Welsh Government Board meeting: 24 January 2025

• Andrew Goodall (Chair)
• Carys Williams
• Mutale Merrill
• Aled Edwards
• Mike Usher
• Tracey Burke
• Andrew Slade
• Judith Paget
• Tim Moss
• Dom Houlihan
• David Richards
• Nia James
• Dean Medcraft
• Representatives of the Shadow Board
• TUS representative

In attendance

• Sinead Gallagher

Secretariat 

• Permanent Secretary’s Office 

Apologies 

• Sioned Evans
• Future Generations Board Champion
• Lead Co-Chairs of the Shadow Board

1.1 The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and noted the apologies received. The minutes of 13 December were agreed subject to minor amendment.

1.2 The Chair noted the results of the 2024 People Survey and reflected on the challenging year the organisation had faced in the run up to the survey. Aled Edwards welcomed the survey results and noted the importance of celebrating success. Mutale Merrill echoed these comments.

1.3 The Board noted discussions at Shadow Board on the impact of recent online activities leading to the names of the trustees of the Welsh Refugee Council being shared publicly.

1.4 The Chair noted that Des Clifford, a former Board member, will shortly retire from Welsh Government after many years.

1.5 The Chair noted that the Welsh Government has published its response to the Covig-19 Public Inquiry’s Module 1 report.

1.6 The Chair invited Judith Paget to update Board on the pressures faced by the NHS over the winter months. Judith noted that officials are reviewing take up of the flu vaccine, especially amongst the 49 – 65 age group.

1.7 Tracey Burke noted the efforts of teams across Welsh Government and partner organisations to support those impacted by the burst water main at the Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works.

2.1 The Chair invited Andrew Slade to provide the Boad with an overview of the work of the Economy, Energy and Transport Group (EET), outlining top priorities for the Group up to the end of the Senedd term. The presentation also considered longer term risks and opportunities.

2.2 Reflecting on the gender composition of the EET senior management team, Carys Williams offered to support the Group’s upcoming recruitment exercises with the aim of encouraging a diverse field of candidates. As Chair of People and Remuneration Subcommittee (PRemCom) Carys also suggested that PRemCom should hold a deep dive to consider if there are other parts of the organisation where certain characteristics are more prevalent amongst senior leadership teams.

2.3 Mutale Merrill queried how Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) are held to account and how the Group complies with the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWP). Andrew advised that the Group regularly takes expert advice on meeting the goals and actions in the ARWP. Regarding ALBs, Andrew noted importance of achieving a balance between an appropriate level of oversight and an ALBs autonomy.

2.4 Aled Edwards noted the changing global context in which Welsh Government’s overseas offices are operating within; Andrew reassured the Board that staff based overseas are being supported.

2.5 Noting the breadth of work covered by EET and how it provides the foundations for the work of other policy areas, Mike Usher asked how best to ensure that teams work together effectively. Andrew replied that policy leads work closely often attending each other’s team meetings to share information.

3.1 The Chair welcomed Sinead Gallagher to the meeting and invited her to provide an update on monitoring the Programme for Government. Sinead also outlined the First Minister’s four priority areas.

3.2 Judith Paget welcomed the update and noted that the Health, Social Care and Early Years Group is also delivering on many other areas as well as those set out in the Programme for Government, for example meeting its statutory functions. Judith added that discussions continue around defining the deliverables which underpin the First Minister’s priority for Health. Mutale Merrill stressed the importance of having clarity on what can be delivered.

3.3 Mike Usher queried whether it was possible to identify any areas of activity which could be stopped to release capacity to focus on priority areas. The Chair responded that Directors General are reviewing their areas.

3.4 Aled Edwards noted the progress with delivering against the Programme for Government and queried how the public were updated on progress. Sinead responded that generating interest from the media around positive stories about delivery can be a challenge. Internally, the First Minister has included an item on Cabinet agendas to highlight achievements.

3.5 The Co-Chairs of the Shadow Board referenced the Shadow Board’s response to the First Minister’s address to staff in October and noted discussions at their meeting on the BIRT reporting system. Tim Moss advised that the Finance and Corporate Services subcommittee is reviewing the issues that some teams experience when using BIRT with a view to working towards having a standardised reporting tool.

3.6 The Chair thanked all for their feedback and noted that Board will receive regular updates on delivery against Programme for Government commitments and the First Minister’s priorities.

4.1 Dean Medcraft provided an update on the in-year finance position and an overview of the priorities for finance teams over the final quarter of 2024-25.

4.2 Andrew Slade offered his thanks to finance teams across Welsh Government for their efforts. Andrew noted that his Group are managing several pressures. Judith Paget echoed these points.

5.1 The Chair noted the upcoming Board Development Day on 07 February and outlined the aim and objectives of the day. The findings of the 2024 Board Review will be shared with Board members ahead of the development day.

6.1 No items of any other business were raised.