By Vivienne Russell
8 October 2010
The new auditor general for Wales has taken urgent action to improve openness and transparency at the Wales Audit Office.
Huw Vaughan Thomas, who took up the post as auditor general
at the beginning of October, has set out plans to tackle what he described as
‘flawed’ governance arrangements at the WAO.
Among his proposals are the establishment of three new executive committees to oversee resources, remuneration, and audit and risk. The WAO will also host an annual governance conference and produce an annual governance report. The changes are to take effect from April 2011.
Vaughan Thomas said: ‘Governance arrangements at the Wales Audit Office are currently flawed and lack the necessary checks and balances that should exist in well run private or public sector organisations. That’s why an urgent shake-up is needed.
‘Over the seven months I will be introducing big changes
that will make the next Wales Audit Office more transparent, accountable and
open.'
In a briefingpaper published on October 7, he stated: ‘To function properly I, as auditor general, must be unambiguously independent of political or other influence over what I audit and how I report my findings.
‘However, I must also be properly accountable for how I audit and for the public money I spend. To do otherwise would be to betray the confidence entrusted to me. My independence and accountability must work side-by-side, and within governance arrangements that are straightforward and transparent.’
Following the departure of former Welsh auditor general Jeremy Colman in February, a review of internal due diligence at the WAO was conducted.
