Agenda item

The Leader introduced the report that briefed Cabinet on the Future Generations Commissioner’s report and provides recommendations for the Council in light of the report.

The report details the Commissioner’s assessment of the improvements public bodies should make to achieve the well-being goals and embed the sustainable development principle into the way they work.

Included in the Cabinet report were the following points:

·          A reminder of the main duties of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015;

·          The eight areas of focus and high level recommendations contained in the Commissioner’s report; and,

·          A summary of the progress the Council has made in implementing the Act along with the next steps.

The Leader confirmed that one of the duties of the Commissioner is to publish the Future Generations Report, which contains the Commissioner’s assessment of the improvements public bodies should make to achieve the well-being goals.

The Commissioner’s report sets out a number of areas of focus for public bodies:

·         Leadership and Change

·         Land Use, Planning and Place Making

·         Transport

·         Housing

·         Decarbonisation and Climate Change

·         Skills for the Future

·         Adverse Childhood Experiences

·         Health and Wellness System

In terms of Newport’s position, the Commissioner acknowledges embedding the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 into an organisation is a journey.  The Leader confirmed the report evidences the Council has made steady progress towards implementing the Act over the last four years both internally and working with the PSB.  However, there are areas where progress is still necessary and the next steps have been set out in the report under each of the areas of focus.

The Leader was pleased to see the progress made over the last four years and was particularly pleased to report that the Council is expanding the number of supported housing units to respond to the increasing need due to Covid-19, and as such ensuring the most vulnerable in the city are able to improve their housing and wellbeing.  In addition, the Council is moving towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030 through a whole range of projects including a collaborative community renewable energy project, which will increase the amount of roof mounted solar in the city by 25%.

The Leader emphasised the Council’s commitment to implementing a sustainable approach and had appointed a Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development whose portfolio will take this legislation forward.

The Leader invited the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development to comment.  The Cabinet Member thanked officers for the work undertaken to develop the Cabinet report from the information contained in the detailed report by the Commissioner, and which clearly defines the next steps for the Council.  In the last five years the Council has made steady progress, the Cabinet Member was particularly pleased with the reduction made so far in Newport’s carbon footprint and is looking forward to seeing further progress in that regard.   She confirmed that as the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Future Generations Agenda she will be requesting regular updates to ensure appropriate actions are taken forward in relation to that Act.

The Leader invited Cabinet colleagues to comment:

Councillor Rahman was pleased to work collaboratively with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and welcomed the progress made with installing solar panels on Council buildings.  He also referred to community asset transfers and mentioned Maindee Unlimited and the successful transfer of Maindee library and the work being taken forward to transfer other assets within the Maindee triangle.

Cabinet was asked to:

i)              note the progress made as set out in the annual report and,

ii)             endorse the Areas of Focus and Recommendations to enable the Council to move to the next stage of implementing the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

NOTE:

At this point in proceedings, the meeting suffered IT Technical issues and Cabinet was suspended.  The meeting reconvened at 1728 hours and the Leader apologised for the disruption caused.

Decision:

Cabinet voted and unanimously agreed the report which will enable the Council, working alongside its partners and communities, to improve the overall well-being of current and future generations.