Commentary on Sections Section 7 – Statements about well-being objectives
35.When publishing their well-being objectives, a public body must publish a statement regarding their well-being objectives the requirements of which are detailed at section 7 of the Act. This statement is also required should the Welsh Ministers revise their well-being objectives under section 8, or in the case of the other public bodies, section 9 of the Act.
36.In preparing the statement, the public body must explain why they consider that meeting their well-being objectives will contribute to the achievement of the well-being goals. The statement will explain why the public body considers that their well-being objectives have been set in accordance with the sustainable development principle and explain how the public body proposes to involve other persons in achieving the well-being goals, ensuring those persons reflect the diversity of the population. The statement must also detail what the public body intends to do (their steps) to meet their well-being objectives in accordance with the sustainable development principle. The public body must detail how it will govern itself, ensure the steps are kept under review and explain how resources are allocated annually for the purposes of taking their identified steps. In addition, the statement will detail the timeframe within which the public body expects to meet their well-being objectives.
37.Those public bodies that are members of a public services board (see section 29) may elect to discharge their sustainable development duty, namely the setting and publishing of well-being objectives, through the local well-being plan.