PRESENT: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (Chair), Ian Bancroft (Vice Chair), Nicola Mead-Batten, Philip Tilley, Nuria Zolle, Rhian Gibson, Martin Veale, Hannah Bruce, Rajma Begum, Judi Rhys
STAFF: Brian Davies (CEO), Emma Wilkins, Graham Williams, Owen Lewis, Craig Nowell, Rachel Davies, Wendy Yardley (minutes)
Staff Observers: Neil Emberton
External: Neil Welch (Welsh Government)
1. Welcome/Apologies for absence
Chair welcomed all to the meeting. Heartfelt thanks were given to Martin Veale, Philip Tilley and Judi Rhys for their contributions as valued Board members, as this would be their final Board meeting. Neil Emberton (online) was also welcomed to the meeting as a staff observer and contributor to the Anti-Doping report, as was Neil Welch (Welsh Government) who was congratulated for the Women in Sport event on the eve of the Wales v Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) game in Manchester.
2. Declaration of interests (if new)
HB declared an interest – Chair of National Spondylitis Society (no conflict of interest but wanted to note).
3. Minutes of the last meetings
3.1 Notes of CGG meeting - 20 August 2025 SW(25)36
Paper for decision.
Action: Board approved the notes.
3.2 Minutes, Action Log, Decision Trackers & Matters Arising
Minutes agreed as an accurate record and therefore approved.
3.3 Decision Tracker
No actions outstanding.
4. Chair & Executive Report
4.1 Chair & Executive Report SW(25)37
Paper for decision. The CEO brought attention to a few specific items in the report. It can finally be announced that 5 new Board members have been appointed by the Minister, although yet to be publicly announced. The Exec team will arrange an induction process as soon as possible following the public statement. The next stage of the UK Covid-19 Public Enquiry (Module 10) has required a submission from Sport Wales which has been provided in draft form to the Clerk. Next week the Senedd Culture Committee will conduct its annual scrutiny session with Sport Wales, and the Chair and GW will attend in CEOs absence.
UK Sport: New Chair, Dr Nick Webborn has started his tenure. Chair mentioned that the last two meetings still had no representative from Northern Ireland.
DCMS Women in Sport Task Force: Chair had been invited to the first meeting of this UK Gov initiative which was arranged to coincide with the WRWC final. It appears that it will now be a rotating membership process. Something for us and WG Sport Policy unit to monitor.
Public Health Wales (PHW): increasingly positive relationship with PHW. Sport Wales Chair had met with PHW Chair in August and improving level of synergy overall. Commitment to arrange joint meetings with WG Officials and at Board level.
Safe Sport: Progress in relation to the Safe Sport report, with Nick Pink appointed Chair of the Oversight group to take forward the initially agreed recommendations. James Owens and team inputting into, and monitoring, developments.
Commonwealth Games: OL provided further context to the benefits of specific attendance at the Games, the process for which the Exec will take forward.
IWG: Chair added that she had met with Lisa Wainwright (IWG) who thanked Sport Wales for all its support of IWG. CEO suggested that we could hold a future Board Meeting in Birmingham to coincide with the IWG Global Summit in July 2026.
BOARD APPROVED PAPER
5. Policy & Strategy
5.1 Business Plan Update – SW(25)38
A discussion paper. A few notable highlights included the investment portal – current system provider has given notice of withdrawal which haa initiated a detailed procurement process. Sport Partnerships are all established and GW added that the Independent Chair for Gwent is out to advert. EW confirmed that the Sustainability element of the Business Plan was back on track following the appointment of a secondee with expertise in the area of procurement plua some concerted effort by the Catering and Housekeeping teams. Sector Resilience project – an internal fixed-term appointment has been confirmed to give further focus to this important area.
5.2 Error in agenda numbering – therefore, no report.
5.3 Plas Menai Annual Report: 2024-5 SW(25)39
An Assurance & Discussion paper. This report was also covered in the Trust Meeting. It was suggested that given the importance of the partnership then interim updates might be considered.
5.4 Annual Anti-Doping Report: SW(25)40
An Assurance and discussion paper. CEO extended thanks to NE from the Governance team and NMB as the Board Champion for their efforts in this area. Board was asked to consider the appointment of a Deputy Board Champion for succession purposes, and it was agreed that the Chair could proceed with a decision. A question was raised regarding any equality issues identified in the Impact Assessment of the UK Anti-Doping Policy. CEO responded that they were not aware of any specific equality issues in this area historically but that the actual Assessment itself would be held by UKAD.
5.5 Wales Netball/Cardiff Dragons update
Verbal update. Following the Critical Governance Group (CGG) meeting an offer was made to Wales Netball for a fixed-term loan together with confirmation of an Elite Cymru Lottery grant. The solution adheres to the two principles agreed at CGG. BDO, the independent consultants that did the assurance work against the Wales Netball Business Plan will now conduct further investigation on the response process and any lessons to be learned. The Chair thanked all the team involved for their hard work.
6. Finance, Risk & Governance
6.1 Statutory Accounts 2024/25; SCW Consolidated; SCW Trust; Lottery; Audit Wales ISA260; National Audit Office ISA260 SW(25)41
An Approval paper. Audit began on 16 June 2025 - both consolidated and Lottery accounts were given unqualified status. MV, as Chair of ARAC added that the accounts were of a terrific standard and that the ARAC members were very complimentary of the Finance team.
BOARD APPROVED PAPER
6.2 Finance Report – SW(25)42
A paper for information. MV asked for clarification on the options for the identified surplus. EW explained that the ones identified within the paper still required further discussion at Exec but the one with most impact was the potential reallocation of Sport Partnership support.
There was some uncertainty on the pension position although it is more likely that deficit payments may be reinstated next year.
7. Board Groups & Standing Committee reports
7.1 Summary of Subgroups - SW(25)43
An information paper that summarised the discussions and decisions of the Board’s sub-group meetings since the previous Board meeting.
Any Other Business
Future meeting dates - WY to look at diaries and send out invites.
There being no further business, Chair thanked all for attending. Meeting closed at 12:30.
8. Date of next meetings: 21 November 2025 (SWNC).
Dates for 2026:
20 February, 15 May, 10 July (Birmingham, tbc), 18 September, 20 November
These minutes were approved by the Board at its meeting on 21 November 2025.