Agenda and minutes

View the meeting transcript.

1.1 The Chair welcomed the Members to the meeting.

1.2 There were no apologies.

2,1 The papers were noted. However, the Chair asked the Clerks to schedule time in the Committee’s work programme to discuss the letter on Covering Teachers’ Absence from the Director of Education and Skills and also the letter from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Chair on the Governance Arrangements at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

2.2 The Chair also said he would reply to the Permanent Secretary at the Welsh Government seeking clarification on how the Welsh Government monitors and spends the grant funding related to the NHS Wales in accordance with Welsh Ministers policies.

PAC(4)-10-15 paper 1

PAC(4)-10-15 paper 2

PAC(4)-10-15 paper 3

Research Brief

James Price – Director General, Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, Welsh Government

Sheena Hague - Deputy Director, Network Management, Welsh Government

Andy Falleyn - Deputy Director, Infrastructure Delivery, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee took evidence from James Price, Director General, Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, Sheena Hague, Deputy Director, Network Management, and Andy Falleyn, Deputy Director, Infrastructure Delivery, Welsh Government on its inquiry into value for money of Motorway and Trunk Road investment.

3.2 James Price agreed to send the following information to Committee:

·       explore the suggestion that there are inaccuracies in information provided on the A55 on the Traffic Wales website;

·       provide a note on numbers of road works in NMWTRA, including overnight works and the time involved in scheme delivery;

·       provide a note on the number of complaints around road works, including the percentage of road works which are subject to complaints, and introduce more formal and regular reporting;

·       confirm when preparation of the new StreetWorks Strategy began and the reasons why it has taken four years to develop; and

·       investigate the recent difficulties resulting from road works in North East Wales and how this relates to cross border co-operation with English Highway Authorities, including the Highways Agency / Highways England.

Research Brief

Jeremy Patterson – Chief Executive, Powys County Council

David Powell – Strategic Director, Powys County Council

Tony Wilkins - Director of Human Resources, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Barrie Davies - Director of Financial Services, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Jeremy Patterson, Chief Executive, Powys County Council and David Powell, Strategic Director, Powys County Council together with Tony Wilkins, Director of Human Resources, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Barrie Davies, Director of Financial Services, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on its inquiry into Managing Early Departures.

4.2 Jeremy Patterson agreed to send the following information to Committee:

·       Details of the total numbers of departures since the Auditor General for Wales’ report with average costs and which departments have been affected;

·       Agreed to check and send details as to whether Powys County Council has utilised the services of consultants who were previous employees who left the authority under an early departure scheme;

·       Details of current vacancy numbers together with the departments involved, and

·       Details of the numbers of expressions of interest for the last round of early departure applications

4.3 Tony Wilkins agreed to send the following information to Committee:

·       Details of current vacancy numbers together with the departments involved.

Items 6, 7 & 8

5.1 The motion was agreed.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

8.1 Due to time constraints, the Committee was unable to consider the evidence received. However, the clerks will re-schedule this item for a future meeting.