Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has said the case for devolving control of the Crown Estate’s assets within Wales to the Welsh Government remains strong, following the publication of the Welsh Government’s interim report on the future of the Crown Estate in Wales.
The report from a working group established by Welsh Government calls for far greater transparency over the Crown Estate’s finances and a stronger partnership approach to ensure communities across Wales benefit from future investment, especially in offshore wind and supporting infrastructure.
Councils across Wales have consistently supported the devolution of the Crown Estate’s assets so that decisions about Wales’s natural resources are made in Wales and aligned with local economic priorities.
The WLGA said the report provides useful new evidence and a clear pathway for strengthening accountability while the case for devolution is developed further.
The WLGA said it would now consider the Welsh Government’s response to the report in full, but that the four recommendations, including improved financial reporting, stronger scrutiny arrangements and the development of a clear business case, represent a positive step forward in strengthening Wales’s voice in how the Crown Estate’s assets in Wales operate here.
The association added that it will continue to work with the Welsh Government, the UK Government and the Crown Estate to ensure that Wales secures the maximum possible benefit from future renewable energy developments and other investments linked to its natural resources.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, WLGA Leader, said:
“People in Wales deserve to see the full benefit of our natural resources. This report reinforces what councils have been saying for some time – there must be far greater transparency about how the Crown Estate operates in Wales and how the benefits are shared with our communities.
“Local authorities welcome the jobs, investment and opportunities linked to offshore wind and other developments felt in every part of Wales. While we warmly welcome the stronger focus on partnership and accountability, our long-standing position remains that the Crown Estate’s assets in Wales should be devolved so that decisions can be taken closer to the communities they affect.”