Agenda item

To receive an update from Natural Resources Wales on the Environmental Resilience Priority (copy enclosed).

9.40 am – 10.15 am

A report was submitted (previously circulated) from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) providing an update on progress and a review of the five work areas in the Environmental Resilience priority by the Supporting Environmental Resilience Sub-Group as requested by the PSB in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also outlined two projects submitted to the NRW Strategic Allocating Funding grant process.

Helen Millband reported upon the findings of the review together with the Sub-Group’s recommendations.  Whilst all five areas of work were still considered relevant it was recommended that the following projects be paused due to capacity or during a pandemic being the wrong time (1) working with communities to develop environmental pledges and green changes, (2) looking at the procurement process to maximise community benefits from building developments, and (3) working with planning teams to ensure environmental issues were looked at when planning new developments.  It was also recommended that one new priority be developed about green and blue spaces for communities and discussion around home working and travel had identified two new sub actions under the reduction of carbon action.  A summary of those work areas had been detailed in the report.  Project ideas for spending NRW £25k had also been discussed by the Sub-Group and two projects had been taken forward after the meeting relating to (1) Coastal electric bike empowerment programme (12k), and (2) Glan Morfa Community Woodland (13k).

During debate the capacity issues were acknowledged but there was some reluctance for the identified priorities to be paused, particularly given the environmental benefits which had been inadvertently created by the pandemic and the continuing momentum and public enthusiasm in that regard.  Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill reported that Denbighshire had recently changed its constitution to ensure all decisions must have regard to the environmental impact and were also shortly to consider their community benefits policy and he was concerned that pausing those priorities may prove counterproductive.   That view was shared by Councillor Gronowy Edwards given that much work had been carried out in engaging with residents and town/community councils within Conwy and there was an appetite from communities to be involved which he felt should be further developed.  By way of further explanation Helen Millband reported that the feeling of the Sub-Group had been that capacity was limited and they had also questioned whether it was appropriate to drive forward those environmental pledges when communities were dealing with many other issues.  However the views of the Board would be reported back to the Sub-Group.  Helen MacArthur also acknowledged the hard work carried out in terms of community engagement but in the event those priorities were to be paused she highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of that action and the likely timescales to progress them in the future.  Judith Greenhalgh referred to the wealth of community engagement arising from the current consultation on Denbighshire’s Climate and Ecological Strategy and whilst statutory organisations may be struggling for capacity the communities were very receptive and she felt the PSB could capture public imagination on this issue.

The Board also discussed the proposed new priority around green and blue spaces.  Helen Millband elaborated upon the opportunity to build on the renewed enthusiasm for the local environment during the first lockdown and their potential to help recovery and links to develop in relation to the “Supporting Good Mental Well-being for all ages” priority.  She also reported further on the two projects which had been taken forward and links with the work as part of the area statements NRW were working on.  There was much support for the new priority and benefits to communities but it was also noted that there may be a resource impact for maintaining outdoor areas and maximising their use for the benefit of all.  The Chair reminded the Board of the links between the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act and the Environment Act and welcomed the partner organisations involvement in those online engagement sessions on the area statements work facilitated by NRW.  Details of those sessions would be circulated following the meeting.

In bringing the debate to a close the Chair summed up the Board’s views that, rather than pausing the priority areas immediately, some connection needed to be made with communities with a view to building on the positive engagement and progress that had already been made.  It was agreed that some work be carried out as to how best to continue to engage with communities and harness that enthusiasm, whether it be through community pledges or the new priority green and blue spaces, and to work with those that had an appetite for environmental change and some capacity at present, with a view to delivering positive changes within their areas, rather than the onus being on statutory organisations to deliver it for them.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the progress report and review carried out by the Supporting Environmental Resilience Sub-Group be received and noted;

(b)       the current priorities be revisited and some community work be carried out with a view to progressing some of those work areas;

(c)        a new priority be developed recognising the importance of local green and blue space for communities;

(d)       two additional sub-work actions about PSB partners’ staff working practices and establishing links with the transport and regional energy strategy are relevant, and

(e)       the suggested shared responsibility for reporting and monitoring actions be agreed across the PSB partners.