The National Assembly for Wales Environment and Sustainability Committee believes that significant improvements are needed to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Bill if it is to have any meaningful impact.
The intention of the Bill is to put sustainable development (SD) at the heart of government and public bodies, and to make a difference to the lives of people in Wales. The Bill sets out a series of proposals which will put a duty on public bodies to consider the impact of policies on the 'well-being' of its citizens, including six well-being goals to achieve this. The aim is to create a prosperous, resilient, healthier, more equal Wales and a Wales of cohesive communities of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language.
The Bill proposes the creation of statutory public services boards across Wales – boards where local councils, health boards, fire authorities and Natural Resources Wales work together to improve outcomes for local people. It would also create a Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, to promote the SD principle and assess how public bodies meet their well-being objectives.
The Committee took evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, most of whom said that improvements were needed if the Bill is going to achieve these aims.
The Committee has made a series of recommendations which it believes will strengthen the Bill. The key recommendations include:
Amending the sustainable development principle to reflect the broader issues included in both the One Wales One Planet and Brundtland definitions of SD, particularly climate change, using only our fair share of the earth's resources, environmental limits and the international impact of what we do in Wales
Clarifying, strengthening and amending the wording of the well-being goals reflect the many comments made by stakeholders and the findings of the National Conversation interim report. In particular, that the goals should specifically address key issues such as environmental limits, restoration of biodiversity, international impacts and social justice, and that the language used in the goals should be clear and unambiguous.
Bringing forward amendments to make it clear that the provisions of the Bill apply to all functions, activities and decisions of public bodies, and to ensure that the scope of the Commissioner's role and functions extends to all of these functions activities and decisions.
There should be cross-party and stakeholder involvement in the process for appointing the Future Generations Commissioner, possibly in the form of an appointment panel making recommendations to the appointing body.
Alun Ffred Jones AM Chair of the Assembly's Environment and Sustainability Committee said:
"There was unanimous support among Members of the Committee for the policy intent of the Bill and we believe the Welsh Government is to be commended for bringing forward legislation in this area.
"This is an important piece of legislation so it's disappointing that stakeholders have identified so many deficiencies in the Bill as it stands.
"We share the views expressed by the majority of those who gave evidence that significant improvements are needed in order for the Bill to have any meaningful impact.
"We welcome the policy intention of the Bill, and believe that it can be effective, but only if significant amendment is made. "
"It would be a great shame if the enthusiasm felt by so many for legislating for sustainable development in Wales did not translate into a Bill that could make a real difference. We hope that the Minister will listen to the concerns raised in our report and bring forward the amendments we believe to be necessary to ensure that this Bill can fulfil its objectives."