Meetings

NDM5246 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Finance Committee's report on Invest-to-Save which was laid in the Table Office on 26 March 2013.

Note: The response of the Minister for Finance was laid in the Table Office on 15 May  2013.

Supporting documents:

Finance Committee’s report

Letter from the Minister for Finance to the Chair of the Finance Committee

Welsh Government’s response

The item started at 17.31

NDM5246 Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Finance Committee's report on Invest-to-Save which was laid in the Table Office on 26 March 2013.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

3.1 The Committee received feedback from Committees Members who had visited projects which had received Invest to Save funding.

3.2 The Committee agreed to publish the reports of each visit.  

7.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on its inquiry into Invest to Save and agreed to consider a draft report at a future meeting. 

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House

Richard Clarke, Head of Invest-to-Save Unit

Jeff Andrews, Special Adviser

2.1 The Chair welcomed Jane Hutt, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House; Jeff Andrews, Special Adviser; and Richard Clarke, Head of Invest to Save.

2.2 The Committee scrutinised the Minister.

Action points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         A note on the geographical spread of Invest to Save applications;

·         A note explaining how the Welsh Government ensures that projects are clear about the criteria that they need to follow when bidding for Invest to Save funding;

·         Further details on the membership of the stage 2 panel, including details on the levels of expertise on those panels, and of measures taken to ensure that the process is less intimidating for bidders;

·          Clarification on how perceived similarities between the assessment criteria for the Invest to Save Fund and the Regional Collaboration Fund will be managed by the Welsh Government;

·         A note on the disparity between evaluations conducted by Swansea University and CSSIW of the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Lean project.

FIN(4) 21-12 – Paper 1 – Living Wales Programme

Gretel Leeb, Senior Responsible Officer, ‘Living Wales’ Programme Executive

Rob Bell, Finance Department, ‘Living Wales’ Programme

2.1 The Chair welcomed Gretel Leeb, Senior Responsible Officer, Living Wales programme; and Rob Bell, Finance Department, Living Wales Programme.

2.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action points:

Living Wales Programme agreed to provide:

·         Further information on the borrowing powers available to the Living Wales Programme to fund the establishment of the single environment body.

·         Further information on what the environmental improvements and services to people and businesses would be from the total project savings.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on its inquiry into Invest to Save.

FIN(4)-20-12 Paper 1 - Improving your Space Project : Bridgend County Council

David Sutherland, Head of Technology, Property and Customer Services

2.1 The Chair welcomed David Sutherland, Head of ICT and Property, Bridgend County Borough Council.

2.2 Members questioned the witness.

Action points:

David Sutherland agreed to provide:

·         A note clarifying the financial planning undertaken by Bridgend County Borough Council in implementing the Improving Your Space, including whether Match Funding was used.

7.1 Members discussed the evidence received on Invest to Save.

FIN(4) 20-12 - Paper 3 - Cardiff and Vale UHB - The Wyn Campaign Regaining and Retaining Independence

Fiona Jenkins, Executive Director of Therapies and Health Science, Cardiff and Vale UHB

Lynne Aston, Assistant Director of Finance, Cardiff and Vale UHB

4.1 The Chair welcomed Fiona Jenkins, Director of Therapies and Health Science.

4.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

FIN(4) 20-12 Paper 2 - National Botanical  Garden of Wales - Solar Photo Voltaic Power Project 

Dr Rosie Plummer, Director

Clive Edwards, Operations and Facilities Manager

3.1 The Chair welcomed Dr Rosie Plummer, Director of National Botanic Gardens of Wales; and Clive Edwards, Head of Facilities, National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

3.2 Members questioned the witnesses.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on the inquiry into Invest-to-Save.

FIN(4) 16-12 – Paper 1 – Welsh Government

Jane Hutt, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House

Richard Clarke, Head of Invest to Save Unit
Jeff Andrews, Special Adviser

2.1 The Committee welcomed Jane Hutt, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House; Jeff Andrews, Specialist Adviser; and Richard Clarke, Head of Invest to Save Unit.

2.2 Members scrutinised the Minister.

Action points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         Further details on the Welsh Government’s progress in implementing the 7 recommendations which arose from the interim evaluation of Invest-to-Save.

·         A table outlining total savings created by projects since the implementation of the Invest-to-Save funding programme.

·         A table of total repayments by Invest-to-Save projects since the programmes implementation.

·         An annual reconciliation of projects announced during each Invest-to-Save round and the project awards included in each budget allocation.