What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve the level of in-house, local authority planning expertise on areas such as ecology, drainage and flood management?
More than 10 years of Westminster austerity has had an impact on the budgets available for planning services in Wales, which in turn has impacted on the level of in-house expertise. Local Planning Authorities are seeking to improve the resilience of this expertise by pursing shared expert services across several authorities. This already occurs in some areas with expert services on minerals operating on a regional basis in both North and South Wales. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 also provides for formal and consistent shared service arrangements through Corporate Joint Committees.