Julie James: I just don't think that one size fits all at all. There are very good examples across Britain and across the world of both large and small local authorities that work very effectively. It's about harnessing local resources for local people and harnessing the power of local democratic decisions in order to do so. So, my own view is that if two local authorities thought they would work better...
Julie James: No, I don’t, and I think I said very clearly that I didn’t. I think no one size fits all at all. What we need to do is work closely with local government to agree a shared vision for the future in which we make sure that the expertise available to it is deployed to the best effect for the people of Wales. Sometimes, that expertise will sit in one authority and it needs to be shared with...
Julie James: Yes, indeed. Up-to-date local development plans provide the local context to assess the cumulative impact of multiple residential development applications in the same locality. LDPs should ensure sufficient land is available in appropriate and sustainable locations to meet the projected housing need identified by the local planning authority.
Julie James: Yes. A good local development plan should plan not only for its housing need, but for the infrastructure needs associated with the housing need. Clearly, that is a range of services, you know, from prosaic highway infrastructure, to digital connectivity, to access to GPs and schools, local bus services, sustainable transport, and so on. It’s a very complex picture. Each place should be...
Julie James: I want to make it plain immediately that I'm not going to comment on any specifics, and my remarks are not directed to the particular development that the Member has raised—so, in general terms. We have provisions in the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 to enable local planning authorities to bring forward strategic development plans and therefore to work more regionally. We are looking to have...
Julie James: I don't have a picture of Wales in my head around the different population projections, so I can't talk in specifics, but I'm very keen to make sure that we have the right projections in place, and that we actually respond to the need in the right places. I'm also actually very keen to ensure that developments are the right size and fitted for the area they serve. So, what we want to do is...
Julie James: Well, indeed, the finance Minister and I both met with local government at this morning’s finance sub-group meeting to discuss finance matters, the main topic of which was the sustainability of the local government funding formula. So, we're both fresh from that very meeting.
Julie James: We had a full discussion about the way that the formula works and any issues that anyone in the room had with them, and I invited suggestions from the local government leaders in the room and, indeed, from the wider local government community as to any suggested changes to the formula that might be something that we could all support. So, I'm very open to that. I have to say, nothing has come...
Julie James: Yes. As I said, I'm very open to any suggestion to change the current funding formula that can be agreed through the local government group. It's very much something that we agree together with local government. We very much wanted to be something that the whole of local government is able to buy into and that the Welsh Government also buys into. So, I absolutely welcome any suggestions or...
Julie James: The forthcoming local government and elections Bill will introduce several measures to further encourage diversity, such as enabling job sharing by executive members.
Julie James: We are about to introduce into the Assembly the local government and elections Bill, and the Llywydd is very interested, I know, in the one for the Assembly. We'd be very happy to have discussions about any scheme that enables any broader diversity of Members to come forward, from wherever that comes, and as part of the discussions as we take the Bill through its committee stages, I'd be more...
Julie James: In a world where demand for social housing very much outstrips supply, it's essential that lettings policies reflect a fair and strategic approach to meeting housing needs. Local housing partnerships have a responsibility to make best use of available social housing and provide applicants with the widest choice of accommodation.
Julie James: Yes, I'm very interested in the Gwynedd banding system. I believe they're out for a three-month consultation and trial and that the decision's in April. We'll be looking very closely to see how that works. Clearly, we want people in priority need to be housed, but Gwynedd's system is about enabling local people to be housed locally. So, I'm very interested in seeing where we can get the right...
Julie James: None yet. I haven't had any specific meetings with Neath Port Talbot council. I'm embarking on the usual, as I understand it, ministerial tour of Wales when you get put into this portfolio. So, over the course of the next few months, I will be having individual meetings with every local authority in Wales, and I'm attending the meeting of the WLGA on Friday, where I'll be able to speak with a...
Julie James: Well, of course we always aim to pay grants in accordance with grant conditions. If the Member wants to bring any specific instances forward, I'm happy to look at that. I will be looking to work across the Government with ministerial colleagues who have big-spending local government portfolios—they're all really obvious: the health and social services and education colleagues and so on are...
Julie James: Part L of the building regulations, covering the conservation of fuel and power, sets energy efficiency requirements for new buildings. Part L is currently being reviewed with the intention to achieve a significant step towards zero-carbon new housing. A public consultation on proposals is anticipated this summer.
Julie James: A written statement setting out the future role of the community and town council sector in Wales was issued on 30 November.
Julie James: We are investing £90 million over three years to support innovative housing schemes across Wales. There are currently 45 innovative schemes benefiting from our investment. I will announce additional schemes successful in the third year of the innovative housing programme, from both the private and public sector, later this year.
Julie James: A range of grant programmes enable the adaptation of existing social housing to meet disabled tenants’ needs. We are investing for the future with specialist housing-led projects funded through the integrated care fund and by requiring that our new-build social housing is built to the lifetime homes standard.
Julie James: Provision of health services should be considered during local development plan preparation, providing certainty for communities, developers and local health board investment decisions. Planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where necessary, health boards may be consulted on planning applications.
