Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Finance Committee.

1.2 Apologies were received from Rhianon Passmore MS.

1.3 Huw Irranca-Davies MS substituted for Rhianon Passmore MS.

2.1 The papers were noted.

Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Jacob Ellis, Director: External Relations and Culture

Rhiannon Hardiman, Policy Lead: Nature & Climate Change, Economy, Food Policy

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-02-24 P1 - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales – Consultation response

FIN(6)-02-24 P2 - Future Generations Commissioner for Wales – Written evidence

Research Service Brief

3.1 The Committee took evidence on the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 from Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales; Jacob Ellis, Director: External Relations and Culture; and Rhiannon Hardiman, Policy Lead: Nature & Climate Change, Economy, Food Policy.

Sally May, Executive Director of Finance Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Chair of the Directors of Finance Peer Group

Darren Hughes, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Lance Carver, Vice President, Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru) and Director of Social Services at Vale of Glamorgan Council

Carys Lord, Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change, Bridgend County Borough Council

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-02-24 P3 Welsh NHS Confederation

FIN(6)-02-24 P4 ADSS Cymru and Welsh Local Government Association (WGLA)

Research Service Brief

4.1 The Committee took evidence on the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 from Sally May, Executive Director of Finance Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Chair of the Directors of Finance Peer Group; Darren Hughes, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation; Lance Carver, Vice President, Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru) and Director of Social Services at Vale of Glamorgan Council; and Carys Lord, Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change, Bridgend County Borough Council.

Cllr Anthony Hunt, Leader, Torfaen County Borough Council

Cllr Llinos Medi, Leader, Isle of Anglesey County Council

Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader, Monmouthshire County Council

Cllr Andrew Morgan, Leader, Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-02-24 P5 - Welsh Local Government Association

Research Service Brief

5.1 The Committee took evidence on the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 from Cllr Anthony Hunt, Leader, Torfaen County Borough Council; Cllr Llinos Medi, Leader, Isle of Anglesey County Council; Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader, Monmouthshire County Council; and Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader, Wrexham County Borough Council.

Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government

Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury

Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget & Government Business

Supporting documents:

Research Service Brief

6.1 The Committee took evidence on the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2024-25 from Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government; Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury; and Emma Watkins, Deputy Director, Budget & Government Business.

6.2 The Minister agreed to provide a note via the Minister for Health and Social Servies in relation to pooled budgets between Local Health Boards and Local Authorities.

7.1 The motion was agreed.

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-02-24 P6 – Cover paper

FIN(6)-02-24 P7 - Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Second Supplementary Estimate 2023-24

FIN(6)-02-24 P8 – Letter from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales: Local Government pay award – 11 December 2023

FIN(6)-02-24 P9 – Letter from Audit Wales: Letter from Audit Wales: Second Supplementary Estimate 2023-24 – 6 December 2023

9.1 The Committee considered and agreed the requested variations to the Audit Wales’s Estimate 2023-24; and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’s Estimate 2023-24.

Supporting documents:

FIN(6)-02-24 P10 – Fee Scheme 2024-25

10.1 The Committee approved the Audit Wales Fee Scheme 2024-25.