Agenda and minutes

1.1 Members discussed the research briefs in advance of the scrutiny sessions with the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Welsh Language Commissioner and the Arts Council for Wales.

View the meeting transcript.

2.1 The Chair welcomed the Members to Committee.

2.2 Apologies were received from Alun Ffred Jones and Julie Morgan. Jocelyn Davies and Keith Davies substituted.

3.1 The papers were noted.

3.2 The Chair agreed to write to Sir Derek Jones asking whether there is a policy relating to severance packages and, if so, whether it applies commonly to all grades of staff.

PAC(4)-26-14 paper 1

4.1 Members considered the correspondence and were supportive of the Environment and Sustainability Committee’s request for the Auditor General for Wales to make arrangements to examine the data underpinning the RIA set out in the Welsh Government’s Explanatory Memorandum to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill.

4.2 The Chair agreed to write to the Auditor General for Wales advising him of the decision.

PAC(4)-26-14 paper 2

Research Brief

Keith Towler - Children's Commissioner for Wales

Tony Evans – Head of Corporate Services, Children's Commissioner for Wales

5.1 The Committee scrutinised the Children’s Commissioner for Wales Accounts for 2013-14 questioning Keith Towler, Children's Commissioner for Wales and Tony Evans, Head of Corporate Services.

5.2 The Children’s Commissioner for Wales agreed to provide details of the cost of the car lease, and how those costs compare to use of a private vehicle. He also agreed to provide details on the increase in other administrative expenditure of £18,000 between 2012-13 and 2013-14.

PAC(4)-26-14 paper 3

Research Brief

Meri Huws - Welsh Language Commissioner

Richard Davies – Finance Officer, Office of the Welsh Language Commissioner

6.1 The Committee scrutinised the Welsh Language Commissioners’ Accounts for 2013-14 questioning Meri Huws, Welsh Language Commissioner and Richard Davies, Finance Officer.

PAC(4)-26-14 paper 4

Research Brief

Nick Capaldi – Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales

Hywel Tudor – Director of Finance and Resources, Arts Council of Wales

6.1 The Committee scrutinised the Arts Council of Wales Annual Report 2013-14 questioning Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive and Hywel Tudor, Director of Finance and Resources.

6.2 Nick Capaldi agreed to provide further information on the ‘Collectorplan’ loan scheme, including eligibility of art works, gender, income and geographical spread. He also agreed to provide a note on how the ACfW is implementing the strategy to increase participation with people from under-represented groups as part of their targets for 21014-15 and goals for 2018.

Items 9 & 10

8.1 The motion was agreed.

9.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed to write to Dr Shooter as part of his review of the Children’s Commissioner on issues raised and also write to the Chair of the Finance Committee regarding the levels of resources.

10.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received and agreed to write to the Arts Council of Wales seeking further information on areas of their Annual Report that they had not been questioned on due to time constraints.