Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Volunteer estate of 2,500 dispersed sites is critical infrastructure for cadets and reserves.
Recommendation
Stewardship of the volunteer estate is one of the RFCAs’ core activities. The volunteer estate, which provides the essential infrastructure that the cadets and reserves need to operate, is made up of around 2,500 sites which are widely dispersed around the UK and range from cadet huts to multipurpose reserve centres. The reserve training sites are the basis for training and mobilising the reserves, while accommodation for cadet units provides an important nationwide presence.31
Government Response Summary
The Department will write to the Committee alongside its Treasury Minute response, setting out how it will enhance accountability for the performance of the RFCAs under the current arrangements, pending the establishment of an NDPB.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4. PAC conclusion: The Department will need to continue to manage around the limitations of its current oversight arrangements for the RFCAs until it has established an NDPB. 4. PAC recommendation: Alongside its Treasury Minute response, the Department should write to the Committee setting out how it will enhance accountability for the performance of the RFCAs under the current arrangements, pending the establishment of an NDPB. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: March 2026 4.2 Accountability for the RFCAs has been enhanced since the 2019 Sullivan Review. Performance monitoring has been sharpened. The MOD appointed a single departmental sponsor (the Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, Reserves & Cadets) to provide coordinated oversight of the RFCAs. 4.3 Service Level Agreements have been refreshed to include clearer, quantifiable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and each is owned by a named senior official. Furthermore, the Senior Responsible Owner led Sponsor Board meets regularly and monitors the performance of the RFCAs using Key Performance Indicators, thereby strengthening strategic oversight and aligning delivery expectations. 4.4 Furthermore, since the Hearing with the Committee, meaningful progress has been made to enhance accountability. On the financial side, an updated framework document has been agreed with the Treasury. 4.5 Progress has been made to ensure full compliance with Treasury rules, although additional work is still required in respect of the Annual Reports and Accounts, specifically around lease arrangements to ensure that the RFCAs report according to the Financial Reporting Manual. 4.6 There is further work to do. For example, the Council of the RFCAs is not itself a legal entity independent of the RFCAs: the current structure limits clarity of roles, responsibility and accountability. This will be addressed by the implementation of the NDPB. 4.7 The department will provide updates on progress as requested by the Committee.