National Infrastructure Commission for Wales meeting notes: 21 November 2024

NICW

Dr David Clubb, Chair

Helen Armstrong, Commissioner
Dr Eurgain Powell, Commissioner
Steve Brooks, Commissioner
Eluned Parrott Commissioner
Aleena Khan, Commissioner
Nick Tune, Commissioner

Secretariat/Welsh Government

Stuart Ingram, NICW Secretariat
Nicola Britton, NICW Secretariat

Apologies

Jen Baxter, Deputy Chair

 

The Chair welcomed Commissioners to the meeting with a check-in, celebration of success, declarations of interest, safety and futures moment.  

Congratulations were given to Aleena Khan for her recent Construction Excellence Award Aleena Khan - Constructing Excellence.

Eurgain Powell presented the NICW flood report at the CIWEN/ICE flood conference.

Safety moment

Eluned Parrott updated the group about the publication of a report into a mid wales train accident earlier in 2024.  The key factor was maintenance and how this raises questions of liability.

Declarations of interest

The Chair has updated his DoI regarding a business proposal with DCWW.

Action

• Prep response to UK Govt industrial strategy consultation: Secretariat
  
   

Action tracker

The action tracker was noted.

Notes of previous meeting

Minutes of previous meeting were approved.  

Secretariat report

The secretariat report was noted.

Invitations to events

The Chair will attend the ICE Fellows dinner and workshop on long-term strategic infrastructure policy in Wales event; and Aleena Khan and Eurgain Powell will attend the Construction Excellence Wales dinner.

Consultation responses/policy updates

The issue of Welsh Govt Planning Consultation on funding was noted.  The secretariat will draft a response for comment.

Action

• Prep response to planning funding consultation: Secretariat
   

Year 1 renewable energy report

Eluned Parrott drew the commissions attention to Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy.  It was agreed a response to the consultation would be prepared drawing on NICW 2023 Renewable Energy Report.

With regard to lack of direct engagement from National Grid, the chair noted his role in the WG’s Future Grid Group and how he can provide updates on key issues.

Stuart Ingram drew the commissioners attention to the UK Govt’s Renewable conference and an announcement of the fast tracking of 10-50 MW applications by planning inspectors.  The background to this development was discussed, highlighting the context the proposed infrastructure bill provides.

Eluned Parrott and Aleena Khan discussed the proposed ‘micro’ nuclear plant in Bridgend.  

Year 2 flood research

Eurgain Powell spoke about the meeting with the WG flood team, noting the positive reaction to the recommendations.  However she asked the commission to be aware of resource availability and the need to facilitate partnership working initiatives.

The chair introduced a concept building on the flood work.  He aims to explore buyout and property acquisition programs for at-risk properties with key stakeholders.

Year 3 climate change communication

Resilience

Steve Brooks updated commissioners about the initial project ref group meeting, and noted the first workshop is planned for 3 December.

Communities

Helen Armstrong updated the group on SOIF initial meeting with community leaders with a follow up scheduled for 22 November.  Eurgain offered to send details of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum’s toolkit initiative.

IWA infrastructure futures essay collection

Commissioners asked if there is a success metric as anecdotally think the essays have raised NICW’s profile.  A request will be made to the IWA for a breakdown of website activity.

Futures map

An event has been planned for 31 January in Cardiff and the invite list will be finalised next week.

Action

• Prep response to UK Govt industrial strategy consultation: Secretariat
• Request website data from IWA: Secretariat
• Arrange meeting on buyout concept: Chair
  
   

The paper prepared by the secretariat was discussed.  Commissioners were supportive of the State of the Nation concept, feeling it would be timely providing a useful baseline for a future commission to build on.  There was a discussion on sectors with commissioners concluding health would be a theme rather than sector.  There was a general consensus to moving towards developing a specification.

Action

• Develop a specification based on topic paper: Secretariat.
   

NICW review

The chair will meet the review team next week.  Work is on track to publish by the end of the year.

Commissioner review and succession planning

A written statement will be published on the extension of commissioners terms to December 2025.  The review will inform any future changes.The chair has written to the head of Public Appointments Unit about adding a Na-ture Commissioner (ref: Nature on the Board)

NICW comms strategy workshop

Away day will take place 6 December at the Norwegian Church.

Internal comms

The chair requested a turn around of 48 hours for all written requests, but also asked if commissioners could indicate their preferred means of communication.

AOB

As the next meeting will be on 20 December a Christmas breakfast was suggested.  The secretariat will explore.