Agenda and minutes

The Chair intorduced and welcomed the Committee.

There were none.

There were none.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Members were updated verbally and received a PowerPoint presentation on the operational progress relating to the development of the Draft Corporate Plan. This was also an opportunity for members of scrutiny to feed in to the 6-week consultation exercise, as detailed within the circulated report.

The Chair commended officers on the progress made in terms of publishing the Draft Corporate Plan for public consultation. It is understood that South West Wales will be the first Corporate Joint Committee in Wales to produce a Corporate Plan.

Members commented that within future reports that the inclusion of any relevant documents such as policy’s or strategy’s be included as appendices and not detailed as links within the report.

Discussions took place around the potential response rate in relation to the ongoing consultation process. Officers explained that the response rate to date could be considered as modest in numerical terms, however the detail of the responses received was proving to be interesting and useful.

Reference was made to the programme of publicity and the approach undertaken to raise awareness of the consultation. Members felt that future consultations needed a widened approach and more communications around the consultation to ensure a greater response rate is secured.

Members discussed the budget restrictions. It was noted that the Corporate Plan needs to be both aspirational and deliverable. The chosen wellbeing objectives have been aligned to the powers and duties that Corporate Joint Committee have. Members will have an opportunity to review the progress being made on delivering the well-being objectives on an annual basis.

It was noted that the appendices of the Draft Corporate Plan details aspirational dates which can prove difficult when measuring the progress. It was noted that benchmarks would need to be included to enable scrutiny to undertake its functions when scrutinising these performances.

Members noted the report and welcomed the fact that they will receive Annual Reports on the progress being made to deliver the Corporate Plan’s well-being objectives.

It was noted that the responses from today’s meeting would be recorded and included within the consultation responses. Along with a letter from the Chair of the Corporate Joint Committee-Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee to the Chair of the Corporate Joint Committee.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Members were updated on the progress being made to deliver the South West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan and provided an overview of those wider initiatives taking place within the region.

Members discussed the hydrogen and electrical vehicle feasibility study detailed within the Earth programme and queried why the hydrogen feasibility study had been commissioned. Officers provided an overview of the reasoning’s as to why hydrogen vehicles would be required. It was noted that a report would be brought back to committee at a future date detailing further information in relation to this programme.

Members queried the process on receiving the funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Officers explained that the funding had been secured locally and regionally and there was no match funding.

Further discussions took place around alternative funding required to support the Corporate Joint Committee in delivering the Economic delivery plan. 

Scrutiny queried the purpose of the Corporate Joint Committee in the involvement in bidding for funding. Following discussions members were concerned that the majority of funding applications were being processed through individual authorities and not the Corporate Joint Committee as a whole.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Members were updated on the progress to deliver a Regional Transport Plan for the five-year period 2025 to 2030, as detailed within the circulated report.

Discussions took place around resources that would be required to develop the regional Transport Plan. It was clear from discussions that there was a lack of resources and funding. It was noted that there hadn’t been a commitment from Welsh government on providing any resources to help support this plan. Officers provided reassurance to members that they will continue lobbying Welsh Government to provide funding to support the Regional Transport Plan.

Following discussions, members were concerned around the approach and lack of resources to support this plan. Therefore, it was agreed that the Chair of the Corporate Joint Committee – Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee, would have delegated authority to write a letter to the Chair of the Corporate Joint Committee, detailing the committee’s views and concerns that have been raised within the three subjects that have been discussed at today’s meeting.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Members noted the Forward Work Programme.

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