The current standard of financial management and governance remains disappointing at too many Town and Community Councils, according to a report, published today by the Auditor General for Wales. In this financial year, the number of issues identified by auditors – leading to ‘qualified audit opinions’ - has doubled. And, it has been necessary for the Auditor General to issue reports ‘in the public interest’, or make formal recommendations, to 8 councils in 2018.

The ‘MyTravelPass’ scheme, which has given 16-18 year olds a third off the price of bus journeys in Wales, has cost the Welsh Government significantly less since April 2017 compared with the initial 19 months of its operation. According to the Auditor General for Wales, this raises obvious questions about the value for money of the £14.74 million spent during the initial pilot phase, even accounting for any up-front implementation costs.