Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting: 23 October 2025

• Mike Usher - Non-Executive Director, Chair - WG ARAC and CS&I ARAC
• Mel Doel - Independent Member, Chair – EET Assurance Board
• Gareth Pritchard - Independent Member, Chair- ECWL Assurance Board
• Kevin Roberts - Independent Member, Chair- LGHCCRA Assurance Board
• Andrew Goodall - Permanent Secretary
• Sioned Evans - Director General, CS&I Group
• Judith Paget - Director General, Strategy.
• Andrew Slade - Director General, EET Group
• Emma Williams - Director General, ECWL Group
• Kim Jenkins - Deputy Director Accounts, Governance & Grants
• Helen Morris - Deputy Director Audit, Assurance & Counter Fraud
• Clare Thomas - Audit Wales
• Anthony Veale - Audit Wales
• Matthew Mortlock - Audit Wales
• Piers Bisson - Director, Constitution (for Senedd Reform item)
• Will Whiteley - Deputy Director, Senedd Reform (for Senedd Reform Item)
• Cariad Hazard - Deputy Director Corporate Services & Government Business, HSCEY Group

Also present

• Head of Corporate Governance Centre of Excellence
• Head of Financial and Technical Accounting
• ARAC Secretariat
• Head of Public Bodies Unit (Observer)

1.1 No declarations of interest were received in relation to agenda items.

2.1 The committee agreed the minutes of the previous meeting as a complete and accurate record. Members noted the progress made in implementing agreed actions and received updates on those not yet complete.

3.1 The Permanent Secretary provided the committee with an update on several key areas, including:

• The clear focus on delivery, including the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments. The Delivery Cabinet continues to meet and focus on key areas including the First Minister’s enhanced delivery areas.
• The provisional budget for 2026-2027 and the scrutiny and approval mechanisms.
• The in-year financial position and the need to maintain strong financial disciplines.
• The focus on governance and risk management in the lead up to and during the transition between government terms.
• The People Survey and the subsequent analysis of its results and key messages.

4.1 The committee continued its scrutiny of Welsh Government’s draft Consolidated Accounts, by considering Part 3 - the Financial Statements. Parts 1 and 2 (the Performance Report and the Accountability Report) were considered at the previous meeting.

4.2 Audit Wales provided an update on their review of the Consolidated Accounts and outlined the challenges and complexities associated with the Quinquennial Review of the roads Network and changes to the Student Loans Model.

4.3 The committee discussed the Student Loans Model and felt there should be additional disclosures, both within the accounts and Audit Wales’ summary, to provide contextual information and a balanced narrative to readers.

4.4 The committee acknowledged the complexity of the accounts and endorsed the continued proactive and collaborative approach between the Welsh Government finance team and Audit Wales.

Senedd Reform

5.1 The Director for Constitution and Deputy Director for Senedd Reform provided an update on Senedd Reform, with emphasis on internal preparations and governance arrangements.

5.2 The committee was assured that appropriate arrangements are in place, or being developed, to properly manage the various strands of Senedd Reform, but were concerned with the resources, capacity and capability to effectively deliver within the required timescale.

5.3 The committee commissioned each Group Assurance Board to consider the implications of Senedd Reform, within their specific areas, and report back to the Welsh Government ARAC.

Summary Reports from Group Assurance Boards

5.4 The committee considered and noted the summary reports from the Group Assurance Boards.

Corporate Risk Register

5.5 The committee members discussed the Corporate Risk Register and endorsed the rationale for the risks that have been added and removed from it. Members also endorsed the development of Welsh Government’s approach to horizon scanning as part of its risk management framework.

Audit recommendations

5.6 The committee considered the outstanding audit recommendations and requested that management revisit those that are currently overdue to ensure they remain relevant, with revised and achievable implementation dates agreed with appropriate officials.

6.1 The committee discussed and noted the progress made in delivering the 2025-2026 internal audit programme.

7.1 The committee received an update on Audit Wales’ value-for-money programme and reports that are due for publication.

ARAC Secretariat