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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: That the Strategic Development Plan Draft Delivery Agreement, as presented in Appendices 1-7 of the circulated report, be endorsed ahead of seeking a decision for the commencement of a formal consultation exercise at the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) on 15 January 2026.
The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
There were no declarations of interests received.
The minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2025, were approved as a true and accurate record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Strategic Development Plan Draft Delivery Agreement, as presented in Appendices 1-7 of the circulated report, be endorsed ahead of seeking a decision for the commencement of a formal consultation exercise at the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) on 15 January 2026.
Members were provided with a report seeking endorsement of the South West Wales Strategic Development Plan (SWWSDP) Draft Delivery Agreement (DA) for the purpose of consultation, prior to onward consideration at the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee on 15 January 2026. The Committee were informed that the preparation of a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) was a statutory requirement. It was noted that progression of the SDP had previously been deferred due to concerns regarding the significant financial resources that would be required, and the absence of the guidance manual written by Welsh Government. Officers stated that both the North Wales region and Cardiff Capital region had progressed in preparing their DA, with the latter having already secured approval. In light of this, it was explained that a decision was taken last year to commence with the preparation of the SWWSDP DA to ensure the region was not disadvantaged in relation to future economic development or transformational opportunities that could come to fruition across Wales. As a result, it was stated that funding was secured from the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) reserves, to appoint a member of staff to prepare the DA. Officers highlighted that the DA set out the timetable for preparing the SDP in accordance with the statutory process, which aligned with that undertaken for Local Development Plans (LDPs) and Replacement Local Development Plans (RLDPs); the DA also detailed the financial and staffing resource required, as well as the Community Involvement Scheme which outlines arrangements for public and stakeholder engagement. Members were informed that although there was no statutory requirement to consult, the draft Welsh Government manual advised that consultation was best practice and recommended a six-week period. Due to tight timescales, it was proposed that consultation be undertaken over five weeks; this approach was informed by correspondence from Welsh Government, which indicated that incentivisation funding would be available to Corporate Joint Committees progressing Draft Delivery Agreements. It was noted that this included potential funding of up to £100,000 following consultation and a further £100,000 upon approval of the DA; given the previously stated financial concerns, it was considered important to demonstrate compliance with statutory requirements and to progress at pace, particularly in order not to fall behind other regions in Wales. Officers advised that legal guidance had been sought, and a five-week consultation period would not prejudice the Committee’s position; this would enable consultation feedback to be considered and, where necessary, revisions made prior to submission to Welsh Government within the prescribed timescales, thereby maximising opportunities to secure available funding. It was acknowledged that the incentivisation funding would not be sufficient to deliver the SDP in full, however it represented an initial stage in a longer statutory process. The purpose of the SDP would be to articulate the region’s strategic spatial ambitions, including infrastructure requirements and economic transformation priorities, and to inform future Local Development Plans (LDPs) across the constituent Local Planning Authorities, potentially allowing for reduced scope at local level following adoption. Concerns were raised regarding the level of funding required and whether progression would commit the SWWCJC financially. In response, Officers confirmed that these concerns had been raised with Welsh Government; financial modelling, undertaken with support from finance colleagues, estimated the cost of delivering the SDP at approximately £628,000 in year one. It was highlighted that draft budget allocations currently stood at £21,900, exclusive of any potential incentivisation funding; while reserves were available within the SWWCJC, any decision regarding their use, phasing of delivery, or staffing levels would require future determination. It was also noted that failure to progress could expose the SWWCJC to legal challenge for non-compliance with statutory duties. Members were advised that, at this stage, no commitment was being made to proceed with the preparation of the SDP itself; the request before the Committee was limited to endorsement of the DA to enable consultation to take place. During discussion, clarification was sought regarding the consultation period. It was confirmed that the intended consultation period was five weeks, with the submission deadline to Welsh Government remaining 31 March 2026. Officers advised that any inconsistency within the Gantt chart would be reviewed and corrected. RESOLVED: That the Strategic Development Plan Draft Delivery Agreement, as presented in Appendices 1-7 of the circulated report, be endorsed ahead of seeking a decision for the commencement of a formal consultation exercise at the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) on 15 January 2026.
The Forward Work Programme was noted.
There were no urgent items received.
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