Welsh Revenue Authority Board minutes: 21 May 2025

Ruth Glazzard, Chair
Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Chair
Rebecca Godfrey, CEO (Interim)
Dave Matthews, Strategy & Capability Director 
Mary Champion, Non-Executive Member 
Jim Scopes, Non-Executive Member 
Rheon Tomos, Non-Executive Member

1. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Attendees included representatives from the Welsh Treasury (WT), and presenters & observers from the WRA. No conflicts of interest were declared.
2. The minutes, and redacted minutes of the previous meeting (March 2024) were agreed as an accurate record of discussions.
3. Apologies were received from the Chair for the second half of the meeting, with the Deputy to chair. Apologies were also received from the board associate for the second half of the meeting.

Performance Report

1. This would be the last report based on the current indicators, with the WRA to focus on new indicators for the new Corporate Plan (CP). Over the previous CP the indicators have generally improved.
2. Redacted

SDLG Report

1. The new Service Delivery Leadership Group (SDLG) chair provided a reflection on the last quarter. 
2. Redacted
3. Given the new internal governance structure, the new SDLG group with its renewed remit had met for the first time in May. The group’s way of working was discussed, and a workshop will be held in June to formulate their risk register- to assess which risks are new, which are inherited and maintained in the group, and which are delegated/ escalated.
4. New reporting formats for SDLG, Corporate Delivery Leadership Group (CDLG) and Tîm Arwain (TA) will be developed for the next board reporting meeting. 

Finance and ARAC Report

Redacted

CEO Report

Redacted

Welsh Treasury Report

Redacted

Welsh Language Standards

1. In February, amendments to the Welsh Language (WL) Standards regulations were passed in the Senedd. The Commissioner’s office held an event at the end of March, with WRA in attendance. It was beneficial to get to know individuals to share expectations on both sides, as well as share good practice with other organisations who are coming under the standards at the same time.
2. WRA has received the questionnaire to help inform their draft compliance notice (to be submitted in June). This draft has been shared with team leads for their input. 
3. The indicative timeline to come under the standards was also shared. The final compliance notice is expected to arrive in November, with WRA to formally comply in May 2026.
4. Also shared was the summary of activity in the organisation. For example, what WL skills are needed in the WRA, how to further embed the strategy and discussions regarding the WRA’s long term vision. 

Staff Elected Member (SEM)

The timeline, election process and proposed recommendations were set out to the board, with all recommendations approved by the non-executive members. It was agreed that nominations should not be name-blind (for the reasons stated in the paper), and an ‘alternate SEM’ would not be included in the approach for future; all staff should have an equal opportunity to apply whenever the position becomes vacant.

1. Members provided reflections on the day’s discussions which included reflecting on closing the last quarter of the financial year, and looking forward to a new period for the WRA: with a new corporate plan, new measures, and VLNR activity on schedule, there’s a sense of confidence in embarking on these changes. 
2. Noted was the importance to engage with stakeholders, existing and potentially new, to ensure people understand Our Approach. The organisation’s culture is still strong – this is a strength and a positive on which to build.
3. It was asked if the forward look will include meetings for the full rolling calendar year.
4. The next meeting would be a Board Conversation on 24 June. 

There are certain circumstances where it is not appropriate to share all of the information contained within the Board minutes, for example, where it contains personal or commercial data or relates to the formulation of government policy or the effective conduct of public affairs. In such circumstances, the information has been redacted and the text is marked clearly that this has been the case.