Welsh Revenue Authority Board minutes: 19 November 2025

Members

• Ruth Glazzard, Chair
• Jim Scopes, Non-Executive Member
• Mary Champion, Non-Executive Member
• Rheon Tomos, Non-Executive Member
• Rebecca Godfrey, WRA Chief Executive 
• Dave Matthews, Strategy & Capability Director
• Indee Dehal, Staff-elected member (SEM)

Apologies

• Jocelyn Davies, Non-Executive Member  

1. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Attendees included representatives from the Welsh Treasury (WT), and presenters and observers from the WRA. No conflicts of interest were declared. Apologies had been received from Jocelyn Davies, Indee Dehal would arrive at 11am. Redacted
2. No conflicts of interest were declared.
3. It was noted that representatives from Cowshed, the integrated communications agency working with the WRA Communications and Stakeholder Engagement teams, would attend this meeting to give a presentation on activities they are undertaking for the WRA in respect of VL and NR. 
4. A25-01-01 – In relation to committee effectiveness and coaching, it was the intention to undertake this in this financial year. The Chief People and Communications Officer would discuss further with the Private Office and Board Chair to gain input on a session for Board. Sessions would also take place for TA and other governance groups. 
5. A25-03-02 - Initial conversations regarding the Board Away Day were underway and it had been suggested that it may be beneficial to invite Kainos representatives to present an item on AI.
6. BC A25-04-02 – In relation to the cyber security plan, the Chair of ARAC would discuss this offline with the WRA Head of Cyber Operations and Security.
7. Following recent recruitment, the Board noted their congratulations to Rebecca Godfrey on her permanent appointment as Chief Executive of the WRA. The HR process for this appointment was being finalised. 

Chief of Staff Report

Redacted

Performance report

The WRA Statistical Officer presented the Q2 data for performance indicators. He noted the dashboard was still being refined and asked Board members to feedback if any information was unclear.

1. The WRA Statistical Officer presented the Q2 data for performance indicators. He noted the dashboard was still being refined and asked Board members to feedback if any information was unclear. 

2. Redacted

3. The WRA Data Team would report the staff survey data at the next quarterly Board meeting in February 2026.

Finance and ARAC Report

1. The Chair of ARAC noted that she had flagged to the internal audit team that the revised format of internal audit reports lacked the detail an ARAC would typically expect.  The Chair and WRA staff responsible would meet with the internal audit team to discuss further.

2. ARAC had received a detailed report / deep dive from the WRA Business Solutions Manager of the change request process, which was an engaging and interactive session. It was suggested that similar deep dive sessions may be helpful for Board members. The WRA Chief Executive and Board Chair would discuss possible deep dives at future Board meetings.

3. Redacted

Welsh Treasury (WT) Report

1. Redacted
2. Redacted

Risk appetite statement

1. The Chief of Staff reported that the Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) had been discussed at CDLG, TA and ARAC last week. Changes to the RAS were noted and members were provided a version with tracked changes. 
2. Cyber crime had now been mentioned specifically in the RAS following feedback from ARAC.
3. In relation to culture and people an inconsistency in language was identified. The Chief of Staff would amend this.

A25-04-02: The Chief of Staff to provide a description of cyber crime to be included in the RAS and circulate to Board Members via email. She would also correct the inconsistency of language identified in the culture and people section.

D25-04-01: Board Members APPROVED the RAS, subject to the clarifications and inclusions in relation to cyber crime and people and culture.

Review Board terms of reference

Redacted

Presentation from Cowshed Communications

1. The Head of Stakeholder Engagement introduced Redacted and Redacted from Cowshed Communications. They provided members with a presentation detailing communication and stakeholder activities for the national registration and visitor accommodation campaign.
2. The WRA Communications and Stakeholder Engagement teams would update the Board again on these activities at the meeting in February 2026.
3. Timeline of activity (Board Away Day output)
4. Redacted
5. Redacted
6. The Strategy & Capability Director noted that WRA’s partnership (remit) letter from Ministers may also affect the business plan, which would require reappraisal if, for example, a new government made significant changes to the WRA’s remit or set different expectations on delivery. It was also noted that every three years, business planning would coincide with the preparation of the WRA’s corporate plan, which would increase pressure on the strategy team to deliver the two together.
7. The Chief People and Communications Officer noted the need to further consider the people workstream in line with strategic timeline, and when staff are being engaged with. The Gateway 0 actions, would be added to the Board Conversation meeting agenda in December 2025 to further discuss this alignment. 

A25-04-04: The Gateway 0 actions would be added to the December Board Conversation agenda.

Risk reflections and financial implication

1. Members provided reflections on the day’s discussions which had wide ranging risk considerations.  

AOBs 

1. There were no further AOBs.

2. The next meeting would be a Board conversation on 17 December 2025. It was noted that the February Board meeting had been scheduled during the half term week and would need to be rearranged for the week commencing 23 February 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.