Commentary on Sections Section 3 – Well-being duty on public bodies
16.Section 3 requires public bodies to carry out sustainable development (as provided for in section 2). In fulfilling this duty, they must set and publish well-being objectives. These are objectives relating to how the public body intends to contribute to the achievement of the well-being goals (see section 4). Public bodies must set well-being objectives which seek to maximise their contribution to the well-being goals. In addition, they must take all reasonable steps, in exercising their functions, to meet their objectives.
17.Certain public bodies, such as the Natural Resources Body for Wales or the Welsh Ministers, exercise functions or deliver services in relation to the whole of Wales. Such public bodies may set well-being objectives that relate to the whole of Wales or any part of Wales as they consider appropriate.
18.Those public bodies who exercise functions or deliver services in relation to a specific part of Wales, such as Local Health Boards or local authorities, may only set well-being objectives that relate to that specific part of Wales.