The Economy & Infrastructure Service Transformation Committee met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to receive updates on the Local Growth Fund and the Parks Development Strategy. The committee also noted the Work Plan for the upcoming year.

Local Growth Fund

Paul Relf, Strategic Economic Regeneration Manager, provided an update on the Local Growth Fund (LGF), a successor programme to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). The LGF is heavily weighted towards capital investments, with approximately 70% allocated to capital and 30% to revenue. The fund focuses on three key themes: supporting business (particularly high-growth businesses), economic infrastructure, and skills development. The programme runs for three financial years, starting from 1 April 2026.

Delivery arrangements will largely follow the existing SPF regional architecture, with Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) involved in decision-making. Swansea Council is the lead authority for the South West Wales region for the full three years of the programme. The region has a 10-year economic delivery plan and an investment prospectus in place, which will guide the LGF. The approach will retain the anchor project model, with three strategic projects at regional level covering the LGF themes. While there is a regional budget, local authorities will work to allocated budgets based on previous SPF sums. The report noted that Year 1 is a transition year, with a call for expressions of interest for Years 2 and 3 to be issued shortly.

Councillors expressed their thanks to Paul Relf and his team for their work on the LGF and previous SPF programmes. Councillor Will Thomas enquired about support for businesses that might not fit the specific criteria for the high street grant, and was assured that all referrals would be considered, with the team looking for alternative support streams or potential programme refinements. He also asked about the shop front improvement scheme, and was informed that while many have been completed, options would still be considered, respecting conservation area principles.

Councillor Thomas also raised questions about the transition to the new arrangements, the monitoring of progress, and staff contracts. Paul Relf explained that the main change is the increased focus on economic development compared to the previous revenue-heavy SPF programme, which also supported community projects. He outlined that reporting would be quarterly to Welsh Government, with updates to the CJC and opportunities for member seminars. Staff contracts have been initially extended to March 2027, pending the outcome of the call for expressions of interest, which could affect funding distribution for Years 2 and 3.

Parks Development Strategy

Richard Dando, Strategic Manager for Leisure, Partnerships, Health and Wellbeing, and Pete Beynon, Parks Development Officer, presented the draft Parks Development Strategy. The strategy aims to guide the development, management, and enhancement of Swansea's approximately 150 council-managed parks. It has been developed through extensive consultation, including a public survey, engagement with stakeholder groups, and input from school children.

The strategy's vision is: Together with the people of Swansea, we will ensure all of our parks are thriving, resilient and inclusive — connecting us to nature and to each other. It is organised around eight themes, including community participation, sport, play, health and wellbeing, environmental resilience, heritage and culture, tourism and economic value, and accessibility, safety, and inclusion. The strategy outlines short, medium, and long-term actions and includes a performance scorecard for monitoring progress.

Councillor Andrew Stevens highlighted the significant investment already made in play areas and skate and wheel sports facilities, totalling over £11 million, with more than 80 play areas refurbished or built since 2021. He praised the work of Councillor Francis Davis and the parks team in this area.

Pete Beynon shared insights from the strategy's development, noting that residents are generally happy with the parks but have concerns about safety at night and the need for better lighting. He mentioned successful projects like improved lighting on the promenade and in Singleton Park. He also highlighted that 60% of children consulted visit their local park numerous times a week, underscoring the popularity of these spaces. The team has been working on infrastructure improvements and engaging with community groups.

Councillor Will Thomas raised questions about the potential for destination parks similar to those found in other counties, and whether the strategy considered creating larger, more amenity-rich parks. Richard Dando responded that the strategy identifies existing larger parks like Singleton, Cwmdonkin, and Victoria Park as potential destinations and focuses on promoting their offers. He acknowledged the desire for larger play areas and stated that this would be considered for future opportunities. Councillor Thomas also raised concerns about the maintenance of new equipment and the transparency of capital investment distribution. The officers explained that a parks audit is underway to understand infrastructure needs, and that maintenance plans are being considered for new equipment.

Councillor Ryland Doyle, Councillor Champion for Walking, commented on the importance of parks as high-impact facilities and the positive reception of refurbishment work in areas like Tre-Garn. He also asked about how usage figures were calculated and whether sports facilities were included. The officers confirmed they would check the methodology for the usage figures.

Councillor Doyle also raised the issue of parks leasing land to sports clubs and the use of community budgets for equipment. Pete Beynon explained that the team leader for community initiatives will be involved in community asset transfers, with due diligence undertaken to ensure organisations have the capacity to manage leased facilities.

The committee was informed that the next steps include presenting the draft strategy to Cabinet for endorsement and establishing a cross-departmental working group.

Work Plan

The committee noted the Work Plan for 2026-2027, with upcoming items including the Bus Network and Metro in October, and the Events Strategy and Pride in Place in December.

The next meeting of the Economy & Infrastructure Service Transformation Committee was scheduled for Thursday, 29 October 2026.