Former board members call for independent review of HCC

A group of disgruntled former board members at red meat levy body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) has written to the Welsh government, urging it to carry out an independent review into its governance.

The letter, seen by Farmers Weekly, expresses “serious concerns” about the current performance of the organisation and how the handling of Welsh red meat levy funds has been managed over the past 18 months.

Signed by six former HCC non-executive directors, the letter was sent to deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies in September.

See also: HCC boss explains decision to hire crisis comms agency

It expresses “great sadness” over what has happened at the levy board, which has seen it “lose credibility and fall considerably short” of expectations for a marketing and industry body of the “world-renowned products” of Welsh beef and lamb.

In their letter, the former board members “strongly urge” the Welsh government to consider an independent review of the governance of HCC, which has been hit by a series of revelations in recent months.

Bullying allegations

Over the past year and a half, several media reports have been published relating to concerns over how alleged bullying of staff members have been handled by the chairwoman and board members at HCC.

The resignation of key figures like Rhys Davies, Prys Morgan, and former CEO Gwyn Howells – alongside allegations of mishandling bullying claims and increased spending on crisis management – has prompted these concerns.

The Welsh government has not commented on the reasons why these three key members decided to leave their roles at HCC.

Sources say that large amounts of levy payers’ money are being spent on consultants – both legal and HR advice – as well as a crisis management company, Stay Gold Media, which had been drafted in to help handle external communications, as reported exclusively by Farmers Weekly in August.

Heather Anstey-Myers has been recruited as acting CEO and has been in post since late January.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted in August revealed that HCC spent £51,945 on “Acting CEO Services” between 1 April and 31 July this year.

Staff resignations

Meanwhile, a number of key staff members have left HCC in recent months and many have not yet been replaced.

One industry source said: “There is a feeling that the current reasonable market prices for cattle and sheep in Wales are allowing matters at HCC to slip off the hook and if trade were to drop, or even collapse, eyes might be more focused on the problems which appear to be rumbling on at HCC.”

On 23 October, Mr Irranca-Davies responded to the concerns raised by the former board members. He confirmed that HCC, in collaboration with the Welsh government, has begun a recruitment campaign to find a new chief executive for the red meat levy body.

Mr Irranca-Davies added: “My vision is for a successful future for Welsh farming, producing food sustainably, looking after our environment and underpinning our rural communities and I am confident HCC will continue to be resolutely focused on delivering value for money to levy payers and promoting our red meat industry.”

HCC was set up in 2003 as an arm’s length body of the Welsh government, dedicated to promoting Welsh red meat, specifically lamb, beef, and pork.