Welsh Government Board meeting: 9 May 2025

• Andrew Goodall (Chair)
• Carys Williams
• Aled Edwards
• Mike Usher
• Mutale Merrill
• Sioned Evans
• Tracey Burke
• Andrew Slade
• Dom Houlihan
• Nia James
• Dean Medcraft
• Emma Williams
• Lead Co-Chair of the Shadow Board
• TUS representative

In attendance

• Sinead Gallagher
• Piers Bisson
• Will Whiteley

Apologies

• Judith Paget
• David Richards
• Wellbeing of Future Generations Champion

Secretariat

• Permanent Secretary’s Office

1.1 The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and noted the apologies received. Board consented to the use of Microsoft Copilot for minute-taking. The minutes of 14 March were agreed subject to minor amendments. 

1.2 Carys Williams and Mike Usher fed back on their discussion with the Head of Corporate Governance Centre of Excellence on the Corporate Risk Register and the Issues Log. 

1.3 The Chair congratulated Emma Williams on her appointment to Interim Director General Education, Culture and Welsh Language and welcomed her to the Board. 

1.4 The Chair noted the excellent work of teams across Welsh Government involved in planning and delivering the ceremony at Llandaff Cathedral to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and advised that he will write to the staff involved to offer his thanks. 

1.5 The Chair noted the recent Supreme Court Judgment on the legal definition of a woman and advised that HR colleagues are reviewing Welsh Government policies in light of the judgement. Aled Edwards expressed appreciation for the care taken towards staff by Welsh Government. 

1.6 The Chair noted that staff across the organisation are setting their work objectives for the year ahead and highlighted the importance of regular performance management discussions. Sioned Evans fed back on concerns raised by the staff Disability Awareness and Support Group (DAS) on the perceived tensions between the call to hold regular in-person performance management discussions and staff working remotely. The TUS representative echoed these comments. Mike Usher noted the principle-based approach to remote working taken by Welsh Government versus the rules-based approach taken by some UK Government departments. Dom Houlihan recognised the concerns raised by the DAS network and noted that a set of Line Management Standards will be launched shortly.

2.1 The Chair welcomed Piers Bisson and Will Whitely to the meeting and invited them to update Board on preparations for Senedd Reform. 

2.2 Mutale Merril queried preparations for the seventh Senedd, in particular issues around capacity and capability. Piers advised that discussions with the Future Senedd Committee, Council General and Llywydd are underway. Turning to preparing the civil service, Dom Houlihan advised that discussion on workforce planning and creating an agile workforce are underway, noting the pressures on staffing resources at a time when the demands on the civil service will be growing. 

2.3 Carys Williams noted the opportunities Senedd Reform offers but recognised the challenges ahead, highlighting concerns over staff retention in particular. Carys queried how ways of working with ministers can be improved and suggested that the non-executive directors could help test the induction programme for new Senedd members. Mutale Merrill echoed concerns over staff retention and asked how the civil service can begin planning ahead for the likely Programme for Government of the seventh Senedd. 

2.4 The Co-Chair of the Shadow Board also noted concerns over staff retention and highlighted the concerns of some staff in the face of the political rhetoric around equality, diversity and inclusion. Dom Houlihan echoed these comments, noting the number of senior leaders at or approaching retirement age. Dom noted work underway with trade unions to support staff in public facing roles in the pre-election period 

2.5 Piers Bisson responded to the points raised noting that improving ways of working and making use of new technologies is one element of the preparatory work. On preparing for the new Programme for Government, Piers advised that the First Minister will be asked to approve access talks with opposition parties closer to the election to allow the civil service the opportunity to discuss the potential future work programme. Piers welcomed the offer of testing an induction programme for new Senedd members with the non-executive directors. 

2.6 Aled Edwards queried how the Board can help ensure that the aspirations of Senedd Reform are achieved and support the Llywydd. The Chair responded that some of these tasks fall to the Senedd Commission and added that Kirsty Williams has kindly offered to share her experience of being a new minister in government. 

2.7 Dean Medcraft noted that Senedd Reform offers an opportunity to reset ways of working and highlighted the need for investment in transforming corporate services. 

2.8 Mike Usher noted the challenges and opportunities Senedd reform offers and advised that the Welsh Government Audit and Risk Assurance Committee would be holding a deep dive on the topic over the summer period. 

2.9The Chair thanked all for their comments and noted the opportunities and challenges discussed. The Chair advised that the Board would consider Senedd Reform again at future meetings in the run up to the election in May 2026.

3.1 Dom Houlihan provided an update on Risk 1.2 and Risk 1.3 noting progress in the actions taken to mitigate against the risks. The Chair invited the Board to comment. 

3.2 Carys Williams highlighted the importance of having a culture of sponsorship and mentoring across the organisation and noted the need for accurate and timely data to underpin work to address the risk around staff resilience and wellbeing. 

3.3 Nia James noted the data on recruitment and suggested exploring further why a number of posts had failed to attract suitable applicants. Nia also drew attention to the need for a centralised system to record working hours. 

3.4 Mutale Merril emphasised the importance of line managers being sensitive to both real and perceived barriers to progression for staff. 

3.5 Mike Usher suggested that addressing some elements of Risks 1.2 and 1.3 require an organisation-wide response while others require a more targeted or localised response. 

3.6 The Co-Chair of the Shadow Board suggested promoting opportunities for job-shadowing to offer staff an opportunity to gain a better understanding of different roles available across the organisation. The Co-Chair agreed with earlier comments on the importance of tracking working hours. 

3.7 The TUS representative echoed comments on the benefits of mentoring and on the importance of having effective systems in place to record working hours. 

3.8 The Chair invited Dom Houlihan to respond on the points raised and reflect on whether Risks 1.2 and 1.3 should remain on the Corporate Risk Register. Dom echoed and endorsed comments on the importance of encouraging sponsorship and mentoring and the benefits of developing a centralised system to record working hours. Dom also outlined work underway to improve workforce data. Dom advised retaining both risks on the Corporate Risk Register with the aim of continuing to take actions to mitigate the risks over the next six to twelve months.

4.1 The Chair welcomed Sinead Gallagher to Board and invited her to update on progress against Programme for Government commitments since the last Board meeting. 

4.2 Aled Edwards welcomed the update, noted the progress made and cautioned against the organisation being defined by what has not been achieved.

5.1 The Board noted the forward look and suggested that items on the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan are added, together with further updates on Senedd Reform

6.1 No items of AOB were raised. Board will next meet on 20 June