response to his letter of 26 June had been received from the Welsh Government which the Auditor General had subsequently commented on.

9.2 Due to time pressures, he advised that there was not sufficient time to consider and discuss the responses in detail.

9.3 Members agreed to consider this correspondence during the meeting on 2 October 2017.

</AI19>

<AI20>

10   Senior Management Pay: Correspondence from the Welsh Government

10.1 Members considered the report from the Welsh Government on senior management pay across the Welsh public sector 2015-16.

10.2 Members requested that the Chair write to the Welsh Government thanking them for the report and requesting that future annual reports include details for further education organisations and registered social landlords in Wales.

</AI20>

<AI21>

11   Audit of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Contractual Relationships with RKC Associates Ltd and its Owner: Evidence Session

11.1 The Committee scrutinised Len Richards, Chief Executive and Maria Battle, Chair, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on the Auditor General for Wales’ report on the Audit of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Contractual Relationships with RKC Associates Ltd and its Owner.

</AI21>

<AI22>

12   Valedictory session: Owen Evans, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Education and Public Services Group

12.1 The Committee held a valedictory session with Owen Evans, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Education and Public Services Group, prior to him leaving the organisation.

12.2 The Chair wished him well for his new role as Chief Executive of S4C.

</AI22>

<AI23>

13   Motion under Standing Order 17.42 to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting for the following business:

13.1 The motion was agreed.

</AI23>

<AI24>

14   Audit of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Contractual Relationships with RKC Associates Ltd and its Owner: Consideration of evidence received

14.1 Members considered the evidence received and agreed to return to the issue once the counter fraud report had been received.

14.2 In the interim, the Chair agreed to write to the Chief Executive and Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board highlighting the Committee’s concerns and seeking assurance that their action plan will address all issues raised by the Auditor General and the Committee.

</AI24>

<AI25>

15   Valedictory session: Consideration of evidence received

15.1 Members considered the evidence received.

</AI25>

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