Scrutiny of Accounts: Amgueddfa Cymru 2021-22

In October 2018, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Fifth Senedd scrutinised Amgueddfa Cymru’s (AC) financial report for 2017-18. PAC made seven recommendations in its report, Scrutiny of Accounts 2017-18 in March 2019, relating specifically to AC (Recommendations 34 to 40). AC responded to the recommendations.

In his report on AC’s Financial Report 2020-21 (January 2022), the Auditor General for Wales (AGW) noted, late in the audit process, that concerns were raised with auditors about the clarity of the respective roles and responsibilities of the Trustee Board and the Executive. The AGW paused his audit and AC updated its Annual Governance Statement to set out information about the matter. It was subsequently reported in March 2022 that there was a dispute between AC’s senior management team and its board of trustees.

In January 2022, the Permanent Secretary told the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee that AC had noted it wished to be part of the Welsh Government’s tailored review process. 

The Tailored Review Panel published its final report in July 2023.

The Committee agreed to scrutinise the Accounts and also look at the concerns raised by Audit Wales, as well as those included in the Tailored Review report.

The Committee held an evidence session with officials from the Welsh Government on 29 November 2023 and subsequently wrote to them to follow-up on a number of matters. The Welsh Government responded on 6 February 2024.