‘Living Wales’ update

The Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development has confirmed his decision to develop a single body to bring together the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales,  the Environment Agency in Wales and the Forestry Commission in Wales. The Minister has taken this decision after considering the results of the recent consultation on the proposal to create a new body to manage Wales' natural resources.

The new body will ensure that the environment and natural resources of Wales are sustainably managed to benefit the people, environment and economy now and into the future. The Body will enable a more integrated approach to achieving Welsh Government's objectives and will have sustainable development at the heart of its operations

This decision follows careful consideration of the results of the recent consultation on the Single Body which generated over 300 responses from a wide range of sources.  Details of the consultation and responses can be found at:

http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/sustainingwales/?lang=eng

Recruitment of the Chair, CEO and non-executive board will now commence, with advertisements being placed in the Welsh press yesterday and the Sunday Times .  The Single Body, is expect to be vested on the 1st April 2013.