Agenda item
Governance and Assurance Update Report
- Meeting of Senedd Commission Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, Monday, 21 October 2019 10.00 (Item 4.)
- View the background to item 4.
Minutes:
ACARAC (05-19) Paper 3 – G&A update report
4.1
Gareth Watts introduced the report which provided
members with an update on recent internal Governance and Assurance work.
4.2
Copies of the reports on the review of the Assembly
Commission’s Voluntary Exit Scheme and the Effectiveness Review of the
Executive Board had been circulated to Committee members out of meeting on 26
September 2019. Gareth had also undertaken an Effectiveness Review of the
Leadership Team and had presented the outcome and recommendations to them.
Gareth would keep the Committee up to date with progress against actions
arising from both of these reviews.
4.3
The Governance team led on the production of the
Annual Report and Accounts for the first time this year. The team had worked
closely with colleagues in the Finance and Communications teams, producing
drafts in advance of the original deadlines set. A number of recommendations
for the 2019-20 report had been agreed by management which, along with a
proposed timetable, would be shared with the Committee in due course.
4.4
The Governance team had been meeting with Heads of
Service as part of the annual Governance Matters cycle of meetings. This formed
the first building blocks for the production of the Annual Governance
Statement. Meetings with Directors had been arranged to discuss any issues
identified from the Head of Service meetings in preparation for drafting
Assurance Statements.
4.5
A review of Fixed Assets was due to take place and
Gareth agreed to share the scoping paper ahead of the review commencing.
4.6
A review of the Commission’s approach to engaging
with Welsh suppliers had been completed and the report would be circulated when
finalised. Suzy asked whether any environmental/sustainability themes or issues
had arisen from the review. Gareth indicated that the report included reference
to impact assessments but agreed to consider how this could be explored
further.
4.7
In relation to the forthcoming review of Project
Management Changes, it was noted that, whilst the Commission had made
significant improvements in recent years, this was timely given the change of
structure put in place around project governance. The Chair agreed to return to
this topic once the audit had been concluded. In the meantime, Gareth agreed to
circulate the outline scoping paper to Committee members, when available.
4.8
In response to questions from the Committee around
any plans for reviewing use of the Assembly’s estate, Arwyn Jones advised that
this would form part of the wider engagement strategy.
4.9
Hugh Widdis noted that the review of the impact of
the Capacity Review was under way. Gareth advised that the emerging themes were
largely consistent with those raised during the Commission’s evidence session
at the Finance Committee meeting on 3 October. He added that this review would
focus on assurances around the realisation of benefits.
4.10 Hugh
re-iterated the importance of conducting audits into Business Directorate
areas, where appropriate. Gareth agreed and would be working with Director of
Assembly Business to develop the scope of future audit work.
Actions:
·
Provide an update on
progress against actions arising from the reviews of Executive Board and
Leadership Team
· Share the scoping papers for the audits on Fixed Assets and Review of Project Management Changes