Venue: Via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Alison Thomas Email: a.thomas6@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
Chair's Announcements Decision: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. |
|
Declarations of Interest Decision: There
were no declarations of interest received. Minutes: There
were no declarations of interest received. |
|
Minutes of previous meeting ·
21st November 2024 Decision: The
minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2024 were approved as a true and
accurate record. Minutes: The
minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2024 were approved as a true and
accurate record. |
|
Financial Monitoring ·
Quarter 2 24-25 ·
Quarter 3 24-25 Additional documents: Decision: Following
scrutiny, the reports were noted. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Officers
referred to Appendix A on the Quarter 3 report, which outlines forecasted quarter
three financial monitoring and the projected year-end position for the current
financial year. Officers advised that it is expected that all four sub-committees
will utilise their budgets this year. The forecast also indicates a projected
surplus of £128,000. The
underspends indicated are attributed to a vacant senior accountant post within
the CJC, underspend on the planning and programme management, and on
consultancy and specialist advisory work not being required and commissioned
and some small underspends on office consumables. It
was noted that reserves have been accumulating since the beginning of the CJC
due to the limited activity that has been progressed. It is anticipated that
the reserves will be in the region of £970,000 at the end of this financial
year. Following
scrutiny, the reports were noted. |
|
Draft Budget 2025-2026 Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Officers
advised that there is a statutory obligation to set the budget before the end of
January and that the constituent authorities must be notified of the
appropriate levy. There
were two options presented for members to consider. The first option outlined a
continuity budget, which is a similar position that has been agreed to over the
last couple of years. This would present a bit of a standstill in terms of
progress and would involve doing the minimum amount of work. The second option
is to expand on work streams to enable work to progress and move forward. It
was confirmed that the transport workstream has been supported through Welsh
Government during the last two years, which has allowed the Regional Transport
Plan to move forward. Officers
noted the current budget pressures on the constituent authorities and
recognised that the authorities are trying to reduce current spend. In
terms of the two budget options presented. The first budget is based upon
feedback from the work streams and what officers feel is required to deliver on
the various elements across the four disciplines. With
particular reference to strategic planning, there is a desire from officers
that Welsh Government should support this work stream as they have supported
the strategic development plan in previous years. The cost of delivering the
full work stream is in the region of £600,000. Therefore, officers have
concluded that there should be further pursuance and negotiation with Welsh
Government before it can be delivered. It was also noted that when the CJC was
set up there was an obligation set out for the national parks to contribute
towards any planning functions that go on. Officers
advised that a three-year plan has been suggested, where there is a
contribution from reserves of £153,000 in year 1, £167,000 in year 2 and
£182,000 in year three. This will contribute towards managing inflationary
items and continuing to hold the levy the same. This will provide an estimated
£460,000 in reserves at the end of the three years. This approach is also
prudent, in terms of the pressure that may be put on constituent authorities if
a higher contribution from reserves is taken in year 1 and then the levy on
constituent authorities increases in years 2 and 3. Members
queried how confident officers are in terms of the accuracy of the budget, in
particular the forecasting of those items that have been consistently
underspent in previous years? Officers outlined the starting point for the budget of the CJC and advised that currently there is no clear direction with regards to how active it is going to be and how much progress will take place. The CJC is continually developing and officers need to provide support to ensure that the CJC can deliver items when required and that this is not delayed due to lack of budget provision. Therefore, assumptions were made in previous years with regards to what was ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
|
Update on Regional Energy Strategy Delivery Decision: Following
scrutiny, members noted the report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Officers
provided an overview of the information provided within the agenda pack. Members
attention was drawn to the Local Energy Plans (LEAPS), which is the agreed
framework to deliver the Regional Energy Strategy. Welsh Government have
provided funding for 24 months for a Regional Energy Team to action the
Regional Energy Strategy. A
strategic approach to managing the LEAPS has been developed, which has given
consideration to grid capacity and opportunities from the National Grid
electricity distribution. Officers
referred to the individual priority schemes which are outlined in the
appendices of the report. It was noted that funding of £27,500 from the year
2025-2026 and £3,000 in the current financial year will be sought from the CJC.
The key deliverables are outlined within the appendices. Members
acknowledged the joint working arrangements across the region and the were pleased
to see the progression of projects such as the electric EV and ultra-low
emission vehicles. Following
scrutiny, members noted the report. |
|
Additional documents:
Decision: Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined within the report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. The
work on the draft has been completed and presented to members. There are two
elements, the draft Regional Transport Plan and the delivery element of the
plan. Officers advised that the final consultation was scheduled to commence
mid-February. Members
were briefly advised of the parallel piece of work which is running along side
the development of the RTP in relation to bus franchising. Welsh Government are
also carrying out a grants modernisation review in terms of how grants are
processed and administered. These two pieces of work could potentially result
in additional work for the CJC. Officers
drew members attention to the main objectives of the RTP which follow the
requirements of the Welsh Transport Strategy. Officers recognised that not all
active travel modes will be suitable for everywhere in the region. There are
quite a lot of rural communities that require transport due to the location,
distance and geography involved. Members were also reminded about the statutory
assessments that have to be undertaken in relation to the RTP. Members
discussed the need to strength the language used in the RTP around pedestrian
and cyclist safety, particularly in the context of highway safety. The
importance of including all road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and
equestrians in policies was emphasised. Members expressed their concern that
the current terminology is too car-centric. There was consideration of the
South Wales Metro and the Southwest Wales Metro, highlighting the need for
concrete actions and work streams to support these projects. There was a
concern that the metro's importance was perhaps downplayed in the document, and
there was a suggestion to make its critical role more explicit. It
was noted that the RPT highlighted the importance of the regional projects and
the need for collaboration between local authorities. Members expressed the
need for consistent transport policies across the region to improve
coordination and effectiveness. Members
considered the upcoming consultation process. The plan includes face-to-face
sessions in various council areas and targeted campaigns to engage specific
groups, such as younger generations and those facing transport inequalities.
The importance of reaching out to people who are directly affected by transport
issues, such as those using employability schemes and job centres, was also
highlighted. It
was noted that the RTP points out the role of transport in addressing poverty
and enabling access to employment. Members emphasised a requirement to focus
transport poverty and how improving transport infrastructure can unlock
economic opportunities. The ned for innovative approaches, such as providing
bus services before building houses, was also discussed. The
potential role of artificial intelligence and other technologies in improving
transport systems was acknowledged. Members
recognised the need for a comprehensive and flexible transport plan that
addresses safety, inclusion, regional collaboration and technological
integration. Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined within the report. |
|
Corporate Plan 2023-2028 - Priorities 2025/2026 Update (to follow) Decision: Following
scrutiny, member supported the reommendation outlined within the report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated as a supplement to the agenda pack. It
was noted that the corporate well-being objectives have not changed, however
the actions for the delivery of them have been revised. Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined within the report. |
|
Forward Work Programme 2024-2025 ·
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 Additional documents: Decision: The
Forward Work Programme was noted. Minutes: Members
added the following items for consideration at the next meeting: ·
Sub-committee update – Economic Wellbeing and Economic Development ·
Audit Wales – Commentary of Corporate Joint Committee Progress ·
SWWCJC Annual Report 2024/25 The
Forward Work Programme was noted. |
|
Urgent Items Any
urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). Decision: There
were no urgent items. Minutes: There
were no urgent items. |