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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, the following interest was declared: Councillor S J Rice – Personal – Minute 7 - Local Economic Development Plan – Update.
Resolved that the Minutes of the Economy & Infrastructure Service Transformation Committee held on 10 April and 15 May 2025 be approved and signed as correct records.
The Terms of Reference of Service Transformation Committees were provided ‘for information’.
An update was provided to the Committee regarding the Local Economic Delivery Plan (LEDP), which outlined Swansea’s Economic Regeneration priorities and actions. This Plan complemented the Regional Economic Delivery Plan covering Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, and Swansea, and served to guide its implementation at the local level. Members reviewed the strategic framework, which defined Swansea’s local missions, strategic aims, and objectives through to 2030, along with an accompanying action plan. The LEDP was developed in collaboration with the Regeneration Swansea Partnership—a coalition of key public, private, and third-sector organisations involved in local economic regeneration. The final version of the LEDP was approved by Cabinet on 12 December 2024 and was included in Appendix A. The Plan, alongside the Regional Economic Delivery Plan, was instrumental in shaping the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme in Swansea. A portfolio of projects is being delivered under the LEDP, including several “Anchor” projects led by Swansea Council. These initiatives were aligned with the Plan’s three Local Missions: Local Mission 1: Transitioning to a Net Zero Economy: · Carbon Reduction Support: Business carbon reduction grants and energy-saving training courses had helped 30 businesses implement carbon reduction measures, resulting in a 186-tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions and lower energy costs. · Supplier Development & Local Food: A supplier development programme was helping small businesses compete for public sector contracts, while a local food initiative was boosting awareness and use of locally sourced food. · Rural Renewable Energy: Eleven renewable energy grants had supported community organisations in implementing green energy projects, saving 36 tonnes of CO₂ and reducing energy costs. Additional funding had supported biodiversity projects, local visitor trails, and rural markets. Local Mission 2: Building a Strong, Resilient Business and Skills Base · Business Growth & Innovation: Business grants and support programmes had led to the creation of 83 new businesses, 100 new jobs (all paying at least the real living wage), and the safeguarding of 165 jobs. A new Innovation Grant is supporting R&D, while self-employment courses are helping individuals start their own businesses. · Skills Development: The UKSPF-funded Skills for Swansea project, led by Gower College Swansea, had upskilled 1,945 individuals through employer-focused training. · Employability Support: The Pathways to Work programme had provided tailored support to 2,898 individuals, helping them overcome barriers to employment and access training opportunities. Local Mission 3: Growing and Promoting Swansea’s Strengths and Experience Offer · Placemaking and Heritage: The Transforming County Anchor, aligned with Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns funding, was supporting regeneration across local centres. Projects included the Tawe Trails Heritage App, feasibility and restoration work on 10 listed buildings, and the reactivation of 10 vacant buildings for temporary community or business use. · Culture and Tourism: The Culture & Tourism Anchor was promoting Swansea as a creative and tourism destination. The Creative Swansea initiative was strengthening the local creative sector by encouraging collaboration and innovation. · Community Engagement: The Supporting Communities Anchor has enabled 49,452 people to participate in enriching community-based activities through the UKSPF-funded COAST (Creating Opportunities Together) programme, particularly in Swansea’s most in-need areas. Committee questioning and discussion focussed on the following: · Highlighting the benefits of small grants to local organisations and their impact on community development. · Showcasing best practices from Denmark and Scandinavia through the innovative use of waste products. · Advocating for increased investment in Welsh public transport with ongoing representations by the Leader and Deputy Leader. · Expanding the Heritage Trail App to include additional points of interest, such as Oystermouth Caste. · Leveraging Welsh Government Grants to support the opening of 20 new shops in the City Centre. · Advancing plans to create connected, sustainable places. The Chair thanked the Economic Development Manager for informative update. Resolved that: 1) The progress in producing the Local Economic Development Plan be noted.
The Committee discussed proposed topics for the Work Plan 2025-2026. The Chair stated that he would discuss the options with the relevant Cabinet Members and report the preferred topics to the next scheduled meeting. The potential topics included the following: - 1) Local Economic Development Plan – Update. 2) Placemaking Strategy. 3) Destination Management Plan. 4) Tawe Riverside Strategy/Waterways. 5) Shared Prosperity Fund Update. 6) Future of Road Re-Surfacing. 7) Swansea Bay Strategy Update. 8) Commitment to Invest in our Towns and Villages. 9) New Ferry Service Link Between Swansea and the South of England. 10) Regional Working Hubs (Shared Workspace). 11) Economic Development Opportunities in Gower (including Mumbles) Resolved that: 1) The Chair discuss the potential items and timescales with the relevant Cabinet Members.
The Chair referred to the dates of future meetings provided on the agenda. Resolved that all future meetings in 2025/26 commence at 2 pm.
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