Transport for Wales: appointment of new chair

9 July 2025

Dear Vernon

Following your recent interview and pre-appointment hearing, I am delighted to invite you to serve as Chair of Transport for Wales (TfW). This is an incredibly exciting time for transport, and I am very much looking forward to working with you in your new role. As the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee noted in their post-scrutiny report, there are significant challenges and opportunities ahead for TfW and I welcome the commitments that you made to them. With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to set out the areas where I am particularly keen to see focus - over and above your hugely important role in chairing the Board.

As a reminder, and as set out in Managing Welsh Public Money, James Price retains Accounting Officer status and as such has personal responsibility to ensure regularity, propriety and value for money and for the day-to-day operations and management of TfW. Meanwhile, the TfW Board has a duty to act in a way which promotes high standards of public finance, and to ensure TfW’s activities are conducted in an efficient and effective manner.

As TfW Chair, you are accountable to the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport and have line manager duties for James Price. As you will know from your considerable experience as a non-executive director, James’ role as Chief Executive Officer is key to TfW’s success and it is important to maintain the distinction between your key governance role and the operational delivery led by James and his Executive Leadership Team.

Turning to the areas where I expect to see particular focus:

1. I am pleased with the hugely positive start we have made on the development of Network North Wales. As we move into the delivery phase of the programme, with the Board you will play a vital role in supporting James and his team to transform the Network North Wales vision into reality.
2. To deliver against the scale of our ambition, we will need to leverage significant additional funding including supporting the Welsh Government in developing a plan to secure longer-term rail infrastructure investment. With your background and well-established network, this an area where I believe you can add huge value, not just for in establishing the strategic case for Network North Wales, but across all the regions of Wales. I would welcome your support in discussions with industry, regional leaders, and the UK Government.
3. On a related note, I expect TfW to hold at least two Board meetings per year in each of the four CJC areas, so that TfW is more visible and responsive to the needs of people, businesses and communities in all parts of Wales.
4. With a UK Government Railways Bill likely to be introduced this autumn, we are at a critical juncture on rail reform. Through the Policy Partnership, TfW and the Welsh Government have been working jointly, alongside the Network Rail team in Wales, to develop a plan for the future operating model for the railway. Ensuring we can deliver the benefits of rail reform in Wales is a key priority and you are very well placed to support James and the team to ensure we achieve an optimal outcome.
5. As we move towards the introduction of bus franchising across Wales, it is vital that TfW, the wider industry and key stakeholders are ready for implementation. Your experience in delivering bus franchising in Greater Manchester will be invaluable in terms of supporting TfW to take one of the most important steps in the wider development of the T-Network.
6. As the transformation of the Core Valley Lines nears completion, and we look towards the introduction of the Cl.398 tram train units, your experience of operational readiness from a customer perspective will be particularly important. I am keen to see the customer at the heart of everything we do - maintaining an open dialogue with them and seeking feedback on our services. Toilet facilities on the CVL needs particular attention and a robust and coherent plan is required.
7. The Welsh Government is satisfied with the improvements we have seen in terms of day-to-day rail operational performance, and I am content for you to retain the current mechanisms in place to hold James to account in this area: through his chairing of the TfW Rail Ltd Board, scrutiny by the Steering Board and your line management responsibilities. This also applies to other key operational and corporate activities such as safety and finance.
8. The Steering Board is a key forum and is central to TfW’s governance framework and the relationship with the Welsh Government. Your attendance at these monthly meetings is vital.
9. Given your wider commitments, and the scale of activity being delivered by James and his team, it is essential that you work closely with him to develop a coherent and consistent working pattern that works for both of you. The development of a shared Private Office to support you and James will provide support in this respect to optimising your time as Chair.

As well as these key areas, it is important for me to remind you of TfW’s key legislative and regulatory responsibilities in areas that sit outside the immediate sphere of public transport delivery but are nevertheless of significant importance. TfW now has a legal duty through being a named body in the Future Generations Act. This important piece of legislation underpins everything TfW is seeking to achieve for the people of Wales. Commitment to TfW’s corporate well-being objectives and its legal responsibilities regarding the economic, societal, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales must be at the forefront of yours and the Board’s thinking.

Finally, it is incumbent on me to remind you of committing to the Nolan principles and corporate governance principles and to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest are managed. As Chair of the Board, you also have a vital role in considering the evolution of the Board (and its sub-committees and associate positions) to ensure that it maintains the appropriate expertise to operate effectively as the organisation’s remit changes
I attach great importance to the role of the Chair and the work of Transport for Wales, and I am glad that the Committee shared my view that you have the appropriate credentials to be the next Chair of TfW. I look forward to developing a productive working relationship with you and other new Board members, particularly during your meetings across Wales.

Your contract will be with Transport for Wales. Accordingly, nothing in this letter shall be construed as, or taken to create a contract of employment between you and the Welsh Government.

It is important you let us know of any changes in your political activity or conflicts of interest since you submitted your application and have not been discussed at interview. Please see the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies for guidance.

I offer you my congratulations and wish you every success with your new appointment.

Yours sincerely

Ken Skates AS/MS
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales