Meetings

6.1 Members considered the evidence received and agreed to write to the Permanent Secretary with some recommendations to further improve future Annual Grant Management Reports.

PAC(4)-07-16 Paper 1

Research Briefing

Sir Derek Jones, Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

David Richards, Director of Governance, Welsh Government 

Gawain Evans, Director of Finance, Welsh Government

Peter Kennedy, Director Human Resources, Welsh Government

3.1 The Committee scrutinised the Permanent Secretary on the Welsh Government’s Annual Report on Grants Management.

PAC(4)-21-14(paper 3)

5.1 The Committee noted the correspondence and agreed to return to this issue in spring 2015 when the Welsh Government’s annual report on grants management for 2014/15 will be available.

5.2 The Chair agreed to write to the Permanent Secretary seeking further information on the value of grants affected following non-complicance after the spot checks.

6.1 Members considered the evidence and agreed to write to the Permanent Secretary seeking additional information on a number of issues.

PAC(4)-16-14(paper 1)

PAC(4)-16-14(paper 1A)
PAC(4)-16-14(paper 2)

PAC(4)-16-14(paper 3)

PAC(4)-16-14(paper 4)

PAC(4)-16-14(paper 5)

Research Brief

Sir Derek Jones – Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Damien O’Brien - Chief Executive WEFO

David Richards - Director of Governance

Peter Ryland - Deputy Director, Programme Performance & Finance

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Sir Derek Jones, Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government, Damien O’Brien, Chief Executive WEFO, 

David Richards, Director of Governance and Peter Ryland, Deputy Director, Programme Performance & Finance at the Welsh Government on grants management.

4.2 The Permanent Secretary agreed to write to the Chair with additional information on a number of issues.

PAC(4)-06-14 (paper 1)

4.1 Members discussed the report and noted that this item will be scheduled for a fuller discussion after Easter when two related WAO reports will be available. It was agreed that the Chair will write to the Welsh Government seeking additional information in advance of that meeting.

PAC(4)-27-13 Paper 1

PAC(4)-27-13 Paper 2

Huw Vaughan Thomas – Auditor General for Wales

6.1 The Committee noted the correspondence and agreed to review the position upon publication of the Welsh Government’s annual report on Grants Management, expected in December 2013.

5.1 The Committee commented on its draft report on Grants Management in Wales and agreed to consider an amended version to via email.

7.1 The Committee considered its draft concluding report on Grants Management in Wales and agreed to discuss it further at its next meeting.

6.1 Julie Morgan declared an interest in Grants Management in Wales as her husband was the former First Minister for Wales with overall responsibility for Grants Management during periods highlighted in the draft report and excluded herself from participating in proceedings.

6.2 The Committee commented on its draft report on Grants Management in Wales and would consider it further at a forthcoming meeting.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on the Wales Audit Office report ‘The Welsh Government’s relationship with the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association’ and would consider it as a part of its inquiry into Grants Management in Wales.

Welsh Government (14:05 – 15:30)

PAC(4) 28-12 – Paper 1

Derek Jones, Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government 

Damien O'Brien, Chief Executive, WEFO

Huw Brodie, Director of Strategic Planning & Equality

David Richards, Director of Governance

Arwel Thomas, Deputy Director Corporate Governance and Assurance

Big Lottery Fund (15:30 – 16:15)

PAC(4) 28-12 – Paper 2

John Rose, Director Wales, Big Lottery Fund

Dr Rita Austin (16:15 – 17:00)

Dr Rita Austin, Former Chair of AWEMA

2.1 The Chair welcomed Derek Jones, Permanent Secretary; Damien O’brien, Chief Executive, WEFO; Huw Brodie, Director of Strategic Planning and Equality; David Richards, Director of Governance; and Arwel Thomas, Deputy Director, Corporate Governance and Assurance.

2.2 The Committee scrutinised the Welsh Government.

Action points:

The Welsh Government was asked to provide:

·         Further information on the model of creating a single umbrella organisation to oversee and allocate grants to other bodies, including examples of where the model has been implemented effectively and are regarded as good Value for Money.

·         A clear timetable outlining the delivery of the recommendations made in the Internal Audit Services report.

·         An update on finances recovered from AWEMA through the liquidation process.

2.3 The Chair welcomed John Rose, Director Wales, Big Lottery Fund.

2.4 The Committee questioned the witness.

Action point:

Big Lottery Fund was asked to provide:

·         Further information on Big Lottery grant administration costs.

2.5 The Chair welcomed Dr Rita Austin, Former Chair of AWEMA.

2.6 The Committee questioned the witness.

Action point:

Dr Rita Austin was asked to provide:

·         A note on what she believes the Welsh Government should learn from the situation at AWEMA to inform its future grants management arrangements and how it works with third sector organisations.

4.1 The Committee discussed how it wished to handle the WAO report ‘The Welsh Government’s relationship with the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association’.

PAC(4) 22-12 – Paper 1 – The Welsh Government’s management of its relationship with AWEMA

Anthony Barrett, Assistant Auditor General

Mike Usher, Group Director – Financial Audit, Wales Audit Office

Matthew Mortlock, Performance Audit Manager, Wales Audit Office

Mark Jones, Financial Audit Manager, Wales Audit Office

2.1 The Chair welcomed Anthony Barrett, Assistant Auditor General for Wales; Mike Usher, Group Director – Financial Audit; Matthew Mortlock, Performance Audit Manager; and Mark Jones, Financial Audit Manager.

2.2 The Committee discussed the findings of the WAO report.

4.1 The Committee commented on and agreed amendments to its draft report ‘Grants Management in Wales’, which would be published shortly.

1.1        The Committee noted that it had agreed at its last meeting, on 3 July 2012, to begin this meeting in private.

1.2        The Committee commented on and agreed amendments to its draft report ‘Grants Management in Wales’.

4.1 The Committee discussed the key issues and emerging themes on its inquiry into Grants Management in Wales.

4.2 The Committee agreed to consider a draft report at its meeting on 10 July 2012.

PAC(4) 09-12 – Paper 1 – Grants Management – WCVA

Graham Benfield, Chief Executive, WCVA

Phil Jarrold, Deputy Chief Executive, WCVA

2.1 The Chair welcomed Graham Benfield, Chief Executive, WCVA and Phil Jarrold, Deputy Chief Executive, WCVA.

2.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

2.3 The WCVA agreed to provide:

·         Examples of good and bad practice across Wales in the implementation of grants management and procurement to deliver services that meet the complex needs of communities.

4.1 The Committee discussed the evidence on its inquiry on Grants Management in Wales.

4.1 The Committee discussed the evidence on its inquiry on Grants Management in Wales.

PAC(4) 07-12 – Paper 1 – Grants Management – WLGA

Jon Rae, Director of Resources, WLGA

Mari Thomas, Policy Officer (Finance), WLGA

2.1 The Chair Welcomed Jon Rae, Director of Recourses, WLGA and Mari Thomas, Policy Officer (Finance).

2.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

Action point:

The WLGA agreed to provide:

·         Clarification on the need for (and use of) redundancy wavers when local authority staff are working on fixed-term contracts; and

·         Clarification on whether such need arises from European Regulations.

Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government 

Michael Hearty, Director General for strategic planning for Finance and Performance

Arwel Thomas, Head of Corporate Governance

5.1 The Chair Welcomed Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government; Michael Hearty, Director General for strategic planning for Finance and Performance; and Arwel Thomas, Head of Corporate Governance.

5.2 Members scrutinised the Accounting Officer.

5.3 The Committee agreed to write to the Accounting Officer to request further information on questions it did not reach.

Action point:

·         The Welsh Government agreed to provide a chart outlining the reduction over time in the number of its grant schemes.

Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government 

Michael Hearty, Director General for strategic planning for Finance and Performance.

Arwel Thomas, Head of Corporate Governance 

6. 1 The Committee welcomed Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary; Michael Hearty, Director General – Strategic Planning, Finance and Performance; and Arwel Thomas, Head of Corporate Governance and Assurance.

6.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action Point:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         An update on the investigation into AWEMA and further details on the measures taken by the Welsh Government to ensure that services provided by AWEMA will be maintained.

PAC(4) 08-11 – Paper 1 – Wales Audit Office report Grants Management in Wales

Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for Wales

Mike Usher, Group Director – Financial Audit

3.1 The Committee received a briefing from the Auditor General for Wales on the Wales Audit Office report, Grants Management in Wales.