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ITV News
2 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Welsh Government 'rushed' purchase of festival farm, now worth half a million pounds less
Wales Politics The Welsh Government made 'avoidable mistakes' during the 'rushed' purchase of a Powys farm that is now worth half a million pounds less than it cost, according to a report by the Senedd's watchdog committee. Gilestone Farm, near Talybont-on-Usk, was bought in 2022 for £4.25m, as part of a plan to secure the future of the Green Man Festival, a plan that was finally scuppered when nesting ospreys were discovered on the site. But the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration committee has found what it calls 'signifiant failings in the handling of the acquisition". The committee's report says that the purchase was 'rushed' because of end-of-year budget pressures. It says the property, which is still owned by the Welsh Government but run as a working farm, is now worth half a million pounds less than its value in 2022. The Welsh Government insists that it followed 'proper processes' in buying the farm and that it continues to explore 'potential opportunities for its future use". Mark Isherwood, who chairs the Public Accounts and Public Administration committee, said: 'The Committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm. "While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures. 'Furthermore, the Welsh Government must do more to ensure that communities are not only consulted but genuinely listened to. Engagement must be meaningful, inclusive, and consistent. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the Committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.' The Welsh Government will now consider the report and issue its response. A spokesperson said: 'Gilestone Farm was acquired in 2022, following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time, in order to support the growth of the Creative Sector in Wales and a stronger Mid-Wales economy. 'We were delighted to learn in August 2023 of the arrival of the pair of mating ospreys, which returned in 2024, and again this year. Their first egg hatched in early June 2025. This is believed to be a first for the Usk Valley in at least 250 years and marks an important milestone in the protection of this important species. 'The arrival of the ospreys necessarily impacted on the planned use of the farm, and the original project had to be stopped. Gilestone remains one of the Welsh Government's property assets, and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive. 'We will read the Committee's report with interest, and respond in due course.' The Welsh Conservatives have renewed their criticism in the wake of today's report. Brecon and Radnorshire MS, James Evans, said: "The purchase of Gilestone Farm should never have happened in the first place and the process around its purchase raises serious questions about Welsh Government internal procedures. 'The Labour Government has spent millions without a full, open tendering process or meaningful engagement with the community. Public funds must be spent with care and due diligence. 'The next time the Labour Government reaches for the cheque book, they should listen to local concerns and act with far greater transparency. In the meantime, Gilestone Farm remains the most expensive publicly owned 'bird nest' in history.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
'Significant failings' in Green Man Gilestone Farm purchase
There were 'significant failings' in the Welsh Government's controversial purchase of Gilestone Farm, a new cross-party report has found. The farm in Talybont on Usk in Powys was purchased by the Welsh Government for £4.25 million in 2022 in order to lease to the owners of the Green Man Festival. The Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee have now found that 'avoidable mistakes' were made. In a report released today (July 28), multiple failings were found - raising broader concerns about 'governance, due diligence, and community engagement'. Chair of the Committee Mark Isherwood MS said: 'The Committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm. 'While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. 'It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures.' The report finds failings with how officials interacted with people in the local community who 'felt disengaged and uninformed about the Welsh Government's intentions, with failings acknowledged by officials'. It also found that the Welsh Government 'did not keep a record of matters discussed with Green Man in various meetings during its consideration of Green Man's outline business plan and leading up to the purchase of the Farm.' The committee found that the one of the Welsh Government's key motivations to buy the farm quickly 'was the opportunity to use an in-year underspend to fund the purchase, along with the consequential requirement to complete the purchase by 31 March 2022'. The report found that this 'avoidable haste" was "driven by the financial year-end" and "compromised the Welsh Government's ability to clearly articulate and fully consider as part of its decision-making process the underlying rationale for purchasing the site'. Since the purchase, the site has seen the arrival of nesting Ospreys in 2023, the first time they have been seen so far south in over 200 years. As a result an 'Osprey Conservation Plan' has been put in place, leading to complications at the site for further use In a letter quoted in the report it notes that 'it is clear that the full commercial and charitable objectives of the Green Man Group, as set out in its business plan for the use of Gilestone Farm, can no longer be realised. 'This is because the report advises that a 750m restricted zone around the nest must be in place on the farm within which only very limited human activity can take place.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app A subsequent valuation has found the site is now valued at £3.75m. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse,' added Mr Isherwood. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the Committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.'
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Senedd cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mark Isherwood formally introduced his British Sign Language (BSL) bill in the Senedd on July 16, nearly seven years after calls were first made for legislation in Wales. Mr Isherwood, a disability rights campaigner for decades, explained the bill would introduce legal requirements to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales. He warned: 'Too often, deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. 'This denies them their rights and places them at a significant disadvantage – whether in health care, education, employment, transport or otherwise." He told the Senedd: 'BSL plays a crucial role in enabling communication and promoting inclusivity in everyday life – for many deaf individuals, BSL is their primary language. 'Deaf BSL signers in Wales cannot access services in their first language and this is unacceptable. As one individual undergoing major surgery shared 'throughout the whole time, I did not understand anything'.' He added: 'If passed, therefore, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK.' Jane Hutt welcomed and supported the bill on behalf of the Welsh Government, which recognised BSL as a language more than 20 years ago in 2004. Wales' social justice secretary, who has worked with Mr Isherwood on developing the proposed legislation, described the bill as a step towards lasting change. The backbench bill would be the first passed by the Senedd in a decade, with bills on mental health, food, education, autism and older people's rights rejected or withdrawn in that time. Concerns have been raised about the Senedd's capacity for legislation brought forward by backbench members who are not a part of the Welsh Government. The BSL bill, as an example, was accompanied by a 113-page explanation and impact assessment. If passed, it would be a first since Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams introduced a bill on safe nurse staffing levels in 2014, which became law two years later. Labour's Jenny Rathbone chairs the Senedd's equality committee, which she said had 'cleared the decks' to focus on seeing the BSL bill become an Act by May 2026.
Pembrokeshire Herald
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
NHS in Wales to offer protection for premature babies against respiratory virus
A 'KANGAROO COURT' on the Covid-19 pandemic will be formally disbanded after members quit, but another Senedd committee will take over rather than a judge-led Wales-specific inquiry. At least 13,000 people died in Wales during the pandemic but, more than five years later, Senedd scrutiny of the decisions made in Cardiff Bay has stalled – if it ever got going. Elin Jones, the Senedd's speaker or Llywydd, announced the end of the 'Wales Covid-19 inquiry special purpose committee', which was set up to look at gaps in the UK inquiry. In March, Tom Giffard, its co-chair, and his Conservative colleague Sam Rowlands quit the committee after Labour blocked calls for witnesses to swear an oath. He said he had no confidence in the committee, saying he would no longer associate himself with a process 'seemingly designed to protect those it is supposed to hold to account'. The Welsh Government refused to set up a judge-led Wales-specific inquiry in the wake of the pandemic like in Scotland, where a public inquiry was established to learn lessons. Ms Jones announced the committee would be dissolved in the autumn after months of wrangling behind closed doors, with the Senedd's public accounts committee picking up the baton. Llywydd Elin Jones In a statement on July 16, she said: 'Due to the breakdown of the co-chair model that was adopted, it hasn't been possible for the committee to proceed with its work. 'It's been evident through discussions… that a different model will be required to move forward with the committee's scrutiny of this vital work.' Mark Isherwood chairs the public accounts committee which will now lead scrutiny of gaps identified by the Covid committee in its report on module one. The Conservative expressed concerns about the committee's capacity and the limited time left in this Senedd term, with an election on the horizon in May 2026. Conservative MS Mark Isherwood But he said: 'We have agreed to take on the task that has been asked of us to ensure that some scrutiny of these important matters is done within this Senedd – rather than none. 'While there is scope within the committee's work plan to accommodate some work on module one during the autumn term, this work will be limited and the scope of our work will need to be sharp and focused. 'Our work on module two will depend on when the report is published and will naturally be limited in any event, with issues potentially arising for our legacy report.' He stressed: 'We may not be best placed to pursue this work. And we cannot be sure any outcome will be sufficiently comprehensive to satisfactorily address the issues arising from the module one report, rather than through a Wales-specific public inquiry…. However, we will do our best to conduct work as effectively as we can within these constraints.' Mr Isherwood said the committee will want to take evidence from First Minister Eluned Morgan, given her responsibility for civil contingencies in Wales. Mabon ap Gwynfor said: 'Unfortunately, the main lesson that we've learned over the past few years is that the Welsh Government has an ongoing hatred of accountability.' Plaid Cymru's shadow health secretary paid tribute to the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group for their tireless campaigning on the issue. Mr ap Gwynfor expressed concerns about the 'shambolic' handling of the Covid committee, with months 'wasted debating the actual purpose of the special purposes committee'. He criticised the Tories for 'pulling the plug' on a committee they had a hand in setting up, saying: 'They're now proposing to belatedly re-enter the conversation by chairing a separate committee that also doesn't have any authority to compel oathtaking.' James Evans, the Conservatives' shadow health secretary, reiterated his party's position that a specific Covid inquiry is the only way Wales will get the focus and answers it needs. His colleague Mr Giffard said resigning from the committee he co-chaired was never his preferred outcome but it was better than the alternative: 'Presiding over a kangaroo court that would never have got to the bottom of the issues that the families deserve.' Conservative MS Tom Giffard Julie James, for the Welsh Government, urged Mr Giffard, a public accounts committee member, to reflect on his 'disgraceful' depiction of the Covid committee as a kangaroo court. At the outset, families led by Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees feared the 'not-fit-for-any-purpose' committee would be whitewashed by politicians marking their own homework. Following the latest debate, she said: 'It's clear to everyone there must be a Welsh inquiry into the handling of the pandemic in Wales and the continued failure to hold one is because the current government does not want its actions to be scrutinised.'
South Wales Guardian
20-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd cross-party support for backbench sign language bill
Mark Isherwood formally introduced his British Sign Language (BSL) bill in the Senedd on July 16, nearly seven years after calls were first made for legislation in Wales. Mr Isherwood, a disability rights campaigner for decades, explained the bill would introduce legal requirements to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales. He warned: 'Too often, deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. 'This denies them their rights and places them at a significant disadvantage – whether in health care, education, employment, transport or otherwise." He told the Senedd: 'BSL plays a crucial role in enabling communication and promoting inclusivity in everyday life – for many deaf individuals, BSL is their primary language. 'Deaf BSL signers in Wales cannot access services in their first language and this is unacceptable. As one individual undergoing major surgery shared 'throughout the whole time, I did not understand anything'.' He added: 'If passed, therefore, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK.' Jane Hutt welcomed and supported the bill on behalf of the Welsh Government, which recognised BSL as a language more than 20 years ago in 2004. Wales' social justice secretary, who has worked with Mr Isherwood on developing the proposed legislation, described the bill as a step towards lasting change. The backbench bill would be the first passed by the Senedd in a decade, with bills on mental health, food, education, autism and older people's rights rejected or withdrawn in that time. Concerns have been raised about the Senedd's capacity for legislation brought forward by backbench members who are not a part of the Welsh Government. The BSL bill, as an example, was accompanied by a 113-page explanation and impact assessment. If passed, it would be a first since Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams introduced a bill on safe nurse staffing levels in 2014, which became law two years later. Labour's Jenny Rathbone chairs the Senedd's equality committee, which she said had 'cleared the decks' to focus on seeing the BSL bill become an Act by May 2026.
