Chairman of public spending watchdog forced to step down after taking up post as Welsh Secretary

Chris Haines – ICNN Senedda reporter

The chairman of the Wales Audit Office was forced to stand down after 12 months of a four-year term due to a conflict with another appointment, a report has revealed.

Kathryn Chamberlain, appointed by the Senedd in March 2023, was disqualified from the board of the public spending watchdog after taking up a position with the Welsh Secretary.

In January 2024, she was appointed Principal Non-Executive Director of David TC Davies’ office.

However, the inquiry found that the role amounts to a Crown appointment, which members of the Wales Audit Office are barred from exercising under the Public Audit Act 2013.

Dr Chamberlain remained on the board until mid-April, according to a report by the Senedd finance committee, chaired by Peredur Owen Griffiths.

“Disqualifying Office”

It stated: “In March 2024, it emerged that Dr Chamberlain began working as an independent non-executive director in the office of the Secretary of State for Wales.

“Further investigation revealed that this role amounts to an appointment by or on behalf of the Crown, which constitutes a disqualifying office within the meaning of paragraph 26 of Schedule 1 to the 2013 Act.

“As a result, Dr. Chamberlain was disqualified as a member and chairman of the board with effect from January 1, of which he was informed by the chairman of the committee on April 15.”

Mistake

In May, Owen Griffiths wrote to Adrian Crompton, the Auditor General of Wales, and the management of the Wales Audit Office to reduce the risk of a repeat of the error.

Calling for training to be updated, he reminded non-executive members of the requirements of the 2013 Act, which limits the roles that can be held while serving on the board.

Mr Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru MS for South East Wales, requested that any updates to records relevant to board members be made available to the Finance Committee.

Due to Dr. Chamberlain’s unplanned departure, the committee decided to invite current board members to express their interest in the position rather than advertise more broadly.

The report recommends that the Senedd appoint Ian Rees, who was the sole applicant, as chairman of the Wales Audit Office for four years from June 12.

Dr Rees, an education and training consultant from Swansea who has been on the board since 2020, was a member of the Arts Council of Wales for six years.

If rubber-stamped, he will receive a salary of £25,000 a year, despite concerns that this exceeds the amount offered by the Welsh Government for similar public appointments within his remit.

‘Oversight’

Member States on the Finance Committee, which oversees the Wales Audit Office, have recommended two further public appointments to fill the posts advertised in the first quarter.

Elinor Gwynn’s first term as a board member was due to expire in September, but she has resigned and will leave her position on May 31.

A three-person panel, including Owen Griffiths, considered applications from six women and 19 men before deciding to interview eight candidates.

The panel elected Richard Thurston and Mike Norman as board members from June 2024 to May 2028. Members can serve a maximum of two four-year terms.

The Senedd is expected to sign off on public nominations after the Whitsunday break.

“Caught”

Disqualification rules have happened to potential Senedd members in the past – two Liberal Democrats found themselves in a similar situation after the 2012 election.

Aled Roberts, former Welsh Language Commissioner, who died in 2022, was disqualified from the then Assembly because of his seat on the Welsh Valuation Tribunal.

However, the North Walian overturned his disqualification, winning the Senedd by a 30-20 majority due to outdated Welsh-language guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission.

His Lib-Dem colleague John Dixon stood down due to his membership of the then Wales Care Council, and Eluned Parrott was to represent Central South Wales instead.

Under upcoming Senedd reforms due for royal assent, candidates and members not registered to vote in Wales will be disqualified from 2026.