Suspension of uni staff could hit village plan

LEADERS overseeing the £1.3bn city deal for the Swansea Bay City Region have been advised that the suspensions of high-ranking Swansea University staff could have an impact on one of the city deal projects.

This leadership group –or joint committee – has now ordered an internal review of the governance of the 11 projects to ensure that due diligence has and is being followed.

Joint committee chairman Rob Stewart told a meeting that he and colleagues met university registrar Andrew Rhodes this week to seek assurances following the suspension of the dean of the School of Management, Professor Marc Clement, vice-chancellor Professor Richard Davies and two un-named colleagues.

This assurance was sought because the university is a prominent partner in the city deal, including a £200m Wellness and Life Science Village planned at Delta Lakes, Llanelli.

Mr Stewart said the suspensions had no bearing on 10 of the projects.

“There is only a current concern relating to Delta Lakes,” he said.

The internal review to be undertaken by the joint committee will revisit governance arrangements and consider ways of improving the management of the city deal.

Mr Stewart said the review would be “specifically around Delta Lakes and the other 10 projects” to put “beyond doubt” that the city deal was robust.

He also said it was inappropriate for him to comment on the suspensions, given that the investigation was a university matter and was “live”.

The university has not indicated what the suspensions relate to and will not comment further until the investigation is concluded. Prof Clement has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Stewart, who is also the leader of Swansea Council, said the university’s ongoing commitment to the city deal was welcome.

The joint committee’s internal review will run in parallel with one instigated by the UK and Welsh Governments, which is expected to finish by the end of next month and won’t hold up any of the projects.

Meanwhile, Carmarthenshire Council is separately seeking an external legal review of the Delta Lakes project and is looking at new ways of delivering the private-public scheme after terminating a collaboration agreement with a company called Sterling Health Security Holdings.

The collaboration agreement also involves Swansea University.

Joint committee member Emlyn Dole, who leads Carmarthenshire Council, told the meeting that he wanted to be sure that public funds destined for the Delta Lakes project were “fully protected”.

Mr Dole said: “We remain committed to work together and to deliver all 11 projects of the city deal programme.”

Mr Stewart said the joint committee would ask Camarthenshire Council to provide it with “visibility” of the outcome of its legal review.

Sarah Jennings, director of partnerships and corporate services at Hywel Dda University Health Board, which is a partner in the Delta Lakes projects, reaffirmed the health board’s support.

“We are really committed,” she said. “That project (Delta Lakes) is vital.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Stewart added that “all partners remain totally committed” to the deal.