Audit calls for urgent workforce planning at Bannau Brycheiniog

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority needs an urgent, better-informed approach to workforce planning, Audit Wales says in a report published on 15 October. The September-dated review found that the authority recognised its staffing challenges but lacked a coherent plan to address them.

The risk identified

Auditors described problems with recruitment, retention, skills, succession and organisational culture. The report warns that unresolved capacity pressures could prevent the authority meeting its future statutory responsibilities and objectives.

Information before decisions

The review says limited workforce data made it difficult to understand the causes of the problems, target resources or estimate the cost of addressing them. Senior managers were also undertaking work normally handled by less senior officers alongside their main roles, constraining capacity to develop the response.

Work already under way

The report acknowledges changes to senior management, a new corporate performance role, work on planning-service capacity and efforts to improve organisational culture. It also records discussions about sharing resources with similar bodies, which had not resolved the capacity problem at the time examined.

What auditors recommend

The two recommendations call for better information about workforce challenges and urgent planning arrangements. Those arrangements should prioritise staffing gaps, report progress regularly to senior leaders and members, and evaluate whether the response works.

What this report can establish

The findings come from document review and interviews with senior officers and the authority’s chair. The report does not specify fieldwork dates or quantify a financial loss. Staffing changes and progress since the audit need separate confirmation.