Members Present:
Dorinnia Carville, Chair (C&AG)
Rodney Allen (COO)
Suzanne Jones (Director)
Patrick Barr (Director)
Brian O’Neill (Director
Conor McGeown (Director)
In Attendance:
Megan O’Neill (Head of Corporate Services) – Agenda items 1, 3.1, 7.3
Helen Dodds (Head of Quality and Innovation) – Agenda item 4
Hannah Thompson (Auditor) – Agenda item 8
Tanya McNally (Secretariat Support)
Apologies:
Tomas Wilkinson (Director)
Seamus Wade (Director)
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts were declared.
Minutes of previous meeting Matters Arising
Minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 June 2026 were agreed and the matters arising noted as updated. Patrick Barr was officially welcomed back.
1. Corporate Management Team (CMT) Briefing
Megan O’Neill joined the meeting and provided an update on the following key areas from the recent CMT meeting:
• Data visualisation, public reporting and a current skills gap in Excel.
• Discussion around the Pay and Benchmarking report; and
• Discussions regarding plans for the next office conference.
2. People and OD
Brian O’Neill provided an overview of the report presented. The following key areas were discussed:
• Members were reminded to ensure that all mid-year check-in meetings with staff are completed by 30 September 2026.
• Members were also reminded to ensure that all mandatory staff training is up to date.
• The positive progress made in the review of HR policies was noted.
• Members were advised of the upcoming flu vaccination programme.
• Recruitment – Consideration to be given to conducting a HLA recruitment exercise later in the year.
3. Financial Management/Corporate Governance
3.1 Corporate Services Report
Megan O’Neill joined the meeting and briefed members on the Corporate Services report presented. The following key areas were discussed:
Finance
• Members considered and noted the financial position as presented, in the absence of an agreed budget for 2026-27.
Accommodation
• Members were provided with an update on the current position regarding the recent roof survey and associated building works.
IT
• Members were provided with an update on the recent cyber security exercise and plans to conduct another one in due course
• Members received an update on the planned Time and Space training for all staff scheduled for October 2026, and on the upcoming upgrade of the HR system.
4. Quality and Innovation
4.1 Technical Team Update/Public Reporting Update
The C&AG recorded her thanks to all staff and members of the Technical team for their hard work leading up to pre-summer recess. It was noted that training will be developed and delivered on themes identified from queries raised with the Technical Team during this period. Helen Dodds provided an update on Data Analytics, including the Practitioner Group meeting held on 7 July 2026, and highlighted the following key areas:
4.2
• Technical and Audit Quality –The Quality team have completed some of the final actions arising from 2025 QCR process. Members were asked to remind staff to complete the feedback survey, recently issued by the Quality Team. The Quality Manual will be shortly issued to all staff.
• The team found that early engagement was extremely useful regarding issues arising pre-summer recess.
• Financial Audit Manual – The Quality Team continue to engage with Audit Wales on a regular basis. The Manual is close to completion with finalization dates to be agreed with Audit Wales.
• Audit Software – Members were updated on plans following the withdrawal of support for the current software in June 2026.
•
4.3 NIAO Quality Committee – revised draft Terms of Reference
• Members approved the Terms of Reference presented, these will now be presented at the Advisory Board meeting scheduled for 26 October 2026.
5. Communications and Engagement
5.1 Corporate Affairs Report
Members noted the report presented, with no significant issues raised.
5.2 Draft Comms Action Plan 2026-27
Members were content to approve the plan for 2026-27.
5.3 Handling Correspondence Quarterly update
Members noted the report presented, with no significant issues raised.
6. Strategic Projects
6.1 Workforce Planning
In light of Seamus Wade’s absence, an update will be provided at the Operational Resoure Team meeting next week.
6.2 People Engagement Programme
Rodney Allen provided an update on the People Engagement Programme and expressed his thanks to everyone involved.
7. Strategic Performance
7.1 Management Information Report – Financial Audit and Public Reporting
A combined report providing a breakdown of the costs associated with financial audits and the costs and timing for completing public reports was presented along with information on 60-day close down of audit files. Members noted the report presented, which will be discussed at the next scheduled CMT meeting. Members were reminded of the importance of accurately recording time within Time and Space and ensuring timesheets are approved promptly. This message will be reinforced during mid-year check-in meetings.
7.2 Position re Backlog Accounts
Members provided the C&AG with an update on the current position regarding a number of specific backlogged audits.
7.3 Net Zero Action Plan – Quarterly update
Megan O’Neill presented the paper to members and provided an update on the recent meeting of the Net Zero group in July 2026. Discussion followed surrounding a renewed focus of achievable actions, engagement with other audit agencies, the potential of installing solar panels and a request for new members for the group.
8. Risk Management
8.1 Corporate Risk Register (CRR)
Hannah Thompson joined the meeting.
The Corporate Risk Register was presented by Conor McGeown. Only minor changes having been made since the June meeting which were highlighted in red for members’ convenience The consistency of risk scoring for the cyber security and business continuity risks was discussed. Following agreement on a small number of amendments to address these points, the Corporate Risk Register was approved.
SLT agreed to conduct a detailed review of the CRR at separate meeting to be scheduled in October 2026.
9. To note, Upcoming meeting dates:
• ARAC – 28 September 2026
• Advisory Board – 26 October 2026
10. Matters for escalation to ARAC / Advisory Board
• Terms of Reference - Quality Committee
• Corporate Risk Register
11. A.O.B
11.1 Matters Agreed at Weekly SLT Meetings
Rodney Allen provided an update on matters agreed at the weekly SLT meetings.
12. Date of Next Meeting – 14 September 2026