Carl Sargeant AC / AM Y Gweinidog Cyfoeth Naturiol Minister for Natural Resources Eich cyf/Your ref Ein cyf/Our ref SF/CS/0326/15 Professor Peter Matthews Chairman Natural Resources Wales Ty Cambria 24 Newport Road February 2015 Cardiff CF24 OTP Dear NATURAL RESOURCES WALES – REMIT LETTER 2015-16 I am writing to set out the Welsh Government’s remit for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in 2015-16. I would like to take the opportunity to express my thanks to the staff of Natural Resources Wales for their tremendous efforts and achievements during the past year. The priorities for the coming year are set in the light of a tight financial settlement. I know that you are working with my officials to manage and prioritise your programme of work, especially in the development of your Business Plan and accompanying Performance Framework. These should be based on the results based accountability principles, including for each outcome, a number of indicators and measures, activity and projects, detailing costs and associated activities which can be reported against outcomes. One area I am keen to prioritise is your responsiveness to customers and the wider public and I am supportive of your work on developing the new customer care strategy. This Spring I will introduce The Environment Bill. I expect NRW to demonstrate natural resource management as the central means for delivering its purpose and functions throughout the business. As well as supporting the direct work of the Bill, this will require innovation in your enterprise and regulatory functions to support green growth and the wider transition to a low carbon society, and to increase Wales’ long-term resilience, particularly in the context of climate change. Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay English Enquiry Line 0845 010 3300 Caerdydd • Cardiff Llinell Ymholiadau Cymraeg 0845 010 4400 CF99 1NA [email protected] Wedi’i argraffu ar bapur wedi’i ailgylchu (100%) Printed on 100% recycled paper As you know, I believe that achieving diversity improves the effectiveness of organisations and I would like to see NRW become more representative of the people of Wales. I would wish our officials to continue to work together to ensure that equality and diversity are mainstreamed within NRW including at Board level. Using the “Good For” themes in your Corporate Plan 2014-17, I expect the following actions from NRW in 2015-16: Good for People Lead and co-ordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the coastal review and deliver a Wales flood map service. Develop proposals for ensuring the needs and opportunities of disadvantaged communities are fully reflected across NRW’s work, including responding to the Welsh Government’s LIFT programme. Good for Business Ensure timely input to planning decisions. Ensure effective risk-based implementation of regulatory regimes. Take a positive, risk-based approach to the development of distributed energy generation which maximises benefit for Wales. Good for the Environment Use the area based approach to identify priorities for intervention to address key environmental risks and opportunities. Support the implementation of the Nature Recovery Plan through natural resource management. Protect and improve our seas by contributing to the development and implementation of the Welsh Government Marine Transition Programme and Marine and Fisheries Strategic Action Plan. Ensure the abstraction licensing system is fit for purpose by working with the Welsh Government to remove exempt abstractions and develop our approach to reform the licensing system. Good Knowledge Prepare a consultation draft of the State of Natural Resources Report in time to inform debate on the Environment Bill. Work with the Welsh Government and others on a common evidence base, including continued development of the Information Hub so as to ensure relevant data is made accessible for use by the public, agencies and academia. Work with the Welsh Government to ensure that there is an effective and up-to-date regulatory framework. Engage with the development of statutory guidance for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill and participate in capacity building activities to prepare for the Bill. Good Organisation Carry through the transformation programme to ensure NRW works collectively to deliver its purpose and realise the agreed benefits both cash and non cash. To be an exemplar in the transition to the delivery of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill. Draw on the experience of the area based trials for the rationalisation of existing plans and the scope to discontinue or simplify existing activities. Annex 1 details the Grant in Aid award for 2015-16. Yours sincerely Carl Sargeant AC / AM Y Gweinidog Cyfoeth Naturiol Minister for Natural Resources Annex 1 NATURAL RESOURCES WALES Welsh Government’s Financial Support for Natural Resources activities in Wales: 2015-16 Grant in Aid £000s Total Grant in Aid 102,087 Non Flood Defence Capital 795 Revenue 63,812 Flood Defence Capital 18,000 Revenue 19,480 *The non FCRM Revenue GIA figure does not contain the provision for JNCC which is paid by the Welsh Government from 2014/15 onwards .