The Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee of Powys Council convened to discuss several key initiatives and performance reports. Councillors were scheduled to review the Marches Environment Investment Platform, consider the possibility of a tourism levy, and examine the first quarter performance of the Economic Development and Growth Directorate. The committee was also expected to discuss and confirm recommendations to the cabinet on the MEIP and Tourism Levy reports.

Tourism Levy

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise a report on a potential tourism levy for Powys. The Visitor Levy Report September 2025 outlined that the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, which allows local authorities to introduce a discretionary overnight visitor levy, was passed by the Senedd on 8 July 2025 and is expected to receive Royal Assent this year.

The report noted that if Powys Council decided to implement the levy, they would be obliged to consult with residents, businesses and other local organisations prior to implementation. The council would also be able to decide how to use any revenues raised from the levy to support tourism, and would be required to publish a report on their proposed use of the levy before any consultation takes place, as well as providing an annual report on how the revenues raised have benefited the area.

The report presented several options for the committee to consider:

• Not implementing the levy
• Undertaking an engagement exercise with residents, businesses and tourism stakeholders to gather evidence and views
• Implementing the levy and using the income to support general council services
• Implementing the levy and using the income for tourism specific infrastructure
• A mixture of the above

The report stated that the preferred option was to undertake an engagement exercise with residents, businesses and tourism stakeholders to gather evidence and views.

The committee was expected to consider the council's proposed position on the levy, and to scrutinise the recommendation to undertake a stakeholder engagement exercise before making any decision on implementation. The Visitor Levy Report September 2025 ECR scrutiny pro forma noted that key areas for the committee to focus on included:

• The operational and financial implications of implementing a visitor levy in Powys
• How the engagement exercise would be structured and who would be consulted
• What questions might be asked in the engagement exercise
• What data the committee might expect to see to inform the decision
• What evidence is available to support the concerns raised by the tourism sector
• How the council would ensure transparency and fairness in any future decision-making

Marches Environment Investment Platform

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise a report on the Marches Environment Investment Platform (MEIP). The MEIP scrutiny presentation outlined that the MEIP is a cross border partnership of four neighbouring local councils (Shropshire, Powys, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire) focused on shared interests and common issues that cross national boundaries. The partnership aims to develop and deliver collaborative projects across three priority outcomes:

• A High Productivity Rural, Small Town and City-based Economy
• A Green Economy Trailblazer Region
• Healthy and Connected Places

The presentation stated that the MEIP aims to support the development of markets for the green economy and the establishment of revenue streams to empower landholders looking to improve the financial productivity of their land. The MEIP is intended to address national challenges by maximising the integrated value of different local skill sets, policy drivers and delivery mechanisms to drive growth through water, land and nature.

The MEIP includes the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS), a pilot scheme which aims to bring together nature-based solutions and traditional engineering solutions to provide sustainable outcomes that are specific to each location and will deliver real value for investors and partners, local communities and the natural environment.

The ERC - MEIP report noted that the committee was being asked to consider the subject as members were seeking more information on the MEIP and the progression of some work by external consultants through the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP). The role of the committee was to scrutinise the progress and next steps of the development of the MEIP. Key areas for the committee to focus on included:

• Relationship between the MFP, MEIP and the SVWMS
• Next steps in the development of the MEIP including operational testing and strategic delivery

Economic Development and Growth - Quarter 1 Performance

The committee was scheduled to review the first quarter performance of the Economic Development & Growth Directorate. The Qtr.1 Performance Economic Development Growth report provided an overview of the directorate's performance, highlighting key achievements, areas of concern, and proposed actions to address any performance issues.

The report noted that the Economic Development & Growth Directorate includes Highways, Transport & Recycling, Economic Development, Housing, and Planning & Regulatory Services.

Key areas for the committee to focus on included:

• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Qtr.1?
• How does the Qtr.1 performance compare to the targets set?
• What are the areas where performance is off track, and what measures are being taken to address them?

The report included data on a number of performance indicators, including:

• Percentage of waste re-used, recycled, or composted
• Percentage of critical road safety defects repaired on time
• Number of visitors to the business and communities self-funding platform on the Council's website
• Number of staff and elected members who successfully completed climate essentials training module
• Number of 20+ year old residents voluntarily enrolled on the Communities for Work Programme
• Number of businesses signed up as Real Living Wage employers
• Number of businesses supported to expand and grow in Powys
• Number of businesses created or relocated into Powys
• Percentage of people satisfied in the 'New Tenant Survey'
• Percentage of council tenants surveyed, that are satisfied with the responsive repairs service
• Percentage of new tenants satisfied with the experience of finding, moving into and living in their new home
• Percentage of aids, adaptations, and disabled facility grant funded works for large/major adaptations delivered within 450 calendar days
• Percentage of market share held by PCC Building control
• Percentage of full plans and building notices validated within 5 days of receipt
• Percentage of all applications determined within time periods required
• Percentage of appeals dismissed
• Percentage of enforcement cases investigated within 84 days
• Average time taken to take positive enforcement action in the case of confirmed breach of planning
• Percentage of assets with fire risk assessments undertaken by a competent person
• Percentage of assets compliant as evidenced by test/inspection and reviewed certificates
• Percentage of food hygiene inspections/interventions carried out in accordance with food law code
• Percentage of planning application consultations requests that were responded to within 21 days
• Percentage of pre-application advice requests that were responded to within 15 days
• Percentage of nuisance complaints that were responded to within 3 days