CLA Cymru meet with new Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability

Last week, CLA Cymru met with the new Cabinet Minister, Llyr Gruffydd, who emphasised that we are a key stakeholder for the Government and welcomed early engagement on agricultural, environmental and rural economic policy.

Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

• The Minister wants to progress the multi‑annual funding framework and accelerate work on the optional and collaborative SFS layers. We stressed their importance for environmental delivery and wider uptake. Current participation is roughly 50/50 between BPS and SFS applicants.

Regulation

• A rapid red‑tape review is planned, and we will contribute a paper highlighting priority areas. The review of agricultural pollution regulations continues, with the Minister aware of the burden on smaller businesses.

Engagement with Government

• We met the new Special Adviser and will share the Cross‑Party Group Report CLA Cymru published and our progress review. The Minister reaffirmed commitments to a new economic development agency and rural proofing, where we will provide evidence.

Other Issues Raised

• We highlighted concerns about tree‑planting targets driven by offsetting rather than genuine decarbonisation, the need for clarity on the Government’s response to the Climate Change Committee report, the importance of planning reform, and ongoing issues with NRW’s scope and performance.

CLA Cymru has engaged closely with Plaid Cymru in recent months and will continue to build on this relationship as the party takes the reins of government.