Venue: Via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Chloe Plowman - Email: c.plowman@npt.gov.uk
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Chairs Announcements Minutes: The
Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting. |
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Declarations of Interests Minutes: The
following declaration of interest was received:
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 417 KB Minutes: The
minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2023, were approved as an accurate record.
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Forward Work Programme PDF 395 KB Minutes: The
Energy Sub Committee Forward Work Programme was noted. |
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Delivery of Local Area Energy Planning in South-West Wales PDF 222 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee
were advised on the progress of delivery of the Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs)
within the Region. It was explained
that the LAEPs formed part of Welsh Government’s commitment to achieve a Net Zero
Wales by 2050. Members were informed that Welsh Government had funded the
development of the LAEPs in each of the 22 counties across Wales. It was
mentioned that several Local Authorities, including Pembrokeshire, were part of
a pilot project; and therefore, already had their LAEPs delivered. It was
confirmed that the LAEPs for the remaining 18 counties were currently being
produced in conjunction with the service providers; City Science were
delivering the LAEPs for Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire. It
was mentioned that City Science were endeavouring to ensure that the four LAEPs
had a synergy between them, to reflect the regional emphasis. Officers
confirmed that Welsh Government had funded the appointment of three support
staff to assist in this process; interviews were held in November 2023, and two
out of three posts were filled. It was confirmed that these posts were the
Energy Project Manager, and the Energy Project Officer; the third post was
currently vacant, however the job was out for advert and Officers were hoping
to fill this post in the near future. Members were
informed that the funding for the LAEPs was due to end in March 2024; the three
remaining LAEPs for the region were on target to be produced by the end of
February 2024. It was highlighted that the drafts were currently with each
Local Authority for internal comment, and utilities for the technical modelling
comments. A presentation
was provided by City Science. It was explained that Local Area Energy Planning
was a detailed, comprehensive process designed to identify the most effective
pathways to Net Zero for the local energy system. It was stated
that the Regional Directors Group, which reports to the Corporate Joint
Committee, was the regional steering group for LAEP sign off; whilst plans were
local, they had been developed using regional collaboration and themes aligned
with the four regional energy strategies. Reference was
made to the extensive stakeholder engagement programme that had been held
during the development of the LAEPs; which was ensuring that they were aligned
with the different thematic and regional themes, to ensure collaboration and a
regional approach to development. It was noted
that whilst many of the scenarios and levers were local, a large number were
regional (skills, transport, housing, infrastructure); therefore, Officers have
ensured the LAEPs remained connected and transparent with regional governance
structures. Following the
completion of the LAEPs, it was explained that there will be an exercise
undertaken by the technical advisors to Welsh Government, to align and
consolidate the findings; this will then inform the further development and
strategic direction of regional actions, and lead to the creation of a
Wales-wide National Energy Plan. An update was provided in regards to the progress through the stages of the LAEP; action plans had now been ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Regional Skills Partnership (Verbal Update) Minutes: Officers provided a
verbal update in regards to the work that the Regional Skills Partnership had
been undertaking, in the South West Wales region, in order to identify skills
needs and skills gaps. It was explained that
through the City Deal Skills and Talent Programme, Officers had been
undertaking a piece of work around a skills barometer in order to identify
current gaps in skills, and what future skills would be required, for both
industry and Public Sectors; across the five key areas of digital, energy,
construction, manufacturing and health. It was noted that the barometer was
complete; however, it would continuously be updated as new opportunities
emerged. Members were informed
that this work highlighted the current provision, and how the provision needed
to be updated going forward; for example, some of the courses and opportunities
delivered through colleges, universities and schools were outdated, and needed
to be refreshed. It was stated that the work also looked at new skills coming
through, as a result of the projects that had been supported through the City
Deal, the FLOW Accelerator project, and the Celtic Freeport opportunities. It
was noted that although it was important to educate young people in schools and
colleges of these opportunities, it would also be vital to upskill the existing
workforce to transition into these new jobs as they developed; some of these
jobs would be long term, however the workforce needed to be ready in order to
meet the upcoming challenges. Reference was made to
energy and construction, which were key areas for new skills; the Regional
Skills Partnership were looking at how the workforce, within the construction
sector, can be upskilled to meet the necessary demands. Officers expressed the
importance of ensuring that colleges were also delivering these new skills
within the existing courses and apprenticeships on offer. It was mentioned that
there were new vocational qualifications being developed, which will be
introduced to schools in 2027; this will hopefully bring through opportunities
for young people to look at construction, engineering, manufacturing within the
school programme. Through the Regional
Skills Partnership work with the Skills and Talent Programme, it was noted that
Officers had been able to support some of the pilot projects; utilising funding
from the programme. The Committee were provided with examples of some of the
pilot projects that had taken place in schools and colleges. It was noted that the
Regional Skills Partnership had nine specific cluster groups, eight Private
Sector and one Public Sector, which looks at specific areas of concern and how
these concerns could be solved. A discussion took place
in regards to specific courses avaliable to increase knowledge, across the
Public Sector, in regards to sustainability; these courses were free of charge
and avaliable to all Public Sector bodies. Other key areas that
were highlighted through the Public Sector group were ecology and planning;
Officers were trying to identify how awareness of these opportunities could be
increased, and encourage people to think about studying in these areas. |
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Investment Prospectus PDF 135 KB Additional documents: Minutes: A report was provided to
the Committee setting the scene on factors and governance structures
influencing regional energy policy, and outlining known developments in regional
energy; as well as the need to seek additional financial resource required for
the next steps. Officers had been
working with Net Zero Industry Wales to develop an investment pack to support
the energy work stream; along with specific activities and feasibility studies
on prioritised projects. Further to this, Officers were seeking to bring in
additional resource to enable South West Wales to surge forward in terms of the
opportunities that present themselves. The Committee were informed that all other
regions across Wales were looking at carrying out similar work to this. It was explained that
the project had been sectioned into three ‘Sprints’; the first Sprint was
detailed as an appendix to the circulated report. Officers highlighted that
this stage would take all of the relevant regional information (Regional Energy
Strategy, FLOW projects, Celtic Freeport project, Local Area Energy Plans),
along with information from the Private Sector, and identify the scale of the
opportunity for South West Wales region. Members were informed
that the next part would identify and engage with a contact point within each
Regional Structure; before then creating a list of regional projects contained
within Regional Structures, and build an investment prospectus and narrative
that describes the scale of opportunity. Officers hoped that by the end of the
process, a useful and dynamic resource will be created. The circulated report
detailed the request of £120,500 be utilised from the Corporate Joint Committee
reserves, in order to support this work. A discussion took place
in regards to the funding concerns. It was highlighted that the Energy Sub
Committee had been allocated £20k, from the Corporate Joint Committee, to
undertake the work; there was a need to try and secure additional funding to
Welsh Government, as without funding Officers could not progress delivering the
aspirations of this work stream. The Committee recognised
that the Corporate Joint Committee will have the issue with balancing competing
funding priorities, as there were three other work streams within the Corporate
Joint Committee. It was mentioned that
the Corporate Joint Committee were in the process of writing to the Minister in
relation to the Regional Transport Plan and Strategic Development Plan funding
constraints and felt that Energy could also be included within the
correspondence. It was supported that a
letter be written to Welsh Government in regards to additional funding. RESOLVED: That the request for the
draw down of £120,500 be passed to the Corporate Joint Committee for decision. |
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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). Minutes: There
were no urgent items received. |