The National Environment Service (NES) has been advised by the Public Accounts Committee to consider waiving permit fees for community projects by adopting a social responsibility approach.

The recommendation was highlighted in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Annual Review 2022-2023 and Other Reviews report.

The PAC’s recommendation highlighted the need for NES to evaluate projects based on their community impact and align fee waivers with their social value.

The Committee noted from the National Environment Service performance report that there were many complaints regarding charging permit fees for community-related projects, and this process poses delays.

PAC therefore recommended that NES consider waiving permit fees for community projects and instead adopt an alternative “like a social responsibility approach”.

NES performance report also indicated that horizontal integration with other government agencies is crucial for ensuring a holistic, coherent and cohesive approach to all environmental issues.

PAC recommended that NES establish mechanisms for monitoring progress and reporting on existing and emerging issues and the effectiveness of coordinated efforts.

The agency was also advised to establish an interagency environmental coordination committee to unify strategies and improve communication, streamline policies across government agencies for a cohesive approach to environment issues.

The Committee, however, commended the NES 2022-2023 financial year performance report based on its management review system, essential leadership success factors and a robust strategic framework.

The PAC said: “The comprehensive approach coupled with key policy outcomes outlined in its business plan, offers a strong evaluation process and a consistent template for measuring NES’s performance in the future.”