Osprey farm purchase was rushed, Audit Wales finds

A 2023 Audit Wales review looking at the farm purchase found ministers acted with “avoidable haste” as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year’s end.

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Now, the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has published a report which claims the purchase of Gilestone Farm was “rushed due to end-of-year budget pressures’.

‘The report, published on Monday, July 28, says lessons must be learned from the purchase and that there is a need for “urgent improvements and better governance for acquisition practices”.

Significant failings have been identified with regards to the handling of the acquisition, raising broader concerns about governance, due diligence, and community engagement.

“The committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm,’ said Mark Isherwood MS, the committee’s chairman.