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The meeting commenced with acknowledgements of apologies received from County Councillor Gareth Ratcliff of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBPNA) and County Councillor Gareth D. Jones (PCC) and County Councillor Ceris Jones (CCC). The meeting was not quorate (no Member representative from BBNPA present) Members agreed to proceed as no decisions were being made. County Councillor Clive Davies was confirmed as Chair for the session, following prior discussions with County Councillor Jake Berriman, who expressed his full support for County Councillor Clive Davies’ appointment. The Committee were in unanimous agreement, and the meeting proceeded with County Councillor Clive Davies presiding.
The meeting progressed with a regional overview of the status of Local Development Plans (LDPs) and the Strategic Development Plan (SDP). Each authority provided an update on their current position. Ceredigion County Council reported that its replacement LDP had been formally paused since October 2021, following the introduction of riverine guidance. The pause had been maintained due to the anticipated release of marine guidance, and the authority continued to monitor the situation closely. It was noted that Ceredigion’s existing LDP remained valid and did not have a statutory end date. The plan continued to offer sufficient development opportunities and was considered to be in alignment with the national planning framework, Future Wales. As such, the authority expressed contentment with the current position but confirmed that it would keep the matter under review. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority explained that its current LDP, which covered the period from 2007 to 2022, also lacked a statutory drop-dead date. The authority had recently concluded a consultation on a draft delivery agreement for a new twenty-year plan covering 2025 to 2045. Although the consultation responses had not yet been presented to Members, it was anticipated that the delivery agreement would be submitted to Welsh Government in the autumn, with plan preparation expected to commence shortly thereafter. Powys County Council confirmed that it had entered into a delivery agreement with Welsh Government in July 2022, thereby initiating the preparation of its replacement LDP. A public consultation on the preferred strategy had taken place in October 2024, and a deposit plan consultation was scheduled for late 2025. The authority intended to submit the plan for independent examination following this consultation. Key areas of focus included green infrastructure, provision for Gypsy and Traveller communities, and the potential implications of a proposed new National Park.
The committee then turned its attention to the implications of recent guidance concerning Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). It was noted that the headline description of "business as usual" was misleading, as the actual impact varied significantly across regions. In Ceredigion, the guidance had not yet necessitated a nutrient neutrality approach, owing to low confidence in the data concerning failing features within the Cardigan Bay SAC. However, the situation was markedly different in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and parts of Anglesey, where areas had been categorised as "red" due to medium to high confidence in nitrate-related impacts. Concerns were raised regarding the legal robustness of the current approach, particularly in relation to the requirements of the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). Ceredigion confirmed that it would continue to conduct HRAs for any development with a potential impact pathway, despite not implementing nutrient neutrality at this stage. The authority expressed concern about the risk of judicial review, especially given the presence of species in unfavourable condition within the SAC. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had estimated that approximately 90% of nitrogen pollution originated from agricultural sources. It was acknowledged that even full compliance with existing regulations and cooperative measures would be insufficient to resolve the issue. This highlighted the need for both national-level intervention by Welsh Government and coordinated regional action through nutrient management boards. Ceredigion had secured Shared Prosperity Funding to install nitrate monitors within the Cardigan Bay SAC. These monitors would enable the authority to collect localised data and assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures over time. The group emphasised the importance of supporting the agricultural sector, recognising its vital role in the rural economy, and expressed a commitment to working collaboratively with farmers to find sustainable solutions.
A detailed discussion followed regarding the future of strategic planning in Mid Wales. The group considered a paper that explored alternatives to the statutory requirement for preparing a Strategic Development Plan. It was acknowledged that while CJCs were legally obliged to produce SDPs, no region in Wales had yet commenced full preparation, primarily due to resource constraints and the absence of finalised guidance. The estimated cost of preparing an SDP for Mid Wales stood at £2.8 million, excluding full staffing costs. The process was expected to take approximately six years, with a further two to three years required for the preparation of LDP Lites. The group considered three potential options: continuing with individual LDPs only, developing a non-statutory regional collaboration agreement, or proceeding with a full SDP. The first option, maintaining LDP preparation only, was considered the most cost-effective and efficient in terms of timescale. It would also preserve the greatest degree of autonomy for local planning authorities. The second option, a regional collaboration agreement, would rely on voluntary cooperation and shared methodologies but would lack statutory weight. The third option, proceeding with a full SDP, was acknowledged as the most resource-intensive and complex, but it remained the statutory expectation. The potential designation of a new National Park in Powys was identified as a significant uncertainty, with implications for both LDP and SDP preparation. Members expressed concern about the feasibility of progressing an SDP under current conditions and recommended that discussions be held with Welsh Government to explore the possibility of removing the statutory duty for Mid Wales. Additional recommendations included seeking legislative changes to remove LDP end dates and to amend the review period framework. Welsh Government had indicated that while there were no immediate plans to alter the four-year review cycle, there was recognition of the challenges posed by drop-dead dates. Any legislative changes would likely depend on the outcome of the forthcoming Senedd elections.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
The committee acknowledged that it would be highly unlikely to meet the December 2025 deadline for submitting a delivery agreement, which was a condition for accessing a specific Welsh Government funding allocation. Members agreed that progressing a delivery agreement at this stage would be impractical, given the unresolved issues surrounding the National Park proposal and the lack of finalised SDP guidance. It was agreed that the matter would be kept under review and that the region would continue to explore collaborative planning options.
Updates were provided on the progress of SDP preparation in other regions of Wales. In Southwest Wales, progress remained limited due to resource constraints and the impact of marine SAC restrictions. In North Wales, an SDP lead officer had been appointed, and a draft delivery agreement was being prepared for consultation. The region had also begun exploring the creation of a dedicated planning policy team. Southeast Wales was reported to be the most advanced, having already consulted on a delivery agreement and committed funding through its medium-term financial plan. A regional SDP team was being established, and the region was actively working towards submission. Members noted that both North and Southeast Wales stood to benefit from additional Welsh Government funding due to their progress, and this highlighted the disparity in momentum between regions.
No additional items were raised under this agenda item. The Chair thanked all participants for their contributions and closed the meeting.
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