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RESOLVED That the Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring for year ended 2025-26 be noted.
RESOLVED That the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee budget be noted, to meet its obligations to set its 2026-2027 budget, as approved on 27 January 2026. (a) That the budget requirement for the Joint Committee at £1,149.7k as set out in Appendix B (Requested Budget with minimum Strategic Planning allocation), be noted. (b) That the Levy Charge based on population to the constituent authorities be noted as follows:
RESOLVED (a) That the contents of the report be noted and through the Chair, suggestions and amendments would be provided to Officers on the documentation necessary for the Committee to consider. (b) That a request be made for the draft risk documentation to be prepared for consideration and endorsement within approximately. two months.
RESOLVED That the update on Audit Wales recommendations be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mike Harvey (Neath Port Talbot)
There were no declarations of interest received.
Moved by Councillor Steve Alderman; Seconded by Joanna Jenkins The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2025 be approved as a correct record. Following approval of the Minutes, the Monitoring Officer provided the Committee with an update on the proposed integration of Swansea Bay City Deal with the Corporate Joint Committee (CJC). It was stated that the work to merge the City Deal and Corporate Joint Committee Governance Arrangements had progressed since the previous meeting and that all constituent Local Authorities had approved the required delegations, with Swansea concluding its process at the end of January. It was stated that following this, work had been ongoing to prepare the necessary governance documentation to enable full alignment of governance structures from the Annual General Meeting in May 2026. Members were advised that the next phase of work would focus on operational processes, staffing structures and related matters, to be led by the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer who would commence in post within the CJC in two weeks. It was noted that substantial preparatory work had been undertaken behind the scenes, and further updates would be provided to the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee, Governance and Audit Sub-Committee, as the programme progressed.
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RESOLVED That the Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring for year ended 2025-26 be noted.
The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Chief Finance Officer regarding Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring for 2025-26. The Regional Finance Manager introduced the report highlighting that the report had been considered by the Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) in January 2026. It was stated that the projected outturn indicated an overall underspend of £315.4k, which would be transferred to the CJC reserve at year?end. It was explained that the underspend arose from several areas, including support services due to vacant posts, and further underspends within planning and programme management and the energy subcommittee. An overspend of £121k was noted within sub-committee expenditure, largely attributable to the £200k Welsh Government grant expenditure for the Regional Transport Plan. It was stated that the Regional Management Office was forecast to overspend by £63k, reflecting additional costs associated with the appointment of the Chief Operating Officer, and costs for regional events. Members were advised that additional grant income of £400k from Welsh Government had been received during the year, which had not been anticipated when the budget was set, so the resulting forecast reserve at year?end was £1.338m. It was noted that reserves had not been drawn upon in?year due to the underspend position, although future use of reserves to support the levy was planned. A query was raised by Joanna Jenkins regarding the duration of the grants. In response, the Regional Finance Manager confirmed that the £200k Capability and Capacity Grant was available for the current year and the next two financial years. In relation to the Regional Transport Plan funding, it was stated that £200k was allocated for the current year, with an assumed £100k per year thereafter. Moved by Councillor James Henton; Seconded by Councillor Steve Alderman The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring for year ended 2025-26 be noted.
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RESOLVED That the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee budget be noted, to meet its obligations to set its 2026-2027 budget, as approved on 27 January 2026. (a) That the budget requirement for the Joint Committee at £1,149.7k as set out in Appendix B (Requested Budget with minimum Strategic Planning allocation), be noted. (b) That the Levy Charge based on population to the constituent authorities be noted as follows:
The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Chief Finance Officer regarding the budget for financial year 2026-27. The Chief Finance Officer introduced the report and stated that the budget was required to be agreed by 31 January 2026 and notified to constituent Authorities, including the associated levies. It was noted that reserves had not been drawn upon in the previous year due to underspends, resulting in a stronger than anticipated opening position for 2026–27. It was stated that in developing the new budget, two options had been considered: a full requested budget and a reduced option reflecting lower provision for strategic planning, due to the lack of Welsh Government support at the time and the significant estimated cost of approximately £600k. Members were advised that grant commitments were incorporated, including the £200k per annum Capacity and Capability Grant over three years and reduced funding for the Regional Transport Plan (from £200k to £100k from 2026–27). It was stated that the Joint Committee also reviewed the requirements across the four workstreams, including regional energy, economic development and transport. It was noted that the Joint Committee agreed Option B (Appendix B), setting a £1.1m budget with a marginal year?on?year levy increase of around 18%, supplemented by a contribution from reserves. Members were advised that subsequent discussions with Welsh Government indicated potential grant support towards strategic planning, with a further report being prepared outlining options for providing £200k–£300k from reserves, subject to match?funding. It was noted that the levy requests had now been issued, and activity would be monitored throughout the year. It was also noted that the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer would commence shortly and was expected to influence future development work. A question was raised by Councillor Steve Alderman regarding whether the planned use of reserves would compromise the Corporate Joint Committee’s (CJC) financial position. In response, the Chief Finance Officer confirmed that the agreed approach was to use reserves gradually over several years rather than in a single year, with planned drawdowns, leaving an estimated balance of £790k after three years. It was added that this strategy ensured continued financial stability while supporting CJC development. Members were advised that a forthcoming report would propose using a further £200k–£300k for strategic planning; however, the advice to the Joint Committee would be to limit this to £200k to avoid overcommitting to ongoing expenditure and to maintain a controlled and sustainable use of reserves. Councillor Jeff Jones expressed concern regarding the potential scale of the project and asked what checks and controls were in place to prevent it expanding unchecked. In response, the Chief Finance Officer explained that the scope of the work was determined by the legislation underpinning the CJC and by the decisions of the Joint Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Governance and Audit Committee. It was stated that while the programme could grow, its development must be managed within statutory responsibilities and agreed deliverables. It was noted that the appointment of the new Chief Operating Officer was expected to provide further structure and oversight to ensure a controlled and strategic approach. A query was raised by Paula O’Connor as to whether the ongoing merger of City Deal functions into the CJC governance structure would have any impact on future budgets and financial planning. In response, the Chief Finance Officer explained that the merger with the City Deal was expected to streamline administration and governance processes, particularly by aligning support functions, but added that it would not fundamentally alter the CJC’s workstreams or future direction. It was stated that City Deal projects were fixed, time?limited schemes delivered by lead authorities and would continue to conclude as planned, eventually closing once funding ends. It was noted that in contrast, the CJC was an evolving structure, and the merger was intended primarily to optimise administrative and governance resources rather than change operational responsibilities. Following a request from Joanna Jenkins regarding whether comparable models operating elsewhere in Wales could provide insight into likely future growth and development for the CJC, the Chief Finance Officer stated that all four Welsh CJCs operated differently. It was stated that the Cardiff Capital Region had taken a more centralised, region?led approach, while the Swansea Bay model was based on defined, Local Authority led projects. The Mid and North Wales Growth Deals were stated to also be progressing but at different stages. The Monitoring Officer added that the Cardiff Capital Region operated differently, while the North Wales model was more comparable to the current approach. It was stated that the incoming Chief Operating Officer intended to engage with other CJCs to understand how they have implemented their models, the challenges faced and lessons learned which will help develop a holistic view and inform future approaches, drawing on the experience of Authorities that have already undertaken similar integration work. Following clarification sought by the Chair regarding the levy amounts for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Brecon Beacons National Park and whether the latter was lower because only part of its area fell within the South West Wales region, the Chief Finance Officer confirmed that this was the case of which a further explanation was given. In response to a question raised by Councillor Deryk Cundy, the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer outlined the core aims of the CJC and the ongoing current activity. It was noted that a fuller explanation would be better provided by the Incoming Chief Operating Officer once in post. Members were informed that Welsh Government was reviewing the remit and future role of CJC’s at a national level, with further discussions expected following the Senedd elections, which would help shape the longer?term direction and value of the CJC. Moved by Councillor Steve Alderman; Seconded by Councillor James Henton The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee budget be noted, to meet its obligations to set its 2026-2027 budget, as approved on 27 January 2026. (a) That the budget requirement for the Joint Committee at £1,149.7k as set out in Appendix B (Requested Budget with minimum Strategic Planning allocation), be noted. (b) That the Levy Charge based on population to the constituent authorities be noted as follows:
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RESOLVED (a) That the contents of the report be noted and through the Chair, suggestions and amendments would be provided to Officers on the documentation necessary for the Committee to consider. (b) That a request be made for the draft risk documentation to be prepared for consideration and endorsement within approximately. two months.
The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Head of Policy and Business Administration regarding the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee Risk Management update. The Head of Policy and Business Administration introduced the report on current risk?management protocols and proposed measures to strengthen the CJC’s approach to mitigating risk. It was stated that following the initial overview presented in September, Members had requested further detail and a timeline for implementation. It was highlighted that the paper set out the work undertaken to date key features of the draft strategy and policy, and two accompanying documents: a draft Risk Management Strategy and a draft Risk Management Policy. It was emphasised that the documents aimed to ensure that the CJC’s arrangements were proportionate, suitable and sufficient as the organisation moved from a planning phase into delivery. It was noted that the drafts would be considered by Scrutiny and the Joint Committee before returning to the Governance and Audit Sub-Committee as working documents. Before consideration of the report, it was clarified that the draft strategy and policy documents presented were template papers intended for the Committee to comment on and while the report referred to “endorsement,” the purpose was to invite Members to provide feedback, raise any concerns and suggest amendments, which would be incorporated into future iterations before the documents proceed to the CJC for final approval. The Chair reminded members of the Committee’s core responsibilities under its terms of reference, including assessing the effectiveness of the CJC’s risk?management, internal control and governance arrangements, and seeking assurance on the CJC’s overall risk profile. She noted ongoing concern that a risk register, previously highlighted by Audit Wales as urgent, had still not been produced and queried the absence of the referenced risk?register template in the papers. Joanna Jenkins questioned how often the draft risk?management strategy would be reviewed by the Committee, noting that without a risk register it was difficult to assess its adequacy. It was highlighted that the CJC was still in its early stages but clarification was sought as to how frequently the strategy would return for update and revision as the organisation develops. In response, the Head of Policy and Business Administration stated that current risk?management relied on Lead Officers identifying and escalating risks through dashboard reporting to the Programme Board, where Statutory Officers determined whether issues should be referred to the CJC and an example was given of risks relating to the strategic development plan being escalated appropriately. It was noted that reporting was currently manual, though a future system may be beneficial. Members were advised that the draft strategy and policy would be reviewed at least annually, with updates reported back to the Committee. Paula O’Connor expressed concern that the Committee still had no visibility of a risk register or evidence of how risks were being managed, despite raising this issue previously, and sought clarification on inconsistencies between the risk matrix and the risk?assessment model presented in the papers. References to items being “approved” by the Governance and Audit Sub-Committee were also queried, emphasising that the Committee’s role was to review and seek assurance, not to approve or manage risks directly. Councillor Deryk Cundy expressed that the risk?management proposals were still too vague, noting that without clearer information on emerging workstreams or input from the incoming Chief Operating Officer, it was difficult to understand what specific risks the CJC should be addressing. It was felt that more definitive detail was needed before the proposals could be supported. The Chief Finance Officer noted that the risk?management framework remained a work in progress and that a full risk register, supported by risk assessments from each workstream, was still required before the Committee could properly scrutinise arrangements. It was stated that further development would be carried out alongside the delivery workstreams and with input from the incoming Chief Operating Officer. Paula O’Connor asked whether the CJC Scrutiny Sub?Committee had greater visibility of risks being managed and, if so, whether someone from that group could be invited to provide assurance in the absence of other evidence. In response, the Head of Policy and Business Administration explained that while the Scrutiny Sub?Committee was not routinely involved in all risk matters, it was alerted to significant escalated risks. It was stated that risks and opportunities were first considered by the Programme Board as part of development work ahead of any service delivery, before being escalated further where appropriate. Following further information sought by Joanna Jenkins regarding recommendation B ‘to endorse the Regional Risk Management Strategy (Draft) and Risk Management Policy ahead of seeking approval from implementation from the SWWCJC’ the Head of Policy and Business Administration reiterated that the Sub-Committee was not being asked to approve the documents but to provide comments and suggestions to support development of the risk register. It was stated that the draft papers would first be considered by Scrutiny before being presented to the CJC on 24 March 2026. In summing up the Chair emphasised that the CJC operated with a relatively small budget and stated that its risk?management arrangements should therefore be proportionate and straightforward. It was noted that although workstreams were identifying risks, these were not being captured in a risk register for the Committee’s scrutiny, despite clear examples of good practice available across Local Authorities. Concern was expressed that three years on from the Audit Wales recommendation, a register was still not in place and questioned the need for both a strategy and a policy given the level of duplication and lack of a clear plan of action within the strategy document. The Chair stated that, while the policy appeared broadly acceptable with refinements, she could not support the strategy in its current form and did not feel able to endorse the recommendation. The urgent need for a risk register to be developed and brought back to the Committee for approval was stressed and the Chair invited further comments from Members before forming a final recommendation. Following discussion on some variations of a resolution the following was Moved by Councillor Deryk Cundy; Seconded by Councillor James Henton: That the Committee notes the contents of the report and through the Chair will provide suggestions and amendments on the documentation necessary for the Committee to consider. And secondly, that the Committee requests that the draft risk documentation be prepared for consideration and endorsement within approximately. two months. The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED (a) That the contents of the report be noted and through the Chair, suggestions and amendments would be provided to Officers on the documentation necessary for the Committee to consider. (b) That a request be made for the draft risk documentation to be prepared for consideration and endorsement within approximately. two months.
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RESOLVED That the update on Audit Wales recommendations be noted.
The Sub-Committee considered a report by the Head of Policy and Business Administration regarding the progress made to implement the recommendations as directed by Audit Wales. The Head of Policy and Business Administration introduced the report and stated that work continued with the Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) group, including input from the Commissioner, to ensure a proportionate approach and avoid duplication with Local Authorities. It was stated that the Child Poverty Action Plan and Engagement Plan would be presented to the CJC in March 2026. It was noted that as part of the annual review, all policies were being refreshed, with updated versions expected by the end of March. A request was made by Paula O’Connor for the word ‘approval’ to be removed with regards to the Governance and Audit Sub-committee on pages 67 and 69 of the agenda pack. Moved by Councillor Steve Alderman; Seconded by Councillor James Henton The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the update on Audit Wales recommendations be noted.
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