Agenda item

To provide an introduction for the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee on progress with preparing a Delivery Agreement (DA) for the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for North Wales, as well as highlighting the broad programme for development of the SDP, and some of the key matters it needs to consider.

To accept the report.

The report was submitted by the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Chief Executive and Regional Strategic Development Planning Officer.

RESOLVED

To accept the report.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To ensure that the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee is fully aware of the approach to be taken with the SDP and the main steps involved in the process of drafting plans.

DISCUSSION

It was explained that the purpose of the report was to provide the Sub-Committee with an initial overview of the process, outlining the current position and the reasons why progress had already been made ahead of this first meeting. It was hoped that members would appreciate the value of doing so, particularly as this CJC was one of only four across Wales, with only the Cardiff region having progressed far enough to develop and consult on a draft Delivery Agreement. It was noted, therefore, that this region was approximately 9 to 10 months behind Cardiff, although it was acknowledged that progress in other CJC areas had proven even more challenging.

It was noted that the report included the legislative background as well as the broader context for producing a SDP, which dates back to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 but was not enacted through regulation until 2021 under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act. It was emphasised that the principal driver for commencing work on a draft Delivery Agreement was the requirement set by Welsh Government for all CJCs to submit such an agreement by the end of 2024.

It was noted that a seven-point timeframe existed for producing, agreeing, and submitting the Delivery Agreement, and that the current stage fell between points two and four. It was confirmed that this remained broadly in line with the indicative timeline. It was explained that the draft Delivery Agreement had already been produced and submitted to Welsh Government, and that it would be circulated to key stakeholders within the coming weeks. It was noted that this would be followed by a wider consultation during May and June, with the intention of seeking approval to submit the agreement, subject to funding and resource considerations, by July. It was further noted that the proposed timetable indicated submission to Welsh Government in August.

It was noted that two key meeting markers had been identified within the forward work programme: the first in late June or early July, to coincide with the feedback received from the consultation on the Delivery Agreement; and the second in October or November, when a further update would be provided regarding Welsh Government approval and the initiation of the SDP production process.

It was highlighted that the report included a broad overview of the eight-stage programme for developing the plan, which was shaped by the relevant regulations that govern the production of SDPs. It was also noted that the report identified a number of positive aspects and opportunities available to the Sub-Committee through producing the SDP collaboratively as a region, over a longer timeframe and at a higher strategic level.

It was questioned, in relation to the formal examination of the soundness of the SDP, whether this process would be public in nature, similar to that of LDPs. In response, it was confirmed that this was correct. It was explained that the process would follow the same procedures as those applied to an LDP.