Latest news with #NileshSachdev
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Man expected to lead NRW has Wales knowledge questioned
Senedd members have questioned whether the man lined up to oversee Wales' environmental quango knows enough about the members of the climate change committee backed Nilesh Sachdev's appointment as chair of Natural Resources Wales (NRW).But they had concerns "in a number of areas", including his "lack of knowledge and experience of working in Wales".The Welsh government said it would "carefully consider" the report before making a final decision on his appointment. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies chose Mr Sachdev as his preferred candidate for the job, which pays £67,600 for at least 104 days work a questioning him about the role, the committee noted his "impressive CV" and "long-standing engagement with environmental issues".In a report, the committee says his background in the public and private sector "suggests that he has the management and governance experience for a role of this stature".But it also calls for a "rapid reassessment of his current commitments" to make sure he can devote enough time to NRW. 'Challenging role' The former senior executive at Tesco and Sainsbury's already holds other positions, including as chair of East West Rail, which is building a new line between Oxford and Cambridge. He is to become the chair of the University of Warwick next month."The committee was also concerned by a lack of knowledge and experience of working within Wales and the social fabric of the country, its people and organisations," the report adds."This is a challenging role, and we believe Mr Sachdev must continue to familiarise himself with the ecosystem in which he will be working."At the committee, Mr Sachdev said he had some "loose, but they're very, very good connections" to Wales through his family and work."In my career as a shopkeeper, I built most of the Tesco and Sainsbury's stores you will see around Wales, so I've got lots of connections in that way," he also said he had recently moved to Bristol "which is only an hour away", and that he wanted to "play a part in a community I dearly respect and have an affection for, in an area I deeply care about".In a questionnaire, Mr Sachdev said: "I am confident I can dedicate the time and focus necessary to fulfil the responsibilities of chair of NRW."Despite the concerns "a majority of the committee, felt that, on balance, the appointment should be endorsed".The Welsh government welcomed the "thorough scrutiny" of the committee."Following the pre-appointment hearing, the deputy first minister will carefully consider the committee's report before making a final decision on the appointment," a spokesperson is responsible for managing forests, responding to floods and dealing with month, the committee raised serious concerns about an NRW decision to respond to fewer "low category pollution incidents".At the time NRW said it had gone through "a significant period of change and challenge for our organisation, as we live within the resources available to us".Mr Sachdev was approached for comment.
South Wales Argus
14-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears incoming NRW chair embroiled in rail funding row
Nilesh Sachdev, the Welsh Government's preferred candidate to take the helm at Natural Resources Wales (NRW), appeared before the Senedd's climate committee on June 11. On his CV, Mr Sachdev boasts of securing £6bn of UK Government investment as chair of East West Rail (ERW) which is leading on a new railway between Oxford and Cambridge. The railway was controversially reclassified as a Wales-and-England project by the UK Treasury, denying Wales any consequential funding through the Barnett formula. Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the committee, asked: 'I was just wondering whether you have any qualms about… how does it look that potentially the chair of one of the biggest public bodies in Wales is actually spending Welsh money on England-only projects?' During the pre-appointment hearing, Mr Sachdev replied: 'A very fair and reasonable ask, I guess, I think I'll turn it around the other way: what a great opportunity. 'I managed to persuade, through my board and chief executive, to get the government in England to give all that money to East West Rail, I wonder what we could do here. 'So, I think there's an opportunity of saying: how can we, in Wales, put a case forward that makes sure the money that Welsh taxpayers are paying stays here?' Mr Gruffydd pressed concerns about his involvement with ERW, saying: 'I know you don't decide where the money comes from – but you're the guy signing the cheques.' Asked about his motivation for wanting to be chair of NRW, Mr Sachdev pointed to his passion on climate change and a recent move to Bristol. 'In fact, it's quicker to get here than it would be from Abergavenny in the traffic,' he said. He told the committee: 'I want to play a part in a community I dearly respect and have an affection for in an area I deeply care about.' Pressed about his local links, the father of three confirmed he has never lived in Wales but said his wife's grandparents were born in Gower and his son attended Cardiff University."
Western Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Senedd hears incoming NRW chair embroiled in rail funding row
Nilesh Sachdev, the Welsh Government's preferred candidate to take the helm at Natural Resources Wales (NRW), appeared before the Senedd's climate committee on June 11. On his CV, Mr Sachdev boasts of securing £6bn of UK Government investment as chair of East West Rail (ERW) which is leading on a new railway between Oxford and Cambridge. The railway was controversially reclassified as a Wales-and-England project by the UK Treasury, denying Wales any consequential funding through the Barnett formula. Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the committee, asked: 'I was just wondering whether you have any qualms about… how does it look that potentially the chair of one of the biggest public bodies in Wales is actually spending Welsh money on England-only projects?' During the pre-appointment hearing, Mr Sachdev replied: 'A very fair and reasonable ask, I guess, I think I'll turn it around the other way: what a great opportunity. 'I managed to persuade, through my board and chief executive, to get the government in England to give all that money to East West Rail, I wonder what we could do here. 'So, I think there's an opportunity of saying: how can we, in Wales, put a case forward that makes sure the money that Welsh taxpayers are paying stays here?' Mr Gruffydd pressed concerns about his involvement with ERW, saying: 'I know you don't decide where the money comes from – but you're the guy signing the cheques.' Asked about his motivation for wanting to be chair of NRW, Mr Sachdev pointed to his passion on climate change and a recent move to Bristol. 'In fact, it's quicker to get here than it would be from Abergavenny in the traffic,' he said. He told the committee: 'I want to play a part in a community I dearly respect and have an affection for in an area I deeply care about.' Pressed about his local links, the father of three confirmed he has never lived in Wales but said his wife's grandparents were born in Gower and his son attended Cardiff University."
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd hears incoming NRW chair embroiled in rail funding row
Nilesh Sachdev, the Welsh Government's preferred candidate to take the helm at Natural Resources Wales (NRW), appeared before the Senedd's climate committee on June 11. On his CV, Mr Sachdev boasts of securing £6bn of UK Government investment as chair of East West Rail (ERW) which is leading on a new railway between Oxford and Cambridge. The railway was controversially reclassified as a Wales-and-England project by the UK Treasury, denying Wales any consequential funding through the Barnett formula. Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the committee, asked: 'I was just wondering whether you have any qualms about… how does it look that potentially the chair of one of the biggest public bodies in Wales is actually spending Welsh money on England-only projects?' During the pre-appointment hearing, Mr Sachdev replied: 'A very fair and reasonable ask, I guess, I think I'll turn it around the other way: what a great opportunity. 'I managed to persuade, through my board and chief executive, to get the government in England to give all that money to East West Rail, I wonder what we could do here. 'So, I think there's an opportunity of saying: how can we, in Wales, put a case forward that makes sure the money that Welsh taxpayers are paying stays here?' Mr Gruffydd pressed concerns about his involvement with ERW, saying: 'I know you don't decide where the money comes from – but you're the guy signing the cheques.' Asked about his motivation for wanting to be chair of NRW, Mr Sachdev pointed to his passion on climate change and a recent move to Bristol. 'In fact, it's quicker to get here than it would be from Abergavenny in the traffic,' he said. He told the committee: 'I want to play a part in a community I dearly respect and have an affection for in an area I deeply care about.' Pressed about his local links, the father of three confirmed he has never lived in Wales but said his wife's grandparents were born in Gower and his son attended Cardiff University."
