Welsh Revenue Authority Board minutes: 20 May 2026

Members

• Ruth Glazzard, Chair
• Mary Champion, Non-Executive Member
• Rheon Tomos, Non-Executive Member
• Jocelyn Davies, Non-Executive Member
• Rebecca Godfrey, Chief Executive
• Dave Matthews, Strategy & Capability Director
• Joe Dooher, Services Director
• Indee Dehal, Staff-elected member (SEM)

Apologies

Jim Scopes, Non-Executive Member

1. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Attendees included a representative from the Welsh Treasury (WT) and presenters and observers from the WRA. No conflicts of interest were declared and apologies were noted. The Chair encouraged observers to take part in discussion.
2. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as an accurate record, with some minor amendments.
3. The Chair provided a summary of the Board Quorum requirements and current challenges, highlighting that TCMA legislation specifies our board quorum as requiring a non-executive member majority. We are currently finely balanced in membership with 5 non-executive members and 4 executive members. It was noted that we are recruiting new non-executive members, so this is a temporary issue, however we are not quorate for today’s meeting as we have an equal number of executive and non-executive members. It was confirmed that our quorum requirement was for the meetings as a whole, not for decisions only. It is the Chairs' responsibility to ensure views are balanced and that all are represented. After discussing options with the Chief of Staff, the Chair and CEO agreed: 
   • this Quarterly meeting will go ahead, but it will be clearly recorded as not quorate
   • this will be followed through in our reporting, and this meeting will not count formally as one of our 4 quarterly meetings (as per our Standing Orders); we will seek an alternative meeting, with a non-executive majority, to formally sign off the reporting period; we will report on both meetings
   • in the meantime, please ensure you send apologies for meetings to the Private Office in good time where possible, including for part attendance to allow us to manage quorum issues
4. A25-001 – The action to arrange effectiveness/ coaching sessions with Board members remained ongoing. It was noted that the Board undertook an Insights session in March, following which, a session with ‘Wild Parrot’ (the WRA leadership development provider) would be arranged. We are currently awaiting a proposal from Wild Parrot.

Performance Report

1. The Statistical Outputs Manager and Statistical Officer Data Apprentice presented the Q4 data for the performance indicators. Members received a paper ahead of the meeting which detailed Q4 performance highlights, along with a Q4 comments and questions document. Members received an accompanying presentation from the performance dashboard. 
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14. It was noted that the next performance report update for Q1 will be at the joint board and executive meeting on 17^th July 2026.

Chief of Staff (CoS) Report

1. The Chief of Staff presented the CoS report, beginning with an update on the Governance internal audit review which has come back with reasonable assurance. The Private Office team have started work on an effectiveness review of TA, CDLG and SDLG.
2. It was reported that TA activity has been mainly focused on strategic issues such as our strategic purpose and preparing for the elections, increased focus on our key governance documents (Corporate Risk Register and Internal Audit plans) and planning and delivery with the publication of our annual business plan.
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6. It was noted that the NR update will be covered as a separate item later in the agenda.

Finance and ARAC Report

1. The Chair of ARAC acknowledged the work that has been done on the Risk Register, noting that this is helpful for discussion at board level. Work on the ICQ was also highlighted as being generally positive, adding that the two areas with the lowest scores (business planning and programme management) have improved in response to actions taken during the year. Scores have reduced in only one area (information management) It was acknowledged that from an ARAC perspective there is still work to be done on this, adding that next steps are still to be clarified.
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5. Specific actions coming out of the ARAC Effectiveness Review were noted to address members queries. Self-assessment was agreed as a useful exercise, noting that there were many more comments than two years ago. There were three actions to highlight from the report:
   • to consider the role of ARAC and board in terms of oversight of corporate risks and what is discussed at board. i.e. board oversee risk, ARAC oversee processes
   • ensuring clarity of papers and making sure all are of similar standard
   • ARAC to consider the right level of detail and operating at the right level, i.e. strategy vs detail
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8. The Chair acknowledged the amount of work that has been completed particularly in relation to the risk register and financial reporting and gave thanks for the clarity of information to the board.

Welsh Treasury (WT) Report

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Board Discussion

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1. Members provided reflections on the day’s discussions. Of particular note was:
   • the appreciation shared for the honest report on NR provided by the Services Director
   • the open and transparent approach to challenges which will make others more comfortable to speak up in future
   • the amount of work going on behind the scenes was acknowledged and thanks given to all
2. The Chair shared a reminder on Board Quorum asking for members to please ensure to send apologies for meetings in good time, including for part attendance to allow us to manage quorum issues.
3. It was noted that the Services Director will give NR readiness updates to the board over the summer period ahead of the September Quarterly meeting.
4. The next meeting would be a Board conversation on 24^th June, and the next quarterly meeting will take place on 23^rd September 2026.

Redacted information

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.