Meetings

PAC(4)-25-13 (paper 3)

PAC(4)-25-13 (paper 4)

7.1 Members expressed their disappointment with the Welsh Government’s response but felt there was merit in sharing the correspondence with the Communities, Equalities and Local Government Committee.

PAC(4) 16-13 – Paper 2 – Update from Welsh Government on ‘A Picture of Public Services’

Dr June Milligan, Director General, Local Government and Communities, Welsh Government

3.1 The Chair welcomed Dr June Milligan, Director General, Local Government and Communities, Welsh Government; Piers Bisson, Head of Public Service Reform Division, Welsh Government; and Abigail Harris, Director of Strategy and Policy, Department for Health and Social Services.

3.2 The Committee scrutinised the witnesses.

Action points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         Figures demonstrating how financial management skills across the public service have been improved;

·         Clarity on the costs and benefits of collaborative work undertaken by initiatives such as the Reform Delivery Group; the Public Services Leadership Group; the Partnership Council; Academi; and the new Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery;

·         A note on the use of Lean systems within the Welsh Government;

·         Examples of where the Welsh Government have funded consultants to review the Lean system initiatives which have not been implemented;

·         Further details on how good practice in the health and social care sectors will be shared across local authorities.

3.3 The Committee agreed to write to the Minister with concerns raised by the Committee at this meeting.

PAC(4) 19-12 – Paper 4 – Advice from the Auditor General for Wales

3.1 The Chair welcomed Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for wales; and Mark Jeffs, Wales Audit Office to the meeting.

3.2 The Auditor General for Wales advised the Committee on the Welsh Government’s response to the Committee’s report A Picture of Public Services.

3.1 The Committee agreed its report on a Picture of Public Services 2011, which would be published shortly.

7.1 The Committee considered its draft report on a Picture of Public Services.

5.1 The Committee considered its draft report on A Picture of Public Services.

PAC(4) 03-12 – Paper 1 – NHS Confederation

Helen Birtwhistle, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Dr Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan Health Board

2.1 The Chair welcomed Helen Birtwhistle, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation and Dr Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

2.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action points:

The Welsh NHS Confederation agreed to provide:

·         Details of additional funds released from the recent Welsh Government’s budget which will be allocated to Local Health Boards over the next three years.

·         Further information on where significant savings and cost reductions have been made by individual health boards.

6.1 The Committee discussed the handling of the Wales Audit Office’s report A Picture of Public Services.

Vanessa Phillips, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association

2.1 The Committee welcomed Vanessa Phillips, Director of Resources, Welsh Local Government Association.

2.2 The Committee also welcomed Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for Wales and Mark Jeffs, Wales Audit Office.

2.3 The Committee questioned the witness.

Action points:

The Welsh Local Government Association agreed to provide:

·         Further details on prudential borrowing, including comparisons with previous years.

·         A note on examples where public engagement and participatory budgeting has contributed to the development of the services to be delivered by local authorities.

·         Further information explaining how Equality Impact Assessments had been applied during recent staff reductions in the public sector.

Paper: PAC(4) 07-11 – Paper 1 – Welsh Government evidence: A Picture of Public Services 2011

Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Government

June Milligan, Director General for Local Government and Communities

Michael Hearty, Director General for Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance

Reg Kilpatrick, Director, Local Government and Public Service

3.1 The Committee welcomed Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary; June Milligan, Director General for Local Government and Communities; Michael Hearty, Director General for Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance; Reg Kilpatrick, Director, Local Government and Public Services.

3.2 The Committee also welcomed Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for Wales and Mark Jeffs, Wales Audit Office.

3.3 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         A profile of savings to be made by Welsh Government departments over the forthcoming financial year.

·         Further details on additional funding made available to the Health Service in the last financial year.

·         How Lean methodology was used to develop Farming Connect, including methods of reducing customer waiting time.

·         Answers to questions the Committee did not reach during the meeting.

PAC(4)-06-11 – Paper 1 – Wales Audit Office report: Picture of Public Services 2011 – The key financial challenges facing Welsh public services

4.1 The Committee received a briefing from the Auditor General for Wales on the Wales Audit Office report, A Picture of Public Services 2011 – The key financial challenges facing Welsh public services.