Meeting Note – 31 July 2026
Aberdare Hall, Cardiff University
| NICW Dr David Clubb, Chair Dr Jen Baxter, Deputy Chair Aleena Khan, Commissioner Nick Tune, Commissioner Dr Eurgain Powell, Commissioner Helen Armstrong, Commissioner Programme Office / Welsh Government Stuart Ingram, NICW Programme Office Nicola Britton, NICW Programme Office | Apologies None |
- Welcome
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
- Celebrations of Success / Commissioner Updates
Family and personal achievements of various Commissioners were raised and congratulated.
DC raised the achievements of NICW over the last 5 years as a celebration of success. These have been marked by a personal blog which has been published on the NICW website.
AK has been shortlisted for the Rising Star Awards from the Institute of Engineering and Technology Award.
- Declarations of Interest
No additional new declarations of interest were received.
JB noted she has stepped down from her role on the Cynon Taff Community Housing Group Board. This change would be amended on the NICW website.
- Notes from previous meeting
The notes from the previous meeting were noted and agreed.
- Actions from previous meeting
Outstanding action to get in touch with Adam Taylor from NRW regarding a Natural Infrastructure Committee. JB will follow this up.
Outstanding blog on ducting. DC will circulate again for comment.
- Consultation Responses
Senedd Committee Work Programmes
The process of informing the new Senedd committees work programmes was discussed. NICWs work is relevant across three committees:
- Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs
- Economy, Energy and Connectivity
- Local Government, Housing and Planning.
Each of these is currently consulting on their Senedd work programmes.
A discussion was held on each committee and the aspects of NICW work which may be relevant.
It was agreed that the papers would be distributed to Commissioners along with a response drafted by the Programme Office.
Rural Proofing and Climate Change Consultation
It was noted that the Welsh Government were consulting on proposals to introduce a rural-proofing requirement on some public bodies, together with a range of proposals on the environment and climate change.
It was noted that a lot of NICWs previous work, could feed into this consultation.
It was agreed that a response will be drafted by the Programme Office and circulated to Commissioners for comment before submission.
- Conversations on next steps for NICW
A decision on the future of NICW was still with the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy for a response, this is together with an invitation to meet NICW to discuss issues.
- AOB
This was the last NICW meeting for Chair, David Clubb, who thanked the Commissioners and Programme Office for all their support over his 5 years in post. Nicola Britton, was also moving on to a new position in the Welsh Government and she was thanked for all her hard work and support since joining the Programme Office in 2019.