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Apologies for absence were received from the following: Powys County Council: Members: County Councillors G D Jones, G W Ratcliffe Officers: Gwilym Davies (Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection) Ceredigion County Council: Members: County Councillor C Jones Following the AGM of the CJC and abiding by the Constitution of the CJC, each year the Chair of the Sub Committee is rotated. Cllr Jake Berriman stood down to Vice Chair and invited Cllr Clive Davies to accede as Chair. The Chair formally thanked Cllr Jake Berriman for his stewardship over the last 12 months.
The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16th February 2023 as a correct record.
The Committee noted the content of the letter to the Minister.
The recommendation by the SDP Sub Committee to the CJC for dedicated resource to support preparatory SDP work, for the remainder of the current financial year was agreed at the CJC AGM in July. Several options were considered, as Ceredigion were the nominated lead Authority, an internal reorganisation of workload has sourced capacity of 0.5FTE, with the work falling under the remits of the 2 officers established contracts. Will need to ensure that the timeline for the SDP plans match up with the existing plans within the region, to avoid a situation whereby consulting at the same time on Regional Transport, Economic, Local Development 2 Plans in Powys or Bannau Brecheiniog as would lead to confusion for the public and possible missed consultation responses. The workstreams requirements include: • A timeline for the SDP needs to incorporate all other plans. • Mapped reporting structure –Member Working Groups involving engagement from CJC and Local Members. • Establish an SDP Officer Working Group, consideration to be given if Regional or LDP specific. • Map skills regionally, to make best use of resources where specialisms lie. • Undertake an SDP checklist to fully understand requirements under the regulations. • Understand the resources required to deliver an SDP, with a draft budget developed. • IT requirements to be considered to assist effective consultation. There are 2 statutory requirements to be implemented prior to commencing an SDP: • A delivery agreement. • Community involvement scheme. Started to prepare these documents prior to the end of the financial year, these would be circulated to regional partners. Further work to incorporate would be an Internal political mandate from each of the constituent Authorities to progress the SDP. The resurrection of the Officers Working Group is vital to coordinate work as moves forward.
As noted above.
Powys: Continuing progress within Powys LDP, slipping against timetable, work progressing through evidence gathering i.e., settlement audits, commissioning on Welsh Language, renewable energy, employment study work, candidate sites behind the scenes at the strategy building stage. Aim to have key issues, visions and objectives set out prior to Christmas. To have engagement work re: growth across the LA and were distributed in the New Year, heading to preferred strategy consultation in spring. Ceredigion: Ceredigion’s LDP is on formal pause because of phosphates in the Afon Teifi River SAC, formally paused in October 2022 at the end of the preferred strategy stage. Work is ongoing on strategic mitigation through the Nutrient Management Board. Advice from WG is that the plan should be formally withdrawn to give certainty to developers, as any new plan would have to start from scratch. No decision has been made as there is no statutory requirement to withdraw the Plan. BBNPA: BBNPA in a similar position to Ceredigion on LDP on formal pause, due to the extent of the phosphates issues across the National Parks area, advice from WG is that the plan should be formally withdrawn, which would form part of the discussion with Members later this week. Work remains ongoing with the Nutrient Management Board under the catchment partnership; however, strategic growth is challenging in the area. It was highlighted that BBNPA sits within other Strategic Development Plan areas, where development is being stalled by the lack of ability to deliver on SDP’s.
POSW standing agenda item is the SDP, the last meeting noted that the SDP manual has been further delayed, possible release date in the third quarter of next year, resources and staffing also remain a significant concern for the areas involved. BBNPA sits on the Southeast and Southwest CJC’s and form part of the SDP working groups, both CJC’s in the South are making representation to the WG regarding additional resources, with no meaningful progress to date on either SDP’s.
Discussions at the CJC last week voiced strong support for the SDP jointly across the region, not only to provide clarity over growth distribution and an aspiration for a positive rural Mid Wales vision. The Sub-Committee should respond with officers requested to prepare a report on the steps necessary to progress jointly with the preparation of an SDP for the region, and for Powys to take the necessary steps to pause the preparation on its LDP2, acknowledging that the resources are not available to continue to do both. The Monitoring Officer for the CJC to be requested to advise on the correct protocol in respect of the decisions to be made. Further work to incorporate would be an Internal political mandate from each of the constituent Authorities to progress the SDP. Discussions to take place later this week with Members of the BBNPA on the work of the CJC option around the SDP and LDP to lead to a formal Committee Resolution in due course. Action: NW / SGP The Monitoring Officer for the CJC to be requested to advise on the correct protocol in respect of the decisions to be made. SGP to work regionally to develop an indicative budget for the SDP for discussion in advance of the annual budget setting processes (Jan / Feb 2024) and bring back to an SDP sub-group in advance.
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