Decision details
Debate on the Environment & Sustainability Committee’s report on the Single Environment Body
Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly, Environment and Sustainability Committee - Fourth Assembly
Status: Complete
Is Key decision?: Yes
Purpose:
On the 29 November 2011 the Minister for Environment and Sustainability, John Griffiths, announced that following the conclusion of the business case the Welsh Government had decided to establish a new single environment body for Wales. The new body will be formed from the merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales. The Government’s stated aims for the body are that it delivers the outcomes set out in the Natural Environment Framework currently being developed by the Welsh Government.
The Environment and Sustainability Committee decided to undertake a short and focussed inquiry to assess whether the business case that informed the Welsh Government’s decision to create a new body will deliver the natural environment outcomes the Government wishes to secure.
The terms of reference for the inquiry were as follows:
- to
assess whether the business case put forward for the creation of a single
environment body takes sufficient account of the broad outcomes set out in
the Natural Environment Framework;
- to
assess whether the business case adequately reflects the costs and benefits
associated with the merger of the existing statutory environment bodies;
- to
analyse whether the business case takes sufficient accounts of the
potential risks associated with the creation of a single environment body
including:
- financial
and economic risks;
- legal and
legislative risks;
- performance
risks;
- accountability
and transparency risks, and
- reputational
risks;
- to
assess whether the business case take sufficient account of the views of
key stakeholders affected by the creation of a single environment body.
The issues the Committee considered as part of these terms of reference included:
- the
outcomes and objectives the Welsh Government has set out in its thinking
on the natural environment framework and whether the business case takes
sufficient account of the type of body that would be best suited to
deliver these outcomes;
- the
costs and benefits set out in the business case for the different options
and whether these are sufficiently comprehensive and robust or whether
further issues should be taken into consideration;
- whether
the risks identified in the business case are sufficiently broad and
complete or whether there are additional risks that have not been
identified;
- stakeholders views of the business case and whether they were
sufficiently consulted in its development.
Decision:
The item started at 14:50.
NDM5008 Dafydd
Elis-Thomas (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
The National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the report of the Environment and Sustainability Committee on its Inquiry into the business case for a single environment body which was laid in the Table Office on 27 April 2012.
Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 1 June 2012
The Motion was
agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Publication date: 13/06/2012
Date of decision: 13/06/2012
Decided at meeting: 13/06/2012 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly