LSB2
Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee
Inquiry into Local Service Boards
Thank you for providing an opportunity to respond to the Call for Evidence in respect of Local Service Boards (LSBs) dated 25 June 2008.
The quality of our natural environment and the services it provides is essential to the health, wellbeing and prosperity of people in Wales. Environmental issues should therefore be recognised as cross cutting across all traditional policy sectors and be properly considered when designing public service solutions.
The Environment Agency has wide responsibilities for managing the environment, including reducing pollution and enforcing pollution legislation, overseeing the management of waste, water resources and freshwater fisheries and reducing the harm caused by flooding. Through our work, we provide key services to the citizens of Wales and gather a wide range of information which can be seen as evidence to support the plans and strategies of others.
Local Authority Plan Rationalisation did not require a statutory local environment plan, rather relying on protection and enhancement of the environment through the Community Strategy process itself. The purpose of the Community Strategy Process is to promote the environmental, economic and social wellbeing of citizens. It is therefore imperative to integrate environmental considerations across all the themes and activities. The planning framework is set out in the statutory guidance on community strategies published in March 2008. Within this guidance, LSBs have a role to ensure that the local system of collaborative planning is delivering for citizens. In light of this role, we believe LSBs should be a significant leadership group in helping Wales achieve its aspirations for sustainable development.
LSB structures are based around Local Authority boundaries and vary in structure and focus to reflect local needs and priorities. We note that in addition to the 6 LSB pilots, other Local authorities are now considering adopting the approach. Our
organisational size and shape means we would be constrained in our ability to engage as a formal member of each Local Strategic Partnership or LSB.
We are actively involved in the Carmarthenshire Local Service Board pilot focussing on climate change and sustainability issues which have been chosen as key areas for focus. Both these topic areas pose both enormous challenges and opportunities for Wales and require strong public service partnerships to respond. We have found working in this LSB a very positive and beneficial experience with tangible progress being made. We have contributed to the evidence submitted by the LSB to the Inquiry.
In other areas, where we are not directly involved with the formal LSB partnerships, we consider that our existing relationships with key partners provide suitable communication routes to ensure that specific input from the Environment Agency can be accessed on an as needs basis.
Recognising the challenges of engagement set out above, we have sought to strategically support LSB and Community Strategy development through national arrangements such as the National Stakeholder Group and the Community Strategy Working Group.
We have worked with WAG and other partners to produce guidance and advice notes to support the Community Strategy process/LSBs in identifying environmental challenges and opportunities. Advice published includes Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and implementation of the National Environment Strategy. We have participated in the LSB innovation network developed to focus on climate change and sustainable development issues. We are continuing to increase accessibility to the environmental data we hold to ensure communities and decision makers are well informed.
Our direct experience of working in LSBs is limited and as such we do not propose to attend the Inquiry in an individual capacity but will seek attendance as part of the Carmarthenshire LSB partnership.
Chris Mills
Director Wales
