**Merthyr Tydfil Council Responds to Calls for Greater Planning Transparency Following Audit Wales Review**
Merthyr Tydfil Council has pledged to improve transparency within its planning committee following a recent review conducted by Audit Wales. The scrutiny, which examined the planning services at the authority for the 2024-2025 period, sparked recommendations calling for enhanced openness and accountability in decision-making processes.
During a recent meeting, Judith Jones, Head of Neighbourhood Services at Merthyr Tydfil Council, informed the authority’s governance and audit committee that changes had already been implemented to address issues identified by Audit Wales. She explained that, prior to the receipt of the formal recommendations, verbal feedback from the audit had prompted officers to alter planning committee procedures to ensure deliberations over planning applications were now always conducted in public sessions.
Previously, when committee members voted against officers’ recommendations, they would leave the chamber to privately discuss reasons for refusal; this practice has since been ceased to align with principles of transparency. Ms Jones added that all committee members had received comprehensive training based on guidance from the Welsh Local Government Association, with ongoing training opportunities made available to cover emerging topics or changes in policy.
Audit Wales’s review, undertaken between December and February, aimed to determine whether the council’s planning service was effectively managed and delivering value for money. While the assessment did not scrutinise specific planning decisions, it did evaluate overall governance, corporate oversight, and internal culture. The main finding highlighted a lack of a comprehensive service plan, noting that this created uncertainty about how the planning team contributed to wider council objectives.
Matthew Brushett, who represented Audit Wales during the committee meeting, outlined the review’s conclusions. He acknowledged that, while staff were clear about their roles and there was a generally positive communication culture within the team, deficiencies in workforce planning posed risks to long-term resilience. Brushett also noted that the planning committee had not always demonstrated transparency and that council oversight of the department was limited, preventing the authority from properly assessing performance and risk management.
Nevertheless, Brushett pointed to areas of progress, including the absence of major performance concerns and the availability of appropriate training for staff within the confines of public sector budgets. The review recommended a series of actions, such as the introduction of a formal service plan for planning and building control, revised terms of reference for the planning committee, clearer and more transparent decision-making procedures, and the establishment of robust mechanisms to report and monitor planning service activity.
Acknowledging these recommendations, Judith Jones reassured the committee that each would be addressed promptly. She revealed that drafting of the new departmental service plan was already underway, building on findings from a recent self-evaluation, and is scheduled for completion before the end of August.
Work is also being carried out to update the planning code of conduct section in the council’s constitution. Changes have been submitted to legal and democratic services and are awaiting translation before being published online for public reference. Ms Jones also outlined how performance reporting would be enhanced, with planning-related reports going to several council committees, including the Thriving Merthyr Tydfil scrutiny committee and the cabinet.
Councillor Andrew Barry raised a related concern over the accessibility of meeting recordings. He flagged an instance in which a crucial council meeting concerning the Rhydycar West planning application was not available to the public. He urged that omissions be properly reported and stressed the importance of maintaining public access to all relevant proceedings.
Responding to this, Councillor Anna Williams-Price, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, Assets, and Commercial, explained that technical difficulties—specifically, the number of people trying to access the online meeting—had prevented the recording from being published. She encouraged further discussion on the issue when the council’s multi-location meetings policy is next reviewed.
As Merthyr Tydfil Council acts on the Audit Wales recommendations, it finds itself under increasing scrutiny from both auditors and the public alike. While transparency and corporate oversight still require improvement, steps are being taken to ensure local decision-making is both accountable and accessible for all residents.
The situation reflects a growing trend across councils in Wales, with greater public and regulatory demand for openness in local governance, especially in areas that directly impact community development and land use. Merthyr Tydfil’s experience may serve as a case study for other authorities navigating similar challenges in balancing operational efficiency against the imperative for democratic transparency.