7. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government policy to improve the environment in the inner urban areas of Newport? OAQ(5)0079(ERA)

Thank you. Our policy is to deliver programmes that bring together local people, groups, businesses and organisations to deliver services to improve where they live or work. This includes our eco-schools programme, which has 20 schools in inner Newport, empowering and inspiring young people to make positive environmental changes to their lives.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. Cabinet Secretary, we’ve had recent good news in terms of the quality of the Wales coast path and the advantages it brings to Wales. It was always envisaged that the coast path would be connected to urban areas through circular routes. I wonder if you could tell the Assembly what progress has been made in terms of those hopes and plans and whether you could support the establishment of those routes in Newport and elsewhere.

Thank you. We absolutely recognise the importance of access opportunities for communities in order to promote better health and well-being. I think the Wales coastal path has not just been a hit with tourists; it’s absolutely been a hit with local communities and people right across Wales. We provide funding to NRW to maintain and improve the path, and there is a detailed work programme agreed with local authorities to develop links between local communities such as urban areas and the coast. I would hope that Newport City Council would be able to identify some routes and then secure support from NRW to improve and develop them.

Minister, fly-tipping is becoming an increasing problem in parts of Newport. A community group called Pride in Pill has taken action by holding regular litter picks as part of its campaign to improve the local environment for residents. Will the Cabinet Secretary join me in congratulating Pride in Pill on its community spirit? What more can the Welsh Government do to assist local authorities to tackle fly-tipping, which blights many of our inner urban areas in south-east Wales?

Thank you. I thought the Member was going to invite me to join him on a litter pick, which I would be very happy to do, and I have undertaken several over the past few months. [Laughter.] But I absolutely congratulate the group. It’s been so good to see communities coming together and taking such pride. I went along to a litter pick in an area of Cardiff a couple of months ago, and it was good to see residents coming up and thanking the volunteers for making their community so much better. In reply to your question about what more we can do on fly-tipping, I think it’s really important that local authorities enforce fines in relation to fly-tipping. I recently met with Phil Bale, the leader of City of Cardiff Council, because they’ve got a particular issue about one black bin bag of rubbish being dumped, which perhaps people don’t recognise as fly-tipping, but it absolutely is—just because it’s one bag. So, we’re looking to see what fines can be imposed in relation to that also.