19 August 2010

  The S4C Authority has commissioned Sir Jon Shortridge, former Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government, to undertake a review of its corporate governance arrangements.

The review is expected to be completed in 6 weeks with the aim of building on current good practice while also reflecting current developments in governance in a modern public body. The new arrangements will replace a system of corporate governance known as ‘Arwahanrwydd’ (Separation) put in place by the Authority in 2006.

The review is part of a wider appraisal by the Authority of S4C’s activities.

The S4C Authority is an independent body, established by statute, which is responsible for the provision of Welsh language television programme services. The Authority is accountable for S4C’s output and the proper management of S4C. The Authority does not participate in any day-to-day decision-making. It is the responsibility of S4C’s Chief Executive, officers and staff to run S4C on a day-to-day basis, including the provision of S4C’s television services.

Sir Jon Shortridge was the top civil servant in Wales for nearly 10 years. He became Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Office in March 1999 and of the National Assembly on its creation in May 1999. In May 2007 he became Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Assembly Government. He retired in May 2008, but returned to Whitehall briefly as interim permanent secretary of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (and subsequently the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) in the summer of 2009.

He is now Chair of Community Service Volunteers, a member of the UK Statistics Authority, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and of the Audit Panel of Cardiff County Council and a Council member of Cardiff University. He was knighted in 2002.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• S4C is funded by grant in aid, provided by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), based on a statutory formula. It also generates some commercial revenues. Its statutory duties are set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996.

• Media interviews can be arranged with an Authority representative regarding the above. Please contact the S4C Communications department on 029 2074 1451.