COUNCILLORS have questioned what debate goes on at meetings of the Swansea Bay City Deal.
The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which met on Thursday, November 17, were asked to scrutinise the minutes but one councillor said the minutes seemed sparse.
Another asked what debate and challenge goes on at the meetings but he was told that a lot of the debate was not in the public domain.
Dr Stephen Jones said that all nine projects that were a part of the Swansea Bay City Deal had been approved and that they were now being delivered.
He also mentioned the Pembroke Dock marine projects which will see improvements to the infrastructure of the port, a Marine Energy Testing Area (META) and a Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone which will support marine renewable projects.
Cllr Paul Miller said that relationships were good and that the deal was in a good place.
Cllr Alan Dennison asked if there was any risk that the council would be asked to provide any funding for these projects.
Cllr Miller said they do contribute to some of them as they had a stake in them while Dr Jones said the council makes a contribution of £50,000 a year to the Portfolio Management Office that oversees the Swansea Bay City Deal programme.
Hearing those responses, Cllr Dennison said he was concerned adding that projects tend to go over budget and that he was concerned they could cut funding on it.
He was reassured that the council was fully committed to it.
Cllr Mike Williams asked how much challenge and debate goes on at meetings and that attendance from some officers seemed to be poor.
Cllr Miller said it wasn’t for them to comment on attendance but said they were all committed. He also said there was lots of debate and challenge in the meetings but not in the public.
Cllr Williams asked again about the debates. Cllr Miller said there were various informal meetings, such as a transport workshop coming up, where there would be plenty of debate.
Cllr Mike Stoddart said the minutes of the Swansea Bay City Deal meetings seemed ‘sparse’. He also quoted from the minutes which mentioned a link to a document but added he could not find it.
