Local Authorities in South Wales have several joint working arrangements with regards to regional planning policy as follows: -

South East Wales Strategic Planning Group (SEWSPG)

Monmouthshire was the lead authority of the South East Wales Strategic Planning Group from September 2005 until July 2007. The new lead authority of the group is Cardiff, any details regarding future meetings of the group can be found on their website.  Membership of the group comprises officer and political representation from all local authorities in the South East Wales area. This includes Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff & Torfaen County Borough Councils, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, The City and County of Cardiff, Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. 

George Ashworth, Head of Monmouthshire's Planning Service, with the support of the Development Plans Team provide the officer representation on the Group. Monmouthshire's political representatives are Cllr P Clarke (Chair) and Cllr C Woodhouse (Vice Chair).

It is an important time for the Group with authorities commencing work on their Local Development Plans and regional groups such as SEWSPG establishing the interface between the Wales Spatial Plan strategy and individual authority development plans.

On Thursday 11 January 2007 SEWSPG chaired a Regional Housing Apportionment Seminar with representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, business groups, housebuilders and environmental groups all attending. Please click on the link for copies of the presentations given on the day. 

SEWSPG has produced, consulted upon and adopted the following two volumes of 'Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales' which aim to: -

• provide a context for the preparation, consideration and revision of Unitary Development Plans;
• identify strategic spatial policy issues, common ground and mechanisms for resolving conflict between planning authorities; and
• encourage interested organizations to contribute to the regional planning process.

Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales - Volume 1 was adopted in January 2000 (having been published in draft for consultation in January 1999) and contains chapters on: -

• Introduction
• Population and Housing
• Transportation
• Retail Development
• Employment Land
• Land Reclamation
• Green Belts and Green Wedges
• Landscape and Nature Conservation
• Urban Regeneration

You can obtain the document by using the link to our Publications Page or by downloading the following adobe acrobat pdf file: -

Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales - volume 1 (1.23MB)

Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales - Volume 2 was adopted in July 2001 (having been published in draft for consultation in July 2000) and contains chapters on: -

• Introduction
• Minerals
• Waste Management
• Energy
• Sport, Leisure and Recreation Development
• Tourism Development
• Coastal Issues

You can obtain the document by using the link to our Publications Page or by downloading the following adobe acrobat pdf file: -

Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales - volume 2 (8.14KB)

Strategic Planning Guidance for South East Wales - volume 2 - Summary (723KB)

South East Wales Waste Group
The South East Wales Waste Group is one of three such bodies set up in Wales to provide regional coordination and a strategic, integrated approach to the management of waste in Wales. It comprises the South East Wales Waste Forum; a Steering Group of local authority councillors in the region with a Technical Group of officers from local government, the Welsh Assembly, Environment Agency Wales and other government bodies, and representatives from the waste industry and other interested groups. Monmouthshire County Council is represented in the South East Wales Waste Group by; Cabinet Member Environment, Mr Chris Woodhouse; Mr Dave Harris, Head of Highways and Waste Management; and Mr Martin Davies, Principal Development Plans Officer.

The first Regional Waste Plan was agreed by the Members Steering Group, endorsed by all of the local authorities in the region and published in March 2004. The South East Wales Regional Waste Group is now undertaking work to monitor both the implementation of the Plan and the waste situation within the region; Annual Monitoring Reports will be published in March 2005, 2006 and 2007 and a revised plan will also be published in March 2007. More information about the South East Wales Waste Group is available at www.sewaleswasteplan.org

There are two Regional Aggregates Working Parties (RAWPs) in Wales.  The South Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party's (SWRAWP) membership is drawn from officers of the mineral planning authorities, the aggregates and recycling industry, Welsh Assembly Government, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister together with other Government Departments and Quango's. 

Martin Davies, the Principal Development Plans Officer, currently represents the Council on the SWRAWP which meets twice a year to discuss mineral issues, research, progress on Unitary Development Plans and government guidance.  The SWRAWP also collates 'Aggregates Monitoring Surveys' to provide details of the regional and national production and consumption of aggregates.  Main surveys are undertaken on a four yearly cycle for England and Wales which also provide information on the regional distribution of aggregates production.  The information is collected from minerals producers by the mineral planning authorities.  Since the early 1990s, the SWRAWP has also produced annual reports summarising aggregates production and reserves in each mineral planning authority (or groups of authorities to preserve operator confidentiality).  A copy of the latest published survey for 2003 can be obtained from: -

Steve Bool
Secretary SWRAWP
c/o Directorate of Planning and Environmental Services
Bridgend County Borough Council
PO Box 4
Civic Offices
Angel Street
Bridgend
CF31 4WB

Telephone: 01656 643178
Fax: 01656 643190
E-mail: boolsj@bridgend.gov.uk