The Environment Minister for Wales, John Griffiths has decided to create a single body to bring together the Forestry Commission Wales (FCW), Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Environment Agency Wales (EAW).
Over the last few months, staff from the three bodies and Welsh Government have put together a business case to look at the creation of a single body, and the Minister has now approved this.
The business case includes detailed information on the form and functions of the new body, detailed cost and benefit analysis along with information on pensions.
The new Natural Environment Framework (NEF) will deliver a more integrated approach to managing our natural environment. The work of the programme supports this new framework and puts the principles behind it into action.
Phase one of the programme looked at a number of options, including keeping things as they are and also different combinations of the three bodies.
This initial analysis showed that a Single Environment Body would:
- Be more effective;
- Achieve better environmental outcomes; and
- Have the potential to create significant savings that could be reinvested.
There were also a number of risks identified including ICT and pensions costs and VAT status.
From this work it was concluded that the best option was to explore creating a single body. Ministers took the decision in early 2011 to look at this in more detail.
Plans for phase 2
Phase two looked in more detail at the option of establishing a single environmental body. The business case included information on:
- The form and function a new body would take;
- Further work on the costs and benefits of establishing a single body; and
- More work on cost risks including those relating to pensions and ICT arrangements.
The Business Case recommended that a single environment body should be created to bring together EAW, CCW and FCW. This Business case was sent to the Environment Minister, John Griffiths in November and was discussed in Cabinet on Tuesday 29 November. A decision was made to proceed with the creation of a single body. The next steps in the Programme will include a public consultation in early 2012.
For further information please see the Welsh Government website.