Welsh Government Perspective

1. Welsh Government Perspective Sheila Crossley Welsh Government – Financial Policy and Control

2. Greening Government commitment • Reduce emissions 25% from 09/10 baseline • Reduce waste by 25% from 09/10 baseline • Reduce water consumption from 09/10 baseline • Ensure government buys more sustainable & efficient products

3. Welsh Government experience of preparing HMT FreM report (Financial Reporting Manual) (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/frem_sustainability.htm) • Large no of locations of varying sizes • Issues of 3rd part management of facilities • Lack of recording equipment particularly in older buildings • Timing of validated numerical data much later than accounts timing • Large no of employees recording business travel but no automated process for capturing mileage and car emissions detail • Overlap with other initiatives with differing requirements eg CRC

4. Welsh Government – range of activities • Own estate impact • Transport – road building programme • Development assets for regeneration and business growth activities • Cadw – large no of properties of varying ages and conservation issues

5. Welsh Government – range of activities (2) Policy direction • Sustainable Futures and Bill • Schools/Universities/College • Local Authorities/Fire Services • NHS – Local Health Boards and Trusts • Welsh Government Sponsored bodies & Commissioner bodies

6. FReM requirements • Current guidance excludes devolved administrations and has a de-minimus for smaller government bodies • Some bodies not covered by FReM – charities, local authorities but are covered by ‘ Greening government commitment’

7. However • Wales is unique in the UK in having sustainable development as its central organising principle • Sustainability legislation planned – announced by Minister. Details to be worked through. • Our experience is that employees are proud and enthusiastic to promote better practices

8. FReM de-minimus • More than 250 FTE staff and • Floorspace > 1000 sq m • Exemptions for specialist activities or trading organisations

9. Who is affectedunder FReM rules • Welsh Government estate • LHB’s and Trusts • Need to produce FReM format reports and to report where numerical information is currently unavailable

10. Welsh Government proposal • All devolved public bodies in Wales above the following de-minimus • More than 50 FTE • More than 500 sq m • Focus on big impacts – define for your organisation and make proposals to reduce them and provide metrics in the FReM format where possible • Include numerical information if you have good quality metrics readily available or provide narrative on plans to improve metrics • Numerical information consistent subset for other reporting requirements eg Green Dragon and CRC

11. Welsh Government proposal • All public bodies to include a text commentary in their Management Commentary on what proposals are in progress • Proposal doesn’t apply to the private and 3rd sector, although we encourage them to use A4S as well

12. Welsh Government proposal • Dry run – based on 2010/11 to evaluate if the right metrics are available • Feedback to us on practicalities – on-line forums/further events (collaborative approach) • For 2011/12 – minimum of text commentary on initiatives in management commentary • For 2012/13 – text and numeric information (numerics limited for de-minimus bodies) • WG will continue to support the A4S Forum, share our learning and share best practise • WG SD Annual report will be published on 22 September 2011