NRW chair quits after damning audit report
THE chair of Wales’ biggest quango has resigned after its accounts were qualified for the third year running.
Diane McCrea quit after two and a half years at Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Earlier this week Auditor General Huw Vaughan Thomas published a damning report saying some contracts to sell publicly-owned wood were not entered into lawfully by NRW.
The organisation decided to sell timber to three companies without asking other firms.
The sales came after NRW was criticised for doing the same thing in an earlier long-term timber deal.
Labour AM Lee Waters asked in the Senedd: “What is going on in NRW to have their accounts qualified for the third year running? It’s unprecedented and frankly outrageous.”
Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths said in a written statement: “I have today accepted the resignation of the chair of Natural Resources Wales. This is an appropriate response in the light of the recent Wales Audit Office report which qualifies the accounts for the third time, and the concerns and criticisms from all parties in the Assembly. I have written to thank Diane McCrea for her service.
“I will be appointing an interim chair of the NRW board, while I undertake a recruitment process for a new chair.”