Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
- June 2023
Aim of inspection
The aim of the inspection was to gain assurance that the senior level of NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd (NNB GenCo) is maintaining the appropriate focus on safety and security. This was through a desktop review of sub-committee meeting information, observation of a selection of NNB GenCo Board sub-committee meetings and targeted interviews with sub-committee / management board members.
We looked at this area due to ONR's Chief Nuclear Inspector's current focus on governance, and as a follow on from an inspection of the NNB GenCo Board in March 2022. The inspection considered the main sub-committees feeding into the board, which often deal with competing demands from different stakeholders, but are fundamental in ensuring that senior leadership set the appropriate safety direction and culture across the organisation.
We looked at this area due to ONR's Chief Nuclear Inspector's current focus on governance, and as a follow on from an inspection of the NNB GenCo Board in March 2022. The inspection considered the main sub-committees feeding into the board, which often deal with competing demands from different stakeholders, but are fundamental in ensuring that senior leadership set the appropriate safety direction and culture across the organisation.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC17 - Management systems - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
No significant shortfalls were found in NNB GenCo’s governance and informed decision making which would impact on safety and security.
We also gained assurance there are clear accountabilities and visible leadership across the organisation.
However, ONR judged that there were some minor inconsistencies in governance processes:
We also gained assurance there are clear accountabilities and visible leadership across the organisation.
However, ONR judged that there were some minor inconsistencies in governance processes:
- It was unclear how the governance framework operated holistically, and in particular how all the sub-committees and management boards operated in an integrated way.
- There was a lack of a consistent meeting protocol and a number of terms of reference were out of date.
- It was also unclear where commissioning is given full consideration.
Conclusion
Overall we were satisfied that there are no significant shortfalls in NNB GenCo’s governance and informed decision making which would impact on safety and security. We have therefore rated the inspection ‘Green’ (no formal action required). In coming to this conclusion, however, we judged that there were some minor inconsistencies with regard to NNB GenCo’s governance processes which we will follow-up via a level 4 regulatory issue.