Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone  to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

·       15 January 2025

·       11 March 2025

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 January 2025 and 11 March 2025 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meetings held on 15 January 2025 and 11 March 2025 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Following scrutiny, members:

1.   Noted the verbal progress report from officers on the Regional Transport Plan development

2.   Endorsed the Final Regional Transport Plan and supporting documents to the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee.

3.   Noted the latest Welsh Government position on grant funding and the ongoing evolution of the Grants Modernisation process.

4.   Noted the requirement for additional resources that the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee will be asked to endorse at their 10th July 2025 meeting.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Officers provided an overview in relation to the document. The public consultation received over 900 responses in addition to the more technical stakeholder engagement that was carried out. There has been ongoing engagement with Welsh Government, particularly around funding issues, the delivery plan and consideration of the regional approach moving forwards. Transport for Wales have been involved in the consultation, and the Trunk Road agency have been considered in relation to trunk roads in the region.

The plan identified four major, large schemes across the region that are considered to the most regional significance. There is ongoing debate with Welsh Government with regards to how the funding and delivery is going to be supported.

The target date for submission to Welsh Government is 24^th July.

Officer outlines that the RTP has retained the Welsh Transport Strategy, broad objectives and broad priorities. They have then been moved into six specific objectives for the region, and these are driven around reinvigorating the economy and the tourism and environmental issues in the region. There is also a strong link across the emerging strategic development plan.

The RTP aims to promote the ability to travel sustainably.

The critical element is ensuring that the plan is submitted to Welsh Government on time. Welsh Government have a process to go through to agree the RTP which releases the funding back to the region.

In terms of the prioritisation of the work for the delivery plan, a huge amount of work has been undertaken. Ideas were put forward from the consultation process and also the authorities involved and these were all considered. The various ideas were screened against how they fitted with the original transport plan and the key priorities within, the key priorities and ambition of the individual authorities.

Officers advised that whilst Welsh Government were unable to give them a firm target, they were able to indicate to work towards the region of 1.5 times the settlement figure.

Working through the list, officers were able to bring the first year cost down to about £47m, which includes the four major schemes identified within the RTP. The overall programme is around circa £500m. Officers advised that there will need to be some further prioritisation work undertaken to decrease the costs. Whilst the plan recognises the ambitions of the region, it was recognised that there are funding constraints.

Officers indicated that it will be easier to consider once the outcome of the grants modernisation work has been completed, in order to understand the exact levels of funding that are likely to come through to the region. There will be further detail around the mechanisms in place and how the funding allocations will work.

There needs to be further discussion with Welsh Government with regards to how the major schemes are funded. Officers anticipate the four major scheme will be over £100m. The dialogue with Welsh Government will help to determine how there is an equitable approach  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Following scrutiny, members noted the report.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Members were referred to Appendix A of the reports which set out the budget for 2024-2025. Appendix B shows the annual return which summarises the outturn into the required categories.

There was an overall underspend in the year of £332,000. Officers went through the reasons for the underspend, which includes a vacant senior accountant post and no spend by any of the sub-committees.

Members reiterated the importance of budgets being accurate, and only budgeting for items which are required. Members were also concerned about the level of reserves that are being held by the CJC, which equites to more than twice the income from the local authorities.

Members agreed to write to the Chair of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee to express their concern at the level of reserves that are currently being held and overall funding position of the CJC.

Officers went through the Annual Return item. There were no questions raised with regards to the specifics on the Annual Return.

Following scrutiny, members noted the report.

·       South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee Forward Work Programme 2024-2025

·       South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2024-2025 Forward Work Programme

Members noted the Forward Work Programme and agreed to hold a workshop to consider populating the Forward Work Programme for 2025-2026.

Members noted the Forward Work Programme and agreed to hold a workshop to consider populating the Forward Work Programme for 2025-2026.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

There were no urgent items.

There were no urgent items.

To resolve to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

It was noted that Appendices 10 and 11, detailed within the circulated report, were exempt under Paragraph 14. There were no comments or questions received in relation to these appendices, therefore the meeting did not move into private session.It was noted that Appendices 10 and 11, detailed within the circulated report, were exempt under Paragraph 14. There were no comments or questions received in relation to these appendices, therefore the meeting did not move into private session.

It was noted that Appendices 10 and 11, detailed within the circulated report, were exempt under Paragraph 14. There were no comments or questions received in relation to these appendices, therefore the meeting did not move into private session.

·        Appendix 10

·        Appendix 11

It was noted that Appendices 10 and 11, detailed within the circulated report, were exempt under Paragraph 14. There were no comments or questions received in relation to these appendices, therefore the meeting did not move into private session.

It was noted that Appendices 10 and 11, detailed within the circulated report, were exempt under Paragraph 14. There were no comments or questions received in relation to these appendices, therefore the meeting did not move into private session.