Business

‘We can’t carry on as we are’: NRW set to face ‘rough old 12 months’

Published

1 year ago

March 18, 2025

NATURAL Resources Wales is not out of the woods after making £10m cuts, slashing 250 jobs and receiving a £19m loan to cover an unexpected tax bill, a committee heard.

Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the Senedd’s climate committee, warned Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been in a constant state of evolution and flux for many, many years.

David Henshaw, who chairs the board, said: “We can’t carry on as we are,” with NRW having agreed a target of cutting £10.9m from its budget by April 1.

He told Senedd members NRW’s massively committed workforce has found the “case for change” process really tough, with 256 posts removed and vacancies unfilled.

But he stressed: “Our duty is to face the challenge and actually deal with it.”

Appearing before the committee for scrutiny of NRW’s 2023/24 annual report on March 12, Sir David warned: “It’s going to be a rough old 12 months or so.”

Ceri Davies, acting chief executive, described NRW as being at a pivotal point, with a renewed focus on climate and nature.

Ceri Davies, acting head of NRW — Ceri Davies, acting chief executive of NRW

She told the committee NRW has been trying to focus more on areas where it is uniquely best placed to deliver such as flood risk, biodiversity, water quality and regulatory work.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we give up some things,” she said.

Ms Davies added that NRW implemented a recruitment freeze, to minimise redundancies as far as possible, which has impacted on current staff.

“But we’re coming out of that now,” she said. “We’re supporting our staff through that and … we will be very shortly releasing opportunities for us to reinvest and to take on new staff.”

The Conservatives’ Janet Finch-Saunders questioned why NRW has an interim chief executive and a chief executive, asking how long the situation will continue.

Sir David replied that chief executive Clare Pillman has been off sick, saying: “She’s on the road to recovery, I think, so that’s why Ceri has been wonderfully acting up for us.”

Ms Davies has been acting up in the £150,000-a-year role since at least November, according to board papers.

Asked about funding in 2025/26, finance director Rachael Cunningham said NRW will have a total forecast budget of £298.3m – representing an annual increase of about £32.5m.

Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the petitions committee, raised public concern about NRW’s plans for its Nant yr Arian, Coed y Brenin and Ynyslas visitor centres.

Her Labour colleague Julie Morgan said the visitor centres are “much more than just a cafe”.

Sir David stressed: “These forests and places are not being closed, let’s be clear … what’s been looked at is the closure of cafes and shops which cost about £1m a year.”

He added: “We weren’t doing massive business in these shops and cafes, they were a big lossmaker … given the challenges of the budget, we had to look very seriously at it.”

On a 6% cut to enforcement, Ms Davies explained NRW has instead prioritised prevention. “When we’re in the enforcement territory, the damage has already been done,” she said.

She told the committee NRW will continue to take action on significant offences as a deterrent, with a 30% increase in enforcement in 2023/24.

Pressed about the Welsh Government having to cover an estimated £19m tax bill for NRW due to off-payroll working, Sir David said a long list of public bodies face a similar situation.

“It’s an issue which has been very difficult for us,” said Sir David, a former chief executive at Liverpool Council. “And there are some questions we need to ask ourselves.”

He added: “Should we have been more aware earlier? Probably, yes. But actually would it have made much difference…? Probably not. We’ve made clear that in terms of employment now, we have none of the issues … so that’s been settled.”

Ms Cunningham declined to provide detail on the extent of liability accepted by NRW following February’s board meeting “because that’s in the hands of HMRC”.

Business

Council seeks senior officer with salary of £132,063 – £145,050 plus perks

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council is on the lookout for a new senior officer with a salary, including allowances, that could top £150,000 a year.

In an advertisement posted on its own social media page, the council is seeking a new Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Place.

It says: “Are you an experienced leader with a passion for place, regeneration and economic growth? Pembrokeshire County Council is seeking a Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Place to help shape the county’s future.

“This influential role will lead on regeneration, economic development, planning, transport, environmental services, climate change and major capital projects, supporting ambitious investment opportunities including the Celtic Freeport.

“Based in Haverfordwest/agile, Pembrokeshire: £132,063 – £145,050 plus £9,576 lease car allowance and relocation package.

“If you have a strong track record of delivering growth and transformation in complex environments, we’d love to hear from you.”

A linked page quotes Chief Executive Will Bramble, which also features a video of him promoting the county as a place to work: “Pembrokeshire is a great place to learn, live and grow. With some of the finest natural assets in the whole of Wales, we are immensely proud of our county and everything it has to offer.

“Since I joined Pembrokeshire as Chief Executive in 2021, I have been hugely impressed by the passion and dedication of our officers and members, and their shared commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for our residents.

“As part of our journey towards being an even better organisation, we are looking to recruit for this critical post.”

Business

Development on Pembrokeshire farm with 700 herd approved

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A RETROSPECTIVE call for amendments to a previously granted building and slurry lagoon at a 700-herd Pembrokeshire dairy farm has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Bill Ridge of Vaynor Farm Ltd, Bethesda sought retrospective permission for a replacement agricultural building for cattle housing, the retention of a slurry lagoon as built and associated works at Talybont Farm, Llawhaden.

A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd said: “Bill Ridge farms at Vaynor Farm, trading as Vaynor Farm Ltd. The farm is a 645-acre farm compromising of owned and rented land, this supports a dairy herd of circa 700 cows. The dairy system is an extensive grass-based spring calving system.

“The application is made following receipt of a letter from the local authority planning enforcement department stating that the replacement agricultural building which had recently been erected required planning permission and that the lagoon also recently built seemed not to be in line with the approved plans of [the 2022 application] recently approved on site for the lagoon.

“Therefore, this application seeks retrospective planning permission for the retention of the building as built and the lagoon as built.”

It said the 22.72 by 13.33-metre agricultural building “will house the farm’s dairy replacement heifers as a replacement to the previous building on site,” and the lagoon is of a similar size, depth and capacity to the previously approved one, other than slight changes in positioning and orientation, providing 4,500square metres of slurry storage, which in combination with the existing store of 6,900cubic meters at Vaynor will provide over 170 days’ storage.

It went on to say: “All development is reasonably required for the purpose of agriculture. The applicant does not intend to increase the farm’s stocking rate as a result of this development.”

An officer report recommending approval said the application had been amended since being submitted to improve the proposed green infrastructure, adding: “Information has been provided during the course of the application that proposal is not intended to result in, or support, an increase in the herd numbers of the agricultural enterprise.”

It concluded: “Based upon the information provided within the application, it is considered that the development would be reasonably necessary for the purpose of agriculture.”

The application was conditionally approved.

Business

Former St Davids GP surgery to holiday let and home conversion conditionally approved

Published

2 days ago

July 14, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to convert a former GP surgery in Pembrokeshire’s only city to a home and to build a holiday let in its grounds have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Alice and Danjal Joensen, through agent Oochitecture, sought permission for a change of use of the ground floor of the former GP surgery, Eryl Mor, 36, New Street, St Davids, merging with an existing first-floor apartment to create a larger single dwelling house, along with the creation of an attached short-term holiday let.

The GP surgery is currently vacant, following its closure in October 2024 after new partners could not be secured.

A supporting statement says, prior to being a GP surgery, the two-storey element was a single dwelling house.

It adds: “The house would consist of an open plan kitchen-living space to the ground floor, along with a study, lounge and utility room. The first floor includes four double bedrooms with ensuite and main bathroom.

“The new unit of accommodation would form a holiday-let with two double bedrooms, shower room, and an open plan kitchen-living space.

“The GP surgery is currently vacant, following its closure in October 2024 after new partners could not be secured, therefore the proposed change of use will provide a viable long-term future use for the property.”

It said minimal external alterations are proposed to the property with existing entrances utilised for both the main house and holiday-let, adding: “The existing concrete ramp to the front elevation will be retained with proposed works including extending the upper level and steps to provide a connection to the front door, allowing for accessible entrance to the property.

“There will be no changes to vehicular or pedestrian access, with the site continuing to be accessed via the existing entrance from New Street. Parking will be provided for the main house and holiday-let on the existing tarmac driveway off New Street.”

An officer report recommending approval said the application included a unilateral undertaking agreement for a contribution towards off-site affordable housing.

Of the loss of the surgery itself, it said: “Given that the loss of the surgery was a high-level decision made by the Health Board, it is not considered that the current proposal would have a detrimental impact upon the community.”

The application was conditionally approved by Park planners, conditions including the affordable housing contribution.