Agenda and minutes

The Monitoring Officer for the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Rob Stewart (Swansea County Council) be appointed Chairperson, and that Councillor Darren Price (Carmarthenshire County Council) be appointed Vice Chairperson of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

There were no Declarations of Interest received.

The South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee were provided with an overview of the circulated report, in which the following points were highlighted:

·        The desire to establish four separate sub committees to the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (the details of which were included in the circulated report). It was noted that dates for these sub committees had yet to be determined, and that they will be organised as and when required;

·        The requirement to constitute a Governance and Audit Sub Committee. Following recent discussions with regional partners, it was confirmed that the membership of this meeting had been established;

·        The requirement to establish a Standards Committee. It was determined previously that one Constituent Council’s Standards Committee will assume the responsibility of overseeing standards for the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee. It was proposed that Neath Port Talbot Council would be responsible for this function, subject to Members approval.

·        The requirement to establish an Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee. Members were informed that the first meeting was scheduled for September 2022, and a regular programme of meetings will continue from thereafter.

·        The proposed South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee meeting timetable had been developed, and a Forward Work Programme will also be developed to inform Members of the items for consideration at each meeting.

It was highlighted that the circulated report was specific in regards to the fact that a lead Chief Executive would be appointed to the Sub Committees, and it was suggested it would be advantageous to change this to a lead Officer from each Constituted Council. The South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee was informed that this change could be incorporated into the documentation.

During a previous meeting of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee, it was indicated that a meeting would be arranged with Welsh Government in order to discuss matters relating to the National Park Authorities, and clarify their involvement in the Corporate Joint Committees throughout Wales. Officers were asked if there were any updates on this. It was confirmed that Officers of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee attended a meeting with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), to try and obtain clarity relating to National Park Authorities. Following this meeting, correspondence was issued which provided an overview of the statutory provisions in respect of the National Parks; however, further and more detailed discussions will be taking place in the upcoming months. Officers explained that the outcomes of any meetings will be brought to the attention of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

RESOLVED:

That Members approve the creation of the sub-committees identified at paragraph 8 of the circulated report, and the proposed representatives appointed to the sub-committee set out at paragraph 9 of the circulated report;

That Members approve the establishment of the Governance and Audit Sub-Committee Committee for the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee as set out in paragraphs 12-17 of the circulated report;

That Members approve the designation of the Neath Port Talbot County Borough  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee was presented with a report relating to the appointment of co-opted members on the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee; this was built into the constitution in order to obtain, and take into account, the experiences and knowledge of various organisations. Officers were recommending that Members consider co-opted representatives from two local health boards that serve the area, along with the two universities. The four individuals had been identified and were listed in the circulated report.

It was explained that the co-opted Members would be joining the meetings as observers and contributors; they would not have voting rights, nor would they be able to participate in agreeing priorities, as this would remain with the constituent council members of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (and National Park Authorities for strategic planning functions). Subject to approval of the recommendations, members were informed that the Lead Monitoring Officer will be issuing co-option agreements, with the aim that the co-opted members will be able to take their place on the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee from September onwards.

RESOLVED:

That Members agree that following receipt of a signed co-option agreement, and on the terms identified in paragraph 8 of the circulated report, the following representatives be co-opted to the CJC:

(a) Mr Steven Wilks, Provost of Swansea University

(b) Mr Medwin Hughes, Vice Chancellor of University of Wales, Trinity St David

(c) Ms Maria Battle, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board

(d) Ms Emma Woolett, Chair of Swansea Bay University Health Board

Members received a presentation from Transport Officers on the Transport and Infrastructure Development, which set out their current position, in particular transport planning across the region.

The presentation captured the following key areas:

·        The policy drivers that will shape the Regional Transport Plan (RTP)

·        Information regarding the history of transport planning

·        The governance arrangements and structure currently in place

·        The enablers around the RTP guidance and the timescale to deliver the plan

·        The work that has been ongoing in terms of preparing for the future

·        The ambition going forward

·        Project delivery, including the work that was ongoing across the region to support the movement of goods and people

·        The structure, governance and delivery resource required to deliver the RTP

Policy Drivers

In regards to policy drivers, it was explained that Future Wales: The National Plan, set out the priorities for land use planning for the future and development of this will shape the movement of goods and people going forward.

Officers stated that last autumn, Welsh Government published the Wales Transport Strategy which set out the vision for transport. The vision was to provide an accessible, sustainable and efficient transport system, focusing the priorities around people and climate change. It was highlighted that the strategy’s ambition was to have fewer cars on the road, and have people moving more by public transport. In addition, the strategy detailed priorities of bringing services closer to people in order to reduce the need to travel, allowing people and goods to move easily from door to door; it also concentrated on developing public transport, and walking and cycling, through the active travel priorities.

It was added that public transport, and the ambition around this, will likely require changes to bus legislation in the future. It was highlighted that the bus reform work being carried out by Welsh Government and Transport for Wales was still ongoing; and the road review was also still being developed.

History

Prior to 2006, it was explained that transport planning and delivery was a Local Authority responsibility. Officers continued that the Transport (Wales) Act was then amended to shift the responsibility to regional and from 2006 to 2013 a formally constituted body ‘SWWITCH’ was formed, in which the four Local Authorities worked together to produce a regional transport plan.

It was noted that the Transport (Wales) Act was amended further in 2014, and from there on the responsibility was again with the Local Authorities; however, the region worked collaboratively to deliver the joint local transport plan for West Wales.

Officers mentioned that the region was very diverse, with predominantly rural communities to the West, and urban communities to the East; these differences will need to be a focus when developing the plan going forward.

Governance and Structure

Members were informed that collaborative working had been continuing and officers were meeting on a monthly basis, and Cabinet Members for transport were meeting on a quarterly basis, through the regional transport forum. It was mentioned that this forum was not a formally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

There were no Urgent Items received.